Trailering / Boat Concerns

[Chuck]

Folks,I have a concern regarding traiering an 85 H23 that I haven't heard until a discussion with some fellow boaters last week.The fellow boaters expressed concern that trailering the H23 for a length of 200 miles would break the keel seal and any other seals by the road vibration beause of the age.I've always assumed that trailerable boats were designed for the vibrations and so forth from a road.Is this a concern? Dave C., You, more than anyone might know because of your trailering experienceThanks for the inputs!/ChuckS/V Winsongs H23

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Bad advice

That is a new one. The keel has bolts imbedded that are bolted on in the bilge area. 5200 which is one of the best sealants is used to seal the keel to the hull. It takes alot to pry that sealant apart. I am the king of caulk and when I applied this to a fiberglass arch on a larger boat one time, I cussed myself into the water when I fell off and when getting out still cussing, a seagull pooped on my head. Now lets look at the boat on the trailer. The bow eye is hooked of course and you have a strap around the back of the boat so it will not bounce on the trailer. With the above, I seriously doubt that. Now one other testament to the H 23 wing. In 1987, I was bringing one back on a two lane hwy.. The tractor trailer passing came left of center and struck the boat. The boat came off the trailer and went sailing down the road on its keel at 55 mph and then did a twist hitting an embankment. The keel never came off and there were no cracks at the keel to hull joints.Does that pretty well sum it up.If the boat is in the water and you observe water coming up through the keel bolts on any boat, then it is time to drop a keel and reseal it.Crazy Dave Condon

 

[Bill O'Donovan]

Consider this

When it isn't falling off the trailer at 55 mph, the boat takes a bigger beating on the water than on the road. So I concur, bad advice.

 

[Grant Blair]

We never had a problem

Chuck, We trailored a Hunter 235 for 600 miles last year and never had a problem. Besides, if crazy Dave Condon says there's not a problem, go with it.

 

[John]

Dave is right

Crazy Dave's comments are right on the money. You shouldn't have any problems IF all safety precautions are followed. A strap over the cock pit will definately prevent the hull from "bouncing" while on the trailer. The keel separating is the least of your worries if the boat bounces though. I am sure that you will have damage where hull meets trailer with each bounce. On the other hand, tongue weight and proper trailer set are more pressing issues that you should be concerened with.  Read comment on the issue of trailering a few articles back.  Happy sailing!