Classic AquaSport
Aquasport Mechanicals - things that need a wrench, screwdriver or multimeter => Trailers => Topic started by: czizza on October 21, 2012, 10:05:50 AM
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I wish I am writing this rebuild article because I was doing preventive maintenance ... but ... as life always finds a way ... nope this is a reactive article.
Last week, I tuned the motor, added a paddle wheel transceiver to my Garmin, fixed my pitot gauge as was ready to take it out on the water for a test and tune. I even had my polls and bait to spend some time this weekend using the boat what it was intended for fishing ... all weekend.
I was also going to write up an article on how to install Raymarine SL70CRC chart plotter and GPS (no radar) I picked up from a friend never used and in the box ... score on that one.
... BUT ... Lady Luck strikes again ... We prepped as always .. I check everything twice and we head out on the road no problem we get to Merritt Road make the right and the drivers side leaf spring breaks, the trailer goes over the wheel up in the air and back down and the passengers leaf spring breaks the trailer goes cock eyed and I stop. What I witness in my mirror was that the boat went straight up in the air (must have been when the trailer drove over it own wheel) and it landed on the axle.
I cannot stress how important it is for transom straps <---- IMPORTANT ... this kept my boat on the trailer and saved it from rolling over.
Here is what I saw:
(http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp171/czizza/The%20Boat/IMG_1158_zpsa879bc9c.jpg)
(http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp171/czizza/The%20Boat/IMG_1157_zps0f569f6e.jpg)
Close up:
(http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp171/czizza/The%20Boat/IMG_1156_zpsab690eb9.jpg)
(http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp171/czizza/The%20Boat/IMG_1159_zps15dfbd8f.jpg)
All safe and sound now that it is back home:
(http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp171/czizza/The%20Boat/IMG_1161_zps944eb274.jpg)
I have to commend the flatbed guy that came out he was the best. At times I was getting nervous because I could see it roll over but he was cool ... also I have to say thanks to the Nassau county police department ... they were on the scene in no time and directed traffic for 1 1/2 hours while we waited on the flatbed ...
... Now for the rebuild I will start the today since the perches are fine just the leaf broke ...
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Thanks be to the BOAT gods that nothing REALLY bad happened!! Good luck with the springs, did then shackle mounts on the trailer survive? And while you're at it, would putting tandems under there make sense? It will sky rocket the cost but what about the benifit?
After a second look, it appears that the trailer is a tad small (short) for the boat...?....
:salut:
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Thanks be to the BOAT gods that nothing REALLY bad happened!! Good luck with the springs, did then shackle mounts on the trailer survive? And while you're at it, would putting tandems under there make sense? It will sky rocket the cost but what about the benifit?
After a second look, it appears that the trailer is a tad small (short) for the boat...?....
:salut:
I agree with what Dave said, from the photos the trailer appears to be to small for the boat. Tandem axle is the way to go.
Glad the boat was not damaged and good luck with the project.
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Holy cow you were lucky! I'll make the third motiin for the tandem trailer. With a single 3500 lbs axle your are way over weight right now. Also the second axle is safer and you can get off the road with flat or a bad hub.
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4th on that motion, and glad damage was kept to a minimum...to the material things, not your ego!
My first thought, no offense, was what's a single axle doing under that Explorer?
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That's what I was thinking - that boat is a tad heavy for a single axle.
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5th on the tandem axle, they tow so much better than a single
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Okay, since I am new to boating ... about a month ... I spoke to the guy you I bought the boat from ... he told me he was sold the trailer with the boat back in 1997. I check my titles and they do not say anything on the model#. I check the trailler and nothing too.
The only thing I can say is that the owner kept the trailer right by the boat in the canal so it was attacked by salt water.
This is a picture of the back of the trailer ... I do think the boat fits ...
I checked out another trailer at the boat ramp that had tandem and it does not look too difficult to do.
Is it possible to add the tandom?
I know I can buy the parts from loadrite but has anyone done this?
(http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp171/czizza/The%20Boat/IMG_1167_zps84a13a76.jpg)
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Keep this mind. If the corrosion attacked the axles and leaf springs, what other parts of trailer did it attack?
Time to shop around for a new trailer, dual axle with brakes, and bunks, not rollers...
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Good point ... Why ramps and not wheels ... I heard wheels are better and easier the the ramp?
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Rollers deform the hull in unsupported areas. You guys must have a lot of small slope, shallow ramps, where rollers make it easier to launch and retrieve.
Down here, you rarely see a roller trailer, all bunks...directly under the stringers or chines...
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Not that it applies in this case but some boat manufacturers will not warranty a boat on a roller trailer.
As far as the trailer being sold with the boat, go check around on some new boat lots. Tons of rigs setup on undersize trailers just to keep the price down. I don't know about NY but in FL anything that's gross weight is 3000# and over must have brakes on all wheels. Many rigs in FL are running illegal in that respect. Not that just any cop will stop you to inspect (except Monroe County) but if there is ever an accident be assured the other guy's lawyer will know the laws.
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All excellent advice. I am going to rebuild this trailer so I can get the boat worthy for transport then I will work with a local guy for a new one with tandem and maybe even torsion springs. As for the warentee boat and trailer is from 97 so I don't think that applies anymore. I will also check around and see what others are doing with their trailers in the area.
I do see a mix of 50/50 here in NY.
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Repairing the trailer is only worth it if you can sell it. If not you are throwing good money away. Why not start searching for a good used tandem trailer?
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While it is true that rollers offer an easier launch and retrieve where ramps are very gradual and one would have to submerge half the tow vehicle to dunk the trailer, the down side is they do not support the boat where it should be supported, i.e. the stringers or the chines. This is where the glass is the thickest, this is where the hull needs to be supported.
Rollers "straddle" the stringers, and, thus, the hull resting on the rollers is in an area we call an "unsupported panel", and area with no stringers or b/heads. Thus, purely from the downward force of gravity, the hull will deform because of said lack of support. Proline used Loadmaster trailers, WC/Aquasport used EZ-Loader. When we had a new model, the trailer factories would send down a trailer "close" to what the model would take, along with a couple techs. Everything on the "test mule" was easily adjustable...winch stand, bow stop, bunks, both in and out and height. They'd do their adjustments and measurements, off they'd go, fab a prototype, fit check, make minor adjustments, then a boat/trailer package was born. Always with bunks, never rollers...
When I see a roller trailer down here, I say damn, must be a northern trailer...and I'm from the north! Go with bunks, your boat will thank you!
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Repairing the trailer is only worth it if you can sell it.
I learned the hard (expensive) way. It's easy to drop $1500 on parts, 2 gallons of sweat, and 1/2 pint of blood rebuilding a trailer and you still have a :*: trailer when you are done. If everything else is good then fine, slap an axle and springs under it and go fishing. If it has rust cancer, rusted out brackets, hard or flat rollers, roller axles nearly rusted out then put some cheap springs under it and sell it.
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put some cheap springs under it and sell it.
Exactly and on the new one torsion axles all the way :salut:
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Sage advice has been spoken here... :thumright: :thumright:
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So the rebuild process has started ... it was a rush because Sally is on her way and I wanted to move the boat away from the trees. I have moved her in front of the garage and hope the trees don't fall the wrong way :D
Here is a comparison old leaf on the left (just in case you cannot tell):
(http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp171/czizza/The%20Boat/IMG_1171.jpg)
Here is how bad the old bolts looked, I was only able to remove one with the impact gun ... WOW:
(http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp171/czizza/The%20Boat/IMG_1172.jpg)
Here is how it looks replaced:
(http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp171/czizza/The%20Boat/IMG_1173.jpg)
And this is the completed installation ... I still have to fix the fenders and replace the back steps.
(http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp171/czizza/The%20Boat/IMG_1175.jpg)
The other fender - OMG:
(http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp171/czizza/The%20Boat/IMG_1177.jpg)
I am also thinking about Tie Down Engineering brake systems to replace the lines, any like'rs on this?
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=11151&partNumber=8749368&langId=-1&searchKeyword=brake+line+kit
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While it is true that rollers offer an easier launch and retrieve where ramps are very gradual and one would have to submerge half the tow vehicle to dunk the trailer, the down side is they do not support the boat where it should be supported, i.e. the stringers or the chines. This is where the glass is the thickest, this is where the hull needs to be supported.
Rollers "straddle" the stringers, and, thus, the hull resting on the rollers is in an area we call an "unsupported panel", and area with no stringers or b/heads. Thus, purely from the downward force of gravity, the hull will deform because of said lack of support. Proline used Loadmaster trailers, WC/Aquasport used EZ-Loader. When we had a new model, the trailer factories would send down a trailer "close" to what the model would take, along with a couple techs. Everything on the "test mule" was easily adjustable...winch stand, bow stop, bunks, both in and out and height. They'd do their adjustments and measurements, off they'd go, fab a prototype, fit check, make minor adjustments, then a boat/trailer package was born. Always with bunks, never rollers...
When I see a roller trailer down here, I say damn, must be a northern trailer...and I'm from the north! Go with bunks, your boat will thank you!
Bob, How about the old Holclaw blue and beige trailers from the 1960/70's. They had a bunch of little rollers. Weren't galvanized, just painted, and didn't last long if you dipped them in water.
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Phase II of the rebuild. I went to a friend in Wyndanch that makes my u-bolts and leaf springs for my 79 Camaro that I race and he made me Grade 8 U-bolts. We used his 100 ton press to straightend out the bent fender steps and I used my 2 ton press and vise grip for the fenders.
Here is the old left fender:
(http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp171/czizza/The%20Boat/IMG_1177-1.jpg)
Here is the fixed left fender:
(http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp171/czizza/The%20Boat/IMG_1199.jpg)
Here is the old right fender:
(http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp171/czizza/The%20Boat/IMG_1176.jpg)
Here is the fixed right fender:
(http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp171/czizza/The%20Boat/IMG_1204.jpg)
Here is how the right fender looks from the front:
(http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp171/czizza/The%20Boat/IMG_1205.jpg)
-Melo
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Nice job!Now go to All-American get a double and some of those great fries! :cheers:
http://allamericanhamburger.us/ (http://allamericanhamburger.us/)