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Author
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Topic: Newbie needs trailer advice
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Fred
Member
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posted August 28, 2005 03:47 PM
   
I just purchased CL 16 hull #1354. What year does that make my boat?I'm an experienced sailor (Lived aboard for 30+ years, built a few boats, started Canada's only accredited school of wooden boatbuilding) but I have very little trailer experience. I'm on Gabriols Is, BC. Our launch ramps are road access to drive on the nearly flat rock beaches. If I back the trailer far enough to launch with my car, the water will be half way up the doors. Has anyone out there mounted a wheel on the trailer tongue so the trailer is easy to push up and down a shallow beach? I have thought of moving the wheels on the trailer more toward the tongue to make almost no tongue weight for easy handling of the trailer. I look forward to lots of good advice from this forum. IP: 70.66.3.105 |
Roger
Member
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posted August 28, 2005 05:10 PM
Fred, there are a couple of other things you can do with your trailer before trying to immerse you car.Firstly you can try to lower the boat on your trailer by lowering all rollers and bunks as low as they can go. Usually, you can gain a couple of inches this way. You can also mount the axel above the springs as opposed to below, if that has not alreacy been done. As well, you already mentioned moving the axel forward, but be cautious to keep 10% of your total weight on your hitch. If you are not trailerig long distances you can decrease your tire size, although this option usually costs a couple of hundred dollars and would be a later if not last resort. I wouldn't go any smaller than a 12 inch rim though. The last thing you can do is to get a tongue extension. These either fold or slide out from your trailer and allow you tongue to be extended several feet. Most often you would gain about another 6 to eight feet, which is likely all you need if you are describing having to back your car up to the doors. My trailer also had risers so I mounted these above the frame rather than below and was able to lower the boat by about 2", then moved the axel forward 7" to get a drop of about another inch or so, then put the axel on top of the springs to lower it another 2". That lowered by boat 5". I don't get the wheels of my Ranger wet when the fenders of the trailer are under water, and the boat launches and retrives quite well in about 20 inches of water. IP: 216.55.218.29 |
whited
unregistered
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posted August 28, 2005 06:04 PM
Since you are also a salt water sailor...make sure your trailer is either galvanized...or aluminum. Forget the emameled steel version.
Every trailer I've seen sold here (Nova Scotia)in the last number of years has been galvanized.
On my new trailer, I plan on getting a tongue that either hinges or retracts.
I have put the Fulton tongue jack (wheeled version) on both mt CL 14 trailer and my Sandpiper trailer. Makes it much easier to move around the driveway.
If that 'flat stone' launch is reasonably smooth, I don't see why you couldn't use your trailer as a launch dolly. If you have trouble pulling it out, just attach a tow rope from the hitch to the tongue and pull gently until you can properly mount the coupler on the ball.
Whatever you do...don't stick your vehicle in the salt water above the tire rubber.IP: 142.167.226.95 |
henning
Member
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posted August 28, 2005 06:20 PM
Fred,
How exiting...another CL sailor on this side of Canada!! There are apparently only a few of us.
Only input I can think of - after looking at the responses to date - is that you should check to see if your trailer has hinged cradle area. Mine does, and it is very helpful in launching into shallow water. There should be a sliding piece of strap steel where the hitch tubing meets the radial arms that reach back to the springs. With the hinge, it is possible to lift up on the bow of the boat and slide it back into the water.
Lets keep in touch, in case an opportunity arises to do an out-trip together. My wife and I live in New Westminster, but do most of our sailing out from our cabin on Nelson Island (Sunshine Coast).
Cheers,
Doug IP: 70.71.12.238 |
Fred
Member
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posted August 28, 2005 08:20 PM
Great responses! Thanks.I do need to use thr trailer as a launch dolly. I may try the Fulton folding wheel, but I'd like something that rolls better. Maybe I can add a wheelbarrow tire to the Fulton wheel somehow. The trailer that came with the boat is steel, not galvanized. I rinse it after every use and it has bearing buddies, but I know it won't last forever. The suggestions to lower the boat on the trailer are very interesting. I'll take a close look. It seems that the fenders are close to the hull, but there is a lot of clearance between the fenders and tires. I'm thinking of making an aluminium trailer as light as I can so it make a better beach dolly. It would be designed to carry 500 or 600 pounds. The axle will have to be steel, but i've seen some stub axles advertised that might work, and allow the boat to be carried low. This will keep me busy for a day or two. Thanks
Fred IP: 24.64.223.203 |
Dougster
Member
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posted August 28, 2005 09:09 PM
I dry sail a CL 16 from my in laws cottage. I back the trailer on to their dock with a garden tractor and launch it from there. This means that the trailer wheels are not only not immersed but are 4 to 6 inches above the water. My trailer has a tilt mechanism so I take use this. I use aircraft cable to winch it in and the creaks from the boat give me pause when I retrieve it but so far so good. My hull number is 868 so it is a far older boat than yours. CL16s are over engineered and over built.IP: 65.48.213.102 |
Fred
Member
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posted August 29, 2005 05:53 PM
It sounds like live entertainment to winch the boat onto the trailer on the dock. Does the regular trailer winch do it OK?I definitely have to roll the trailer down (and back up) the beach disconnected from the car. I can pull with a long line on the car on the steep part. IP: 24.64.223.203 |
Dougster
Member
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posted August 29, 2005 06:39 PM
Yes. I just use the regular winch and it does fine.I would guess it has about a 10:1 mechanical advantage and the boat only weighs about 450 lbs (the newer ones are lighter) so it doesn't require much physical strength. It really works best with two people, one to winch and hold down the trailer tongue and one to guide the boat on the rollers and help pull the boat onto the trailer. I can push the boat and trailer around on level ground however, any kind of grade would require at least two reasonably strong people. You would probably also want to invest in a Swivel Marine Jack[This message has been edited by Dougster (edited August 29, 2005).] [This message has been edited by Dougster (edited August 29, 2005).] [This message has been edited by Dougster (edited August 29, 2005).] IP: 198.96.180.245 |
whited
unregistered
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posted August 29, 2005 07:06 PM
I used to do something like that with my CL14.
If I needed the trailer for some reason, I would 'dump' the boat on my front lawn. When ready to re-load, I would pickup the front of the 14 and have my wife back the trailer under the bow. Then I'd winch the rest of the way ...first with the tongue pointing up at a 45 degree angle, and then leveling out as the boat slid forward. I had bunks...but think rollers would be easier on the boat.IP: 142.167.226.95 | |
