homemade trailer for Bolger houseboat #481
Below is the text of a fax to the wizzard hisself concerning making a
trailer for the houseboat. I have also posted some drawings and
specifications to the bolger2 group under files and in the houseboat
file. Here is the link to the bolger cartoon and the drawings and if
you have any comments please feel free to pass them on.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Bolger2/files/Bolger%20Houseboat/
Dear Mr Bolger
I have restarted construction after a long winter. I am building it
on a temporary table 20 feet by 8 feet and everything is going well
and is an interesting challenge for a novice builder. I am at the
point where I have to build a trailer and need some comment and
advice. After much discussion and review of regulations, I will
probably build a trailer which is somewhat overkill for the Houseboat,
but one just adequate would be on the edge of the electric brake level
of 3000 lbs. I plan to use a 24 ft. length of 3" x 2" 1/4" steel for
the main tongue/centre beam and the remainder of the bed with 2" x 2"
3/16ths steel. The bed itself will be 16 ft long and 7 feet wide,
well braced and gussets where required. I was thinking of a tandem
set of 3500 lb axles 84" wide and one of them with electric brakes
with a hydraulic self actuator so any vehicle could tow it. Since I
would like to travel at speed sometimes, the biggest wheel would be
the best and I was thinking of 4-13" six ply tires with a total rating
of 6000 lbs. I think your estimate of the #481 with a moderate amount
of gear, motor, fuel and dingy was in the neighbourhood of 2500 lbs.
Questions:
Should I have concerns on the overhang on each side of about 5 inches
on the 7 foot trailer? My extra cost to make the trailer 7' 11 " is
not a factor as I buy the steel in 24 ft. lengths. How should I obtain
support on the trailer for stabilization of the boat forward and aft?
Will the approximate 2 foot overhang of the boat at the rear of the
trailer create a problem? I plan to build the tail/signal lights and
license plate holder into to the boat transom.
Will the overhand of about 2 feet on the front over the tongue create
problems? I would like to cut the tongue off at 22 feet for storage
reasons but would like some advice.
Thanks in advance. PS - Got to try John Bartlett's Bantam this
winter, what a boat. Great concept for the minimalist boater.
Further to my most recent fax of today, I have made a very rough
drawing of the proposed trailer for your comment. In addition to my
other questions I would like to identify the centre of gravity for the
boat and the placement of the tandem set of 13 inch wheels. Thanks
trailer for the houseboat. I have also posted some drawings and
specifications to the bolger2 group under files and in the houseboat
file. Here is the link to the bolger cartoon and the drawings and if
you have any comments please feel free to pass them on.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Bolger2/files/Bolger%20Houseboat/
Dear Mr Bolger
I have restarted construction after a long winter. I am building it
on a temporary table 20 feet by 8 feet and everything is going well
and is an interesting challenge for a novice builder. I am at the
point where I have to build a trailer and need some comment and
advice. After much discussion and review of regulations, I will
probably build a trailer which is somewhat overkill for the Houseboat,
but one just adequate would be on the edge of the electric brake level
of 3000 lbs. I plan to use a 24 ft. length of 3" x 2" 1/4" steel for
the main tongue/centre beam and the remainder of the bed with 2" x 2"
3/16ths steel. The bed itself will be 16 ft long and 7 feet wide,
well braced and gussets where required. I was thinking of a tandem
set of 3500 lb axles 84" wide and one of them with electric brakes
with a hydraulic self actuator so any vehicle could tow it. Since I
would like to travel at speed sometimes, the biggest wheel would be
the best and I was thinking of 4-13" six ply tires with a total rating
of 6000 lbs. I think your estimate of the #481 with a moderate amount
of gear, motor, fuel and dingy was in the neighbourhood of 2500 lbs.
Questions:
Should I have concerns on the overhang on each side of about 5 inches
on the 7 foot trailer? My extra cost to make the trailer 7' 11 " is
not a factor as I buy the steel in 24 ft. lengths. How should I obtain
support on the trailer for stabilization of the boat forward and aft?
Will the approximate 2 foot overhang of the boat at the rear of the
trailer create a problem? I plan to build the tail/signal lights and
license plate holder into to the boat transom.
Will the overhand of about 2 feet on the front over the tongue create
problems? I would like to cut the tongue off at 22 feet for storage
reasons but would like some advice.
Thanks in advance. PS - Got to try John Bartlett's Bantam this
winter, what a boat. Great concept for the minimalist boater.
Further to my most recent fax of today, I have made a very rough
drawing of the proposed trailer for your comment. In addition to my
other questions I would like to identify the centre of gravity for the
boat and the placement of the tandem set of 13 inch wheels. Thanks