[bolger] boat trailer
A while back someone asked about the trailer for my Michalak AF2
"Entropy"....
The recent discussion reminded me that I never replied...
Anyway, as you obviouly cannot go out and buy a trailer for a 20 foot
flat bottom boat, I knew from the beginning that I would have to build a
custom trailer for Entropy.
In my boat/trailer fleet I had an adustable trailer that I bought for
the aluminum fishing boat, the one that never got used because I
couldn't get the engine worked on... but that's another story.
This trailer had two main stuctural beams, 2x3 inch steel beams with 1/8
inch walls, running the length, lots of rollers, and the mechanism to
adjust the position of the axle.
A couple of measurements showed that I could move the axle all the way
back, and have the wheels just behind the center of gravity of the boat.
So, to convert trailer for sailboat:
1) remove all rollers and other rubber/wood/carpet type things
2) remove winch post and tail light brackets
3) loosen axle, and bang on it with sledge hammer till it's moved all
the way back, reattach
4) weld six foot extension to two main 2x3 structual members
5) epoxy laminate front contact point "V", cure clamped on boat for
perfect fit
6) use roller mounts upside down, to hold laminated plywood crosswise
bunks
7) weld up taller winch post, and attach
8) winch boat out of shop and onto trailer, make final adjustments to
bunks and winch post.
9) Tom Thumb kid into painting trailer...
"Entropy"....
The recent discussion reminded me that I never replied...
Anyway, as you obviouly cannot go out and buy a trailer for a 20 foot
flat bottom boat, I knew from the beginning that I would have to build a
custom trailer for Entropy.
In my boat/trailer fleet I had an adustable trailer that I bought for
the aluminum fishing boat, the one that never got used because I
couldn't get the engine worked on... but that's another story.
This trailer had two main stuctural beams, 2x3 inch steel beams with 1/8
inch walls, running the length, lots of rollers, and the mechanism to
adjust the position of the axle.
A couple of measurements showed that I could move the axle all the way
back, and have the wheels just behind the center of gravity of the boat.
So, to convert trailer for sailboat:
1) remove all rollers and other rubber/wood/carpet type things
2) remove winch post and tail light brackets
3) loosen axle, and bang on it with sledge hammer till it's moved all
the way back, reattach
4) weld six foot extension to two main 2x3 structual members
5) epoxy laminate front contact point "V", cure clamped on boat for
perfect fit
6) use roller mounts upside down, to hold laminated plywood crosswise
bunks
7) weld up taller winch post, and attach
8) winch boat out of shop and onto trailer, make final adjustments to
bunks and winch post.
9) Tom Thumb kid into painting trailer...