Re: Keelboat trailer ideas / help
> We need a trailer for this vessel and prefer to build most of itourselves. Do any of you have some ideas?
The only caution that I would offer about store-bought trailers is to
be careful about the design weight. I think your boat will be much
lighter than typical boats of the same length, so an off-the-shelf
trailer might have springs that are too stiff. If so, they could be
hard on the hull.
One trick that is sometimes used for homebuilt trailers is to use the
rear axle from a front-wheel-drive luxury car. I know that it has
been done, but I don't know what weight would be adviseable.
If you look at commercial trailers with a critical eye, you can see
that they are a pretty uncomplicated bolt-up of standard metal parts,
with perhaps some fancy bending and a little welding. The hard part
is the engineering. Possibly a trailer company will sell you the
pieces, i.e. a kit, and you can assemble it yourself.
Peter
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, ed_laurine@j... wrote:
I really do not have any actual experience towing a boat of this
length but at 6600lbs displacement,you might start looking at
commercially available trailers rated for that weight.
It may also be worth while to fax the designer,Phil Bolger and
enquire about the length of trailer you need.I say that simply
because the hull shape and engineering may produce a box girder( a
very stiff boat length-wise) thereby letting you get away with a
shorter trailer.Bolger will be able to advise you on this point.
Good luck with your project and keep us up-dated as you approach
launch time!
Sincerely,
Peter Lenihan
> We need a trailer for this vessel and prefer to build most of itourselves. Do any of you have some ideas?
>Ed,
> Ed Williams
> Little Rock, Arkansas
I really do not have any actual experience towing a boat of this
length but at 6600lbs displacement,you might start looking at
commercially available trailers rated for that weight.
It may also be worth while to fax the designer,Phil Bolger and
enquire about the length of trailer you need.I say that simply
because the hull shape and engineering may produce a box girder( a
very stiff boat length-wise) thereby letting you get away with a
shorter trailer.Bolger will be able to advise you on this point.
Good luck with your project and keep us up-dated as you approach
launch time!
Sincerely,
Peter Lenihan
To All:
Our living history groups is building the 38' Bolger keelboat. You can view our progress from our group's web page, www.arkie.net/~eara/.
We need a trailer for this vessel and prefer to build most of it ourselves. Do any of you have some ideas?
We have several people in our group who are engineers and have designed a goose neck trailer with a sliding axle. In addition, we have procured a bus frame and a mobile home frame.
Appreciate your comments.
Ed Williams
Little Rock, Arkansas
Our living history groups is building the 38' Bolger keelboat. You can view our progress from our group's web page, www.arkie.net/~eara/.
We need a trailer for this vessel and prefer to build most of it ourselves. Do any of you have some ideas?
We have several people in our group who are engineers and have designed a goose neck trailer with a sliding axle. In addition, we have procured a bus frame and a mobile home frame.
Appreciate your comments.
Ed Williams
Little Rock, Arkansas