Bought a deep keel sailboat and trailer at auction a couple weeks. The sailboat has a 4' draft.....so not a very deep keel. I figured the trailer was boat specific, it is not.
This 24' dual axle EZ-Loader trailer utilizes eight 1/2" thick x 6" wide x 21" tall steel plates to support 64 rubber rollers. It was made for a swing keel sailboat, or a regular motorboat. It is a very good trailer so I am resisting starting over again with a different trailer.
The most logical way to adapt this trailer to accommodate a 4' draft is to replace the 21" steel plates with 48" steel plates. Easy, peazy right? That costs about $1000 with shipping! Used salvage plates would work just as well but I live in remote country. It would take a trip to Denver to visit many salvage yards. Also thinking that 1/2" thick plates might not be easy to find. Then I would have to cut into eight 6" x 48" strips. That might costs a couple hundred dollars by itself? I can't have cutting torch bulges on the edges of the plates.
I can solve this problem if I can find: Eight 1/2" x 6" x 48" steel plates for a couple hundred dollars or less.
This 24' dual axle EZ-Loader trailer utilizes eight 1/2" thick x 6" wide x 21" tall steel plates to support 64 rubber rollers. It was made for a swing keel sailboat, or a regular motorboat. It is a very good trailer so I am resisting starting over again with a different trailer.
The most logical way to adapt this trailer to accommodate a 4' draft is to replace the 21" steel plates with 48" steel plates. Easy, peazy right? That costs about $1000 with shipping! Used salvage plates would work just as well but I live in remote country. It would take a trip to Denver to visit many salvage yards. Also thinking that 1/2" thick plates might not be easy to find. Then I would have to cut into eight 6" x 48" strips. That might costs a couple hundred dollars by itself? I can't have cutting torch bulges on the edges of the plates.
I can solve this problem if I can find: Eight 1/2" x 6" x 48" steel plates for a couple hundred dollars or less.