A bunch of easy trailer questions!

[h8weakness]

1. Is $300 a good price for a 2000 Yacht club trailer 12-16' in good shape?
2. This Trailer doesn't have an area for a transom saver. Do I need a transom saver? My Motor is a 2005 Honda 25hp and the boat is a 2008 Weldcraft 14' Jon. We drive from Northern IN. To Northern Mn. 2x a year... and a few other smaller trips.
3. If I need a transom saver, where should I mount it with no rear post?

I'm very new with all this boat stuff..... Please help.. as i will soon enough have 100 more questions!
Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: A bunch of easy trailer questions!

Price of the trailer depends on its condition. if it needs tires and is a pile of rust -- NO it's not a good price. If it is in good condition, good tires, working lights, and not rusty its a fair price.

If you can trailer the boat with the motor down you don't need a transom saver. If there is at least a foot between the skeg and the road you can trailer with the motor down. However if you need to tilt the motor up to avoid the skeg from hitting the ground then on those long trips a transom saver is a good investment. The trailer must have a rear cross member and most transom savers are adjustable for length. The transom saver does not mount on a post. One end fastens in the center of the rearmost cross member. The other end has a cradle into which th motor is secured.

 

[1fishbone]

Re: A bunch of easy trailer questions!

1. Yes...check it out good. Tires should have little or no dry cracks. Wiggle the wheels, they should be tight. The bunks should be strong, not rotted or loose.
Don't forget to plug in the lights and check them...for the price they may not work.
2.For short trips not really needed.... IMHO... others might disagree.
3. For a long trip, I might put it the truck.
Re-pack the bearings, bring a spare tire and a way to jack it up if needed..

Then you'll need to set up for your boat...un-less it had the same style boat before.

 

[h8weakness]

Re: A bunch of easy trailer questions!

Thanks for the tips guys. I just found out I can buy a new yacht club trailer for $625 +tax. What to do what to do?

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: A bunch of easy trailer questions!

1. save your money and buy the used trailer.
2. Save your money and don't buy a transom saver. Your boat is new enough it can handle it for years. If you can't trailer with the motor down, use the tilt lever and tie the motor down.
Or put it in the truck, or in the boat.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: A bunch of easy trailer questions!

I take issue with the no transom saver theory. I've followed many small tinnies with small outboards flopping around much more than a heavier outboard on a larger boat. Not only are they flopping up and down, but they are twisting side-to-side as well. Those that feel the tilt lock is ok to use for travel are also mistaken. They do not limit upward travel of the motor. Seen way too many broken tilt locks due to that abuse. But, you asked for advice and whenever you do that, you will get some. Some good, some bad, and some way out there.

 

[lncoop]

Re: A bunch of easy trailer questions!

I take issue with the no transom saver theory. I've followed many small tinnies with small outboards flopping around much more than a heavier outboard on a larger boat. Not only are they flopping up and down, but they are twisting side-to-side as well. Those that feel the tilt lock is ok to use for travel are also mistaken. They do not limit upward travel of the motor. Seen way too many broken tilt locks due to that abuse. But, you asked for advice and whenever you do that, you will get some. Some good, some bad, and some way out there.

Silvertip's right. The tilt lock on a 25 won't take that kind of abuse for very long, and the corners on your Weldcraft won't appreciate it either. You'll either want to use a transom saver or leave the motor down. If you trailer with the motor down you might want to throw a strap or two over it to decrease the bouncing, of which there will be plenty.

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

Re: A bunch of easy trailer questions!

I have a 25 hp motor on a 1436 Jon. I use a transom saver to get more ground clearance.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: A bunch of easy trailer questions!

tying the 25 down (on the tilt bracket) takes care of all the problems mentioned.

 

[BoatNoobie]

Re: A bunch of easy trailer questions!

I assume you have enough clearance between the road and skeg(???) when the motor is in the down position?

If so, you may be able to bungee cord the lower unit or bottom of the motor to the cross-member of the trailer.

That's what I did with my 14' Lund and Merc 15 motor.

Worked great, but still had to be careful going over rough roads or bumps.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: A bunch of easy trailer questions!

If the cheap used trailer needs anything I would buy the new trailer. It doesn't take long to spend a couple of hundred dollars on lights, bearings, rewires, bunks ..... and you lose time off the water doing the work. A new trailer is ready to pull and you will know all the maintenance history.

The transom saver is an insurance policy. Better to have it and not need it than to find out you should have bought one. Easily pays for itself. You don't really NEED a spare tire until you have a blow out 100 miles from civilization in the middle of the night during an unexpected rainstorm.

 

[h8weakness]

Re: A bunch of easy trailer questions!

Thanks again, you have all been a great help! while I have your guys attention...... Any good advice on some good swivel seats? Whats good whats not?