Boat sits high on Trailer launching is a pain. Help!

[petriw]

I have an older rig. 89 Fibre Tech, (Canadian Boat), 15 1/2' open bow glass boat with an 80 Merc on a Calkins trailer. It is a fairly light boat in pretty good condition. I bought it so I could pull it with my Chevy Venture van. I guess the weight at somewhere between 1400 -1800 pounds. Here is my dilemma the boat sits so high on this trailer that launching is difficult and retrieval is a major pain. I have to back my van right into the water. This trailer uses bunks and center rollers. I am really beginning to hate this set up and launching from anywhere other than a concrete ramp is pretty much hopeless.

So if any of you experienced boaters have some hints or suggestion, other than get a different trailer, I am all ears.

Wade

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Boat sits high on Trailer launching is a pain. Help!

Let's see a photo of your setup, if possible. I can't visualize it from the info you provided.

 

[petriw]

Re: Boat sits high on Trailer launching is a pain. Help!

Boats at the Lake. I will take photos and post as soon as I get back.




Wade

 

[Rob454]

Re: Boat sits high on Trailer launching is a pain. Help!

If the axle sits above the leaf springs have the axle relocated below the leaf springs and run smaller sidewall tires. that will lower the boat down and you wont need to back in as far.

your other option is to have a extended hitch either on the boat or the truck so the boat trailer sits further away from the van so when you back in the boat is in the water way before the van ever gets there

Rob

 

[petriw]

Re: Boat sits high on Trailer launching is a pain. Help!

Thanks. Those are solid ideas and I know of other instances where the hitch on the trailer was extended to do that. I am concerned this will increase the turning radius creating a new problem. What about putting a hinge hitch on it? Do you think that might work? Can't recall at the moment whether the axle is above the springs or below them. I have some mechanical talent so I might be able to manage that. thanks very much for these ideas.


Wade

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Boat sits high on Trailer launching is a pain. Help!

They also have axles with a 4 inch drop to them, basically meaning, that the hubs are 4 inches higher than the rest of the axle, where the springs attach. Couple that with underslung springs (previously mentioned, springs attach to bottom of axle) and you have a nice low trailer. On ours, that has 13" wheels the bottom of the trailer frame is 13" off the ground, and since it is made of 2" by 3" tubing, the top is 16 inches. You can use that as a good reference point to see how much it would drop your trailer.

 

[Nova II 260]

Re: Boat sits high on Trailer launching is a pain. Help!

Extend the tongue. It's not going to lower the boat but will make it easier to launch and keep your wheels & feet dry. Yes, your turning radius will be larger, just be causious. Another 3' won't matter on your size boat. I need 40 acres to turn around my trailer rig but, I manage.
You might be able to drop your bunks too. With pics you'll get plenty of ideas.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Boat sits high on Trailer launching is a pain. Help!

here's an easy solution.
http://www.extendahitch.com/

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Boat sits high on Trailer launching is a pain. Help!

All good suggestions.
However, I would put an extended tongue on the trailer before extending the hitch from the van.
When trying to figure out how to get the boat lower on the trailer, keep in mind where the keel will end up.
I.E. crossmembers and axle tube will only allow you to lower a certain amount.

 

[petriw]

Re: Boat sits high on Trailer launching is a pain. Help!

Photos of the current trailer configuration. The boat sits high but lowering the centre rollers makes little difference. The cross members are near the center of the bottom of the boat already. Placing the axle on top of the axles would lower the boat. Currently the bunks don't line up properly with the bottom strakes on the hull and i am pretty sure that is why aligning the boat is a PIN. I do not believe that this was the original trailer.

Don't know what to do. Appreciate your feedback.

Wade

 

[jimmbo]

Re: Boat sits high on Trailer launching is a pain. Help!

Take the boat and trailer to a place that makes custom axles and see if they have a wider dropped axle, this would let the boat fit lower and between the wheels.

 

[Nova II 260]

Re: Boat sits high on Trailer launching is a pain. Help!

Another option:
A 16/18' single axle trailer, that fits your boat, is readily available and are not to bad in price, used. i.e. Trailer You can recover some of the money when you resell this one. Look for one with the lowered crossmembers. Longer trailers keep the feet dry and are easier to launch/load. IMHO.

 

[petriw]

Re: Boat sits high on Trailer launching is a pain. Help!

What about the leg on the motor? Right know in the down position it only clears the ground by anout 6 inches.

 

[jimmbo]

Re: Boat sits high on Trailer launching is a pain. Help!

It tilts up and can be locked up there.