Can this boat trailer be repaired?????

[silverstandard 01]

Female boater here, so pardon the ignorance:

The boat is a 1998 Bayliner Capri 1950CL (18 feet) with original trailer. In a freak, and I do mean freak accident, someone missed a sharp turn, ran their car through a chainlink fence, missed the boat parked directly beside mine, and hit my boat. :facepalm: The trailer is bent on the right side and bowed out on the left. The picture I posted is a pretty good indicator of the damage to the trailer. I have some minor damage to the fiberglass on the boat, but I feel I may be able to patch that somehow. I had insurance, but it's a no-go. I'm not sure I can even pull the boat. I asked one local car repair shop to see if it could be welded/adjusted somehow, but they indicated they didn't have the equipment.

Does this look as though it's beyond fixable and it would be more economic to search for and purchase a used trailer? A new trailer is completely out of my budget.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: Can this boat trailer be repaired?????

Do not pull the boat this way!! I don't believe it will be economical to repair but anything is doable if you want to spend the money. You could find a junk boat on a trailer and lose the boat keep the trailer for a lot less.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Can this boat trailer be repaired?????

You might need a car to run into the other side of it so that both sides are even.

Not worth repairing though, a body shop might have the equipment, but aluminum/steel tends to bend only once in that sort of application.

 

[TTavenier3]

Re: Can this boat trailer be repaired?????

id just cut it from the axle and build a new frame from that point forward. you dont have to have the bents in it. just a straight v frame to the tounge will be fine. if moneys not to big of an issue i would check craigslist for boat trailers. there seems to be a trailer on there for sale for dirty cheap all the time. might need to be painted or something stupid like tires or bearings but would be safer.

 

[silverstandard 01]

Re: Can this boat trailer be repaired?????

My female boater ignorance again - Would this trailer be steel or aluminum? I know I can try a magnet, but figured someone knows the answer.

 

[TTavenier3]

Re: Can this boat trailer be repaired?????

im not sure. your best bet to be 100% positive is the magnet trick.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Can this boat trailer be repaired?????

My female boater ignorance again - Would this trailer be steel or aluminum? I know I can try a magnet, but figured someone knows the answer.

Ayuh,... Welcome Aboard,... it appears to be steel box tubin'...

'n what's there is a few parts,.... not a repairable trailer...

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Can this boat trailer be repaired?????

I would junk it..... If the wheels/tires are good keep those and maybe the winch.

 

[sktn77a]

Re: Can this boat trailer be repaired?????

I had insurance, but it's a no-go.

If you have the other driver's information, their insurance should pay for reparations. If it was a hit and run or uninsured motorist, why won't your insurance cover it?

 

[jmznshana]

Re: Can this boat trailer be repaired?????

Trailer is junk... Where is the driver that hit it? ^^^^^ What above said.. was it a hit and run?

 

[Davem3]

Re: Can this boat trailer be repaired?????

keep the axle, fenders, lights and winch.......... and save the wiring and ball hitch too, junk the rest..........

scour craigslist for something decent .............

frame bent=a crack and accident waiting to happen

 

[ED-LINDA]

Re: Can this boat trailer be repaired?????

Hello i am in the marine haulage business,a lady ran a stop sign and ran into my international and then my triaxle trailer,,,,bent the tounge like a banana..the trailer can be cut from the cross beam and a new tongue can be installed. It all depends on money and a certified welder...do not get a buddy who can weld fix it,if something happens it opens a whole case of liability against you. Id salvage the axle and fenders and any good parts if you cant find a reasonable welder...search out a used one...a single axle should be easyto find..for that boat they run a grand and up here...i spent 2000 for a new tongue on mine ..but thatsa total different animal...good luck....ed

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Can this boat trailer be repaired?????

First off, anything can be fixed, but in your case it would never be worth the cost to repair that kind of damage.
Steel box tubing is tough to straighten, and the left side tube on your trailer is obviously kinked in at least two spots, that won't pull back out.
To make that trailer right you would have to completely cut it all apart, replace one whole side, possibly two. The amount of labor that would take to do it and not destroy anything else would far exceed buying another trailer. If it were me, I'd just go find a good used trailer and salvage what I could off that trailer for parts or sale.
I'd expect to find a decent single axle roller trailer for that in the $750 to $1500 range.

There are probably also quite a few used Escort Brand trailers out there for sale as well, I run across them quite often minus their original boats all the time.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Can this boat trailer be repaired?????

You can buy a used trailer cheaper then it is going to cost for repairs. Take the bent up one to the scrap yard to help offset any costs.Didn't the driver have ins? How about your ins. co. if you have ins on it. Let them fight it out with the driver that pretzeled it up.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Can this boat trailer be repaired?????

You can buy a used trailer cheaper then it is going to cost for repairs. Take the bent up one to the scrap yard to help offset any costs.Didn't the driver have ins? How about your ins. co. if you have ins on it. Let them fight it out with the driver that pretzeled it up.

You might be surprised as to what homeowners covers also. [/QUOTE]

 

[dlngr]

Re: Can this boat trailer be repaired?????

I'd buy that bent trailer if you are close enough to me-[central Illinois]

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Can this boat trailer be repaired?????

Sure you can fix it, or you can go the cheap route and replace it with a new one.

No kidding repairing your trailer is going to cost more then a new one will I bet.