.need trailer advice
Moderator: Jim Walsh
Re: need trailer advice
Megunticook, agree that with your yard costs a trailer makes sense. I'm very lucky right now, but if my yard's rates go up a lot someday then it would make economic sense for me as well. Another advantage of having a trailer is that when you have to haul early due to fall storms it would be real handy .
.MHB Sailor
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Alan Stewart
- Posts: 154
- Joined: Jun 22nd, '13, 06:37
- Location: 1972(?) Typhoon #378 "Phoenix"
Re: need trailer advice
You are correct that I have been extremely busy this summer - so much so that I haven’t even been able to spend any time sailing in Maine so far..! I apologize if I dropped the ball on our communications at some point, but I always encourage folks to reach out to me directly instead of through the forum for better response time...
Having said that, I am currently on the lookout for a suitable (used), powerboat trailer with a solid frame that I can modify to carry your CD22 - I need to know if you have a preference for either aluminum or galvanized and single vs. tandem-axle (which I’d recommend). I’ll also let you know if by chance I come across or hear of a used Triad trailer, but I’m sure you know that they are nearly impossible to find and sell very quickly when they do come onto the market...
I do have a Road King trailer under a Rhodes 18 and it’s a pretty nice trailer (tongue extension & bunks vs. screwjacks), but it is a single-axle and I do not know if they’d make one big enough for a 3,200 lb. CD22 or not.
Hope we can find or build you a trailer soon!
Alan Stewart
843-450-2498
Having said that, I am currently on the lookout for a suitable (used), powerboat trailer with a solid frame that I can modify to carry your CD22 - I need to know if you have a preference for either aluminum or galvanized and single vs. tandem-axle (which I’d recommend). I’ll also let you know if by chance I come across or hear of a used Triad trailer, but I’m sure you know that they are nearly impossible to find and sell very quickly when they do come onto the market...
I do have a Road King trailer under a Rhodes 18 and it’s a pretty nice trailer (tongue extension & bunks vs. screwjacks), but it is a single-axle and I do not know if they’d make one big enough for a 3,200 lb. CD22 or not.
Hope we can find or build you a trailer soon!
Alan Stewart
843-450-2498
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Megunticook
- Posts: 352
- Joined: Sep 2nd, '12, 17:59
- Location: Cape Dory Typhoon Senior #11
Re: need trailer advice
No need to apologize--you didn't drop the ball at all.
I'm thinking single axle would suffice for my Typhoon Senior at 3500 lbs. If I was doing any highway driving I might reconsider, but it goes a total of 4 miles to the boat launch and back twice a year. Do you think that's a mistake? Triad lists their axles at 5,200 lbs.
I'm waiting on a final quote from Triad (Mike did finally get back to me, apparently he was travelling last week).
Probably need to make a move one way or the other next week, as I'm only 6-8 weeks away from hauling, depending on weather.
I'm thinking single axle would suffice for my Typhoon Senior at 3500 lbs. If I was doing any highway driving I might reconsider, but it goes a total of 4 miles to the boat launch and back twice a year. Do you think that's a mistake? Triad lists their axles at 5,200 lbs.
I'm waiting on a final quote from Triad (Mike did finally get back to me, apparently he was travelling last week).
Probably need to make a move one way or the other next week, as I'm only 6-8 weeks away from hauling, depending on weather.
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Alan Stewart
- Posts: 154
- Joined: Jun 22nd, '13, 06:37
- Location: 1972(?) Typhoon #378 "Phoenix"
Re: need trailer advice
Rats! I just finished writing a lengthy detailed response covering multiple points of single vs. double-axle and aluminum vs. steel trailer construction but it disappeared into the ether when I tried to post it!?! Grrr! Anyhow, yes, in your case a single-axle would suffice - I owned a single-axle Triad that was rated for 4,900 lbs. (orig. built for a Stonehorse 23), and it carried a CD25 (4,000 lbs.), easily.
Now back to work..,
Now back to work..,
Re: need trailer advice
That sounds like it will be a great post and I look forward to it as well Alan as I'm also looking for a trailer for my CD Typhoon Senior. Like Megunticook, I'm also dialoging with Mike Orro about a new single axle Triad, as I have the same mission profile. However, I would prefer a gently used single axle Triad if one were to become available as the economics make more sense, but I wouldn't be opposed to a gently used dual axle Triad either . I've seen photos of a few CD 22s on aluminum trailers but am not sure about that material for a heavier boat like our Cape Dories. In any case, I'm thinking about the liftoff type trailers as I have no desire to bathe an expensive galvanized or aluminum trailer in salt water at least twice a year.
. I've seen photos of a few CD 22s on aluminum trailers but am not sure about that material for a heavier boat like our Cape Dories. In any case, I'm thinking about the liftoff type trailers as I have no desire to bathe an expensive galvanized or aluminum trailer in salt water at least twice a year.MHB Sailor
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Alan Stewart
- Posts: 154
- Joined: Jun 22nd, '13, 06:37
- Location: 1972(?) Typhoon #378 "Phoenix"
Re: need trailer advice
Ok, here goes my abbreviated re-post:
Although I am Not a structural engineer (but look forward to hearing from one...), I think that it is safe to assume that the overall strength of an aluminum vs. steel trailer depends as much on the cross-section, thickness and size of the frame & crossmembers, as well as the quality & method of construction (bolted or welded), as it does the material. In other words, any inherent “flex” that might be inherent in an aluminum I-beam can be overcome by using a larger or thicker extrusion...
I have “built” (modified, to be more accurate), an aluminum tandem-axle trailer for a CD25D (5,000 lbs.), that carried said boat from Punta Gorda, FL to Nebraska without any structural issues. I’ve also seen triple-axle aluminum trailers hauling very large, heavy powerboats up & down I-95 frequently, so I think that my theory on design over material is born-out. I’d really like to hear from a bona fide trailer manufacturer (Triad for their preference for galvanized vs. Trailex (or similar company), for their expertise in aluminum...), to learn more about the merits of one vs. the other.
There is no question that Triads are the gold standard for (steel), sailboat trailers, they are built like tanks and last “forever”... Their drawbacks, however, are initial cost (and waiting time for delivery), and weight! There are now several other companies beginning to offer some degree of competition in the sailboat trailer market in both galvanized & aluminum construction, but I have limited experience with those up to now. I have owned 3 or more Triads and they are great trailers if, A) You can afford a new one, or B) Are fortunate to locate a used one (Better be quick!). For myself and other folks, I’ve found that reconfiguring a solid powerboat trailer (either galv. or alum.), and welding on screwjacks, a solid keel pan and a mast-carrying winch stand/bow rest along with all-new suspension and anything else that is needed can be accomplished for roughly half to two-thirds of the cost of new, or in other words, what a six-month-old Triad is worth without the up-front cost or wait-time...
I’ve now “built”, sold and delivered Typhoon (and other), trailers to customers in every state from Maine to Florida as well as a few more inland with no complaints yet... Happy hunting!
Although I am Not a structural engineer (but look forward to hearing from one...), I think that it is safe to assume that the overall strength of an aluminum vs. steel trailer depends as much on the cross-section, thickness and size of the frame & crossmembers, as well as the quality & method of construction (bolted or welded), as it does the material. In other words, any inherent “flex” that might be inherent in an aluminum I-beam can be overcome by using a larger or thicker extrusion...
I have “built” (modified, to be more accurate), an aluminum tandem-axle trailer for a CD25D (5,000 lbs.), that carried said boat from Punta Gorda, FL to Nebraska without any structural issues. I’ve also seen triple-axle aluminum trailers hauling very large, heavy powerboats up & down I-95 frequently, so I think that my theory on design over material is born-out. I’d really like to hear from a bona fide trailer manufacturer (Triad for their preference for galvanized vs. Trailex (or similar company), for their expertise in aluminum...), to learn more about the merits of one vs. the other.
There is no question that Triads are the gold standard for (steel), sailboat trailers, they are built like tanks and last “forever”... Their drawbacks, however, are initial cost (and waiting time for delivery), and weight! There are now several other companies beginning to offer some degree of competition in the sailboat trailer market in both galvanized & aluminum construction, but I have limited experience with those up to now. I have owned 3 or more Triads and they are great trailers if, A) You can afford a new one, or B) Are fortunate to locate a used one (Better be quick!). For myself and other folks, I’ve found that reconfiguring a solid powerboat trailer (either galv. or alum.), and welding on screwjacks, a solid keel pan and a mast-carrying winch stand/bow rest along with all-new suspension and anything else that is needed can be accomplished for roughly half to two-thirds of the cost of new, or in other words, what a six-month-old Triad is worth without the up-front cost or wait-time...
I’ve now “built”, sold and delivered Typhoon (and other), trailers to customers in every state from Maine to Florida as well as a few more inland with no complaints yet... Happy hunting!