Trailering My New Boat on Monday

[Jon Neely]

Hello all! After a year of looking, me and my significant other have found the boat we want for the right price and we are excited! The boat we have decided on is a 1984 Caliber 28. Tomorrow we will do our sea trial and survey and potential purchase! Also I have purchased a very adjustable triple axel trailer to put the boat on and work on it for the coming months before we leave on the baja ha-ha. After talking to the yard we are planning on hauling out on monday and simply put the boat on the trailer from the lift vs putting on blocks. This boat has never been married to this trailer so I am prepared to have some fitting issues. I plan on the weekend to work on the trailer and get it prepared. Spray bolt release on the bung pylons so the break free when we want.

Jon

[Drew13440]

I tow mine around a lot - be sure you put the weight on her belly not the keel. There are other threads in here on that, I think. Congratulations finding a keeper.

[SkiprJohn]

Congratulations on the new boat. Here in Hawaii trailerables are becoming ever more popular as the mooring fees go up.
regards,

[Jon Neely]

Ok we are on the trailer tonight, I have gotten a lot of flack for not resting the keel on the trailer and I am trying figure out if I am doing the right thing? there is and awful lot of weight on those bungs and I need some reassurance. I think I may go in the morning before it gets picked up and wedge some wood under the keel for the trip. Please respond ASAP





Jon

[pressuredrop]

common sense dictates that you will want some weight on the keel, after all, when they block it in a yard, theres a block under the keel, the trick will be finding the proper balance of weight on the keel and hull, good luck and enjoy!

[Jon Neely]

thanks! anyone else?

[GordMay]

The sailboat rests on its keel and is only stabilized by the boatstands.

[SkiprJohn]

Most the weight should be on the keel but not all. Road bumps are the same as going aground and might cause stress cracks where the keel joins the bilge. Double check that the stands holding the bunks against the hull are really secure if one fails then the others will pick up the load and could cause damage to the hull.
Good luck.
Kind regards,

[CaptnBob]

Jon:

Best of luck. One word of caution. If it is a new trailer be careful to check the tires. Substandard Chinese tires are often installed by manufacturers. Check the web and with trailer users. Many have very poor construction and are very subject to failure, especially in high heat conditions. I had a fiend with a new 4 Winns 21' (a powerboat, I know) on a new trailer have 3 of 4 tires fail on his first trip from Ct to Maine (Hardly the Baja)

[Jon Neely]

Thanks for the advice! got it here in one piece. Ended up at the last minute to block the keel by wedging some wood blocks underneath. So now the 3 month restoration begins!



Jon

[NYCSavage]

V.Nice!!! Congrats on buying Connie! Does she need much work?

[MPienta]

Originally Posted by GordMay

The sailboat rests on its keel and is only stabilized by the boatstands.

This is correct.

[Jon Neely]

she needs some work, how do you know the boat?

[NYCSavage]

I don't Jon, I just decided that she looked like a Connie (especially with her current name!)

My girlfriend says I am mad, as I name all my cars, and I think its right to have a name for your boat! After all, she is one of the family now!

[Jon Neely]

Ok thats cool, well she will soon be renamed; Tara.

She needs some good work, but there will be a website and documentary film on the restoration and the baja-ha-ha we will be doing with her this year. I will keep the community updated!

Jon