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 Catalina 250 Specific Forum
 Description and Pictures of Equalizing Hitch		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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kevinmac
Admiral

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USA
732 Posts
Initially Posted - 01/02/2006 :  21:49:48  Show Profile
I put together a web page with a description and pictures of the equalizing hitch I use with my C250WK trailer. This page also has some pictures of the trailer without the boat on it, to complement Turk's previous pictures of the trailer with a boat on it. Here's a link:

http://www.catapult.biz/sail/hitch/equalizer.htm
Kevin Mackenzie
Former Association Secretary and Commodore
"Dogs Allowed"
'06 C250WK #881
and
"Jasmine"
'01 Maine Cat 30 #34
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Turk
Admiral

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USA
736 Posts
Response Posted - 01/02/2006 :  23:38:52  Show Profile  Visit Turk's Homepage
Nice job Kevin. Great info for those who follow your path.
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At Ease
Admiral

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672 Posts
Response Posted - 01/03/2006 :  15:14:55  Show Profile
Looks like you have really done your homework. One of the areas in which we (sailors) do a poor job is trailering...we're into sailing, not trailering! A few suggestions for you, based on my experience towing an RV and what I've learned on the RV Forum:
- I'd be very cautious, as your tow vehicle, although within the manufacturer's recommend tow weight, is over the normal guidlines used...80% of the manufacturer's limit.
- You are right about the surge brakes.
- As you mentioned, Durango is a short wheelbased vehicle, makes it good for the garage, but bad for towing heavy loads due to the lack of stability found in a longer vehicle like a Suburban.
- Without the equalizer hitch, you would probably exceed the limits of your hitch. On my Silverado, the limits without the equilizer are 600 tongue, 5000 gross. With the equalizer they are 1500 and 12000 respectively.
Have fun!
Edited by - At Ease on 01/03/2006 15:16:05
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Capt. Kurt
Navigator

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185 Posts
Response Posted - 01/03/2006 :  16:58:23  Show Profile
Great explanation thanks! Answered all my questions - I'm sold on that hitch, now I have to convince the Admiral.

Kurt
#818 C250WK 'Tortuga'
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mday
Navigator

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197 Posts
Response Posted - 01/08/2006 :  01:16:33  Show Profile
I agree! This is really good information. Thanks for all the time and effort to put it together.

I always wondered what that ugly bracket was attached to my trailer!
Now I know.

Max
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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts
Response Posted - 01/09/2006 :  18:53:39  Show Profile  Visit britinusa's Homepage
Nice job.
out of curiosity, why is the launching tounge on the trailer extension upside down?

Is it because your trailer seems to have the launch extension mounted at an angle and there's not enough room for the hitchlock beneath the road hitch arm? (it looks a nicely designed trailer.)
How long is your launching extension tube? On our trailer king the tube is 11' long, wish it was 13, and there is room for 15'.
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Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts
Response Posted - 01/09/2006 :  20:42:25  Show Profile
Great info Kevin!
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kevinmac
Admiral

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USA
732 Posts
Response Posted - 01/10/2006 :  11:31:02  Show Profile
Britinusa,

It is upside down because it interferes right side up. I have not noticed it being at an angle, I will look again and let you know, and also measure it. Hmmm... a longer extension... I wonder if that would work? Would be heavy, require two people, might be a downside for me, but not others. I think the rope launch idea has the most flexibility, as it gets you potentially much further from the water, and a spare carrier to boot.

Anyway, I'll let you know.
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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts
Response Posted - 01/10/2006 :  13:34:11  Show Profile  Visit britinusa's Homepage
Kevin,
I just looked at your pic set without boat.
Another 'major' difference in our trailers (ours being for a swing keel) is that mast raising beam! Don't take too much from this, but yours seems huge!
I just measured ours, it does not telescope as it appears yours does.
Our MRBeam is 95" from the top of the trailer road hitch beam to the top of the upper roller. Yours looks as though it is about 10'
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kevinmac
Admiral

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USA
732 Posts
Response Posted - 01/11/2006 :  09:47:30  Show Profile
I have not had time to measure the trailer yet, but about the trailer mast height, yes, it is huge. It telescopes somewhere around 4 to 5 feet higher than the retracted position. I think I have read somewhere that the retracted position is about 12'... Anyway, it is a long way up there... On a wing keel, just standing on the deck (while on the trailer) feels like an Alpine view...

Guess I better measure the retracted height too, unless someone out there has already done it. Sorry, you'll have to wait for spring for me to measure the extended height, that sucker is heavy, and I have to put it up with one arm while holding on to the ladder with the other...
Edited by - kevinmac on 01/11/2006 09:49:15
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kevinmac
Admiral

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USA
732 Posts
Response Posted - 01/14/2006 :  14:27:52  Show Profile
Alrighty then, here are the wing keel trailer measurements you requested.

The extension adds 8' to the tongue length of the trailer when installed. The total length of the extension is 11 or 12 feet, forgot to measure that.

The extension is exactly parallel to the trailer when stowed below the tongue. If one of my pictures makes it look angled, it is an illusion.

The vertical mast on the trailer extends 11' 9" from the ground. With the mast on it, I would venture to say the wing keel trailer is 12' 6" high. I would not want to go under anything less than 13' high.

I can you are wondering (I did), early highway construction allowed 14' 6" clearance, but in 1957 16' 6" was established as a standard for all interstate highways.
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ceryes
Deckhand

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USA
22 Posts
Response Posted - 01/26/2006 :  16:48:16  Show Profile
I came to the same conclusions and bought the same hitch, last year. I tow with a Mercury Mountaineer (Ford exporer)
Paul
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
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