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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

trailer tongue extension

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dunphy
Deckhand

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USA
12 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/06/2002 : 23:17:49

Hi....I've a wing on a trail-rite trailer. Unfortunately I dont have ANY Catalina's near me. I would like to rig my trailer with a 10 foot tongue extender. Does anyone have any pics or diagrams of their extenders or any good ideas? Trail-rite has not been helpful. I think I have someone who could frabicate one, but I am not sure how I should attach it to the trailer frame. Thanks in advance for your help!!

Peter Dunphy 6022 "Ghost"

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Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1768 Posts

Response Posted - 06/07/2002 : 00:39:54

Hi Peter,

I don't know if this would help you or not, but here is a link you might want to check out:

http://www.coslink.net/personal/flickafriends/notes/trailer/

This subject came up on the forum a few weeks ago, and someone in our group knew about this guy's method for launching without a tongue extension ... I saved the link to check out later. I don't have any personal experience with this method, but it looked pretty neat.

Good luck!

Buzz Maring, C-25 SK/SR #68, "Freya"

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Gary B.
Admiral

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USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 06/07/2002 : 02:51:49

A season or so ago, I found a piece broken on my EZ Loader tongue extension. I called them (factory is in Spokane, WA). They sent pretty good pictures so I could have parts fabricated. They might be willing to do the same for you, but you might have to fib and let them think you have an EZLoader! It is really not that complicated, but I don't have the drawings any longer....sorry..
Gary on Encore! #685 SK/SR

BTW: I am SO glad that I use a very steep ramp here on the Columbia River; I don't need to use it here at home. I helped a new acquaintance (met through this website) launch his C-25 about 2 weeks ago; he was so pleased that he didn't have to use the "chain" method.

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captck
1st Mate

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USA
34 Posts

Response Posted - 06/07/2002 : 04:16:20

I have an EZ loader w/o extension from factory. I welded 3 cross arms over the tongue and to the left and mounted square "rings" made of large angle on them. I then bought 10' sectio of 3" heavy wall square tube and drilled hols for hitch pin at one end and mounted a coupler o the other. Worke great!

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Hi....I've a wing on a trail-rite trailer. Unfortunately I dont have ANY Catalina's near me. I would like to rig my trailer with a 10 foot tongue extender. Does anyone have any pics or diagrams of their extenders or any good ideas? Trail-rite has not been helpful. I think I have someone who could frabicate one, but I am not sure how I should attach it to the trailer frame. Thanks in advance for your help!!

Peter Dunphy 6022 "Ghost"

<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

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dunphy
Deckhand

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USA
12 Posts

Response Posted - 06/07/2002 : 23:20:28

Thanks for the advice so far!!
peter

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Jeff
1st Mate

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37 Posts

Response Posted - 06/08/2002 : 14:16:36

I had a custom trailer built with a telescoping tongue for my C-25 fin at a local custom trailer shop. My trailer has three 20' sticks of square tubular steel that nest inside each other. The outside stick is welded to the trailer frame (actually it is the "keel" of the trailer - the rest of the trailer is built around it). The center stick floats, and the inside stick has the towing coupling mounted to it. I have two receiver hitch pins that hold the sticks in place.

Here's how it works. Normally the tongue is collapsed with the sticks all inside each other. Two pins (the same type that hold the receiver in place on the truck's towing hitch) hold the various sticks in place. When arriving at the launch ramp, back down to the water's edge as normal. Block the tires fore and aft. Use the two tongue jacks (one on the tongue end, one on the trailer end) to support the weight. Remove the tongue extention pins. Drive the towing vehicle forward to extend the tongue. As the sticks un-nest and the holes line up in the extended position, replace the pins so that the extended tongue is locked in place. Remove the wheel blocks. Launch the boat. Pull the trailer up the ramp. Shorten the tongue by blocking the tires, removing the pins, backing the tow vehicle. Park. Go sailing.

This system has given me an additional 35' of tongue length for launching and recovery. I only use it in fresh water to avoid things rusting up.

Edited by - on

dunphy
Deckhand

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USA
12 Posts

Response Posted - 06/08/2002 : 16:05:06

Jeff.....your system sounds outstanding. I have worried that having much more than a 10 foot extension might lead to buckling, but it sounds as though that has not been a problem. What does that much extension do to tongue weight? I think I am leaning to some sort of extendable weld on or bolt on tube system that parrallels the regular hitch. Yours sounds so nice though as you do not need to "un hook"

Pete

Edited by - Dunphy on 06/09/2002 08:31:46

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Jeff
1st Mate

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37 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2002 : 02:14:23

Not having to un-hook is really nice. The security of knowing that the tongue extention not coming apart is also a plus.

I'm not sure how the towing tongue weight works out. The trailer loaded with the boat and with a 9' Livingston dingy mounted on the forward part of the trailer under the big boat's bow is 7480# according to Washington DOT scales. I've never been able to weigh the tongue weight. I guess it's in the 500# range.

The first time I used the trailer the tongue weight was way too little, so we moved the keel pad forward about 8". Since then everything seems balanced and it tows very nicely.

I opted for electric brakes all around rather than surge brakes. I'm very happy with that choice. I feel that I have better control.

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.