Association Forum - Trailer for Wing AND Swing?

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

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.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Trailer for Wing AND Swing?

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

Page: of 2

dreddick
Navigator

Member Avatar

117 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/06/2006 : 12:38:42

Hello - I am a Catalina 22 owner who has just started looking around for a 25 (86 or later WK). I was surprised to find that many 25s don't have a trailer. I figure my chances of finding a used one are slim and I'm looking into a new one in the Ohio area (even though I won't be using it for more than spring launch and fall pull and store). While I'm looking for a WK I want to keep options open for a SK. Can a trailer be made for a WK that could easily be adapted for a SK? I figured a SK might load and you could lower the keel a few inches?

Thanks.

David

David
87 S2 35C "ADAMA"
80 Siren 17
PO - 89 TR/WK #5892

NW Ohio - Catawba Island

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 08/06/2006 : 15:52:21

The measurements are the same.

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 08/06/2006 : 16:16:35

David,

You obviously have good taste in boats!

All C-25 keel types need a keel support built into the trailer. The keel support for a swing keel will never be subjected to more than maybe 1,000 lbs static load. However, the keel support for a wing keel might have to handle up to the entire weight of the boat, depending on how the rest of the trailer is adjusted, and on how the hull is positioned when being loaded. In either case, obviously that keel support platform and cross member needs to be there, and needs to be substanial.

-- Leon Sisson

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 08/06/2006 : 21:21:41

David,

Do you keep your boat on Lake Erie?

Edited by - on

dreddick
Navigator

Members Avatar

117 Posts

Response Posted - 08/06/2006 : 22:50:54

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dlucier
 David,

Do you keep your boat on Lake Erie?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

No, we're on Grand Lake St. Marys.

David

Edited by - on

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2006 : 10:02:45

I went the other way, David. I had a SK boat with trailer, that I coverted to the WK. The trailer only needed minor modification (a block of wood) to accommodate the wing. Traveling to and from Lake Erie this year, five hours total, I didn't see anything bent or twisted on the crossbeam that was mentioned earlier. That trip was by far the furthest I'd trailered the boat since I had the conversion done.

Good luck.

Edited by - on

dreddick
Navigator

Members Avatar

117 Posts

Response Posted - 08/09/2006 : 14:02:53

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Ben
 I went the other way, David. I had a SK boat with trailer, that I coverted to the WK. The trailer only needed minor modification (a block of wood) to accommodate the wing.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Thanks Ben. So you needed the block of wood to fill in a few inches below the wing keel? If so I'm guessing that when you were using the swing you would load the boat and then had room to lower the keel a number of inches?

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1608 Posts

Response Posted - 08/09/2006 : 15:21:43

When my SK is loaded on its trailer with the keel fully up, the keel is then lowered about 3 or 4 inches to rest on its 'bed'.
When I was looking for my boat, I was looking for the best deal on a WK or a SK. Almost every SK had a trailer and only 'some' of the WK's had trailers.

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 08/09/2006 : 18:28:30

My 88 wing is not supported. The boat sits on bunks with the wing suspended below. I would think that if the bunks or rollers for a swing would work if they can be adjusted. Mine are adjustable.

My trailor also has side boards to guide the wing onto the trailor. You may want to add these on any SK trailor you pick up to convert for a wing. They help a lot getting the boat on the trailor.

Edited by - aeckhart on 08/09/2006 18:30:12

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 08/10/2006 : 07:18:41

Dreddick, yes; I put the board on the keel tray to add a few inches. It looks to me like the adjustable bunks on my trailer were set really high, maybe as high as possible, which really made it easy when converting the boat to a wing.

I thought about building a guide for the wing keel to aid in retrieval at the ramp, but instead chose to put "goal posts" on the aft of the trailer. This helps a lot, but probably not as much as a keel guide would. The goal posts make it tons easier to see if the boat is centered on the trailer.

The first retrieval after having the wing installed was a nightmare. There was a pretty strong breeze on our bow, and we just could not get the boat to stay on the trailer without having the wind knock us off center before we pulled the tow vehicle forward. The goal posts help to see where we are on the trailer because they stick out of the water and we can have someone use a boat hook to push or pull to steady the boat while it is pulled forward out of the water.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 08/10/2006 : 09:55:38

The problem with guides on a wing trailer is you can never use a lift, how do you get the wings past the guides? Where I sail we lift in and out and guides get cut off by the resident welder.

Edited by - on

gnorgan
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
563 Posts

Response Posted - 08/10/2006 : 14:45:42

Ben, we also have a wing. I have been thinking about adding what you call "goalposts" to my trailer.
Got any great pics you could post? This would be a good addition to the tech section, too!!

Edited by - on

dreddick
Navigator

Members Avatar

117 Posts

Response Posted - 08/10/2006 : 20:31:35

I have called a few trailer builders and one that was recommended to me is fairly local (Toledo). I sort of have a ‘Catch 22’ – the builder would like the boat to custom build the trailer – but I don’t have the boat, yet. Does anyone think Catalina would have the measurements needed for building a trailer that I could then get to the builder? I emailed them to check but haven't heard back. My backup option is to beg, borrow, or rent a trailer to get to him that he could then measure. If I do that does it matter what year of 25 the trailer was built for? Were the specs the same say between a ’79 and a ’89?

Thanks.

David

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1768 Posts

Response Posted - 08/10/2006 : 20:35:51

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by gnorgan
 Ben, we also have a wing. I have been thinking about adding what you call "goalposts" to my trailer.
Got any great pics you could post? This would be a good addition to the tech section, too!!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Hi Gary,

Bren Peterson added guide posts to his trailer ... here is a link to that thread from our archives: [url="http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=3201&SearchTerms=pvc"]Trailer Guide Posts[/url]

Unfortunately, the photos no longer appear in that thread. Maybe Bren will see this and re-post them ... if not, you could email him (Bren737).

'Hope that helps ...

Edited by - on

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2006 : 08:15:16

Gary, this picture was taken at the Edgewater Yacht Club as I'm getting ready to have my boat launched. You can see the gaol posts. I bought them at WM for about $60.00 and they installed easily and can easily be adjusted. one thing I had to do was once they were installed, bend them back (to port and starboard essentially) to spread out the posts. This was easily done. I think I will also get longer PVC pipes so when retrieving they rub the rub rails rather than the gelcoat.

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

3072 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2006 : 09:19:47

> "My 88 wing is not supported.... wing suspended below."

Al, is that a factory set-up? I've never seen a heavy keel boat that didn't have support under the keel on the trailer to carry a portion of the weight.

The stresses produced by short-duration impulse loads (ie jarring) during trailering can be huge. If you could see slow motion video of the boat reacting to a pothole it would probably be pretty scary.

Edited by - on

dreddick
Navigator

Members Avatar

117 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2006 : 19:38:54

I did hear back from Catalina - they just recommended that I contact Trail Rite or Triad (for east coast).

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dreddick
 I have called a few trailer builders and one that was recommended to me is fairly local (Toledo). I sort of have a ‘Catch 22’ – the builder would like the boat to custom build the trailer – but I don’t have the boat, yet. Does anyone think Catalina would have the measurements needed for building a trailer that I could then get to the builder? I emailed them to check but haven't heard back. My backup option is to beg, borrow, or rent a trailer to get to him that he could then measure. If I do that does it matter what year of 25 the trailer was built for? Were the specs the same say between a ’79 and a ’89?

Thanks.

David

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Edited by - on

dreddick
Navigator

Members Avatar

117 Posts

Response Posted - 08/15/2006 : 08:36:30

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dreddick
 My backup option is to beg, borrow, or rent a trailer to get to him that he could then measure. If I do that does it matter what year of 25 the trailer was built for? Were the specs the same say between a ’79 and a ’89?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Does anyone know the answer to this query? Are the hull specs and contours, etc. the same on the pre '86 25s as the later 80's 25s so that the bunks would fit either one?

Thanks.

David

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 08/15/2006 : 12:49:31

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dreddick
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dreddick
 My backup option is to beg, borrow, or rent a trailer to get to him that he could then measure. If I do that does it matter what year of 25 the trailer was built for? Were the specs the same say between a ’79 and a ’89?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Does anyone know the answer to this query? Are the hull specs and contours, etc. the same on the pre '86 25s as the later 80's 25s so that the bunks would fit either one?

Thanks.

David

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

The hull form has not changed. The measurements are in our manuals section, they are for a cradle but the measurements should help.

Edited by - Frank Hopper on 08/15/2006 12:50:50

Kip C
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
243 Posts

Response Posted - 08/15/2006 : 13:11:30

David,
I'm at Brookville Lake in Indiana. I don't plan on using my wing trailer til late Oct., email me if need be, maybe we can work something out. As an alternative, our local dealer has a couple of cradles for Cat 25s, you may be able to find a flat bed trailer to go with it.
Kip

Edited by - Kip C on 08/15/2006 13:39:15

EAbrams
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
130 Posts

Response Posted - 08/16/2006 : 12:20:55

David

You mentioned Triad Trailers for the east coast. I feel you can not go wrong if you buy a trailer from them. I can’t say nicer things about Mike Orro and Triad Trailers. Mike is the owner and designer of all the trailers built at the New Milford, Connecticut based company. They have a CAD (Computer Aided Design) program with a long list of boat specifications. If he doesn’t have your specs he contacts the company and gets them. The trailers are not inexpensive, but worth it.

First let me say he is not perfect. But if he was I would not have this story to pass on to you. IMHO his customer service is what makes it worth while to consider buying from Triad.

I requested a price quote from Triad in March 2006. I didn’t want to buy a trailer but the PO of my boat reneged on selling the jack stands and delivering the boat to me. I was looking at my options. Not only did I need a way to get my boat I needed something to store it on. All I asked for was a quote. In June Mike called and informed me that they had mistakenly constructed the trailer anyway and asked “did I still want it”? I did.

I arrived on a Tuesday to pick up the trailer with plans to pick up the boat Wednesday. One of Triad’s employees was giving me instructions when Mike came out with a tape measure and exclaimed “We built the wrong trailer”!.

Triad had built a trailer for a C-250. Mike knew I had to pick up my boat on Wednesday and I had already driven several hours from home to Conn. He set about modifying the trailer so I could get my boat home. Cutting hull supports and adding wood for the keel. This went on for several hours. While this was going on Mike was on the phone with a marina in Maine telling them he would pay for them to haul my boat and place it on the trailer. He even offered to pay for a marina in NY to launch it. I managed to find a ramp deep enough. With all the mods I still needed at least 5 + feet of water.

Triad is currently building a brand new trailer and will deliver it to my home free of charge. They will pick up the C-250 trailer which will have to be set aside as the hull supports were cut and it may not fit a C-250 now. Mike said don’t worry about that “I just want you to be able to get your boat home”.

Now I know some of you will say “he should do this. He built the wrong trailer”. It was the way he went about it without blinking an eye and with genuine concern for me getting the boat home. Because of this, I highly recommend Triad Trailers.

PS Checked the database and found a 22' Cat and a 22' Ketch, but can not find trailer for a "CATCH 22"

Edited by - EAbrams on 08/16/2006 12:30:30

gnorgan
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
563 Posts

Response Posted - 08/16/2006 : 12:27:26

Ben, thanks for the picture of the goal posts. I'm off to West Marine...

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 08/16/2006 : 14:04:15

Triad rocks

Edited by - on

dreddick
Navigator

Members Avatar

117 Posts

Response Posted - 08/23/2006 : 14:09:32

Does anyone have the following measurements for a late '80s WK? The width of the keel just below where it attaches to the hull and the width of the wing?

Thanks.

David

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 08/23/2006 : 16:24:28

No, but here is a photo that you can estimate from.

Edited by - on

dreddick
Navigator

Members Avatar

117 Posts

Response Posted - 08/23/2006 : 23:48:54

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by fhopper@mac.com
 No, but here is a photo that you can estimate from...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Thanks for the picture. I was wondering about the keel measurements for guides for the keel. If I have one built like yours in the picture I wouldn't have to worry about those measurements after all. I plan to go with a local trailer builder who did a swing keel trailer for a member of our boat club. I am going to take that trailer in to have it measured and add a few inches of height to the bunks for the diff between the SK and a WK. I would guess not having the guides for the keel makes it harder to line up, but you wouldn't have to worry about the keel hanging up, either.

Edited by - on

Page: of 2

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

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.