Association Forum - Trail-Rite verses EZ Loader trailers for C25s

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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Trail-Rite verses EZ Loader trailers for C25s

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/25/2002 : 14:27:02

Oh boy, like Loren, I'm gonna ruffle some feathers with this one!

Someone from our marina purchased a Catalina 25 last week, I believe somewhere on the Chesapeake. As they prepping the boat for transport they discovered (caveat emptor) the trailer would need some maintenance first. Apparently the insides of the EZ Loader box channels are rusted to the point that they are no longer structurally sound!
I've always been skepitcal of the box channels for that very reason. With the Trailer-Rite you can sandblast and re-paint all surfaces of the C-channel (term?).

Edited by - OJ on 10/29/2002 20:02:33

Edited by - on

MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2002 : 18:10:10

a few years ago a friend and I painted our trailers. 110 degree summer in a dry sand back yard for sandblasting<img src=icon_smile_dead.gif border=0 align=middle>. Another friend asked us to paint hers too. This trailer was for an O'day 25, and had seen many better days. After poking around with a screwdriver trying to find spots that wouldn't fall apart from all the rust, Oh, it was a square tube frame, we told her it wasn't worth it to paint and she shouldn't put her boat on it again.
About EZ loaders, I called them up and they said they didn't do cat 25 trailers. Trail right told me they made them for catalinas and had all the measurements. I do like the EZ loader rollers though.

Matt/Brigitte Loeffler
E.C. Rider
Cat 25 86'
FK/SR _/)

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2002 : 19:07:44

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
About EZ loaders, I called them up and they said they didn't do cat 25 trailers. Trail right told me they made them for catalinas and had all the measurements.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>
Interesting, maybe the C25s I've seen on EZ Loaders were purchased later for boats delivered from Catalina without trailers.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2002 : 20:10:13

Regarding EZ Loader rollers, they're rough on the fiberglass, as they present very small surfaces to support a considerable amount of weight--especially if the keel is not fully supported, as it tends not to be while loading and unloading.

And now, for God's sake, why is ANYBODY buying trailers that aren't galvanized?? I got my first one 23 years ago--it had a painted tubular axle, which promptly rusted through from the inside. My next one had a solid axle, Bearing Buddies, and every inch was galvanized except the leaf springs. Twenty years later when we sold the boat, the trailer was gray instead of silver, but as servicable as when we bought it.

Dave Bristle - 1985 C-25 #5032 SR-FK-Dinette-Honda "Passage" in SW CT

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pwhallon
Admiral

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USA
694 Posts

Response Posted - 10/26/2002 : 12:55:14

Hi,

I had a 2000 model trail-rite with my 1989 C-25, ESSAYONS. It performed quite well. I experienced one emergency stop. It braked and manuvered well.

When I sold ESSAYONS, we didn't load the boat far enough forward. It yawed alot when Steve and Jenny drove it to New Hampshire.

They told me all was okay but they had to stay at 55 mph or less. This made for a long trip.

My 1986 C-25, HALIMEDA, had a shorelander with it. a roller trailer that came with the boat. It also worked well.

I recently purchased a 1998 Performance trailer that was fitted for a Catalina 250 wing keel. Having not loaded a boat on it yet I can't comment on the performance. Once the Marinette sells I'll put a Catalina 25 on it. Yee ha!!!<img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>

Paul

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5932 Posts

Response Posted - 10/26/2002 : 13:49:18

When I bought my boat new in 1981, I ordered an EZ Loader galvanized trailer, rather than the Trailrite trailer that Catalina was marketing. At the time, EZ Loader had a reputation for building an excellent trailer, and mine has been relatively maintenance free. After 20 years, I replaced the brake system, and I have replaced the winch, the jack, the lights and the tires of course. Structurally, the trailer is as sound as ever. The only things I ever painted were the fenders and the wheel rims. The boat and trailer pulled smoothly on the highway, and without any sway. The trailer's swing arms work so well that I have pulled my fin keel boat out of the water and loaded it onto the trailer when the tires were only about two-thirds submerged.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Regarding EZ Loader rollers, they're rough on the fiberglass, as they present very small surfaces to support a considerable amount of weight--especially if the keel is not fully supported, as it tends not to be while loading and unloading. <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

I don't understand why you would think that. As I recall, the rollers are about the same size, but Trailrite rollers have a smooth surface, and EZ Loader rollers have a sort of tread formed into their surface. That tread pattern certainly doesn't harm the fiberglass.

Steve Milby "Captiva Wind" C-25 T/FK #2554

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ssteakley
Captain

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USA
467 Posts

Response Posted - 10/28/2002 : 20:15:29

Dave...
I bought a used 99' Trail-Rite that was built for my a 250WK..it is not galvanized but I got it for $1200 and I will only use it just to pull the boat for maintainence, and I will not go near salt water..I think the trailor is good to use for freshwater, it could use a repainting but everything about it is very solid. I am sure salt water sailors need a galvanized trailor but the rest of us can save some bucks. Lots of those stink pot trailors are not galvanized and they are in and out of the water a lot?
Steve Steakley

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Randall
Navigator

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123 Posts

Response Posted - 10/29/2002 : 19:23:05

This topic is right on time! The Army is transferring me from Atlanta to San Antonio, 70 miles from home. "Kite" is headed for Canyon or Lake Amistad.

I've been trying to get the trailer up to speed for the trip, but every chore I do leads to another! I put 4 new 6-ply tires on it, then found the bearings needed repacking or replacing. When doing the bearings I found that the disk brakes were no good. I installed new "Tie-Down" disk calipers and rotors on one axle & replumbed the brake lines up to the hitch/actuator. I couldn't find a replacement Attwood Actuator here in Hotlanta, so I ordered it through boatUS. Estimated delivery is three weeks, and I leave in two weeks.

My next concern is that there is very little clearance between the calipers and wheels-- 1/8" to 1/4" tops. Is that enough, or do I need to buy new rims & have the new tires remounted?

This thread has now given me new things to wonder about. I have an un-galvanized Dilly. the open frame looks good, but it does have tubular axles. They look good on the outside, but now I have to worry about the inside rust! Thanks, Guys.

Randall

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 10/29/2002 : 20:00:07

Randall,
Good point! The square channel axles on the Trail-Rite are a very heavy gauge. I haven't heard of an axle failure on a Trail-Rite . . . yet.

I'd bet that you can get the parts you need shipped within 1 business day from:

http://www.championtrailers.com/

They also have a technical service department - regarding you caliper clearance question.

Good luck.

Edited by - OJ on 10/29/2002 20:04:38

Edited by - OJ on 10/29/2002 20:06:10

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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2984 Posts

Response Posted - 10/30/2002 : 10:03:51

I agree that you ought to be able to get the needed coupler from Champion in two days. The other suggestion...as you have all new brake system... go with dot5 synthetic brake fluid.

Normal brake fluids sponge moisture...the contaminated brake fluid then becomes very corrosive and within a couple of years the fluid is dark looking from internal rust which grinds away the cups and then causes a leaky and sticking brake system.

The Dot5 fluid will not attract moisture... and after three years the fluid still looks perfectly clear...indicating there is no rust in the system.

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224

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Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3324 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2002 : 11:28:34

Randall - we wish you an (early) Welcome to San Antonio! (the prettiest city in the USA!)
Hope that you will choose Canyon Lake as a "parking spot" for the boat - we need some more Catalinas to keep Steve, Bren, Rick and me company! We might even be able to start our own Fleet...
Derek on "This Side Up" Slip B-31

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