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Convert swing keel trailer to wing keel trailer

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mga
1st Mate

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USA
38 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/05/2010 : 13:48:17

I am purchasing a 1989 Cat-25 wing keel (without a trailer), and need to transport it from NJ to MI (I also want to trailer-sail around the Great Lakes with my grandkids). I have found a nicely refurbished Cat-25 swing keel trailer with rollers for sale. Has anyone out there actually successfully modified a roller-type swing keel trailer to properly haul a wing keel Cat-25? Advice is good, but actual experience would even be better -- time is short and I don't want to lose the boat sale. Thanks.

Mike Aimone
Belleville, MI
C25 #5856 SR/WK
"Lean Machine"

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 09/05/2010 : 15:50:27

There's only a few inches difference in draft between a retracted swing keel (2'-8") and a wing keel (2'-10").

I modified a Hunter 26HDM trailer to carry my '89 C25 SR/WK. Wasn't that big of a deal. My trailer has bunks and I just had to raise them. I'd guess a roller type trailer would require the same.

Edited by - GaryB on 09/05/2010 16:02:04

mga
1st Mate

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USA
38 Posts

Response Posted - 09/05/2010 : 17:28:55

Thanks for the quick reply, GaryB. I've read that some (not all) of the keel weight needs to be supported by the trailer, to avoid large keel loads to the hull during rough trailering. How did you handle this (share the load between the bunks and the keel support), or did you just let it hang?

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 09/05/2010 : 18:41:03

What brand of trailer is it?

When we had our trailer built by Trail-Rite last fall, they explained that 70% of the boat weight sits on the keel, 30% on the roller trains.

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 09/05/2010 : 18:58:34

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by mga
 Thanks for the quick reply, GaryB. I've read that some (not all) of the keel weight needs to be supported by the trailer, to avoid large keel loads to the hull during rough trailering. How did you handle this (share the load between the bunks and the keel support), or did you just let it hang?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
OJ's got it right from everything I've ever heard.

I haven't actually pulled my boat yet but I did have the TravelLift set the boat on the trailer so I could get the bunks adjusted as close as possible.

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mga
1st Mate

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USA
38 Posts

Response Posted - 09/05/2010 : 19:46:29

I'm waiting for an email with name of trailer manufacturer (owner is out of town). Roller heights are adjustable. Since the keel is to be supported (per OJ), if I want to make use of the rollers for ease of loading, it seems that a series of flat rollers for the wing keel would be a good idea (if keel is contacting a wood plank with 70% of the load, it might be quite difficult to move the boat on the hull rollers up to the bow v-block). Also, I'm not sure how one would adjust to balance the load at 70% keel, 30% hull, without hydraulically lifting the keel support incorporating a load cell, and tightening/welding the support when it reads .7 times boat displacement.

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jhinton
Navigator

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USA
123 Posts

Response Posted - 09/05/2010 : 19:56:19

mga- We live just next door in Ypsilanti! We keep our C-25 swing keel on its trailer down on Lake Erie. You're more than welcome to take a look at it if it would help.

It's a swing keel, roller type trailer and sounds a lot like the one you're looking at. Let me know!

My email address is jmhinton *at* umich *dot* edu if you want to email.

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mga
1st Mate

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USA
38 Posts

Response Posted - 09/06/2010 : 06:38:42

Thanks, jhinton. I'll send an email this morning. Now if I could also find a wing keel roller type trailer to look at/measure/take pics, this close to home...

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 09/06/2010 : 08:02:09

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by mga
 . . . it seems that a series of flat rollers for the wing keel would be a good idea (if keel is contacting a wood plank with 70% of the load, it might be quite difficult to move the boat on the hull rollers up to the bow v-block) . . .
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Good point - you are thinking this thru very thoroughly - good for you. My wing keel sits on carpeted bunks. Trail-Rite explained that right after retrieving, the wet carpet will reduce friction - allowing you to winch the boat forward into the v-blocks.

I would send you pix/dimensions but the newer Trail-Rite design has the boat sitting lower than the earlier versions. If it is a Trail-Rite, Rob Herbold might offer some guidance on your conversion.

Keep us posted!

Edited by - OJ on 09/06/2010 08:03:32

mga
1st Mate

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USA
38 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2010 : 21:01:52

The trailer I was buying was taken off the market due to mechanical issues, and I came up short finding another one -- so I am having one built for my new wing keel C25 (meant selling my C22 to help pay for it). Thanks for the above input -- this is a great forum! If anyone has any hull and keel drawings to help the trailer builder, it sure would help.

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 09/28/2010 : 18:18:46

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by mga
 The trailer I was buying was taken off the market due to mechanical issues, and I came up short finding another one -- so I am having one built for my new wing keel C25 (meant selling my C22 to help pay for it). Thanks for the above input -- this is a great forum! If anyone has any hull and keel drawings to help the trailer builder, it sure would help.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

This might be of some help:

http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/tech/tech25/tt011.asp

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mga
1st Mate

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USA
38 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2010 : 14:20:48

Gary,
The diagram was what I was looking for. Thanks.

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