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Any likelihood of finding a cat trailer for sale?

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ReluctantRookie
Deckhand

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23 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/10/2011 : 01:16:09

I'll try to keep this short...

May be losing our spot at our local marina (while I am a member, the boat was under Dad and Mum's names (and seniority - Dad was a founding member) and sadly they both passed away recently).

I have been told that come the end of the summer there is a good chance I will have to remove the boat until my seniority comes up (should have joined as a junior member in hindsight - I grew up at the club).

Rather than moving to a much more expensive moorage option, my thought was to put the 1984 swing keel in it's natural habitat - on a trailer - for the winter. I have space to park it, and it would give me a chance to catch up on jobs more easily. Trying to see the bright side. :)

Have done a bit of poking around on Google, but haven't come up with any leads on a trailer. Any suggestions?

Cheers.

1984 Catalina 25 SK/SR
"Bungo III"

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 05/10/2011 : 04:08:08

Paul, as you've already noticed - used C25 trailers are few and far between - and when they do become available there's the geoegraphic location issue.

Are you looking strictly for used or would you consider new? Where do you hail from?

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 05/10/2011 : 06:06:18

They do come up, but you have to be quick and ready to accept whatever you find.

Sometimes folks will separate a boat and trailer they are selling as a package, but the trailer really increases the value of the boat.

Another option is a cradle, which is cheaper to build, and a flatbed trailer, however this is not a road-worthy alternative. We do this, but hire a towtruck to haul it - removes the liability from me, and the towtrucks have adequate hydraulics to handle the load and adjust the tilt on the trailer to "just right." Before they move the boat we point out the lack of a bow stop and let them know that we are just too nervous to move it ourselves. We have only ever had one driver refuse to move the load - and its only 8 miles to our slip from our house. They seem to like to travel at about 40 km/h with the boat, which is fine. Cost is around $80 each way.

You can also marine hauler to move the boat. they have doodads that will hold the boat in place. We did this with our fin keel at first, but it got spendy ($150 to go 8 miles).

Edited by - on

ReluctantRookie
Deckhand

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23 Posts

Response Posted - 05/10/2011 : 09:26:29

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by OJ
 Paul, as you've already noticed - used C25 trailers are few and far between - and when they do become available there's the geoegraphic location issue.

Are you looking strictly for used or would you consider new? Where do you hail from?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

OJ, thanks for your response. I'm considering all options at the moment. What does a new trailer go for? I hopefully only need it for the 1 winter, so what do you think resale might be?

I'm in Vancouver, BC.

Edited by - on

ReluctantRookie
Deckhand

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Response Posted - 05/10/2011 : 09:34:21

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Prospector
 They do come up, but you have to be quick and ready to accept whatever you find.

Sometimes folks will separate a boat and trailer they are selling as a package, but the trailer really increases the value of the boat.

Another option is a cradle, which is cheaper to build, and a flatbed trailer, however this is not a road-worthy alternative. We do this, but hire a towtruck to haul it - removes the liability from me, and the towtrucks have adequate hydraulics to handle the load and adjust the tilt on the trailer to "just right." Before they move the boat we point out the lack of a bow stop and let them know that we are just too nervous to move it ourselves. We have only ever had one driver refuse to move the load - and its only 8 miles to our slip from our house. They seem to like to travel at about 40 km/h with the boat, which is fine. Cost is around $80 each way.

You can also marine hauler to move the boat. they have doodads that will hold the boat in place. We did this with our fin keel at first, but it got spendy ($150 to go 8 miles).
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Prospector, thanks for the reply. That is an interesting solution I would not have thought of (love these forums). We are only 3-4 miles from the slip also so might be an option, but I can't for the life of me get my head around the operation here.

Parts needed:
- flat bed trailer (if you don't have one handy where would you buy/rent?)
- blocking to mount boat on trailer.
- hoist to pull boat out of water (this is a bit farther from the house, but still only 5 miles or so.
- an iron will, and courage.

Does this sound right? What else am I missing.

Has anyone else tried something like this?

Thanks.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 05/10/2011 : 09:52:58

First, its nice to see another Canadian on the board - Go Canucks!! (Although I prefer cheering for the Habs)

Lotsa folks will tell you hauling on a flatbed is dangerous - they are right. You don't haul far or fast, and you hire someone else if you can.

You get a cradle made to set the boat on. Put the cradle on the trailer and bolt it down. Have the boat lifted onto the cradle by the crain/hoist. At the end of the day you have a cradle and a trailer, 2 separate items. While the boat is in the water you can use the trailer for whatever other stuff you want. While the boat is on the cradle, it is bolted down and not moving. Looks like this (from SWMBO's blog):

http://ravens-rook.blogspot.com/2009/10/poor-lonely-iris.html

For storage in your yard you leave the boat on the trailer. Trust me, its a helluva lot of work to get the boat & cradle off the trailer unless you hire in a crane, and that is pricey. This likely won't work if you plan on drysailing, but I read your post above as being that you just need a trailer for winter storage. With the trailer in your yard, you can use a jack to lift corners of the trailer to get teh right drainage from teh scuppers on teh baot and prevent water from pooling. I usually go out with a garden hose on teh day the boat comes home, and let my kids "wash" the boat down. While they do that I tinker with the tilt and block teh corners of teh trailer until it is sitting nicely.

In the summer I stash teh cradle on our property, and use the trailer to move cars etc.

Whatever you decide, remember that you have to remove the rudder from the boat for dry storage, and put it someplace cool and shady, otherwise you will be replacing it in short order.

Edited by - Prospector on 05/10/2011 09:55:03

NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 05/10/2011 : 09:53:25

It might be cheaper and easier to buy a motorboat trailer, then raise the bunks.
I'm doing this and just posted a thread about it.

Edited by - on

ReluctantRookie
Deckhand

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23 Posts

Response Posted - 05/10/2011 : 10:37:58

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Prospector
 First, its nice to see another Canadian on the board - Go Canucks!! (Although I prefer cheering for the Habs)

Lotsa folks will tell you hauling on a flatbed is dangerous - they are right. You don't haul far or fast, and you hire someone else if you can.

You get a cradle made to set the boat on. Put the cradle on the trailer and bolt it down. Have the boat lifted onto the cradle by the crain/hoist. At the end of the day you have a cradle and a trailer, 2 separate items. While the boat is in the water you can use the trailer for whatever other stuff you want. While the boat is on the cradle, it is bolted down and not moving. Looks like this (from SWMBO's blog):

http://ravens-rook.blogspot.com/2009/10/poor-lonely-iris.html

For storage in your yard you leave the boat on the trailer. Trust me, its a helluva lot of work to get the boat & cradle off the trailer unless you hire in a crane, and that is pricey. This likely won't work if you plan on drysailing, but I read your post above as being that you just need a trailer for winter storage. With the trailer in your yard, you can use a jack to lift corners of the trailer to get teh right drainage from teh scuppers on teh baot and prevent water from pooling. I usually go out with a garden hose on teh day the boat comes home, and let my kids "wash" the boat down. While they do that I tinker with the tilt and block teh corners of teh trailer until it is sitting nicely.

In the summer I stash teh cradle on our property, and use the trailer to move cars etc.

Whatever you decide, remember that you have to remove the rudder from the boat for dry storage, and put it someplace cool and shady, otherwise you will be replacing it in short order.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Thanks Prospector that clarifies things a lot. I had something quite different in my mind initially. Something to think about for sure. It is just for winter storage, and I don't have to travel far. Unfortunately local haul-out rates are a bit steep ($200-250) so that starts to add up.

But interesting all the same.

Yes, Go Canucks! I'm not much of a hockey fan I have to admit (I know dangerous thing to say in Canada) but things are going well for us in the playoffs so far so might jump on the playoff band wagon soon. But not this week as I have a keel pin replacement project waiting.

Thanks again.

Edited by - on

ReluctantRookie
Deckhand

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23 Posts

Response Posted - 05/10/2011 : 10:49:58

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by NautiC25
 It might be cheaper and easier to buy a motorboat trailer, then raise the bunks.
I'm doing this and just posted a thread about it.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Had a look at the post. Another good option. Thanks.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 05/10/2011 : 10:53:03

Here's a link to the tech tips section showing the cradle dimensions. This is what you would build/have built for securing to a dual axle flatbed trailer, if you wanted to go that route.

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

Also, here's a link to a company that deals in refurbishing boat trailers. Might find something useful there:

http://www.customsailboattrailers.com/

Edited by - dmpilc on 05/10/2011 10:56:57

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 05/10/2011 : 11:06:32

Until last night the Nashville Predators were doing quite well. Go Preds! All in all a good year for us; not bad for a franchise less than 15 years old.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 05/10/2011 : 11:07:06

If cost is a factor, the flatbed paid for itself on the 5th cradle we relocated from Lake Ontario to Georgian bay ($200 per move). Something you may want to consider, but with gas prices going up, it may take more trips to pay off your investment. I have no idea what sort of a business you could develop out west. It continues to pay for itself with the occasional vehicle haul for friends, but we no longer list our servces for relocating cradles, and now th epayment is mostly in beer.

Edited by - Prospector on 05/10/2011 11:08:13

ReluctantRookie
Deckhand

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23 Posts

Response Posted - 05/10/2011 : 12:17:57

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Prospector
 If cost is a factor, the flatbed paid for itself on the 5th cradle we relocated from Lake Ontario to Georgian bay ($200 per move). Something you may want to consider, but with gas prices going up, it may take more trips to pay off your investment. I have no idea what sort of a business you could develop out west. It continues to pay for itself with the occasional vehicle haul for friends, but we no longer list our servces for relocating cradles, and now th epayment is mostly in beer.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Nothing wrong with beer for sure...

Edited by - on

ReluctantRookie
Deckhand

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23 Posts

Response Posted - 05/10/2011 : 15:00:31

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dmpilc
 Here's a link to the tech tips section showing the cradle dimensions. This is what you would build/have built for securing to a dual axle flatbed trailer, if you wanted to go that route.

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

Also, here's a link to a company that deals in refurbishing boat trailers. Might find something useful there:

http://www.customsailboattrailers.com/

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

Thanks Dave - 2 great suggestions.

And don't count those Predators out yet. The Canucks have a franchise history of folding just when you think the have it in the bag.

Edited by - on

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