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Trailer idea for FK on cradle

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seashot
1st Mate

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27 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/17/2003 : 22:04:48

I have an idea that needs some comments from y'all.

I need to move my 25 sr/fk from where it is, to where I want it, about 175 miles over the road. Water delivery is around 250 miles and includes an upriver trip through the Detroit River. My idea is to revert to the method used by the factory to deliver these boats new to the dealers. That is, strap the cradle and boat on a flat deck trailer and haul. Some of the problems that are encountered include, overall height must not exceed 12'5" for bridge clearance, weight over the road is around 5000#, and trailers made by people such as Shore Lander run about $4000.00. So my idea is to buy a car trailer. Most of them are tandem axle, with brakes and a wood or metal deck for $1000-1200. I have found several with a load deck height of less that 16" off the road (16" seems to be the limit that will allow the overall height to remain under 12'5"). Weight capacity of most car trailers is 7000#, well within the range I need. I can have a new trailer modified with rings for load straps to secure the cradle to the deck, the cradle still has the rings used to strap the boat to it when delivered new. Most car trailer decks are 16' long with a 5' tongue. This will allow the weight to be centered, or slightly forward, and still clear the back of the tow vehicle with the bow.
As for launching, I will not trailer except to and from my house at the beginning and end of the year, so launching is not an issue as I will use the travel hoist at the marina anyway. In three years the trailer will pay for itself because I will not have storage fees in the winter. And I will have a car trailer to use if needed for other things during the time period the boat is in the water.
Either my pickup or my Explorer can handle the trailer towing weight so a tow vehicle is not a problem.
What am I missing? Seems like a good solution to me.
Fred

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2003 : 00:06:32

Where is the boat now and where is it going?

Don Lucier, 'North Star'
C25 SR/FK
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2cc32b3127cce92e981259d130000001010" border=0>
Cradled on the hard, 200ft from Lake Erie

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lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2003 : 00:12:26

My hunch is that your idea would probably be risky, although without seeing your cradle, it's hard to evaluate. My concerns:
1. How many actual boat hull support points does the cradle have? Are there enough pads to spread shock loads evenly when you hit potholes or debris on the road? Catalina 25 roller trailers generally have 48 to 64 rollers.
2. Liability. Placing a Catalina 25 Fin Keel boat and cradle on a flatbed trailer designed to haul loads with a low center of gravity could cause you to have a serious liability problem if you got in an accident on the highway.
3. Is the cradle built strong enough to withstand "in motion" shock loads? It was probably designed only as a stationary storage cradle, with no intention on the part of the designer or builder to have it used as a transporter. Again, this ties into the liability issue if you have an accident.

The more I consider it, the less attractive the idea seems.

Larry Charlot
Catalina 25 #1205 "Quiet Time"
Sacramento, CA

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Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2003 : 01:19:36

I think either you wrong on the hight or your already in trouble. Lets see 4' keel 5'standing room thats already 9 feet. Standard freeway overpass is 14' why is yours soooo low. Cradle , flatbed, rental, gass, food, motel. Ill tell you what you should do is get a profetional mover. It should be 1500 tops and your done pluss he is insured and can obtain all the permits if needed.

Doug&Ruth
Triska (Alberg 29)
Tacoma Wa.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2003 : 02:12:11

When I bought my boat, I had a marine transport company move it and it cost $450.00. They just lifted the boat, cradle and all, onto a trailer and hauled it away. Most transport company's I contacted said that if the cradle was made of steel and sturdy enough, that it wasn't that difficult to move by flat bed trailer.

As a matter of fact, last spring two Canadiens loaded up a big 28 foot sailboat and towed it 1,000 miles up into the Canadian wilderness. The cradle the boat sat on was made of wood and somewhat rickety, so they beefed it up with some additional lumber, then put the whole thing on a flatbed and hauled it away. They were going to go as slow as possible(45mph) and take it easy when stopping. The one fellow who was doing the towing said he did this kind of long distance hauling(cradled boats) all the time.

Don Lucier, 'North Star'
C25 SR/FK
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2cc32b3127cce92e981259d130000001010" border=0>
Cradled on the hard, 200ft from Lake Erie

Edited by - on

Dennis Pierce
1st Mate

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USA
59 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2003 : 08:58:47

When I factory ordered a Cat-30, one of the extra cost items was a steel shipping cradle at $250.00. The dealer credited me that amount against other accessories.

Forget the car trailer. If you have a gooseneck flatbed at least 20' long, it should work. The tandam wheels are towards the back and the hitch is over the rear axle.

You may need to remove the pulpits and stantions to get clearance.

Unless you have a lot of trailer towning experience, I would let somebody else do the deed. That said, It is an excellent idea and I might well steal it to move a FK 25 from California to Colorado using a flatbed gooseneck trailer and a steel factory cradle

Dennis Pierce
Gypsy Witch #1719

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2003 : 11:50:08

Fred: If you do it, be careful to get the balance right. Proper tongue weight is critical to stability and safety on the road. A boat trailer is set up to be balanced based on the characteristics of the boat. A hauler, on the other hand, doesn't have to worry much about the load on the tractor.

Regarding shock loads, most should be against the bottom of the keel--the rest of the cradle should just be holding the hull upright, so shocks shouldn't put that much stress the other areas of the hull.

Around here, a $4000 boat trailer would pay for itself in under 4 years--if only I had a place to put it.

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

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2003 : 13:57:24

<b>"Around here, a $4000 boat trailer would pay for itself in under 4 years"</b>

Around here, $4,000 boat trailer would pay for itself in under...oh, say...13 years! This is only going on the $4,000 purchase price and not trailer maintenance costs, seasonal storage fees, insurance, plates/registration, tax...etc.

Additionally, the bigger issue is the hidden cost of this $4,000.00 trailer. It requires a capable tow vehicle with it's relatively high costs(initial price <img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle>, gas mileage <img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle>, insurance <img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle>, depreciation <img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle>...etc).

Don Lucier, 'North Star'
C25 SR/FK
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2cc32b3127cce92e981259d130000001010" border=0>
Cradled on the hard, 200ft from Lake Erie

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2003 : 14:09:47

Haul-A-Boat

I had Haul-a-Boat move my 35' 20,000 lb powerboat from San Diego to Milwaukee. The total load must be under 13' 6". They have special low-boy trailers. You will have no problem loading under 13 6 if your boat is under 12 to 12' 6" high. The load must be under 12 feet wide. Cost was about $2/mile.

This should be no problem for a Catalina 25 with the stanchions and bow rails on. They haul boats up to 50' long. They were going to add a 25 foot power boat on the trailer along with mine but that particular deal went south at the last minute.

The driver delivered the boat San Diego to Milwaukee in 3 days.

Boatyard charged for a haul-out on both ends - about $120. I did all other prep work myself.

I'm sure they would throw your cradle on the trailer somewhere.

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2003 : 14:10:33

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osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2003 : 20:29:46

Like don L. I had a marine transport compnay move my boat from Nyack, Ny to Mayfield, NY when we moved to Schenctady. The Bill was about $450 and when I got to the club in Nyack the guy already had the boat and cradle on his truck and nearly had it strapped down. When I got to the marina in Mayfield osmepneo was in the water and the mast was up. For me it was very easy to move boat and cradle this way.

Today it would be a little difficult to do that - after yesterdays 18 inches of additional snow, and water that is hard covering the surface of the lake.

Re. your idea Fred, of a flatbed trailer: Several years ago Nyack Yacht Club hosted Ensign Nationals and a guy from the Midwest haul his Ensign on a cradle, on a flatbed trailer. Looked a like a cool way to do it.

Don Peet
c25, 1665, osmepneo, sr/wk
The Great Sacandaga Lake, NY

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