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Where to get Trailer with rollers (Mfgr)

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Scooter
Navigator

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USA
228 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/03/2005 : 23:13:28

Just looking for what others have found if they searched for makers of new trailers for C25s (with rollers). Must be Galvanized (sp?).

I may have an opportunity to change from pads to rollers if I can find who makes trailers with rollers. I've got some leads but looking for others. I am probably looking at exchanging or selling the trailer I have and buying a new trailer with rollers. (Don't really like the pads.)

In case your wondering, I'm not ready to sell the trailer alone just yet, so don't ask. Sorry. Trust me the forum would be the first place I would notify.

Scooter
C25 '89 SR/WK #5878 "Square Knot"
Vandemere NC.

Edited by - on

Dave Laux
Captain

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318 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2005 : 07:43:52

Scooter,
My friends at Long Trailer in Tarboro make a great trailer for a C25. I just bought one for one of our customers and am about to buy another. 252 823-8104 is Long's number to find out who sells them near you. Model SA-3500-GS with heavy running gear GVW around 8000lbs. Ours is about 6 years old now with no problems. Dave

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2005 : 08:50:32

Why not convert?

Edited by - on

Benge
Deckhand

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USA
8 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2005 : 17:43:40

I have a Trail Rite trailer that came with rollers.

Edited by - on

lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 05/05/2005 : 00:08:59

Trail-Rite is the "official" trailer supplier for the Catalina Factory in Woodland Hills, CA, and they can make you a galvanized roller trailer for any model year Catalina 25. The last time I checked, about 18 months ago, the price was around $8000 for a 10,000 pound capacity tandem axle. The wholesale price of steel has risen substantially since then, so the current price is probably higher. When I was shopping for a trailer myself, I found that a surprising number of manufacturers, including Champion (Louisiana) and EZ-Loader (Seattle), stated unequivically that they were no longer making trailers for ANY type of sailboats, due to the low demand, and hence low profitability. The local EZ-Loader distributor told me that the the problem with sailboat trailers is that they have to be so much more complicated than a typical ski-boat trailer, which raises the fabrication costs considerably. The shapes of the cross-members have to be customized to support the swing or wing keel at different points, so they can't all be the same. Sailboats sit much higher on the trailer. and the complex-curved hull shapes require more complicated supports than the relatively flat bottoms of powerboats. Whatever, this salesman dude said that EZ-Loader "just didn't want to hassle with sailboat trailers anymore". I can see their point of view - a company like Trail-Rite probably builds a thousand powerboat trailers for every one sailboat trailer that a customer orders. My trailer was made by DHM, a local builder in Sacramento that makes any kind of custom trailer a customer needs, and more than half of the Catalina 22's and 25's at Folsom Lake that were originally sold by The Foredeck are sitting on DHM trailers, but like any "custom" builder, they're more expensive - about 10%~15% more than Trail-Rite on the two different bids I requested from them. DHM bid $8800, Trailrite $8000 for a Catalina 25 10,000# capacity roller trailer with similar features. Most custom trailer builders will probably be similar.

A word on capacity: You will see many postings on this Forum from people who got trailers built for $5500, or even less. I would guess that these are mostly trailers with the "minimum" legal capacity, 6000# to 7500#, drum brakes, and painted, not galvanized. I strongly recommend that anyone ordering a new trailer for any Catalina 25 specify 10,000# minimum capacity. What is the difference you ask?
10K Frame: C6 side rails with C5 crossmembers
7.5K Frame: C5 side rails with C4 crossmembers

10K Axles: Two 5200# capacity, 3" x 2" tubes (much stronger!).
7.5K axles 3700# capacity, 2" x 2" tubes.

10K Brakes: 12" drums
7.5K brakes: 10" drums
(disc rotors and calipers are protionately bigger if you get disc brakes)

10K Tires: 15" Load Range "D"
7.5K Tires: 14" Load Range "C"
10K Coupler: DICO #10 (10,000# capacity)
7.5K Coupler: DICO #6 (6,000# capacity).

Why spend the extra money? Because if you trailer your Catalina 25 any kind of distance, you will have less chance of busting a spring or bending an axle tube in a highway pothole somewhere. "AAA" will haul your tow vehicle to a garage if it breaks down on the road somewhere, but who will tow your boat and trailer off the freeway if the trailer looses an axle? And how much is it likely going to cost to have some local Joe Sixpack tow company hoist your disabled, 7500# worth of boat and trailer onto a big flatbed and tow it off the highway? Or will you replace that busted axle by the side of the road yourself? Got a 3-ton capacity floor jack with you? (you should, by the way, if you're going to tow any kind of big boat or RV trailer). Can you actually manhandle the broken axle and it's replacement? (they're pretty heavy). So, yeah, take my word for it, the 10,000# capacity trailer is worth every penny if you're going to plunk a Catalina 25 on it. You've paid plenty to buy and equip your boat. Don't go "cheap" on the trailer. Sorry for the rant, I see so many Catalina 25's out at the lake on inadequate 6000# capacity trailers, many with axles that are visibly warped and springs squashed flat.

Edited by - lcharlot on 05/05/2005 00:31:52

Scooter
Navigator

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USA
228 Posts

Response Posted - 05/13/2005 : 11:02:24

Thanks for the replies. FYI

When I bought my C25 last Sept I bought a new Galvanized trailer for around $3,000. It had pads and I made the mistake of "assuming" the maker had the experience to deliver it "pre-setup". That is what I was told. It is rated enough for the load so no issue there. When it came it was not "setup" for the boat so I had to adjust everything the first time I used it. Lucky for me I bought the boat from a place that I had to use a boat yard to haul it. Since it was in a sling it was pretty easy to have the baot hang there and back th etrailer under th eboat and lower it down onto th etrailer. We then adjusted the pads to the boat and lowered the mast etc... Took some time but went fine. The issue was the first time I went to use a ramp. This required more adjustments since the first time I splashed it the entire trailer actually floated since the wing caught on the pads. I quickly figured out to float the boat then pull the trailer out from under the boat. The issue is now loading. Rollers would be nicer but not required.

I would not pay $8,000 just to get rollers so, if that's the cost of a new roller trailer, I can manage the pads. Rollers are not worth $5,000 to me.

I will call the places above, though, to get prices on conversion but that money can be better spent (in my opinion). A nice new 4 stroke would be better spent to me.

Again thanks for the responses.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 05/13/2005 : 12:16:29

Easternmarine.com had the best price on rollers when I replaced mine. I needed 64 of them and paid $4.50 a piece for them.

Edited by - on

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