Trailer for Aquabat.

[trebor]

Hi all, I need to buy a trailer for my Aquabat, the length is 13 feet, what distance should their be between axle and hitch? does the boat need to be balanced across axle? can boat overhang back of trailer? is their a particular boat trailer which would be suitable without too many mods. Thanks Rob.

[Rupert]

You'd need about 7 feet from bow to cradle to give you some noseweight, but not too much. See if you can find a combi, where the trolley sits on the road base - saves on all the lifting. Boats and Outboards have a trailers section (mostly for powerboats, but some for dinghies) and ebay can be good. Your club's noticeboard good, too, and maybe even ask your boat park manager if there are any abandoned ones he wants shot of!

[Nigel]

Hi Rob,

apart from the obvious mechanical checks on bearings etc. it is a good idea to check the date letter on the tyres. Very few trailer tyres do enough mileage to wear out. This means that there are often seriously out of date tyres that can give you an unexpected failure. Also a good negotiating point

[trebor]

Hi, thanks for prompt reply, good reminder about old tyres, I think that what happens is steel reinforcement corrodes and you get blowouts. A warning to car toppers, since carrying my aquabat to Whitefriars their is now a swishing sound coming from roof lining at speeds above 50mph, check true weight of boat, I also put boat launching trolley on top, this probably was the straw that broke the camels back. Rob.

[Pat]

Trailer and trolley tyres that are in date, but have been sitting in the sunshine are also liable to cracking and failure. Check tyres thoroughly and remember to carry a spare and a trailer jack and wheel nut spanner.

[trebor]

Hi Pat, Thanks for advice, I have seen a few suitable, but they all seem to be either Scotland, Cornwall or Kent or you have to have a free boat. Rob.

[Rupert]

Sometimes a negatively priced boat, Rob. A trailer can be worth more on its own!

[trebor]

Hi Rupert, The problem is what to do with boat you do not want, the local tip will not take it, I have nowhere to store my own boat. Rob.

[Max McCarthy]

Rob, at Barley sailing club you can keep a boat at the top for a while for free, until you have found something to do with it, if your stuck, and that is the only way to go about it.

[trebor]

Hi Max, I would still have problem of getting rid of it eventually, I do not suppose they would let you burn them there? The owner of Trailer cannot get rid of boat, that is why they are selling trailer and you have to take boat, I missed out on Trailer that was based in Worcester by £5 because I was away and could not increase offer, a combi too. Thanks Rob.

[Nigel]

Stick the boat back on eBay for 99p. People will buy anything - just look at us

.... or leave it at the front of your house. People will steal anything!

.....or stick it in the skip your mate has ordered without him knowing about it and enjoy the skip rage!

Failing that, if it really is unsaveable, just chop it up. The tip only refuses boats that are still boat shaped.

[trebor]

Hi Nigel, This still leaves the problem of where to chop it up, I have a log burner, if I could get the pieces small enough, assuming it is a wooden boat, if I had room on the front of the house to leave it to be stolen I would have room to chop it up, how many times have you seen repeated appearances of boats for sale, the Pisces for £650 and others, their is a problem of what to do with unwanted boats, I suppose this why their are so many abandoned at clubs. Rob.

[Nigel]

Hi Rob,

I think the problem with the Pisces is the price rather than the boat. Start at 99p and someone will buy it.

[trebor]

I offered the buyer £400 for the Pisces last year he did not even reply, when it re-appeared I asked him what he would accept for it he said the price was what he expected it to sell for. Rob.

[Rupert]

There are always people like that. Currently there is a (Laser) combi trailer being sold with an 8 foot tender on the bay - could be worth a go - small tenders go for more than racing boats!