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danny
United Kingdom
27 Posts |
 Posted - 24 Nov 2014 : 20:55:03
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Ahoy, ye scurvy dogs!
Finally managed to find a reasonably suitable trailer for my N23. Having no knowledge of the hull shape under water, i'm guessing I would need to add some bunks or rollers. Any advice on what works best and positioning?
Cheers me mateys.
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danny
United Kingdom
27 Posts |
Posted - 24 Nov 2014 : 20:55:35
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Knighty
United Kingdom
654 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2014 : 18:15:51
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Don't know if these pictures help, this was my trailer when I had my 20.
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HappyChef
United Kingdom
162 Posts |
Posted - 26 Nov 2014 : 17:51:56
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This is my trailer that I transport my N23 with.
John
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Edited by - HappyChef on 26 Nov 2014 18:03:12 |
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danny
United Kingdom
27 Posts |
Posted - 27 Nov 2014 : 01:34:21
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Thanks guys,
Looks like I'll need some keel rollers off eBay and a couple of bunks. Can I ask, how do you normally go about putting the boat on the trailer? I'll be doing it for the first time next week, and I'm really quite concerned about how to go about it. My plan is to put the trailer half in the water off the slipway, line up the boat, and winch it up. Is it really that easy? |
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Knighty
United Kingdom
654 Posts |
Posted - 27 Nov 2014 : 07:54:17
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That's basically it, I used to get the trailer in as far as I could, I do have a 4x4 so could get car in at rear as well. Might take a few attempts to line it up straight. Get it as far on as you can then final bit with the winch, get a rope on the front to the trailer as soon as on, don't rely on the winch to hold the boat when driving out of a steep slipway.
You hardest bit is working out where the bunks are going to go as on a trailer built for a bot they are adjustable in out / up down back/forward as in my photo.
When out get someone to take the strain on the sides to adjust the bunks or rollers to fit and get some decent ratchet straps. |
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canalboy1949
United Kingdom
115 Posts |
Posted - 27 Nov 2014 : 08:37:09
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| Hi Danny, no-one seems to have mentioned this before but the trailer in your pics looks like a car trailer; there are no rollers up the centre line of the trailer which might make it difficult to pull the boat out of the water and up the trailer. Just a thought! |
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df
United Kingdom
5994 Posts |
Posted - 27 Nov 2014 : 18:21:11
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If you get a scaffold pole and fit a ball to one end and hitch to the other with a pair of wheels below the ball you can get the trailer a lot further down the slip without drowning the towing vehicle or having wheels on slippy stuff.
NBAS--The communal colostomy bag of the boating community.
Visit leomagill.co.uk |
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Deano
United Kingdom
1843 Posts |
Posted - 27 Nov 2014 : 20:33:27
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Don't try to winch it onto the trailer, get the trailer deep as possible and float the boat over it. Then bring the trailer up the slip to meet the bottom of the boat and ease the whole lot out of the water slowly.
You look like you need a few keel supports down the middle. When the boat is on the trailer, all the weight of the boat sits on the keel rollers, the side rollers or bunks balance the boat upright. (an offer a little support)
Dean - Boating on the Great Ouse.
Freeman 32 "Liberty"
See the photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/54758027@N00/ |
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Knighty
United Kingdom
654 Posts |
Posted - 28 Nov 2014 : 07:56:50
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Also make sure you have a few helpers, we always had at least 4 bodies, one to drive, one each side manning a rope to keep her straight and someone with waders to guide the front in and man the winch.
One tip we found useful if you have swivelling wooden bunked supports was to loosely tape the bunks in the approx position because ours when under water used to float level and had them flip over so had to get boat off and start again. The weight of the boat will find their final position. |
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HappyChef
United Kingdom
162 Posts |
Posted - 28 Nov 2014 : 16:31:18
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I have slipped Water Witch in and out several times this summer - just me & the wife, reverse in as far as you can without wetting car rear wheels then apply brake and unhitch(I chock the jockey wheel for good measure)then attach a good strong tow rope to trailer and tow ball, I use an old heavy duty ratchet strap,take up the strain then reverse into the slip to desired depth, get yer wadders on and winch the boat onto the trailer and tow out with said rope onto dry land,apply brake and chocks to boat trailer and hitch up when all is secured.To put boat in do the same in reverese order. The picture shows the point at which I would chock the jockey wheel,apply brakes then unhitch ,then attach tow rope and lower in.
John
www.queensheadaskham.com |
Edited by - HappyChef on 28 Nov 2014 16:43:28 |
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Deano
United Kingdom
1843 Posts |
Posted - 28 Nov 2014 : 17:12:15
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We used to do exactly the same as HappyChef with a long ratchet strap to lower the trailer further down. Waders can help a lot. Put your phone in the car before you start!!
Another top tip, if you have a spare body or child. Get them to video the whole thing, then if it goes totally wrong and you damage the boat you will at least be able to cover the insurance excess with the £250 you will get from You've Been Framed!!
Dean - Boating on the Great Ouse.
Freeman 32 "Liberty"
See the photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/54758027@N00/ |
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cliveshep
Thailand
1324 Posts |
Posted - 02 Dec 2014 : 13:44:39
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Good strong twin-keel trailer-sailor trailer, not of course suitable for a vee-bottomed boat yet.
You need to get some box section pieces welded in along the centre line and weld on some roller frames on top of that - that way the straight keel of the Norman has somewhere to sit. Rollers need to go within about 5ft of the winch post.
Bunks are normally on brackets with tubular posts and the tops swiveled sections of channel to which carpeted and padded timbes about 4" x 2" or wider have been bolted. The keel rollers carry the weight, the bunks stop the thing falling off sideways. I'd remove the ali plates which will expose the frames necessary to carry the bunk support brackets.
Do add a winch to the post up the front, a good 2-speed one isn't cheap but N23's are too large to carry and place on the trailer! Also do cut away the standing columns down the back because wedging the boat between those will certainly lead to tears.
Unless you've got a hefty 4 x 4 the earlier suggestion of a long rope or strap allows the outfit to be rolled slowly down the slip whilst keeping the car up on the flat bit at the top - not many cars float that well really. They also get better traction on dry level ground.
The cost of boating is insignificant compared to costs of a young wife and two teenage kids! |
Edited by - cliveshep on 02 Dec 2014 13:47:57 |
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Trailer fittings advice
