Tracker 20 Restore

[mrobertson]

I've been lazy to update, and also lazy to take pictures.

I'm writing to you from the land of skinned up knuckles. There are few things i have ever attempted that i thought to myself, this probably wasn't worth it. I recently added something to that list..................rebuilding a trailer. Now sure, trailers are expensive. Nobody wants to shell out thousands of dollars for a new trailer. My 20 seacraft purchase came with a 1999 Load Rite galvanized trailer. When i bought the boat, i didn't really pay much attention to the trailer. So, after the fact i only realized that the trailer was in poor shape. The frame and axles are both very solid with very little rust at all. The springs were pretty much gone, alot of the U-bolts were rotting away, the hubs had drum brakes that were toast.

So - i have this great idea to replace all of these parts thinking to myself i can squeek by on the cheap. I ordered 4 new springs, 4 new hubs, LED lights, and various hardware from Eastern Marine. All of that was a $600 purchase by the time tax and shipping are factored in. The trailer originally had rollers on it that again were in poor shape. For the cost of replacing every roller, i assumed it would be cheaper to convert the trailer with bunks. I made my own bunks out of pressure treated 2x8x12 lumber. I glued and screwed 2 together, then covered with adhesive and outdoor carpeting. I also added bunk slicks to make the boat go on and off easier. That little project cost me about $200 - $250.

So now that i've spend upwards up $900, i then proceed to spend an entire day torching, cutting, grinding, cussing, and hammering all of the old stuff off the trailer. It wasn't terrible, but absolutely NONE of the bolts are you getting off with a wrench or socket. YOu are cutting every single bolt off.

Once all that was done, i spent a few hours putting all the new parts on and now i have a nice tandem that has been rebuilt. Hindsight i don't think it was worth the cost and effort. I could have sold the trailer as is for probably $1000 and put that towards something new. Oh well we live and learn.

Aside from that, i gave the boat a new bottom paint job, put the rub rail back on, and threw her back on the trailer.




All i really have left to do is hang the engine and rig it up. I've got some plumbing to take care of but thats no big deal. I'm not sure when i'll have the time, but again i hope to take a ride in this boat sometime in June.

-Mike