New England Trailer Advice

[jongolds]

Does your buddy with the bunks winch it on or use the motor? What about launching?

[ScottM]

He motors on about 75% of the way and winches the last few feet (21' Hydra-Sport CC). The boat is at a slip all season, so he's not trailering it much and can pick & choose when to launch/retrieve based on tide. He hasn't run into any ramp issues so far in the 4 years he's had the boat & trailer.

[gw204]

If you're winching on rollers are the only way to go. I have bunks under by 25' Grady and can't move that boat in inch with the crank...

[peterb]

I have a venture bunk style trailer that I bought new in March 2005.

Here are my likes and dislikes

1. Cheaper up front cost
2. Boat is more secure
3. Bunk style trailer is a little liighter than roller style

Dislikes:
1. Can't go to the ramp at low tide
2. I am replacing all of the bearings. The salt water kills them. This is becuase the tailer has to get pretty wet for me to dump the bpat.

Net/net, if I had to do it over I would consider roller.

[cSickNick]

Why spend decent money and still have tradeoff's when you can get the best of both!!

Can not be that complicated for a dealer to set up. Magic Tilt offers and i am sure others will match.

Magic Tilt offers a bunk roller combination on their heavy duty series.

Heavy duty bunks to the rear, lots of rollers(non marking preferred, right on Scott!) on the front.

Don't forget the 2-speed high/low wench for the weak link in your group.

My next trailer will be a new hybrid!

- Nick

[jongolds]

Honestly I'd never seen such a thing but you're not the first to suggest it. I'm waiting to hear back on a quote but have been told to expect it to be closing in on $5k.

I can get a Venture for near $3k. I'd do it except I don't like that the crossmemebers are galvanized instead of SS. I'm beginning to wonder how awful that would really be. I'v always had galvanized trailers before and never lost one to corrosion. Then again, there's really no way to flush the crossmembers. That and I have no idea if it's leaf springs or torsion axles and I think they're tie-down drum brakes.

[Ed]

I have 48 rollers, plus two keel rollers under the bow.

I think each rear arm has 16 on each side and then the fronts have 8 per side plus the two bow keel rollers. As an option, you can get 16 rollers per side on the bow for a total of 64 rollers.

[jongolds]

Ed, do you have the magic tilt? I'm still waiting on a quote from the (kind of) local dealer. It sounds like it's gong to be prohibitively expensive though. Remember, I only paid $10k for the boat. I'd like to stay south of $4k on the trailer.

[cSickNick]

... you're not the first to suggest it.

I know, i never get credit

I am also the guy that just wanted Mayo in a squeeze plastic container years ago. What's up with only glass jars?

Back to the subject, i am with you and would not pay a dime more for a hybrid. But would still be determined to find someway/somehow to set up a hybrid with all the advantages and see no disadvantages.

Good luck, - Nick

[Ed]

Ed, do you have the magic tilt? I'm still waiting on a quote from the (kind of) local dealer. It sounds like it's gong to be prohibitively expensive though. Remember, I only paid $10k for the boat. I'd like to stay south of $4k on the trailer.

Yeah, I have the Magic Tilt aluminum roller trailer. It cost about $3900 three years ago. Since then, prices have gone up considerably.

Road King also makes aluminum roller trailers too. There is a distributor in the Grafton, MA area (North Atlantic Trailers.......508-639-2226) who can tell you who the nearest Road King dealer is. They are a good trailer...we sell a bunch of them.

OUZO's hybrid trailer is pretty slick and offers a lot of support but it does require more winch effort than a properly adjusted all roller trailer.