SHETLAND OWNERS ASSOCIATION

dellquay13 wrote: Tue Sep 05, 2023 11:46 am The transom should take the weight, but make sure the trailer is supporting the transom, you need plenty of support underneath the transom or within about 4”, don’t have the boat hanging too far off the back of a trailer.

Ahh shoot! I have a trailer where the stern overhangs a couple of feet. I knew this would be a problem, however I think the trailer is maybe extendable as the box frame of the trailer hasn’t been welded shut at the ends and there’s like a big black knob thing screwed into the end frame, like it’s ready to accept something to slide in. Not the best at explaining but I can take a photo tomorrow for reference.

Can you buy extensions for trailers?

The bits that screw in are just poles with pegs that the lighting and number plate board fastens to. It may be possible to move the axle or the winch post to get the balance right and the last support of the trailer under the transom. You can on my DeGraaff trailer

The axle can be easily move back or forward, as can the winch post to get the boat on the trailer and balanced right. The lighting board clips onto the poles that slide in and out and clamped with the black turnwheels, slightly different on DeGraaff, just a cranked screw in handle, but you can just see the poles coming out of the box section.

Easier to see the lighting board system here

This basic trailer shows how the axle is attached and is easy to slide back or forth to get the boat in the right place and balanced

If you are going to start moving the axles make a fine point pen mark to show exactly where the axle was. A couple of mm out and you will have a crabbing trailer. Also check nose weight (I used a pair of scales) to stay with the tow bar limits. Mine comes in at 75kg, well within the 90kg limit. Don’t go too light -go check YouTube to see the snaking that can occur. https://youtu.be/6mW_gzdh6to?si=MSplPFEAt41sEun4

It may be that the draw bar at the front needs pulling out and the winch pillar moving rather than the axle moving, but good points about nose weight etc. It isn’t a quick simple job to get a trailer to match a boat. Craigs trailer may be very different, but the mention of the turnwheels for the lighting board poles suggest a common design.

Hi guys, thanks for your input on this matter, Dellquay.. thanks for clearing up the matter with the rear of trailer, I have been thinking just strapping the lighting board to the boat wasnt a good solution. The boxed steel on the trailer is large enough for a bit of cls wood to slip in so I can make something to solve that problem.

The trailer can be customised as the axels can be movedas can the winch pillar. My plan was to get the boat in the water once refurb is complete and then refurb the trailer so modding it then would be the ideal time. Clive I will go check that yt vid you recommended, sounds a little bit complicated but not impossible.. Think I will consult my father in law on this one. Tomorrow I will get some pics of the trailer from various angles.. Cheers again guys.

I probably made it sound more complicated! Just try lifting the coupling, if it’s really easy it’s too light, if you can’t lift it at all it’s likely too heavy. Unless you’re a weight lifter
I was careful as the boat and trailer is 1600+ kg and it was a new trailer so only set up as an estimate.

Clive wrote: Fri Sep 08, 2023 9:54 am I probably made it sound more complicated! Just try lifting the coupling, if it’s really easy it’s too light, if you can’t lift it at all it’s likely too heavy. Unless you’re a weight lifter
I was careful as the boat and trailer is 1600+ kg and it was a new trailer so only set up as an estimate.

I’m no weight lifter lol but lifting the front I remember was surprisingly light. Therefore I should be moving the boat further up?