Boat Trailer desperately needed for fin keel yacht

[yourskipper]

Hi,

Would anyone with any suggestions where I can find a company or preferably a second hand road trailer for a 25ft 2 ton fin keel yacht please email me.

I have cash waiting and have searched high and low to try and find a company to make one (at a reasonable price) or a good condition second hand one.

Thanks very much

Cameron

 

[Colvic Watson]

I'm sure you've tried them but boats and outboards - trailers seem to have quite a selection, including some that match your boat length.

Good luck.

 

[William_H]

I havn't got a trailer for you, actually plenty around here but the 20000 mile drive would be a killer. Just thought of making a few comments. Most of the trailers I have seen like what you want take all the weight on the keel bottom.
It is very desirable to make a cage or guide for the keel so that it can only float into the right place and can't go too far forward or sideways. You need side supports of course. Many of these trailers have a post at the front to attach an eye on the bow about halfway down from the deck. This is great attachment when on the road but is a disaster as you launch or retrieve the boat as the boat will pitch bow down as the stern hits the water and tries to float . Likewise when reterieving the boat is level but the trailer is usually tow bar up the ramp stern low and the front attachment is way out of place and will likely damage the boat as the boat and trailer take the same level or slope. The answer is to provide the pull forward from well aft even the the stern cleats so that the boat can tip as it wants.
An attachment post at the bow should be completely removed until you are ready to drive away.
One local yard has jinkers made for floating the boat on sideways onto cross supports forward and aft of the keel. This means the weight of the keel is supported by the hull not the hull supported by the keel.
It seems to me that for road transport you should have support both on the keel base and the hull and this would best be done by fitting a cross member under the stern once out of the water or at least on the trailer or if you used this sideways floating on, have a jack up and bolt on keel support
Most people use a long rope from car to trailer and roll the trailer and boat into the deep water. It is very tedious and if you had a steep enough ramp a long telescoping draw bar may be long enough. All this means you may prefer to design and have the trailer built. Note here I am assuming that you want to be able to launch and retrieve yourself if you go for craning onto the trailer of course there are a lot less problems. I would be for do it yourself despite problems of water in the bearings aand brakes. I imagine you will only use it once per season. There are great joys in taking your boat home and being able to do the maintenance at leasure. regards will