Fence Dilemma.

steverow

steverow

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Warwick. Boat in Swansea
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Hi All,

Since bringing the boat home yesterday and finding that she is a bit too long for the drive, I have a dilemma on my hands.
The towgear overhangs the narrow path on the back lane a bit...like this.

DSCF0176.jpg


It is tight up against the fence at the back...so

DSCF0174.jpg


But this is SWMBO's favourite spot in the spring/summer for reading in the afternoon as it catches the PM sun...

DSCF0173.jpg


So what do I do? take the fence down and ruin her seclusion, cover the towbar with foam or something so no-one can hurt themselves on it, Take the hitch unit off altogether and jack the A frame up on bricks...dont really want to do this as it means disconnecting braking system, put a cone and flashing led over the offending projection....what else...dunno reallly.
The lane at the back is not used very much occasionally by dogwalkers but I'm worried that someone will accidentally on purpose fall over it and stitch me up with a big insurance claim, in this litagous ambulance chasing society that we now live in.
So any ideas welcome.

DSCF0175.jpg


I should also say that at present the lane is unadopted by the council and probably wont be until the building project behind us is totally finished...sometime whenever the firm gets some more money...but the second phase wont start until April at the very earliest.


Cheers For Now
 
How much space do you gain if you trim the leg down, it doesn't have to be stored in the up position, in fact it is better stored trimmed down if you are not taking it out for a while to relieve the pressure in the system (remember to raise it before towing away!!)

Does putting it in diagonally help?

And personally I would not have secured the boat by putting the strop around the leg. Also check the small print on your insurance. Mine demands both a Hitchlock and Wheel Clamp at all times its unattended. Also store it with the handbrake off, its a real pain to move it once the shoes have stuck to the drums ( I cannot remember which way is on and off without looking at my trailer - just a bit of hard learnt advice about trailer brakes!)



Martin
 
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Hitchlock

Hi Martin,
Thanks for the reply.
She does have a wheelclamp on, on the side you cant see and the hitch has an integrated keylock which is locked.

I will try putting her a tad diagonal and drop the leg. I reckon I can probably gain about ten inches by doing that, which will at least mean that it wont protrude so far out.
 
Yup, just lower the leg, AND remove the hitch. Its only two bolts and a cable linkage and it may stop your boat being knicked!!

If you jack the trailer up and take the weight off your suspension you won't need the handbreak either.
 
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The entire front section of the trailer- overrun brakes, handbrake and hitch is secured to the chassis with just two bolts and the brake rod- jack it up, block the chassis, and disconnect the hitch!

Mlines is correct, lower the legs to straighten out the bellows, and this also drains out any water in the leg, a potential problem when it freezes.
 
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Steve , as others have said trim down leg and park it diagonally in the space plus HLB's jigsawed ornamental shelf should work a treat . BTW i would put a tarp over the back end of that lovely shiny boat to protect it from all the **** that will come of that fir tree , ( been there got the t shirt:( )
 
Go front in

A Few friends
Turn the boat arround.
Cut a small hole in fence to line up with the tow hitch.
Or dont bother to cut a hole, With several of you pushing.
The tow hitch will make its own hole as it disappears through the fence
 
Haydn's Right

Once again Hadyn has it spot on.

I will of course have to paint the bathing platform with Cuprinol to match, and choose the plants carefully. She'll think it's a windowbox or summat.
Leg best left as a fan to cool the area in summer, as she tumbledries mostly.
 
Steve

Release the strapping on the trailer winch, still engaged, but backed off a few clicks. It only needs to be super tight when towing. Needless to say, the all over blue strap as well.

Your axle assembly from yesterdays pics. look to be set well aft, did it feel a bit 'heavy on', with down pressure on the tow bar? Should only be about 10% of the gross weight.

If you were to move the axle assembly forward, and the winch post (therefore the boat as well), by unbolting and sliding along the drawbar (you appear to have plenty of room forward), is there enough clearance at the aft end of the trailer, with the roller brackets?
This could give you some more drive-way space.
 
Can't add anything to the suggestions above, although I agree that a hole in the fence or a movable fence panel would seem the best solution.

But I'm curious about the boat.

It looks like a Fairline Weekender but it has a duoprop outdrive which suggests a V6 or V8 engine. I thought most Weekenders had the good old AQ146 with a single prop outdrive? Bet it goes well with a V6/V8 in, what's it got and wot'll she do mister?

And the aerial looks to be mounted on a radar arch, but the Weekender didn't have one, the later Sprint did though.

So is it a Weekender with a big engine and a radar arch off of a Sprint? Cracking boat if so, all the best bits of the later Sprint but with the better cockpit layout of the Weekender. Nice!
 
Arch and Swim Platform.

Guys, let me try and shed some light on it.
This boat was built in 1989 and made in small numbers for the american market.
As you say it is across between a Weekender and Sprint and has the best attributes of both.
At some time in the mid nineties she was reimported back into the UK.
She was re-engined in 2004 with a GMC 6.5ltr V8 Diesel and I think that the leg was put in at this time.
Previous owner claims he has had 35 Knots out of her.
On a sea trial we got 25 easily at about 3/4 revs and without even touching the leg trim and trim tabs..she was very stern down..so I have no reason to disbelieve him.
She's very clean and tidy especially inside, so I reckon Ive got an honest deal.
Still miss me old boat though.

Cheers For Now.
 
Thanks for that, so the arch was a standard Fairline fit? Remarkable.

Terrific boat though, nigh on the perfect weekender.
 
Arch

Yes Ari,

The arch is defintely part of the original build.
This also foxed us too when we were doing our research prior to putting in an offer.
We couldnt find another Weekender with an Arch.
However I do have the original manual for her which states that She is a weekender not a Sprint.
Just been out and took some shots of the arch and as you can see it is original fit and definitely not some aftermarket bodge.

DSCF0179.jpg


DSCF0180.jpg


DSCF0178.jpg



Maybe Some Folks at Fairline can explain in more detail.


Cheers For now
 
Parking

You could of course as well as dropping the legs move the winch post forward .. It is a four wheel trailer so it will not make that much difference .. If the boat is on rollers you will be able to winch it forward .. At least you have a quiet lane to reverse in .. Mine was on a very busy road .. Pull up at the side of the road .. Hazards on .. Reverse slowly until everyone got the message that it was big and going to keep going no matter how much they hooted and gesticulated out of their windows .. One trucker pulled into the middle of the road to stop cars trying to get through but there is always one .. Truck almost pushed him off the road ..:D
 
Steve, that's excellent and very unusual. Nice job.

Interesting to see the old Seafarer echo sounder on an '89 boat, musst be the last one they had on the shelf in the factory!

Lovely thing though (the boat, not the echo sounder). Hope you enjoy it.
 
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