Yacht Trailer wanted 25ft fin keel

[yourskipper]

HI
having searched high and low I am having great trouble finding a used road trailer for my 25ft fin keel yacht.
does anyone have any good contacts (preferrably near Scotland) or even better have one for sale?

thanks

Cameron

 

[William_H]

Obviously you are finding it difficult to locate a used trailer and then if you did it will probably be a load of rust. You should consider building one or having it made. The designs here start with a piece of U channel wide enough for the keel to sit in. This is connected to the draw bar to the car but preferably with the draw bar higher at tow ball level. You need an axle suspension system that is split ie no axle from one side to the other. This enables the keel to be as low as possible and under the level of the wheel hubs while still having spring travel. You can have an axle under the keel but it means the boat sits higher and needs to be in deeper water to float on.Posts extend out the side to vertical or angled gunwhale supports. A post is usually fitted at the front to attach the bow. however be carefull here as the bow will pivot up and down because inevitably the trailer will go in at a steep angle coming to horozontal as you pull it out. The best way is to remove or sl;ide the post forward out of the way until you have retrieved the boat.
It can be really helpfull to build a light metal cage open at the back for the keel to be guided into place. So the keel can't slip off sideways when floating above its support place and so the boat keel can't come too far forward.
This simple design is adequate providing you can accept all the weight being taken by the keel. A cross beam under the hull forward of the bow is easy to fit. A removable cross member behind the keel could be fitted after the boat is on dry land or underwater before pulling out if you are really worried. This beam should have a jack mounted so you can increase the load taken by the aft cross member to a share with the keel.
Let me know if you are interested as a friend with a 21 fter fin keel has asked me to help in the near future to retrieve his boat. He takes it home each winter So I will take some photos.
The retrieval requires the trailer be run into the water on the end of a long rope and is only coupled to the car when it is shallow enogh so the car doesn't get wet. It all depends on having a steep deep ramp available.
So I reckon build it or have it built rather than hope to find S/H.
It is a great satisfaction to be able to take your boat home without needing anyone elses help ( except crew). regards olewill

 

[Guest]

William, Cameron is located in Scotland, which is (unfortunately???) still in the EU.

There are Directives.

Frank

 

[mainmarine]

Hi I bought a secondhand car transporter trailer and converted it to fit my Crabber 24
Malc
mainmarine