Trailer mods

[Jacque ll]

I know from some discussion last year that others had the same problem with their trailers as I had. The wheels were not under the fenders so stones could hit the boat hull.
I have just had the axel widened 3" and this fixes the problem. If there is any interest I will post pics.

Peter

[Billy]

Peter, I would be interested. I increased shackle length last year to get the tires farther from the hull, but that did not put the wheels under the fender.

Did you splice in the center? How did you handle the built-in camber? Did the axle shift through the U bolts or is it notched to align with the springs? A few details please. Thanks.

[Chip Hindes]

I believe the trailer track width is already 8' even. Widening could cause the trailer to exceed the max non-permit width in some states. I know, I know, there's no way you'll ever get caught.

But: Isn't widening the axle to meet the fenders the equivalent of lowering the river instead of raising the drawbridge?

Is your trailer different than mine? Before I added the second axle and discarded the stock fenders for new double fenders, the wheels were pretty well centered under the fenders. The only stuff that got past them was that which went under the fenders toward the rear. I was planning on putting on a couple mudflaps, but the new fenders extend enough lower than the stock ones that it's no longer a problem.

By the way, after 3200 miles plus to Key West and back, road speeds averaging well over 70, I'm convinced the second axle and switch from drum to disc brakes was the best investment I have made yet. Besides, unlike the stock setup, and very similar to the 140 horse motor which nicely fills the transom on the 26X, the two axle trailer actually looks like it belongs under this boat.

[Don B]

Maybe his axle was narrower to start with than the stock Mac axle ?

Maybe his wheels were not stock and they had less offset ?


Or maybe his fenders are placed in a different location than most Macs.


We need pics of this trailer.

Chip I like the Disc Brake mod the PO did on my trailer also. But I am still single axled. Two would not be overkill.

-Don B

[Frank C]

But, to quote a converse opinion ... I was speaking with a long-time powerboater just last evening. I described my frustration with constantly dunking my brakes into the brine, and wanting to upgrade to stainless discs. His response was to the effect:

"Brakes!? Whatcha got that big 'ole Sierra pickup for?

Don't need friggin' brakes on that lil' 5,000 lb. rig. Brakes are a waste of maintenance time on that wimpy rig - rip'em offa' there, or unhook em!"

Not saying that I fully agree, but there's an alternative opinion for ya!

[Billy]

But: Isn't widening the axle to meet the fenders the equivalent of lowering the river instead of raising the drawbridge?

No, Chip. My tires have never completely fitted under the fenders and would scrub the hull of the boat when hitting a bump (rubber not black paint). If I were to move the fenders in, the boat would rest on the fenders--I think not a good thing. Maybe MacGregor used some different axles at times.

[Jesse Days Pacific Star 2]

Our axles and tires fit great and are positioned correctly 2002 26X.

Jesse

[Chip Hindes]

Stinkpotter wrote:
"Brakes!? Whatcha got that big 'ole Sierra pickup for?

Don't need friggin' brakes on that lil' 5,000 lb. rig. Brakes are a waste of maintenance time on that wimpy rig - rip'em offa' there, or unhook em!"

Not saying that I fully agree, but there's an alternative opinion for ya!

I'll refrain from commenting on the relative IQs of powerboaters versus the public in genreal and and Mac owners specifically, but you can each make up your own joke here.

Can we not accept the fact that, while some laws are no doubt inspired by nothing more than bureacratic BS, some are designed to protect the rest of us from suicidal maniacs driving huge, overweight rigs without trailer brakes? Also, can we all say "jacknife?"

I can also relate a single personal anecdote, which happened perhaps 20 years ago. Pulling a 17 foot Invader 140 I/O on a two axle, legally brakeless trailer, perhaps 3500 pounds wet, with a loaded, full sized, 3/4 ton long wheelbase Chevy van, probably pushing 6000 lbs. Summer day, raining hard, coming down from highway speed to stop at a toll booth on the Garden State Parkway, I realized the hard way that applying the brakes simply locked up the van wheels and had little discernable effect toward actually slowing the rig down. Luckily, nobody in front of me and I was able to guide it between the two adjacent booths, still with all four wheels locked. Actually passed the toll taker by a few feet, had to back up to pay the toll.

Would I have done better if I had pumped the brakes instead? Maybe, but that's hardly the point. Did I rush out and try to buy brakes for the trailer? No, but I was younger and dumber (if that's possible) in many ways. Heck, I was a powerboater! In my older age I'm way more risk averse.

This $$ are miniscule compared to what we spend on other stuff. Spend a few bucks, get the discs (or a drum washdown kit) make the world and your family a little safer.

[Chip Hindes]

My tires have never completely fitted under the fenders and would scrub the hull of the boat when hitting a bump (rubber not black paint). If I were to move the fenders in, the boat would rest on the fenders--I think not a good thing. Maybe MacGregor used some different axles at times.

Yo Billy, what's shakin'?

Very interesting. Do you know what your track measures, and what is the clearance, tire to fender and fender to boat?

On mine, I could see from the scrub marks when I took everything off that the tires sometimes hit the fenders (maybe 1.5" clearance above the tires to the fenders) and the fenders were then carried up or bounced up far enough to hit the boat (maybe 1" clearance fender to boat on each side, if the boat was perfectly centered) but with no damage to the boat other than a little black fender paint on it. In order for the tires to have hit the boat, they would have had to take the fenders out completely. Maybe this was the Mac solution on later boats: to have the fenders hit the boat rather than the spinning tires.

[Frank C]

... Spend a few bucks, get the discs (or a drum washdown kit) make the world and your family a little safer.

Nine-tenths of the time, my rig will launch the boat and then sit for 8 to 12 hours before a hose bib is available. For what it's worth, IMO, a washdown kit is essentially worthless unless you're gonna add a water tank and pump to the rig.

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

I think the best thing for drum brakes is to pull them off every 6-12 months and spray them down with a thick anti corrosive spray. I guess SS disk would be better next time I replace brakes, but for now, the drums are still working fine.

[Chip Hindes]

For what it's worth, IMO, a washdown kit is essentially worthless unless you're gonna add a water tank and pump to the rig.

I sympathize, but it's still not a good reason not to have brakes. I'm not trying to be a smartass when I say perhaps you need to find a new place to launch your boat where you have washdown capability.

Or invest in the stainless brakes. The retrofit kit is under $100/wheel plus $35 for the backing solenoid. Way cheaper than an accident.

I'm pretty sure even those aren't designed to be immersed in salt water without ever being washed down, but they can probably take it until you get a chance to do so. As well, being totally exposed and easily accessible, it would only require a couple gallons to wash them down. You could probably do it with the trusty garden sprayer or even a bucket filled from the boat tank.

[Bobby T.-26X #4767]

just measured my trailer width at the outside tire edge on my 2002 X...8 ft on the button.
however, my tires are wider than the fenders. the extra width sits on the inside of the fender well.
therefore Jacque II is correct...

The wheels were not under the fenders

however, i don't think that there is much that i can do about it.
wider fenders won't work as there's currently only 2" clearance between the boat and fender or tire right now.
And i'm ceretainly not going to widen the tire stance via spacers.
the only option would be to raise the trailer via larger leaf springs as was suggested in another thread.
The downside is that i'll need to back farther down the launch ramp to get the boat off the trailer.

[Billy]

Decided to measure mine also. From outside tread to outside tread--7'10". Measured the width of the fenders 7'11 1/4". There is less that 1 inch between my fenders and the boat. I doubled the length of the shackle links. Have not noticed any difference in towing or launching. And the tires do not scrub the hull anymore.

Another observation--the rear hangers are 2" out of alignment. Front ones are square.

[Jacque ll]

I took my trailer to a welder after much frustration trying to get Macgregor to accept that the wheels were not under the fenders.
The welder cut the axle in the centre and opened it 3" and rewelded it with a sleave. In order to keep the correct camber and toe in he welded temporary braces.
He had to make up new brackets under the springs.
The trailer is no wider than 8' with the mod.

Now if I can figure how to post pics.

Peter