Long spring towing precautions

[Mike Hockey]

Hello everybody,

My first post here.

Pending a satisfactory survey, I should be towing a 2003 Mac 26M (blue) from the canadian suburbs of Detroit to the center of the Quebec province, Canada. According to Google, this should be a 14 hours drive, which is planned for the beginning/middle of April. From the south of Ontario-Michigan to Montreal, the ride should be in summer road conditions, but for the rest, more like spring, wet and salty conditions.

Is there something I should plan to protect my new love from flying gravel and road salt picks and nicks? How about the motor?

Thank you for your help, suggestions or reassurances.

Mike

[dvideohd]

there are folks here who can give really good answers... given some time...

you might SEARCH on all the trailer postings - both here and at

http://bbs.trailersailor.com/forums/macgregor/index.cgi
http://macgregor.sailboatowners.com/

there some basic things.. check you trailer wheels to have no "play on them". If they have bearing buddies - then make sure they are greased.. do you need a spare tire?

I am paranoid - I bought some reflective tape at WalMart and put strips on both sides of the trailer and on the BACK of my boat.. I have not seen else anyone do this.. Seems extravagant - but then one time my trailer lights failed (broken wire)...

I firmly believe that driving here through Dallas.. that people don't expect to see a big sail boat going over an interchange - 100' over the ground - at 60 mph.. So I put reflective tape on both sides of the aft.. Mine reflective strips are are sticky (3M type) - (I have a D - so I have to be frugal...) - perhaps you could add some extra LED lights - along the rail - for improved visibility..

Somehow at night, those blue boats might blend in to the the darkness.. So even if they go faster, they still need more lighting aft...

check trailer wiring.. talk to more Mac owners - send some folks some emails..

TIE DOWNs... I WOULD NOT go down the road without more tiedowns on my boat.. it is just too light up front...

I tie the boat down...

1- Bow Eye to the trailer below using a webbed strap (pull tight - about 1000# break strenght..

2 - TWO wide web straps that go completley around the boat - one at the MAST and one at the END of the trailer...

3 - (probably overkill....) I tie a third wide strap from the rear Web Strap (at the cockpit hatch) with a strap to the aft of the boat, run it down, and then connect the trailer at it's rearmost location...

My boat is thoroughly tied and strapped to the trailer...

Paranoia is a good way to go...

I plan on putting trailer "tie down eyes" on the trailer this spring - to make it faster to get on and off the water...

--jerry

[Highlander]

That 14hrs drive by google is with no traffic , really good weather , dry roads , I drove up to QC for valentines wk-end from Barrie ON. 7 1/2 hrs none stop with cruise set @ 130km/h returned 8hrs cruise set @ 120km/h saved half a tank of gas almost ! that was really good weather , dry roads , day light driving in none rush hr traffic times .Google says its a 9hr drive !?
Word of caution though I would not recommend trailering the mac back at night time this time of year the roads a very bad & terrible right now their are some pot holes as deep as the grand canyon out there on the hiways I seen a few that had to be 2ft wide 4ft long and 2ft deep I clipped one of these @ 130km/h the rear of my pick-up went 2ft in the air & 3ft into the next lane that got my attention really fast !
The 401 corridor between Cambridge , Toronto , Oshawa , is at least a 60km, long 2hr parking lot in rush hr traffic times & worse if their is any accidents & 4hrs if the weather is bad ! so you want to avoid that !
Montreal the #40 to #25 to the tunnel to #20 try to miss the rush hr traffice times also
Same as above tie the boat down good to the trl & watch out for them crater's in the roads they are really hard to dodge at night time by the time you see them the trl will be air borne , and in traffic its even harder to swerve around them so be carefull & have a good trip hope your survey works out OK

J

[tangentair]

The above are good points, I would add grease the bearings and check the brakes condition. A recent article somewhere talked about buying a cheap torque wrench and setting all the lug nuts to a certain spec and then checking them after 30 minutes of driving. I use a big "4" wide strap across the cockpit tied just ahead of the wheels so it holds it not only down but also keeps it from sliding back, I think I got it for about $20 at Home Depot but I see it all around. I do not travel as far as you plan so I am not as worried about the straps cracking the gel coat if the boat bounces a tad. I would also look at joining BoatUS trailer club if their coverage extends to Canada, it is pretty cheap protection. As for rock protection, you can add wheel flaps to your tow vehicle if it tosses rocks back but I am not big on covering towed objects with tarps because I never get them tied down properly and they just get tore up by the wind and become sails flapping in the slip stream. Maybe one of the long haul truck drivers has suggestions on that.

[adrenaud]

Hello Mike

Re-trip to Quebec in mid-April.

Since I hail from montreal i can advise you that Quebec roads are notoriously bad with potholes at that time of year. So you will need to be on the lookout for this as you drive on our roads. You will notice the difference right away when you cross from Ontario to Quebec. Where are you planning to sail at that time of year? in most cases the ice is still in and docks are not set up yet, this usually happens around May 15th. Let me know if you need additional info.

AndreR

[Mike Hockey]

I wish to thank each and everyone of you for your prompt answers and for your sound advice: Divideod for the strapping advice, Tagentair for the strapping vs the gelcoat (will put towels under the straps) and for the wheel flaps idea, Highlander for his caution about the Google driving time estimates and the night driving (will take a Motel on the way back with the boat), and Adrenaud for the roads conditions in Quebec.

I think I found a real friendly, experienced and helpful community.

Thanks again. Will keep you posted on the transaction success and if so, on the drive back to Jonquiere (Quebec province) from Detroit with my new Mac.



Mike

[dvideohd]

You could return the favor - by passing on info about some of the places you go - and how it worked out... A lot of us have our stories about our local sites - and where we go... there are just so many choices!!!!

When and where to plan on sailing when you get home? :>

good luck!!!!!!!

--jr

[Mike Hockey]

I will, be sure of that, with pictures of the mooring ahead of my lot by the Kenogami lake (Quebec), and later, when I know what I am doing, maybe, down to Florida and across to Bahamas....dreaming...


Michel

[Kelly Hanson East]

It should cost you about 300 CDN to shrinkwrap your boat, which I would do for that trip in the springtime.

A 2003 trailer is due for wheel bearing overhaul - they should be taken out, cleaned with solvent,inspected, greased and re-assembled by someone who knows what they are doing (you can learn how to do this in about one hour searching threads here)

Stop and check your wheels and bearings for loose nuts and excessive heat (warm to touch, but not too hot) every 2 hours on the road at speed. I check mine every hour on my 3-4 hour trips.

[School House Steve]

Get a spare tire for the trailer, just in case. Other wise no problem.

[Mike Hockey]

A 2003 trailer is due for wheel bearing overhaul - they should be taken out, cleaned with solvent,inspected, greased and re-assembled by someone who knows what they are doing (you can learn how to do this in about one hour searching threads here)

Well, Mr. Kelly, you worried me to the point I e-mailed the surveyor asking him to verify the trailer's brakes, hydraulics, lights and the BEARINGS for noise. He answered he would do.

The survey was performed yesterday. The surveyor phoned me this morning to tell me the boat was in a fairly good shape. No moisture detected, compound and wax needed, electrical wiring to redo and new batteries needed. As per the trailer, one of the wheels BEARINGS WERE NOISY!!!!

I realised that without your worrisome advice, I would not have e-mailed the surveyor about the trailer, he would not have examined it, I would have suspected nothing, and I would most likely have crashed my new boat on the highway on my way home. THANK YOU !

The surveyor also told me this morning he had to charge me 100$ extra for the trailor survey......I guess I'll pay

Does someone know the cost of changing both the bearings on the trailer, parts and time? I was told between 300 and 400 CAD.....?

Thanks,

Mike

[c130king]

I am not a bearing expert. Never even seen it done. But I was looking at this on BWY Parts & Accessories page earlier today. Is this what you need?

Wheel Bearing Kit

Good Luck,
Jim

[dvideohd]

great price - and great source!!

I stumbled about and spent some time on getting some "bearing buddies...:... I found that the Mac version was on the small side - and not commonly carried at WM...

I think having a SPARE is an ENORMOUSLY good idea... I have seen postings from those with tailers parked on the side of the road - till they found a replacement.. I also think towing insurance - is a great idea... BACKUPs are good...

-jerry

[c130king]

I have had Boat US Trailer Assist since I bought my boat. Never needed it, but nice to have the piece of mind if you plan on trailering any distance.

Cheers,
Jim

[Mike Hockey]

I am not a bearing expert. Never even seen it done. But I was looking at this on BWY Parts & Accessories page earlier today. Is this what you need?

[url=http:

Good Luck,
Jim

Yes it is.

So we say 29 USD X 2 X 1,25 = 75 CAD plus two hours at 60 CAD plus 5 % taxes, just about 200 CAD.

The seller will have to get it done before I get to Windsor, but it is nice to know what we are really talking about in case he comes back for some help ($)

Thanks a lot for the link, Jim.

Mike