Galvanized vs. Aluminum

[DaveB]

Jim, I went for the 8ft-6 inch width trailer but I have 4 inches clearance on each side of the fenders so a 8 ft. wide trailer can be used except I would put a rubber strip on edge of fender so in heavy cross winds the boat doesn't rub against the aluminum fenders.
I have two 4x8 inch beams that run approx. 10 ft. long and forward of that 2-2x6 x 6ft. forward beds. All this is adjutable to fit the Mac. perfect and distributs the weight much more over the hull than the new Mac. trailer.
Here are some pictures.
http://s182.photobucket.com/albums/x25/ ... 20Mac%20X/
Dave

Thanks Dave,

I was hoping someone would have a custom aluminum under an , I have been looking at the wesco, made in SC there's a couple of dealers just south of the VA boarder and Hi-Tech Marine in Pensicola with dealers in both FL and Richmnod VA. At this point I'm leaning toward the Wesco. Disks brakes and stainless steel fittings on trailer and I'll be adding the torson bar axels. I'll be talking with the dealer again on Monday. If all goes well I'll have it in Clearwater FL for the holidays

Jim

[argonaut]

Road King is the mfgr I bought from for my 96 26X in east central Florida.
see Road King Trailer Post
I think their dealer network is all over florida and the carolinas. A local marina carried them, I've seen them on the west (florida) coast too. I'm in salt water so again electrolysis is a prime concern, all the dissimilar metals interact.
I scanned the parking lot at the local ramps and the galvanized trailers hold up well.
I bought their galvanized "Mac" model with a few upgrades and am very happy, trailering is no longer a nail-biter.
With surge brakes I needed a 5 wire plug and eventually circumvented my truck's universal round adapter because it wasn't reliable.
I just wired in a 5 wire plug. Works great.

[KayakDan]

I made my choice to go with galvanized,and just picked up my new Sea Lion 5800lb trailer on Saturday. I hauled my boat to the trailer place so I could swap to the new trailer just down the road on Winisquam. Very interesting trying to single hand a 26M off the dock and onto a new trailer with the wind on the beam gusting over 30!With a combination of dock lines,and maneuvering,I did it! The owner of the marina offered one of his guys to help,but by then it was a a matter of determination. I then spent an hour standing in freezing water,adjusting the trailer to accept the 26M. After loading the boat,it sat too far back on the trailer,so after moving the "tree" forward,I cranked the winch a bit,an the boat just glided forward with little effort. No more Mac Bump!
The sea lion trailer is like a giant erector set,so it's very easy to "customize" to your boat. Handled like a dream on the ride home. I like my new trailer!

[BK]

Jim, you said that you hoped someone had a custom alumium X trailer. That is what macgregor is selling for the X. It is the M trailer customed for the X. Call Macgregor factory.

[Rick Westlake]

Jim, you said that you hoped someone had a custom alumium X trailer. That is what macgregor is selling for the X. It is the M trailer customed for the X. Call Macgregor factory.

MacGregor's in California. Jim's boat is in Maryland. The shipping costs would be outrageous....

[Uncle Jim]

Jim, you said that you hoped someone had a custom alumium X trailer. That is what macgregor is selling for the X. It is the M trailer customed for the X. Call Macgregor factory.

MacGregor's in California. Jim's boat is in Maryland. The shipping costs would be outrageous....

And besides I'd still have to put a second axil on it

Jim

[sandeb2]

I like aluminum. they look nicer and are lighter. on the west coast they have been much more expensive.
If you are looking for a tandem aluminum trailer with disk brakes in the Pac NW {I am in Tacoma] - check mine out. I have outfitted new aluminum tandem trailers specifically for the 26X and am selling. see my add on:
http://macgregorsailors.com/cgi-bin/pho ... AdNum=1935
or pictures on
http://picasaweb.google.com/sandeb2/AlumTrailerM26x#

sorry for the add. but it might help someone

[bastonjock]

The trailer made in the USA were not considered up to the job over here in the UK,so MacGregor uk had them built over here.

I have a Galvanised trailer,it does not get a lot of salt water dunking but it is 8 years old and looks just like new.

I dont know what processes they use in the States but,our trailers are " HOT DIPPED" in galvanising paint,there are no rust spots on my trailer and ive checked the hollow sections.

[Uncle Jim]

I like aluminum. they look nicer and are lighter. on the west coast they have been much more expensive.
If you are looking for a tandem aluminum trailer with disk brakes in the Pac NW {I am in Tacoma] - check mine out. I have outfitted new aluminum tandem trailers specifically for the 26X and am selling. see my add on:
http://macgregorsailors.com/cgi-bin/pho ... AdNum=1935
or pictures on
http://picasaweb.google.com/sandeb2/AlumTrailerM26x#

sorry for the add. but it might help someone

thank's for the offer but I've got a new "Wesco" on order. Tandem w/ SS fittings, axle and tree galvanized w/ 5900# load. Wesco is in SC and the dealer (they don't do direct sales) is just south of Raleigh, NC. It'll be a bit of a drive to pick it up but It'll be worth it.

I did a good bit of research on materials, manufacturers and after sales service. Materials, galvanized vs. AL, seems to be a bit of a toss up. It does take more metal using Al to get the same weight rating as steel but it is still lighter. Manufacturers, for the most part the distance from point of origin is a key factor in the cost. Most seem to be happy with the Sealion, even though there are local distributors there is still the cost of transporting them to the dealer. Venture, I've read posts on other boards from unhappy owners, many unhappy owners. Wesco, read nothing but posts from very happy owners. That made the deal for me. Comes in around $3600 with the torsion bar axles, LED lights. Hope to pick it up next weekend. Looking forward to taking to Clearwater, Fl for Christmas