I hope to be picking up my "new" 1997 26X soon from a neighboring state so I will have a bit of a drive to get her home. It is on it's original trailer.
I have seen mentions here and there online that people have switched to different trailers than the original stock trailers but they really haven't gone into why.
What is the reason for this? Are there things I need to watch out for when bringing the boat home?
26x trailer shortcomings
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eaglerocknerd
- Just Enlisted
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Thu May 29, 2014 10:57 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
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Whipsyjac
- First Officer
- Posts: 296
- Joined: Mon Apr 02, 2012 10:06 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: White Rock, B.C. 96 26X Hull#486 96Merc ELPT 50HP 4 Stroke
Re: 26x trailer shortcomings
The stock trailer is cheap and the axle is barely rated for the boat with motor and batteries. The center of balance makes it so there's very little tongue weight in the trailer so you must be careful to load your gear forward or the trailer will want to sway all over the road. The frame itself has a lot of flex so there can be quite a bit of bouncing.
I bought my boat and towed it home fine because it was bone stock and all the accessory gear (weight) was in my truck. Once we started adding things like an extra battery and anchor, water for cruising, dinghy etc it was quickly apparent that we are at the weight limit for the trailer.
Long term the early trailers aren't galvanized or aluminium so they tend to rust through easy. There were two pieces of an
trailer laying in the parking lot of our local marina the first time I launched mine. It had rusted completely through.
Many people have simply treated their factory trailer for rust and added another axle rather than buying a whole new trailer.
If you need to go a long distance on freeways make sure you have the tires and bearings checked.
Willy
I bought my boat and towed it home fine because it was bone stock and all the accessory gear (weight) was in my truck. Once we started adding things like an extra battery and anchor, water for cruising, dinghy etc it was quickly apparent that we are at the weight limit for the trailer.
Long term the early trailers aren't galvanized or aluminium so they tend to rust through easy. There were two pieces of an
trailer laying in the parking lot of our local marina the first time I launched mine. It had rusted completely through.Many people have simply treated their factory trailer for rust and added another axle rather than buying a whole new trailer.
If you need to go a long distance on freeways make sure you have the tires and bearings checked.
Willy
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tlgibson97
- First Officer
- Posts: 218
- Joined: Mon Sep 24, 2012 5:33 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Marietta, GA
Re: 26x trailer shortcomings
My '96 trailer is original too. All I have done is put D rated tires on to handle the extra weight better. I haven't noticed the tongue weight being low. For how much my truck squats I was thinking it was a bit heavy. I guess it depends how far into the V-block you can get it.
The biggest downside the the stock trailer in my opinion is when loading the boat. The boat doesn't self-center very well. Some liquid rollers would help with that but I don't want to use any until I get a safety chain on the bow eye. Right now I just haul it with the winch strap. I don't think it will go anywhere right now because I can't even get it to slide with the bump.
Once when loading I hit the edge of the v-block and the steel took a chunk out of the bow. Now I am skittish when it comes to loading to not come in too fast. Not having any speed means I have little control. Little control with any crosswind makes loading painful at times.
I wish I could afford to get a new trailer. Who knows how much I have this one overloaded now with everythign I have added with even more yet to add.
The biggest downside the the stock trailer in my opinion is when loading the boat. The boat doesn't self-center very well. Some liquid rollers would help with that but I don't want to use any until I get a safety chain on the bow eye. Right now I just haul it with the winch strap. I don't think it will go anywhere right now because I can't even get it to slide with the bump.
Once when loading I hit the edge of the v-block and the steel took a chunk out of the bow. Now I am skittish when it comes to loading to not come in too fast. Not having any speed means I have little control. Little control with any crosswind makes loading painful at times.
I wish I could afford to get a new trailer. Who knows how much I have this one overloaded now with everythign I have added with even more yet to add.