Trailer Troubles Ahead 1 Mile Reprinted From Hobie Hotline
Give Your Trailer a Little Love
By Matt Bounds
When you stop to think about it, your boat probably spends more time on its trailer than it does in the water. So why do so many people give their trailers hardly a second thought? We abuse our trailers – dunking them in corrosive salt water and letting them sit unattended for months. Yet we expect them to take our boats to far away locations without incident. As we begin the sailing season, maybe it’s time we give the lowly trailer a little TLC to help get us through the season.
The Right Tool for the Right Job
Most people buy their trailer when they get their boat. If it’s a used boat, you probably bought a used trailer. Used trailers must have a thorough initial inspection. You don’t know where it’s been or how it’s been used (or abused). Structural integrity, wheel bearings, tires and lights need to be completely checked out before you take it home.
Is the trailer properly sized for what you intend to carry? All trailers come with a load rating (usually a sticker on the frame). The boat, sailbox, gear, etc. can quickly add up to over 1500 pounds – the most small catamaran trailers can usually carry. The load rating is especially important if you plan to double stack boats.
If you have the opportunity to buy a new trailer, you have a major decision to make: steel or aluminum? Steel trailers come in two varieties – painted or galvanized. Painted steel trailers are the least expensive, but they require diligent maintenance to prevent corrosion. They have a nasty habit of rusting from the inside out, so you don’t necessarily notice a structural problem until it’s too late. Galvanized trailers last much longer, but cost half again as much as a painted trailer. Aluminum trailers are the Cadillacs of the trailer world – they last longer, but they cost twice as much as a steel trailer. It boils down to your budget and intended use. If the trailer’s only going to and from the lake once a year, then go with a plain steel trailer. If you’re a road warrior, traveling to many regattas a year, then aluminum is the ticket.
Wheels and Bearings
Bearings are invisible little demons that hide inside the wheel hub. They lull you into complacency, then strike without warning, seizing up when you’re a 100 miles down the road. At least once a year, you should jack up the trailer and spin the wheel by hand. It should turn easily and coast gently to a stop. If you hear any groaning, clicking or other strange sounds, it’s time to check the bearings. Pull the wheels off, pry off the dust caps and look at the grease. If it has a creamy, coffee color, water has gotten into the grease and the bearings need repacking at a minimum. A good article on how to repack bearings can be found at www.rd.com/familyhandyman/content/17452. Bearings are cheap – carry an extra set and some grease on the trailer so you’ll never get stranded by the demons.
While you’ve got the tires off, go over them thoroughly, looking for damage, wear and cracking. Tires left in the sun and weather will degrade from exposure long before the tread is worn. Make sure the tires are rated for the weight you plan to carry. Another consideration is tire size. Little 8" wheels turn much faster to cover the same distance as larger, 12" wheels. Get larger wheels and save some wear on the bearings. They’ll also carry more load.
Lights
Most lights and wiring that come on trailers are cheap and start acting up in a couple of years. Corrosion at the bulb contacts is the usual culprit. Tracing down electrical gremlins can be challenging. Get yourself a good circuit test probe (see photo). Usually, power is going to the light fixture, but not getting to the bulb. A permanent solution is to replace the incandescent light fixtures with LED fixtures. They are more expensive, but they last much longer and, more importantly, are more reliable.
Most wiring problems occur when the insulation is damaged or brittle from exposure. If the wire is stiff and the insulation cracks when bent, it’s time to replace it. Rather than just buying another cheap wiring harness, go to the hardware store and get #12 THWN stranded wire. Use solder and heat-shrink tubing on the connections and you’ll never have to replace the wiring again.
Accessorize!
Three things you should never leave home without – a spare tire, a jack and a lug nut wrench (make sure it’s the right size!). Flat tires happen all the time, and often in the worst places. Make sure the spare has air in it. Another handy item to bring along is a 12"x12" piece of plywood. Rarely is the side of the road level or firm enough to support the jack.
Almost everyone has a sailbox and they range from the very simple (piece of plastic sewer pipe) to extraordinarily complex wooden constructions that are more like furniture than trailer accessories. Whichever you opt for, make sure it is reasonably water tight, and has a ventilation system to allow the contents to dry. Be conscious of how much it and its contents weigh, so you don’t exceed the trailer’s rated capacity.
Double Stacking and Beyond
In these days of $3 a gallon gasoline, it makes sense to travel with friends to regattas and share the cost by double-stacking. Hobie 16s and 14s can be doubled up without any special modifications to the trailer. A couple of 2x4s laid across the trampoline sidebars is enough support for the upper boat. Make sure everything is tied down well and you’re good for at least 500 miles. If you’re going to be traveling long distances, or transporting H-17s, 18s, Tigers or 20s, you need to have an upper rack for the second boat. Again, make sure you don’t overload the trailer.
Triple stacks are rare, but not unheard of. Usually, it’s three Hobie 16s with the third boat loaded on the upper rack boat like the “poor man’s double-stack” described in the photo above. Cross winds become a real issue and you have to be very careful that the rig doesn’t tip over. You’ll also be getting close to the 13’6" maximum height restriction. Watch for low bridges and branches!
Cross-country road warriors have special rigs to carry five or more boats at once. These are heavy-duty trailers specially made to carry the weight. Usually, several of the boats are partially disassembled. If you’re interested in building one of these rigs, contact Rob Jerry at rastahobie@earthlink.net, who can point you in the right direction.
Trailers are an essential piece of equipment for the road warrior. They take us where we’re going so we can have the real fun with our toys. Make sure yours is ready to go this summer so you don’t have any “roadside adventures.” Go sailing somewhere you’ve never been before – and bring a friend along!