Changing trailer - DIDNT LIKE THIS

[Gwyn]

so my new trailer was delivered yesterday, wish I could get a trailer the same quality without importing, but a local manufacturer has made me one, its very basic but will do the job as we dont tow it anywhere, it stays at the club.

Havent been able to launch the boat over the last three week as the old trailer (not yet 4 yrs old) has collapsed due to corrosion, its got worse over the last 2 weeks whilst waiting for the new one, so we decided it was too risky to lauch the boat to change it over, so we had to get a crane ! did not enjoy this one bit !![ATTACH]IMG00504-20120606-0921.jpg[/ATTACH]

theres also a couple of the old trailer, I know the original owner wasnt very careful about his cleaning, but he only put 90 hours on the boat in two and a half years, I have had it a year and put 130 hours on, I am fanatical about cleaning down boat and trailer and use a product called salt x to disolve the salts, when I bought it a year ago there were a few rust bubbles but nothing major, cant believe the guy didnt get a galv trailer for out here.[ATTACH][ATTACH][ATTACH]IMG00507-20120606-0928.jpg[/ATTACH][/ATTACH][/ATTACH]

[Nobody]

Boatmate trailers just look pretty when new. Metal prep, primer and top coat are sub par IMO. Galv trailers are ok, but the problem lies in the construction style....which is tube. With I-beam construction, there isn't a place for water to hide. Zodiak stainless steel hubs, rotors and pad holders is worth the investment because they'll last a lifetime, even if the job is just for fresh water.

[dingleberry]

Nobody - why bring Boatmate into this? His old trailer was a Dorsey (based upon the badge visible in one of the pics).

Gwyn - good luck with the new trailer. Hopefully it serves you well.

[Nobody]

Nobody - why bring Boatmate into this? His old trailer was a Dorsey (based upon the badge visible in one of the pics).

Gwyn - good luck with the new trailer. Hopefully it serves you well.

Dorsey - Boatmate, one in the same.

[mls6722]

Gwyn, The new trailer looks like it should do much better than the old. IMHO, there is no painted trailer designed for that corrosion environment. I am sure any manufacturer could design a trailer that would last forever in that environment, just make it out of solid gold.

[Timmy!]

Wow! Amazing what saltwater will do in a short time!

[91Terminator]

Dorsey - Boatmate, one in the same.

Not even close. Boatmate makes one hell of a trailer. Dorsey on the other hand had some very bad rust problems in there later years. you guys thing that one was bad you should have seen the one we had. Ill see if i can dig up some pictures of it.

[skippabcool]

Wow! Amazing what saltwater will do in a short time!

x2

[NICKYPOO]

Wow! Nargly. You're lucky it didn't just collapse.

Why didn't they use the lifting rings on the boat? You're lucky that thing didn't roll or pitch out of the straps.

[91Terminator]

Wow! Nargly. You're lucky it didn't just collapse.

Why didn't they use the lifting rings on the boat? You're lucky that thing didn't roll or pitch out of the straps.

On the RZ2/4 he'd have to take the platform of to get to the lifting rings. Plus when lifting with a crane this is always the way the lift them. There is no reason it would come out of the straps.

[Ewok]

I know what you felt watching it all happen. When I had my old boat shipped on a flatbed truck, the destination didn't have a forklift big enough to lift it off the truck my itself. They used 3 small forklifts, two on each side near the axles and one near the bow tow hitch to ballance the boat. All 3 lifted it in unison, the truck pulled out from underneath, and they all lowered it together. I was pretty nervous about that.

[IDBoating]

Funny they used chains, though. When our 24Ve (with its trailer!) was lifted on and off the flatbed trailer for shipment, both lift operators used straps and nothing else. No chance a stray/slack chain would ding the boat.

That old trailer looks dire. I was wondering why you used a crane until I saw the photos. Definitely agree I would not have risked taking it to the water for the swap. I'd be afraid to STAND on that metal, let alone trust a Tige to it.

Glad the swap went well, and congrats on the new trailer!

[IDBoating]

They used 3 small forklifts, two on each side near the axles and one near the bow tow hitch to ballance the boat. All 3 lifted it in unison, the truck pulled out from underneath, and they all lowered it together. I was pretty nervous about that.

OMG......

[NICKYPOO]

On the RZ2/4 he'd have to take the platform of to get to the lifting rings. Plus when lifting with a crane this is always the way the lift them. There is no reason it would come out of the straps.

You're right. There's no way.

[IDBoating]

Whoa, can't believe those guys were STANDING in the boat while it was being lifted. It's dangerous enough without literally putting yourself in harm's way.