Mossie Trailer

OK, So I have purchased a new boat - No Trailer. Maybe I will buy the one on the Mossie web site. So I send off an email - Sold last week

I decided I had better build one , so here are some manufacturing pictures after todays efforts.

The trailer is the right way up and shackle hangers for the springs are on.

And another pic - same angle but more of it seen

looks good trev, i could be wrong but your axle set up looks a bit far forward? i have built many trailers for boats over the years, i am sure you have done many yourself, i have always welded the shackles on to a fairly solid piece of angle iron each side. this allows the axle set up to be moved forwards and backwards along the trailer to adjust the weight on the hitch, once you have settled on the position of the boat. this helps if you are travelling long distances, i.e. more than 45 mins and speeds greater than 80km/h you will need to move the axle further back, the higher the speed the further back the axle goes to stop the trailer swaying in the breeze. trev, i apologise if you know all this, maybe someone else will read and they might find it handy
cheers mate and good luck!!!!!
p.s. dont be shy on the cold galv!!!!!!

Hi all,

I think I could fairly say that I have towed cats more K's than most sailors in recent years. Too much weight on the hitch is one of my pet hates. I don't think having the axle along way back is neccessary for a good towing trailer.

My last 2 trailers I could pick up with one hand at the hitch, actual trailer weights where light also and they towed great at speed, even when double decked. Plenty of attention to trailer stiffness and no slop in suspension bushes and bolts seemed to do the trick.

Fair point Gary but too far forward is dangerous
regards Jeff

As Brian has said all of my trailers have had axles that can be moved, on a sliding angle iron, with u bolts to hold in place,this alows the axle to be moved to the right position after everything is set in place. you never know when you need to move the axle forward to comensate for an extra box on the trailer

Hi All,

Placement of the axle was a bit of a concern, as I dont want anything more than about 15Kg on the tow ball. The way I load going to a regatta has a full esky on the drawbar in front of the coffin that puts the weight up to about 45 - 50 Kg and that is where most of the km's are done.

Done some more work today, as well as finding wheels up at Pick a Part ($28 for 2 with good tyres). Mud guards are on and all welds finished on the top, coupling attached.

Unfortunately my real job will get in the way until next weekend

Oh, forgot to mention, the axles are 3300 back from the hitch, or 1700 from the back which is 50mm behind the rear beam - I hope

Trevor

no worries trev, it must be the aspect of the photo not doing it justice, second pic looks good, mudguards are flash!
gary, i agree, too much weight on hitch is a pain in the freckle, however i was concerned about the distance from the hitch to the axle. the balance of the boat weight over the axle is different to the distance from hitch to axle. that is the concern to stop the trailer "fishtailing" down the road at higher speed
cheers guys

Next Update:

Trailer is on its wheels, and painted underneath. Wiring is in and the boat support frames are on. I am going with a beam support at the front and hull cups at the back with a post keeping the whole thing on. This will allow me to use a single tie down for the whole thing... At least that is the plan!.

Keep those photos coming!

Do you have a running list of the costs of the various bit so far. It would be interesting.

Hi All,

Another small update - The work has been going slowly due to mid week 'other' work happening...

I have made redone the front supports as they looked a bit frail in the 30mm square. I had enough 50 x 50 5mm from the axle so I used that. I dont think it will ever break

Mast support and beam brackets are on. rear supports are made and ready to bolt on.

Costs so far:

Axles $40
Wheels and Tyres $28
Hub Assemblies $84
Coupling $25
Steel $260
Lights, Cables, bolts, paint, bits, etc $150
Springs $44
U Bolts, Shackles, plates, reflectors etc $42

So all up about $700, plus $100 or so for a marine ply coffin big enough for a spinnaker pole and camping gear

Also, things like grinder discs, welding rods, cut off discs, surprisingly add up - Who would have thought

Trevor

It Works

Picked up the boat on the trailer Sunday night (Thanks Peter!).

Only needed to make a small adjustment on the rear cups. They are made from 240mm downpipe and needed some warming and bending over the BBQ to fit the hulls. Excellent idea, but if you use 300mm downpipe it has the same shape as the rear of the hull - just cut and use

There is so far only 1.5 coats of paint on it so it needs more, and the box and spare needs to go on. Then we are pretty much done for the moment.

I have already thought of a couple of refinements but they may have to wait for a bit. I am itching to play with the boat part of it all

I will post some pics of the boat sitting on it next weekend, and if anyone wants measurements I will do a drawing at some stage.

Trevor

peter, are you using pvc tube, you are saying downpipe? surely 240mm downpipe is only available in ingham in qld! lol. is it sewer or stormwater? different wall thickness.

Hey all,

It is stormwater, I think, 7mm wall thickness.

The whole thing is together now box on etc, about 12 - 15 Kgs on the ball.

I guess most of you will see it on the weekend, but I will get a photo up shortly.

Cheers All

Trevor

Hi Guys

The PVC covers Telstra use now, instead of the concrete looking covers are the go. If you know someone who works for Telstra, of course. About 5 mins in the oven, on a very low setting does the trick.

Cheers

Farmer

Hi Trevor,
I am building a new trailer similar to yours as the old one has metal fatigued itself past it's use-by date [approx 20years old]. I am using 75 x 50 as 75 x 38 is not a stock size in SA, have you set yours up with double decking in mind?
Cheers,
Roy,
1770 Aquarius

hey,
im also building a trailer different than whats on here, and its going to be a double decker, ill post photos soon

matt

Hi Roy,
While I didnt set out to double up, I didnt like the forward supports when I made them so I redid them using 50 x 50 x 5 mm and added aft bracing.

They are capped with expanding foam so easily able to make some forward beam supports slip them in and go. (Laziness has stopped me making a drop 'gate' rear support that can double!)

Have fun with it - It took me 3 times longer than I originally thought to complete down to the coffin.

Trevor

Hi Trevor,
Unfortunately, I have given myself a deadline, SA Mossie Assn have a boat measuring day at Adelaide Sailing Club September 5th and I can't use the old trailer having cannabalised it for the springs,wheels.axle etc so the whip is out for the new one! I haven't quite worked out how to put images up yet, how is it done? It does take longer to build than initially thought, recycling parts off the existing trailer saves coins but adds to the time factor.
Life too dull?.......drop an axle on your foot!
Cheers,
Roy.

Just hit the full reply screen button then just below the typing window click on the 'file manager link - it opens a box that will allow you to navigate to the photo.

Dont forget to shrink the size a bit before you add it in MS picture manager should do the trick.

Ouch!! Is that a job for the emergency department?

Hi Trevor/Tim,
Still had my toecaps on, love using body parts to cushion the axle from hitting the concrete. Have the wheels on, more steelwork tomorrow and hopefully it will be legal [just] by the end of the weekend,
Cheers,
Roy,
Aquarius 1770, Mk1

Did not really expect to be strengthening the trailer this winter [2 years old] but I found a vertical crack on the right hand "A" frame just in front of the beam supports. All the important sections are 75 x 50. Contributing factors could be...
1/Heavy sailbox which sits to the right,
2/Bumpy road from Normanville to home,
3/Double decking to Portarlington?? Probably not as it did not crack till 4 months later,
anyway I have added forward struts to take away the "pivot point" and 4 of 600mm x75mm x 5mm steel plate equidistant under the front beam supports,so it should be strong enough now.Also built a lighter sailbox.

It's fatal to plug in power tools, may as well tidy up the transoms, centreboards and rudders!
Cheers,
Roy

Thanks for the heads up - I will check mine when I am home next.

Trevor