Greetings all... I have wanted/needed a gearbox for the past 8 years... They are insanely expensive new and apparently worth their weight in gold, even when people are selling their boats. I have contacted several people who are selling their boats with trailer and gear box but they never seem interested in parting with them or selling them separately.

I had/have a 10inch tube that worked ok for my TheMightyHobie18 main, but now have expensive Cuban Fiber main (used by Robbie Daniel) for my Mystere 5.5, I cant/wont sqwersh em in the tube.

I was wondering what people here have done to make their own gear/sail box. I am not willing to spend the $800 for a new one but hate having a trunk full of rudders and other gear, schlepping my sails and other gear up and down 3 flights of stairs every weekend.

I would love to hear ideas and see pics for other options.

Thanks,
Andrew

man, I was trying to figure out what you were going to do with a gearbox on your trailer (an enclosure with gears used to translate rotational motion with different ratios and angles - like a transmission!).

I'm going to try my hand at building a wooden storage box this year. I plan to frame it up using 1" X .5" wood and skin it with 1/8" Luan plywood. Then I will put a couple layers of fiberglass around the whole thing and spray polyester resin (or maybe epoxy) on the inside to make the inside a little more water resistant. I should be able to build the box of my dreams for about $300 to $400.

The box I have in mind will fit the entire width of my trailer and both sides will have full-length side hinged lids with pneumatic cylinders to keep them open. There will be a vented gear storage area and a front section with a small hinged access lid that can be opened with the boat on the trailer (mostly for tools and tire changing stuff).

[quote]man, I was trying to figure out what you were going to do with a gearbox on your trailer (an enclosure with gears used to translate rotational motion with different ratios and angles - like a transmission!).







GEEK! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Jake is that your alter-ego? So nobody suspects the Super Hero you really are?

LOL! - I would love to see a picture of this "dream box" when complete. Will it have a refrigerated beer holder and cigarette lighter as well? LOL Pimp my sail box!!!

And when I say, “I would love to see a picture” what I mean is I WANT ONE JUST LIKE THAT TOO!!! hehe

Based on stuff Jake has built in the past, it'll have a solar cell powered Jacuzzi.

Or you could just see if Trey is getting another order together........

I built my box out of 1/2"x10" pine planks all around. Box is close to 12' long, 4' wide and 1' high (limited by Dolphin Striker clearance). The front 4' has a lid that slides backwards on standard home depot draw slider rails. The rear 7' section has a hinged lid that I prop open with a leg that is hinged to the lid and comes to rest on the side edge of the opening. I just lift the lid a bit to disengage the prop leg, push the leg up to the underside of the lid where a magnet captures it and holds it up & out the way when the lid is closed.

I uses cheapo polyester resing from Depot to cost the entire structure inside & out. Used some cloth in the corners and plank joints to make a good water seal.

Been very happy with it.

Would not use thin ply as a skin over a frame...did this previously and it all came apart within 1.5 years (but I didn't use and glass/resin on it).

Mike.

I am indeed putting another order together. I want another one for my 20 trailer! Prices have gone up a little though, not much.
I've got 2 names on the list thus far.

I'll take 50. With the price increases of aluminum, I'm bound to make more on these over the next two years than my current investment portfolio <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />


BTW, I do own one of these from Trey ... very happy with it!

The ones that Trey sells are of very high quality, the best I've ever seen.

Hi Guys,

I built a sailbox for my trailor a few years ago... 1987' I think ... still have it. Skin over frame w/ tongue& groove/daddo construction, WEST EPOXY. I would use Marine Grade plywood ($$$$). My lid slides off to the rear for two reasons: clearence/max box size and solid top doesn't LEAK !!! Everyone with a two piece top eventually leaks. I built it this way to minimize wiegh to towed (think beach). It is 28"w x 14"t X 10'lg. In my younger days I could pick it up (empty), but now I'm old and feeble .... Oh ya, I could WALK on the lid, I reinforced it with a latice work grid on the inside. Real handy for rigging/derigging mast on trailor.

Have to go no more time tonight, will answer question later Ok??
HarryMurphey
H-18/#9458 Fleet 54 Div11
P-19mx/ #86 CRAC

I forgot !!! 1/4" marine grade ply. the strips are 3/4" x 1" mohoganey, actual size, ripped down from (1" x 10") plank
The edge for the top is a 1"x 3" grooved on the edge to recieve the marine ply. I would spline the ply butt joint in the top/lid, Ok?

Harry

We built 2 a while ago that were alot like what Jake and Harry are talking about. Both ends hinged down and the tops(divided in the middle) slid off of their prospective ends. The lids were kinda bulky but other than that it worked great. We used some exterior grade fir plywood that came in 10' or12' lengths so no scarfing or side joints was necessary.It's is finally starting to deteriorate after about 15 years.
After all that effort and material cost I'd definitely go with a pre-made, as I don't seem to have the time anymore. I got one from another NC sailor awhile back that's galvanized sheet metal and works great. It was also very affordable. If this is what dessert Trey is offering I'd jump on it.
Todd

desert trey is offering a diamondplate aluminum box that is, honestly, spectacular. The rear is hinged to open up fully and I believe it has a 3 or 4' top section hinged at the front opening on top.

I've made several 10' aluminum boxes with a simple full top lid and I couldn't come close to offering them at prices near what trey has.

Ahhh hmmmmmm, that's Lunch Trey or Syndrome to you...

I had a wooden box on my old H17 trailer. Thing was heavy as sin (made manhandling the trailer a bit of a chore) and began to suffer from wetwoodrot.

Tax return = new sails and Lunch Trey Box

Maybe I should start calling them "The Lunch Box."

Trey,

Whats your dimensions and price..... Actually that is probably the wrong way to word that question with this group. What are the dimensions and price of the sail box you make.

Yes, i asked that exact question to a girl once.... the results were not favorable.

Ditto. I Need that info as well, and with a new boat on the way, highly motivated to purchase exactly what is being described. Is there any contact information Mr. Trey?