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!!!!!!
Brian Partridge STINGRAY 580 "Fantasia" A Class 585 "FHARKEN A"
YOU CAN'T POLISH A TURD BUT YOU CAN ROLL IT IN GLITTER!!!!!
Re: Mossie Trailer
[Re: Brian P]
#176096 04/26/0903:18 AM04/26/0903:18 AM
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.
Re: Mossie Trailer
[Re: ]
#176099 04/26/0904:11 AM04/26/0904:11 AM
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
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
Mozzie 1828 ' ' Sugarloaf Sailing Club Melbourne
Re: Mossie Trailer
[Re: Trevor]
#176108 04/26/0906:55 AM04/26/0906:55 AM
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
Brian Partridge STINGRAY 580 "Fantasia" A Class 585 "FHARKEN A"
YOU CAN'T POLISH A TURD BUT YOU CAN ROLL IT IN GLITTER!!!!!
Re: Mossie Trailer
[Re: Brian P]
#176848 05/03/0906:13 AM05/03/0906:13 AM
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!.
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.
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.
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.
Brian Partridge STINGRAY 580 "Fantasia" A Class 585 "FHARKEN A"
YOU CAN'T POLISH A TURD BUT YOU CAN ROLL IT IN GLITTER!!!!!
Re: Mossie Trailer
[Re: Brian P]
#180343 05/31/0907:42 AM05/31/0907:42 AM
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
Taipan AUS329 'Got Wood' Mosquito 752 'Sticky Finger' HARDWOOD RACING TEAM
Re: Mossie Trailer
[Re: Trevor]
#189044 08/26/0907:31 AM08/26/0907:31 AM
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
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
Mozzie 1828 ' ' Sugarloaf Sailing Club Melbourne
Re: Mossie Trailer
[Re: Trevor]
#189173 08/27/0907:27 AM08/27/0907:27 AM
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.