The "easiest" launch we have is at a ramp that is steep enough to require a complete dunk of the trailer. The guy we bought our 16 from did us a "favor" by drilling 3/8" holes in the bottom of the molded plastic car top type trailer box for drainage. Now we have to make sure there is nothing in it that can't get wet before we launch and must wait 'til it drains completely to throw stuff back in.

If building new I'd opt for a top entry only box and install a few removable drain plugs.

Bearing buddies, for periodic greasing, work great along with the yearly removal and inspection.

John:

I posted a link a few post back on how to make one out of plywood. It has top opening doors and you could always glass it over. There is one on beachcats for $200 by Performance. That is what I have.

Doug Snell

John:

Here is the box for $200.
I paid $500 for mine.

http://www.thebeachcats.com/modules...d=2850&item=Sport%20Locker%20Sailbox

That is what I have. All my stuff fits in it.

Doug Snell
Hobie 17

Those Sport Lockers sell for ~$800 nowadays. I'd snap up that used one, but it's on the wrong coast!

He is right $799 on Murrays. I would garb this one.
Nice box.

I just have it and curved one and don't need another.

Someone should get this one.

Doug

Ok, for the purpose of completion- here is my finished trailer box. Not the prettiest thing in the world, and probably not the most functional (a wee bit small) but heck, it keeps the sails out of the front seat when driving the forrester.
I used cardboard concrete molds (the kinds you put in the ground then fill with cement) cut down the middle and then stretchd apart about 12 inches. The front of the box was done first then I bought 2 more and put those together. As you can tell, evidently the quality control isn't very good because the circumference of the first tube did not match the other 2. Realizing this ain't rocket science I figured I would just join them together anyway. Besides, more aerodynamic
I used 3 layers of glass cloth and painted the inside of the tube. The bottom is a single piece of pine board with a routered slot for the tube to fit into. The board was coated with epoxy. The end caps are just plywood. Total cost was probably around 150-200 (and significant back pain
BTW- the paint? Flat rustoleum... oh YEAH... gigly gigly gigly

another

last one

Sorry; just got into this discussion late.

We keep about thirty-five boats on trailers behind the sand dunes at our local sailing Fleet Club (wnycatamaran.org - presently redesigning our website)and we have our own Kubota tractor for moving the boats from the parking area down to the beach. Some of the larger boats (Hobie 18s and up) are towed with their sails up (always into the wind or a close reach) and backed into the water, then slid off. I sail single-handed and this makes launching effortless. We have a series of pins in the water that you can moor your boat to while you take the trailer to beach and disconnect it so another person can use the club tractor. Many of us trailer to regattas, and no matter what you do, you will get water into a "watertight" cat box, so it is best to have ventilation holes built into it. You'll find that damp sails from a misty day on the water will dry fairly quickly on their own.

As always, before you put the sails away at the end of the season, make sure they are perfectly dry before you put them in dry storage.

You can make a good catbox for less than $125 by buying sewer pipe and caps. Look at different threads on this site because it's been discussed numerous times.

Wyatt, Fleet 119

I am just finishing up an aluminum box for our Team Seacats I20. Some installation details on the site (http://www.teamseacats.com).

I've never vented these boxes and they do fine - I do
usually let the sails hang for a while and dry if possible.
Worst case scenario, I put them away wet but they come back
out, once at home, to dry.

I'm too cheap to spring for a nice box like that

Nice work Jake!

The boat I just picked up has a homebuild trailer with an angle iron frame for the box, the frame is covered on top with plywood. The box itself is a plywood "drawer" with two handle pulls you simply slide out the back. Advantage? You don't have to wait until the boat is off the trailer to access the box. The aft mast stand slides into a box beam welded to the frame and doubles for keeping the box from sliding out on the road and a hefty bit of metal to slide a padlock through. Will post pictures soon.

Trailer box finished! Some detail and more photos are up on the site.

www.teamseacats.com

my double trailer and "big" box
gary

another view

Nice rig. What kind of boats?

Doug Snell
Hboie 17
www.tcdyc.com

Very nice Jake. Now when will mine be ready?

sorry, those were limited editions - I'm out of the trailer box business.

Lance, we know a guy up here in NC that can make you a metal box like jakes. We just had one put on our trailer.

Shoot me an email tjpeco at gmail.com and I'll get you in touch with him if you want.

I can answer that Spitfires