Yes, but there is no movement--I've even followed the trailer on the road and the boat is rock solid.

tback,

It's not only the cat trax resisting lateral movement.
You will notice the dolphin striker strap drops into two slots and the there are two retainers that go over the front beam.

Take the cat trax away and put the back of the boat on a slippery surface and you still won't get any lateral movement.
The cat trax are just an added bonus.
Its a good setup.
Regards,
Phill

Hi all,

have to back up Phill, here I carry my boat and store it supported only by the beams front and rear. A lot of Aussies carry their boats on the beams and I have never heard of a problem. In fact "Altered" snapped a beam bolt but that happened on the water, but no problem on trailer. I think I travel more than the average sailor and living in the country, I get plenty of rough roads, do recommend soft springs though, many trailers springs are not designed for light weight F16's.

However I have seen fibreglass and timber boats blistered, where they rest on cradles on long Aussie road trips.

Hopefully you will find some photo's of my system attached.

Regards Gary.

it rolls on one set rollers at rear and another set just behind beam supports.

then a small lift of the bows puts the main beam in the front cups.

and

then another small lift as you swing rear cups on to back beam.

and then tension the back cups into place.

then if required you can slot in a second set of racks which can carry another cat upside down again on beams or

your son's mono <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> Now it's all ready to go.

another angle.

and the last one.

Gary, MAN ! Do YOU have an immaculate shine on your hulls.

I'm just down right envious ! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Wouter

You should consider putting nipple rings on your bow bra's. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

<img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Mary-
I set my trailer up to support my boat by the beams since Jim Boyer and Greg Goodall both told me I "must" do this and sent photos of their recommend trailer setup. According to Jim the worst "working" (he called it "racking") the beams/hulls go through is when the hulls are strapped down tight to trailer crossarms (regardless of whether you use rollers/cradles/etc.) since the trailer will flex while under way and this will "work" the beam/hull connection much worse. Jim also espoused a heavy steel trailer to both decrease trailer flex as well as improve the ride- he said the light aluminum trailers were bad for cats. This is the reason I support my boat at both corners of the front beam but at the middle of the rear beam- that way if the trailer "twists" there is no induced twist on my beams/hulls <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />. I think the critical difference here is we are used to thinking of hulls that weigh a lot (ie Hobie 16 or 18 hulls for instance) vs the very light F16/ "A" cat hulls. If you want to see how much a trailer flexes under way just follow an empty cat trailer for a few miles OR put some upright tubes bolted to the end of your crossarms and watch them in your mirror as you drive- they are all over the place! Strapping a (preferably heavy) boat down actually dampens this movement because the flexion is transferred to the boat! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Kirt

Hi Forum,

There has been so much good information and generous contributions regarding trailers for F-16. Gary's design looks like it facilitates ramp launching and loading which I usually do. I also like the softening the springs. The TheMightyHobie18 trailer I have is over sprung for a 230 lb. F-16. It has a main leaf and a shorter helper leaf which I'll remove. I think that'll get it in the ball park.

I think I understand that Pete Pollard's trailer is by Vectorworks. Matt McDonald has told me that the cradles are available. He mentioned the double rollers but not if he had them for sale? I like Wouter's and Tiger Mike's removable cradles for the rear, although i'm not quite sure how they do it. I like Gary's "cups" because he is caring the load out wide near the hulls which puts less stress on the beams which are designed for loads going in the other direction.

Probably, I'll do something like the pictures Pete Pollard posted, with some removable cradles for the rear. Then if I still have energy, I'd like to follow Gary's idea for supporting the forward beam. Talk's cheep, it'll be different than what I'm thinking now. Thanks for everyone's input, there's a wealth on knowledge in this forum.

Removable cradles is actually very simple.

All the cradles come with a "seat" that will take the axis of the cat tracks. And the diameter of the seat fits the round rollers very well. So lift your hulls up and slide the cradle onto the rollers and underneath your hulls. Some people also clamp or tie down the cradles the the rollers, I don't I just tie down the boat to the trailer and that keeps the cradles in place. But I have excellent roads all around me.

I personally heavily favour Eric Poulsens setup as I think that can easily be homemade and it will work very well. I'm looking to rebuild my own trailer and then it will be like Erics.

Wouter

Will:

My trailer is pure stock, as delivered from Vectorworks. You could probably buy all those components from a local supplier.

The trailer manufacturer is "Magic Tilt", I think.

When is your delivery date?

Does this type of set up hinder loading the boat with spi pole in position?