Folding trailers any good?

Sibfun · 13 March 2018, 18:05

Any advice on folding trailers,because I really don’t like the look of transom wheels.I have a 3.9 m sea search,I was thinking of attaching a winch to it just to get me up the ramps.

Fenlander · 13 March 2018, 18:19

Do you mean a folding/stowable road legal trailer or a folding launch trailer to carry in the car with a packed up SIB?

Sibfun · 13 March 2018, 18:53

Yes I mean the stow away type

Fenlander · 13 March 2018, 19:07

Ahh OK.. outside my experience.

pagick · 19 May 2018, 05:02

Im still not clear. Do you want a trailer that folds in half or thirds to put away. So you can build at your home and not on the ramp?

Lee1 · 24 May 2018, 19:39

Don't drill holes through your transom for launching wheels, these fold down (they don't actually fold) launching trailers are cheap and they break down (pull apart) to very small, a much better option than drilling through your transom. These launching trailers support your whole boat as well, better than dragging it on transom wheels and damaging the bottom of the rear tubes, transom, floor and dropping your boat on its keel on the floor when your done moving it!

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Fenlander · 24 May 2018, 19:52

>>> better than dragging it on transom wheels and damaging the bottom of the rear tubes, transom, floor and dropping your boat on its keel on the floor when your done moving it!

None of those things happen... nothing wrong in drilling the transom!

A folding trolley suits some... transom wheels others. Whichever you use they are both kind to the fabric and structure of a SIB.

Lee1 · 24 May 2018, 21:35

If your going to drill through your transom be sure to mark out both sides before you drill, once the hole is drilled be sure to seal the inside of the holes and allow to dry for the correct time, be sure to use Marine grade nuts and bots, be sure to use large washers to spread the load of the bolt across the wood or use some plating to spread the load further than a washer can do, by using plate to can also seal the back of the plate with rubber that will not damage the transom and will retain a watertight seal against the transom bolt hole, using only slighter larger or no washers will result in you boring the nut into the wood when tightening thus damaging the transom and water will get in and rot out the transom, I get a lot of SIBs come in for repair due to past poor fitting of transom wheel mounts and the worst cases are transoms that have rotted out internally due to incorrect fitting of launching wheels some I save without replacing the transom by digging out the rot around the bolt holes then plugging and filling others sadly are scrapped due to the owner not wanting to pay for a full new transom, think very carefully before you take a drill to your transom! Personally none of my own SIBs will ever have launching wheels fitted.
Think about it on these lines. . . Why does no SIB manufacture sell their boats with launch wheel mounts already bolted on the transom with the option of purchasing the wheels as an accessory if you want them at the point of sale of even later on? If the mounts were already there who would not buy the wheels right? I know why that's not the case lol

but they do offer them in a box with the mounts as an accessory to take away or arrive with the boat read the small print I know it will say to retain warranty launching wheels "to be fitted by main dealer" your chandler wont fit them! Your be lucky to find a marina to fit them and uphold the boat warranty, I reluctantly fit them and only do so if the customer insists on them and signs a disclaimer!

Much better to have a quick dismantle launching trailer

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Poly · 24 May 2018, 22:19

Who mentioned transom wheels? But the OP seems to be looking for road legal so not what you’ve posted.

Lee1 · 24 May 2018, 22:33

No in post #3 SIBFUN is looking for a stow away trailer not a towing trailer.

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My transom wheel post above this one was in rely to the post above mine saying 'Nothing wrong with transom wheels'

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Poly · 24 May 2018, 22:47

Well you seem to have read something different in the answer to Fenlander’s question (post 2) but then you’ve also imagined someone recommending transom wheels - or are you talking about a totally different thread on the left (presumably on an iPad?).

Lee1 · 24 May 2018, 22:49

That's a possibility I was viewing and replying to threads regarding transom wheels, launching trailers jointly. . .

pagick · 25 May 2018, 02:37

I think SIBFUN can clear this up but reading post 2 then 3 SIBFUN's inquiring about a towable trailer that can be stowed. But its a close call.
For my Folding Trailer-
I modified a Jet ski trailer that was turned into a motorcycle trailer. After I bought it I took it back to its watery origins. I added bunks, moved the axle back for balance and added a longer tongue. The tongue has a "Fold-Away" joint Made by Fulton that lets the trailer fold in half. When I am done with the boating season it then gets tipped on one edge, on to casters. That lets me STOW it on the side of my house 8 months of the year. I need to build my boat at home where an electric hoist could lift the boat and then the motor for me. 60hp on a Mark2 Futura. And thats as much "SIB FUN" a guy can have!