Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
 
Old 26 April 2013, 23:03   #1
Member
 
Projectile's Avatar
 
Country: Canada
Boat name: WB465
Make: Zodiac
Length: 4m +
Engine: 2013 ETEC 30
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 256
Trailer for 16 foot Zodiac

I have a new Zodiac Workboat 465. It's 4.65 m or 15.5 feet long, and very similar to a MkIIIGR or an FC 470 minus the Futura full (speed tubes). I'm looking to buy a trailer for it plus a 40-50hp outboard. Any turnkey solutions? I'm looking for specific designs or sale recommendations given the heavy weight on the transom. Thanks in advance.
__________________
Projectile is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 April 2013, 23:36   #2
Member
 
Locozodiac's Avatar
 
Country: Other
Town: Lima-Peru
Boat name: Nautile
Make: Sea Rider 450 Rib
Length: 4m +
Engine: Tohatsu 5/18/30 HP
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,998
You'll need a bunk trailer for top tubes support & attached engine on transom.

Happy Boating
__________________
Locozodiac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27 April 2013, 08:01   #3
Member
 
spartacus's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Scotland
Town: Aberdeenshire
Boat name: Sula
Make: Ribcraft 4.8m
Length: 4m +
Engine: Tohatsu 70hp + aux
MMSI: 235087213
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,521
RIBase
As Loco mentions - a bunk trailer with support. Think its called a transom saver. Basically a metal arm at the rear of the trailer that supports the outboard leg. Fairly standard on your side of the pond.
__________________
Is that with or without VAT?
spartacus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27 April 2013, 13:26   #4
Member
 
Locozodiac's Avatar
 
Country: Other
Town: Lima-Peru
Boat name: Nautile
Make: Sea Rider 450 Rib
Length: 4m +
Engine: Tohatsu 5/18/30 HP
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,998
Proyectile,

Do you plan to launch sib backing trailer alone, with car, sub to water, use a crane at a local or city marina ? If you like simple & cheap designs check this :

http://www.pbase.com/locozodiac/locozodiac_362 (Pics 05 to 08) This model includes a transom engine support.

Happy Boating
__________________
Locozodiac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27 April 2013, 16:24   #5
Member
 
Country: USA
Town: Oakland CA
Length: 3m +
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,653
I have a Highliner trailer that is made somewhere near the Vancouver area. It's been 8 years, and no problems (aside from the usual consumables - tires, actuator/coupler, springs and brake backing plates.)

Kind of depends on where in Canada you are though.

Agree that bunks are the way to go with a SIB; two bunks sitting at about the floor-tube seam supporting the transom, and one center bunk to support the keel at the front. A large block on the winch post will give you some registration for how far forward to load the boat.

jky
__________________
jyasaki is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27 April 2013, 17:28   #6
Member
 
Projectile's Avatar
 
Country: Canada
Boat name: WB465
Make: Zodiac
Length: 4m +
Engine: 2013 ETEC 30
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 256
What do you guys think of this:

CastleCraft Trailer for Inflatable Boat and RIB | Trailex Trailers for Inflatables and RIB
__________________
Projectile is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28 April 2013, 02:32   #7
Member
 
Country: USA
Town: Oakland CA
Length: 3m +
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,653
Have to be careful with aluminum trailers; make sure that the buoyancy of the tires doesn't float the back end when the boat is off. Can be trouble in surge or current even if it doesn't float, as it'll be light.

jky
__________________
jyasaki is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29 April 2013, 16:26   #8
Member
 
Projectile's Avatar
 
Country: Canada
Boat name: WB465
Make: Zodiac
Length: 4m +
Engine: 2013 ETEC 30
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 256
Prairie Tuber: what do you think?
__________________
Projectile is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30 April 2013, 06:41   #9
Member
 
Country: Canada
Town: British Columbia
Make: Gemini
Length: 4m +
Engine: 40hp 2 str
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,151
Hi Projectile,

One major postive about the trailer in your link is that its has exceptionally wide bunks which should greatly reduce stress and abrasion of the fabric.

The trailer does look to be fairly short for that length of boat and if driven like shown in the picture would place huge stress on the transom. Assuming the trailer were longer, you could probably fabricate a removable skeg support that would slide in place like a receiver hitch for transport and be pulled off prior to launch.

So far I've only owned 3 boat trailers, (all have been steel framed) so I don't have any experience with the point that John Y brought up about aluminum trailers being susceptible to currents. It's definitely something to consider if you will be launching on rivers or good sized lakes that tend to get windy. Hopefully some of the aluminum trailer users can give their perspective on this.

The last thing that strikes me about that trailer is the tiny tires. I can't imagine that they would be safe on the highway and they'd get stuck on every little rut on forestry roads. I would look for a fairly common sized trailer tire so that you could easily replace it from just about anywhere.

I've destroyed several cheap Princess Auto bought trailer tires (Carlisle, Lodestar etc...). Currently I have Goodyear's HMG2020 bias 205x14 8 ply which they make for U Haul trailers. They have been tough as nails and haven't even had a flat with them. If you can find a pair grab them (just not off someone's U Haul trailer )

Depending on how much time vs money you are willing to spend, you could probably buy a sturdy used conventional steel framed boat trailer of similar length for less than half the price and make your own bunks for it.
__________________
prairie tuber is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30 April 2013, 15:37   #10
Member
 
Country: USA
Town: Oakland CA
Length: 3m +
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,653
Looks to me like the transom is supported by inside bunks (lower pic has 2 inside bunk supports leaning towards the center of the trailer.) Actually, it looks like there might be a total of 6 bunks on the trailer: 2 just off centerline, and a pair cradling each tube side.

Agree that larger wheels are better than smaller (fewer revolutions per given distance trailered); tradeoff is how high the trailer ends up being (assuming you don't change the axle height.) Advantage of going with 13 or 14 inch rims is that tire availability goes up quite a bit; will likely be cheaper as well.

One last point: If you do go with aluminum, keep an eye on spots where bolts go through. Steel hardware and aluminum structural parts are prone to dissimilar metal corrosion.

jky
__________________
jyasaki is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01 May 2013, 01:32   #11
Member
 
Projectile's Avatar
 
Country: Canada
Boat name: WB465
Make: Zodiac
Length: 4m +
Engine: 2013 ETEC 30
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 256
jky: Can you post some pics?

What kind of SIB and motor do you have on your trailer?

I'm in Calgary, and I'd even drive to Vancouver to pick up a trailer like yours if it seems like the best option...
__________________
Projectile is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01 May 2013, 01:33   #12
Member
 
Projectile's Avatar
 
Country: Canada
Boat name: WB465
Make: Zodiac
Length: 4m +
Engine: 2013 ETEC 30
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 256
Loco:

I plan to back the trailer into the water with my truck.

Where did you get your SIB trailer?
__________________
Projectile is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01 May 2013, 01:53   #13
Member
 
Projectile's Avatar
 
Country: Canada
Boat name: WB465
Make: Zodiac
Length: 4m +
Engine: 2013 ETEC 30
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 256
Looks like there are some nice trailers here:

Triad Marine Kemah Texas: Inflatable Boats- Not Just Dinghies
__________________
Projectile is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01 May 2013, 05:13   #14
Member
 
Country: USA
Town: Oakland CA
Length: 3m +
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,653
Quote:
Originally Posted by Projectile View Post
jky: Can you post some pics?

What kind of SIB and motor do you have on your trailer?

I'm in Calgary, and I'd even drive to Vancouver to pick up a trailer like yours if it seems like the best option...

I've got a 17 foot aluminum hull RIB. Just trying to give some advice (though to be fair, my last boat was a 14' SIB with a Honda 40.)

Should be a trailer builder closer to you. Google and any local boating forums (fishing, skiing, etc) should be of use.

So what's with the Flames trading Iginla???

jky
__________________
jyasaki is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01 May 2013, 06:37   #15
Member
 
Country: Canada
Town: British Columbia
Make: Gemini
Length: 4m +
Engine: 40hp 2 str
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,151

The Flames ???


The Jets didn't even make the playoffs , and you're asking about the Flames at a time like this?

If the Jets keep playing like they have been, they're going to have to go back to their old jerseys !

And to think that I now live amongst a whole metropolis of Canucklehead fans
__________________
prairie tuber is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01 May 2013, 15:17   #16
Member
 
Country: USA
Town: Oakland CA
Length: 3m +
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,653
Quote:
Originally Posted by prairie tuber View Post

The Flames ???
Well, Iginla, who pretty much *was* the Flames, to be specific.


Quote:
And to think that I now live amongst a whole metropolis of Canucklehead fans
The Sharks start against Vancouver tonight; have to remember the Canucklehead term.

jky

p.s. How's *that* for a thread hijack?
__________________
jyasaki is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01 May 2013, 15:30   #17
Member
 
Country: USA
Town: Seattle
Boat name: Water Dog
Make: Polaris
Length: 4m +
Engine: Yamaha 60hp
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,152
Quote:
Originally Posted by Projectile View Post
Looks like a nice trailer but the price is probably double the cost of a galvanized trailer. For freshwater use with a lightweight boat already it seem like overkill to me. I have a trailer with 8" or 12" (I forget) tires right now under my wife's boat. We don't take that rig on dirt roads, but if we did (with lightweight boats) the whole trailer just bounces over the potholes and washboard. So if you drive on dirt roads a lot I'd go for bigger wheels (14") since bouncing like that will be really hard on the transom.

A normal bunk trailer for hard boats is fine for SIBs if the bunks are long enough to give good transom support.
__________________
captnjack is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 May 2013, 15:32   #18
Member
 
Country: Canada
Town: Rivers, Manitoba
Boat name: Grand Raid MK III
Make: Zodiac
Length: 4m +
Engine: outboard 60/40 Jet
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 20
EZ loader makes a good bunkk trailer and not all that heavy. Zodiac GR MK III with boat and motor pulled easily by jeep with stock tires.

With these tires I managed to get over 12-18" rocks with a little finese.




john
__________________
john noon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 May 2013, 05:46   #19
Member
 
Projectile's Avatar
 
Country: Canada
Boat name: WB465
Make: Zodiac
Length: 4m +
Engine: 2013 ETEC 30
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 256
Hey John. Thanks for sharing. How many bunks are there and what parts of the boat are supported? Any pics of how the trailer supports the weight of the boat (and the motor)?
__________________
Projectile is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 May 2013, 14:16   #20
Member
 
Country: Canada
Town: Rivers, Manitoba
Boat name: Grand Raid MK III
Make: Zodiac
Length: 4m +
Engine: outboard 60/40 Jet
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 20
Dealer said no motor support required but I imagine the tubes will take a beating in the long run. Some time this summer I am going to have to make a custom transom saver.




Bunk only supports along the outer edge of the floor boards so if there is a lot of water in the boat it is hanging off the tubes. Usually a bigger problem if I leave the boat out without a cover and it gets a few inches of water in it.

john
__________________
john noon is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT. The time now is 15:03.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.