Any inexpensive trailers in the midwest?

[Joe Lambert]

Well it looks like we need to move our Chris Craft El-Capitan this fall and I was wondering if anyone had any leads on inexpensive trailers, either new or used in the midwest.

The boat itself is a 1956 33' El-Capitan by Chriscraft weighing in at ~12k. Right now all the estimates I'm getting for a new trailer are in the $7,000 range which has me squeeming a little.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks!

Joe

[bob goeckel]

2 words: CRAIGSLIST! ok thats one word. anyway search that then when craigslist san fransisco comes up look on the left hand side for the state you want. then search that pages ads for trailers under boats. great resource. and free. just bought a great trailer for 125.00.

[Thorne]

Move how far and how often? Have you trailered a boat that size before, and will it be an oversize load?

Might be easiest to have it moved commercially if it's a one-time deal.

Craigslist can work but plan on having the bearings replaced and possibly the tires. On most used trailers you'll have significant bunk/support modifications to do also, so factor that into the cost.

Have you tried contacting folks in the CC associations -=- some may have a trailer just sitting around and be willing to lend it to you in return for a bearing replacement, which you'd want to do anyway.

[Katherine]

I have a 35ft OWENS and am also in Michigan. I had to have the boat moved from the east side to the west side of the state. I hired a professional boat mover. He had a hydraulic trailer and didn't require the use of a boat lift. The load / unload and the stands I bought from him was $1300. He took excellent care of my baby and was worth every penny.

[Joe Lambert]

Thanks everyone!

To answer Thorn's questions; We need to move the boat about 50 miles a year, from the shed to the ramp. We have the equipment to haul it but not the trailer to put under it.

I've been looking at craigslist and ebay but nobody seems to have a trailer in the right size or if they do they think they are made of gold!

We've gone the hired hauler route before but it's about $800 either way every year which starts to stack up. Also a factor is that this year we need to move it a couple times since we're building a new barn.

I'm tempted to just weld one up but I'm not sure just how stiff it needs to be to adequately support the hull.

Thanks again!

joe

[Katherine]

You do realize that with a boat/trailer combination that heavy you're right at the edge of super duty pick-up vs. semi tractor.

[Joe Lambert]

Yep, just about the limit of the F350.

[Eric D]

Joe,

when you find that great source, let me know. My buddy here in WI needs one for a 25' he is building and most sources are in the 5-7k range as well. YIKES!!! that seems a bit stiff to me as well.

good luck.

[Pericles]

Boat trailer plans at Glen-L. https://www.boatdesigns.com/products.asp?dept=529

Happy welding.

Pericles

[Thorne]

Seems like 5-7k for a trailer isn't too outrageous when you compare it to the cost/value of the boat.

Small boats often have 1/3 - 1/4 of their overall cost being the trailer.

I went the cheap route on my small boat trailer, and have now replaced the axle and bearings, and still worry about the new bearings on long trips. Should have bought new, may still replace the axle again this season.

And the end of the day you need to think about what it would cost you to have the trailer fail at high speeds -- most of our boat insurance covers the value of the boat, not the additional costs to clean up the mess if it gets spread all over the freeway...or even pay for a hoist onto a rental trailer if yours fails.

Don't ask me how I know this...

;0 )