Following disaster on the M40 it looks like I will need to replace my trailer. Mersea have been particularly unhelpful (unreturned phone calls etc) and I could use advice on type of trailer, are rollers a good idea etc. All contributions gratefully received.
Jim Rotheram
Sat, 23/06/2012 - 3:01pm
#1
trailers
Hi Jim
Bad luck!
I was less than impressed by Mersea when I contacted them about a problem on my trailer a few months ago. I'm not inclined to rely on anything there. In my experience, the best web site for trailer stuff is Western Towing, and they're very helpful on the phone too. I don't know if they build custom trailers but I would give them a call.
Regarding rollers, I don't think you need the expense of a fully rollered trailer, they are for winching the boat onto the trailer without putting the trailer very far into the water. A Mac is too heavy for all that! However, I've long been considering a roller just in front of the forward bunk, to enable the boat to move easily into position as the trailer is pulled out of the water. But for the centre and stern, a wide rigid bunk is best, as on the standard trailer.
What happened to your trailer, is it a total write-off?
Rick Jones (Treasurer), former 26X & 19 owner, Isle of Wight
Hi Rick
My problem is getting anyone to fix it with the boat on 2 firms have looked at it and they are telling me that repairing it and adding a second axle will cost as much as a new trailer. One of the wheels sheered off at the axle on M40 at Oxford which is 150 miles from here. I really don't want to tow it again on just one axle. There is a local manufacturer telling me that the Mac will be ok on a roller trailer without bunks and that it will be a lot easier to launch and recover. He says that it will be stable to tow and that the hull will not be at risk of damage. I've told him that the Mac weighs 2000lbs which he thinks is ok.
I'd be interested in your thoughts on that Rick.
Regards
Jim
I don't have any experience of roller trailers at all - in fact no real experience of boat trailers other than Macs!
The normal way to launch and recover a Mac is to put the trailer far enough into the water that the boat floats off or on, although perhaps just wedged on the bow bunk, needing a bit of a shove from human or engine for that last little bit. At that point the rest of the hull is well clear of the other bunks, because the boat is floating horizontally while the trailer is on the slope. Used like that there is no advantage I can see to having roller bunks all the way along.
As I say, I've toyed with the idea of adding a roller at the front so the bow goes on and off more easily, it should also help the boat stay tightly in the V-buffer at the bow as it's pulled from the water. If you think of the geometry, as it settles back onto the centre and aft bunks coming out of the water, it pivots on the bow bunk which pulls the top of the bow away from the V-buffer. It should help if the keel can move forward easily at the bow bunk.
With a full roller trailer, you should be able to launch and recover using the winch, without putting the trailer so far into the water. How practical this would be with a Mac - especially recovering while 1/3 ton of water drains out of the ballast tank - I really don't know. You also have to think about how you're going to release and attach the winch strop to the bow eye, with the boat floating around not quite on the trailer, but probably with nothing constraining it either. It's always struck me as an operation more suited to small boats that are easily manhandled.
Anyone else got any thoughts?
Rick Jones (Treasurer), former 26X & 19 owner, Isle of Wight
Bummer! that cant have been much fun
what happened? brakes dragging etc or the bearings themseleves failed? Alko or copies? As If all were tip top and still failed, then its a dual axle for me!
I'd stick with bunks for reasons given myself.
Yes, I've chatted with Jim and I too would be keen to keep the original trailer format with bunks - not based on expert opinion - in fact I would go down that route precisely because I'm not an expert!
Mike
Think someone had an axle for sale in issue 77 of the Mac newsletter, might be worth seeing if it's still available.
I agree with Rick, the launch and recover of the Mac is different to smaller boats that are winched onto the trailer using the rollers, also as you have to pull forward to drain the ballest there would be a great deal of extra weight for the rollers to bare.
I am surprised how the Mac trailer is almost identical to the chasis of our swift caravan, there may be mileage in getting an Alko approved dealer to have a look at it for you. http://www.al-ko.co.uk/pages/axles-3.html
Good luck !
Thanks to everyone for their input on trailers.
I think I'm going to play safe and stick with the Mac trailer.
I'm currently trying to work out the logistics of getting it to someone who will fix it.
I'm thinking of hiring a flat bed beavertail trailer which will take both boat and trailer in one go. My yacht club will then take the boat off and I can get the trailer to the repairers. So far the nearest trailer big enough to do this is in Plymouth. Does anyone know of one that is either closer to Oxford (where the boat currently is) or closer to Preston where I am? - or just closer than Plymouth. Any suggestions would be helpful
Thanks
Jim
.Hi all,
New member here I am looking to buy a Mac, and have found one that I am very interested in, the boat is fine but the tailor is rather tired I was just wondering if when your tailor failed Jim did you get recovered and can the AA/RAC cope with a Mac and tailor.
If they can I would feel far happier about collecting the boat.
Thanks Paul
I'm not sure about AA/RAC but i'm with Green Flag and they do cover trailer's like the Mac.
I had a bad experiance the first time i towed our Mac home from the previous owner, lost a mud guard, then blew a tyre followed by a complete lock up of the axle resulting in another blown tyre and blocking the A1 at 5pm on a weekday !
I would make sure the trailer is fit to get your Mac home. Things I would check with hindsight :
Check axle is clamped on both sides to trailer (our trailer was missing a mud guard but more importantley the clamps that held the axle in place was also missing)
check the hitch (nose) of the trailer, you should be able to push the hitch towards the back on the trailer (the bit with the black rubber gattor) in about 6 inch's (with a bit of effort using your knee) and release it and it should then expand back , this is the dampener that applies your trailer brake when you slow down, if you can't move it then when your towing car brakes the trailer brakes may not work and if it fails to expand back or is too stiff then the brakes will lock on and your risk the wheels hub/breaings/tyres over heating.
I would ask the owner how often they use the trailer, the more they have used it the better, the trailers that put the boat in the water once and take it out once a year I would be very worried about using for any journey until they were serviced.
I would recommend the HAYNES Trailer manual, I have found it very useful and we have used our single axle trailer to go to West of France and the South of France over the last wo years over 5000Km.
I would also make sure on your first journy you have a good tool kit, socket set , tyre puncture epoxy, hydrolic Jack (2 ton min) and a coulple of axle stands....if you have them then you prob won't need them.....i always have them when i tow the mac for peace of mind !
Where abouts are you< would be Happy to view your trailer if you are close to Peterborough before you tow !
Does anyone know what wheel bearings I should buy for my 2009 trailer?
Gerard ~ Oran na Mara ~ M26
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