Hi Guys looks like I have just bought my first Mac price agreed subject to a look round her'
Just a vew Questions for you knowledgeable folks. I have a long journey to bring back the new Boat and have concerns about the integrity of the trailer last boat we were insured that the trailer had been serviced and was in good order lost a wheel not the most amusing experience I have ever had fortunately nobody hurt and not much damage.
Does anybody happen to know the bearing numbers for a standard 1996 mac trailer ?
What headroom do I need for bridges?
In the event of a breakdown the max length the breakdown services will transport home ?
My caravan was covered on my car insurance is this the same for a boat.
What notice does a bank need to prepare a bankers draft and is their a time limit on how long it lasts
I know I can find this all out on line but just being lazy.
Stay Safe
Mike
Macerlla
1996 26x
Hi Mike, and welcome!
It's hard to give exact answers to most of your questions, but I'll try to offer some pointers
Bearings: there's not really such a thing as a "standard" Mac trailer. The factory trailers were only legal in the USA and the 26Xs were sold here on UK-made trailers. The trailer makers varied, but on your vintage it may well be one from Mersea Trailers. I had one of these with my X (my previous boat) and it had Alko axles. Alko bearings are a single sealed unit, and require a 3 ton press to replace in the hub, not something that can be done at the roadside! On the other hand, axles like Indespension use taper-roller bearings which can be replaced using hand tools. Without inspecting the trailer it's impossible to say.
Headroom is around 3m if memory serves, the end of the mast being the highest point. But check with a tape measure if you're concerned!
Breakdown insurance will depend entirely on your particular cover, you'll need to read your documents. Policies vary.
Provided you are towing within the limits of the tow vehicle, and according to your type of driving licence, then your insurance should cover you in terms of legal requirements. But "legal cover" is only for injury to 3rd parties. Whether your car insurance will cover damage to the boat and trailer while being towed, or even damage to a 3rd party in the event of the trailer failing, is again down to the policy - careful reading is required (or a phone call).
Sorry, don't know anything about banker's drafts.
I hope this is some help at least!
Rick Jones (Treasurer), former 26X & 19 owner, Isle of Wight
Breakdown services DO vary, Some work on, if it's legal for you to tow, they will recover it. Most put a limit of 7m TOTAL LENGTH (not the same as the 7m legal limit). Most will also only cover trailers if you pay the extra for that cover.
The legal limit for towing with a <3.5 tonne vehicle is 7m, but this does not include the draw bar and does not include a legal overhang of the load beyond the trailer. That's how a Mac at about 10m total length is legal.
Note many of the original trailers were single axle rated at 1600kg. I added up the total load for mine and got to 1601kg without allowing for all the extra loose stuff I have aboard. Part of the reason I upgraded to a twin axle 2300kg setup (plus the original brakes, bearings, wheels and tyres were all shot). There is a slight legal issue with re-plating the trailer to a higher load but luckily I can do that for myself (my own engineering company is a competent body).
The other reason I like twin axle is the reduction of risk if you should have a blow out. If it happens at 60mph (and it will when the tyres are under maximum loads) then with a single axle you're fairly certain to have an accident. My brother drove for 500 miles after a tyre shreaded and took the mudguard off on a twin axle and he didn't notice!!! (He found the remains on the return trip). Of course he should have checked the trailer more frequently and taken a break but that's Aussie driving.
Dave Newton Sailbadthesinner
Thanks for the comments guys all very helpful It would appear that the AA are the only roadside recovery that you can get recovered to home with the length of the Mac outfit if I am reading the website correctly.
Any way I have decided as I had such a bad experience last time I am going the extra mile and getting it brought back for me. That way We can check out the running gear on the trailer for our selves. Then its only 8 miles to our mooring.
Macerlla
1996 26x
Thinking back, I believe Britannia are (or were) very good for trailers. One of our former members (Bill Millar) suffered a breakdown when towing and I've seen the photos of his Mac 26X on its trailer on the back of a Britannia recovery truck!
However, looking at the web it appears that they are now a brand of LV=, so very likely it's all changed.
Rick Jones (Treasurer), former 26X & 19 owner, Isle of Wight
hi Mike,
I have a 2007 26m (Henriette) on a twin axle aluminium trailer which I bought Feb. 2015. Went to Guernsey to fetch it back to Yorkshire by road (ferry to Portsmouth). Did a bit of research in preparation for that and found out more since. I have towed her to Ullswater and back (about 2 hours each way) several times.
I think the bearings are sealed for life - which means until they die and fail and have to be replaced! Henriette had been on a mooring and the trailer had been disassembled and stored since delivered new. It was reassembled by others before I collected it but the wheel nuts had not been tightened or the brakes adjusted properly.
Brake adjustment notes attached - there are several YouTube videos which will help.
Rick Jones did an excellent post on towing specifications at http://macgregorowners.org.uk/drupal/node/1868
I suggest (you probably already know most if not all of this):
you need a jack to raise each side in turn and spin the wheels to check the bearings, putting as much on skewing pressure on the wheels as you can while turning them. You should be able to hear/feel any resistance or wear in the bearing.
you need a torque wrench to check the wheel nuts - the nm torque figures (converted from ft lbs) in my manual are wrong - the 90-95ft lbs should be 122-129nm.
add an extra tie down to the front trailer winch strap, tie down the back of the boat to the trailer, tie up/support the motor.
check the tyres for cuts/signs of perishing and pressure.
get an orange bag/cover for the propeller (mandatory)
get extensions for your overtaking mirrors (mandatory) - the boat is 8ft wide
before you go ask what the pin configuration is in the trailer lights and check your car - I had to buy a converter
check the trailer frame itself - have heard of some steel trailer frames failing from corrosion
CCF10016
The "sealed for life" one-piece bearings and the high-torque hub nuts are specific to AlKo running gear. It was widely used by West Mersea Trailers, but is not the only system. (BTW those wheel nuts are specified as single-use, which means you should never put them back on once you've taken them off - you should always fit new ones.)
Other hub systems such as Indespension, Knott, etc. use multi-piece taper-roller bearings, adjusted using the castellated hub nut, which is locked in place by a split pin. You pack the hub with grease (you can get a water-resistant variety which helps a lot), whereas the AlKo bearings have grease inside, but you can't re-grease if they get water in them.
Having experienced both I can say that the taper-roller system is much more maintenance-friendly, both in terms of tools required and cost. Those AlKo bearings are around £45 each, plus you probably have to pay someone at least £5 each to replace them in the hubs, plus a few quid for new nuts. It's a good system for caravans, and things that don't get wet, but they don't last long when regularly immersed in water, especially the salty variety.
Rick Jones (Treasurer), former 26X & 19 owner, Isle of Wight
Thanks Boys we have got a real knowledge base on this site. It reminds me of my days in the Reliant Owners Club. Everybody very friendly and you always got a wave from other owners.
The Mac Owners that have not joined are really missing a trick. Surely it cant be the joining fee. I know of 1 Mac owner that pays £4750 for a pontoon mooring who is not a member.
Thanks Again
Stay Safe Mike
Macerlla
1996 26x