boat trailer build - what should i include?

I keep my boat on hardstand so trailer road use at the moment is not an issue - which is good because the trailer on my new (to me) centre console is not rated for the boat. I have been looking for a second hand one that is legal to be able to tow it if needed but they are thin on the ground - so a mate of mine who owns a steel fabrication business (handy chap to know) is building me one - yay!

I just have to provide plans and pictures... so I have drawn up a sketch below and overall she will be around 8.5 metres, in steel and will have elec/hydraulic break away fitted. At this stage all I can come up with in terms of nice to haves are folding drawbar (hinged) and will probably enclose the triangle section in mesh (helps with stones and is easier to walk on)and bang a few eyelets around the place to assist tying covers down

1) Apart from that any other suggestions that you would put on if you could? -
2) sourcing axles/springs, hubs/calipers, hydrastar units, etc etc - Martins??? anyone else worth trying?

cheers

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Posts: 865

Date Joined: 30/12/09

 Put a walkway done the

Tue, 2018-07-10 14:13

 Put a walkway done the middle so the poor decline doesn’t have to get their feet wet. A couple of tie down points on the rear of the trailer to put a strap over the rest end of the boat. A spare tyre mount with a spare hub on it. 

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NORUN NOFUN's picture

Posts: 1018

Date Joined: 15/08/11

Take a walk around the

Tue, 2018-07-10 15:14

Take a walk around the carpark at the boat ramp on a good day - you'd be surprised at the amount of different designs. Take a tape measure, pen and paper as well.

Posts: 16

Date Joined: 11/01/17

Walkway/Mesh Just added some

Tue, 2018-07-10 15:50

Walkway/Mesh

Just added some FRP Walkway to mine. No rust issues etc
Very easy to do.

Don't have a pic online I can link to but feel free to PM for one, came up really nice.

This stuff.
https://gratingfrpaustralia.com.au/frp-moulded-grating/

Posts: 1097

Date Joined: 19/06/14

.

Tue, 2018-07-10 15:54

 When you make room for your spare wheel put it on a drop down swing . Not only is it good for beach launching and retrieving it gives you a spare hub and bearing assembly to use when the shit hits the fan and you blow a bearing in the middle of nowhere ...:) 

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sea-kem's picture

Posts: 14833

Date Joined: 30/11/09

 I saw that set up in action

Thu, 2018-07-12 08:39

 I saw that set up in action at Gnaraloo Chris this trip on a low tide and was very impressed. 

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Posts: 181

Date Joined: 23/09/14

 Think about something to run

Tue, 2018-07-10 17:37

 Think about something to run your electrics/wiring through so your not having to re rivet/cable tie/whatever people do every 6 months.

Can also suggest you heavily reinforce where ur ruler and eyes are at 20cm as it seems to be a week point on most trailers I've seen.

scotto's picture

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Date Joined: 21/04/08

Wheels

Tue, 2018-07-10 18:18

 dont forget to put some wheels and axles on it, otherwise it’ll be hard to pull. 

pelagicyachts's picture

Posts: 1293

Date Joined: 23/02/11

haha - thanks mate - was

Wed, 2018-07-11 08:20

haha - thanks mate - was considering a tank track system - make beach launching at Gnaraloo a bit easier :-)

deep south's picture

Posts: 187

Date Joined: 28/12/16

Axles

Tue, 2018-07-10 18:58

 I have just finished building one for my 6.5 platey our of parallel flange channel and I got my axles, and suspension from Marshall engineering over east for about half the price I could locally 

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Faulkner Family's picture

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Date Joined: 11/03/08

 with the spares better with

Tue, 2018-07-10 19:40

 with the spares better with 2 just in case, fit them onto the trailor with fully operational hubs so if your travelling distance and a bearing goes you have a complete hub you can just fit straight on without too much messing around . also if you can avoid tubing as it will hold the water in there and rust out quicker. use either I beam style or C shaped stuff .

Also put on what i have as first roller, self centering keel roller it feeds the keel into the centre as its rolling up , i have it just below the water line and hasnt missed centre yet and comes up straight everytime

 

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Date Joined: 22/07/10

 Multi-roller V skid/bunks.

Tue, 2018-07-10 19:29

 Multi-roller V skid/bunks. That can be a expensive headache right there.

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Date Joined: 18/01/12

 Definitely don’t use RHS

Tue, 2018-07-10 21:33

 Definitely don’t use RHS

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The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.

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sea-kem's picture

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Date Joined: 30/11/09

 Agree Rob, going to rebuild

Thu, 2018-07-12 08:41

 Agree Rob, going to rebuild mine soon and will use RSJ where I can, it's easier and cheaper  to get rolled too. 

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pelagicyachts's picture

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Date Joined: 23/02/11

thanks guys for all the ideas

Wed, 2018-07-11 10:57

thanks guys for all the ideas and feed back
Will give marshall a call - 3 days later still waiting for Martins to respond.......

unsure what steel he is using but he builds structural gear for offshore work so am sure he is across what it needs to be :-)

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Date Joined: 08/03/09

Hydrastar

Thu, 2018-07-12 07:45

1200psi brake unit is USD$477 from easternmarine.com

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Date Joined: 18/01/12

 Check Brake CommanderLocal,

Thu, 2018-07-12 08:11

 Check Brake Commander

Local, repairable with off the shelf parts and what I’d use next time

No breakaway battery and no wiring in vehicle so you can hook up and tow with any vehicle

https://brakecommander.com/about-brake-commander

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 Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...

 

 

The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.

Everyone's just winging it.

 

pelagicyachts's picture

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Date Joined: 23/02/11

I have heard mixed reviews on

Thu, 2018-07-12 10:56

I have heard mixed reviews on these - albeit 2nd hand and not from people who own one....

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Date Joined: 18/01/12

.

Thu, 2018-07-12 12:26

 Interested to hear what the issues mentioned are?
Wifi controllers have been known to experience connectivity issues, but the rest of it?

Just being able to swap the master cylinder out, where on any of the other EOH's its virtually a throwaway

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 Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...

 

 

The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.

Everyone's just winging it.