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View Full Version : Fibreglass versus Aluminium



toolman2810
09-11-2010, 01:11 AM
I have just been trying to rebuild a boat trailer. It was rusted out to buggery & I always Knew I would have to do something with it. But the last trip once I got over 90kmph on the high way, It had a decided bounce to it.
It was always going to be a huge job which was why I kept putting it off.
Went into Kmart Auto repair, Who were more than happy for me to pinch some tyres. Dropped the boat off on the tyres in a neighbours carport, promising it would "only be a few days".
Sheesh the boat was literally holding the trailer together & the boat is dodgy. I literally folded up the sides underneath the springs & bent them over my knee & put them in a wheely bin. Before anyone goes all cranky & abuses me of being reckless. There are different degrees of recklessness. One you know your trailer is dodgy & you putter around accordingly or two.
Anyway being a little Light on work at the moment. I bought myself a mig welder & compressor. I figured I'd do a neat job of it. Maybe even make up a sticker or something to put on the trailer, "made by me 0409 #######"
You can all take your boat trailers & damn them to hell, nearly 6 weeks later the boat is still sitting in the neighbours car port. Though it has been on & off a couple of times. It Has really done my head in. I would have never thought a boat trailer could be so complicated.
1) problem its built on a flat bed 400mm above the ground.
2) its built on a flat bed 400mm above the ground
It seems all modern trailers are built in a cradle shape to facilitate driving on & off.
Alumium boats are a damned lot easier.Skids are a lot eaiser than rollers But there isn't that much wrong with fibreglass boats either.
Except when they are built on a flat trailer 400mm of the ground. So I sat & I studied, had another beer & studied some more. I think I may have solved it. by accident. I am half tempted to cut the axel out & redirect it to give it frigin 400mm clearence everywhere.
Tomorrow I get my custom made torsion springs & I will see if it works. If it does work it you will certainly pause at the boat ramp & have a look.
;)

finga
09-11-2010, 06:40 AM
Trailers aren't complicated in reality.
They have the bendy bit in them to allow a lower launching height (ie you don't have to sink the trailer as far for the boat to come off) and they are not that hard to build.
Why can't glass boats be on skids??
Mine is and has been since 1978 with no complications.

And personally anybody who drives at 90km/hr or even 60km/hr with a boat (or anything) on a trailer who's main chassis can be literally bent over your knee is reckless.
What would have happened if the boat had of decided to bounce off or you had to swerve to miss a kid on a bike or someone did not give way to you??
But that's purely my opinion

deckie
09-11-2010, 09:11 AM
Its like the old westie Holden V Ford thing.

F/glass lover, and the majority of weight goes on keel rollers but with quite a few wobble rollers lined up but none take a great deal of weight if any. Find it easier/smooth to launch/retrieve.
If i did many long trips though, or over rough roads, i'd definitely consider skids. But the roads to the ramps near me on Syd's northern beaches are all gravy.

toolman2810
14-11-2010, 01:40 PM
If trailers are so simple, then how come I am having so much trouble. I feel like its one step forward two back at the moment.
Fitted my springs as best I could, busted a gut to fit them & it was an ugly job. Closed the trailer & it warped all the frame. But it did work briefly until one spring snapped & hit me in the chest.
I Think I know how to do it now. But sheesh its cost me a packet already. The springs I think I need are going to be huge. 400mm legs. Coupled with the fact I only think it is going to work. The test will be at the boat ramp:-? I am sick of the sight of it. But I refuse to let it beat me.

Check out the clip its a novel Idea & does everything I want to do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvt9HCYiN8s&NR=1

toolman2810
14-11-2010, 01:47 PM
If trailers are so simple, then how come I am having so much trouble. I feel like its one step forward two back at the moment.
Fitted my springs as best I could, busted a gut to fit them & it was an ugly job. Closed the trailer & it warped all the frame. But it did work briefly until one spring snapped & hit me in the chest.
I Think I know how to do it now. But sheesh its cost me a packet already. The springs I think I need are going to be huge. 400mm legs. Coupled with the fact I only think it is going to work. The test will be at the boat ramp:-? I am sick of the sight of it. But I refuse to let it beat me.

Check out the clip its a novel Idea & does everything I want to do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvt9HCYiN8s&NR=1

jason p
14-11-2010, 04:29 PM
thats a clever invention. cant see how it would help to much though, once the nose is on the trailer it should hold it self with a small amount of power. still very clever.

jp

Jarrah Jack
14-11-2010, 07:52 PM
Why can't glass boats be on skids??
Mine is and has been since 1978 with no complications.


Thats because you don't take it anywhere..Its just a place for the cat to sleep isn't it.;D

finga
15-11-2010, 07:42 AM
Oh come on now Jack....
Just a couple of weeks ago the Bertie went over one of the worse roads in Australia.
She went from Casino (the town not the place of sin) to Legume.
And she is still in one piece...I think.

toolman2810
17-11-2010, 06:26 PM
Thanks guys You have no idea how helpfull you have been. If I want to make something. I am own.