boat trailer

[archimedes]

I've been searching for a CP 23 for quite a while w/o any luck.  Ideally I would find a boat and a trailer but many of the boats I come across don't have a trailer, and are far away.

Any suggestions on how I can find a trailer or  have one built?    If built, where can I get the specs from to match the CP 23?

Thanks

[relamb]

My CP23 came with a Magic Tilt, and I've noticed many other CP23's have these as well.  It was probably a factory option from Hutchins, they list several other compac models on their site.  Located in Clearwater.  The trailer is not that complicated, you need a support for the keel, which the boat rests on, and then some type of bunks or rollers to keep the boat from falling over.
I think practically any boat trailer of the appropriate length and weight capacity could be modified to fit.
http://www.magictilt.com/galvanized/item/244-galvanized-sailboat-series
There are a few close-ups of my trailer here:
http://midtechv.com/wp3/?easy-photo-album=1989-compac-233-sailboat-sale
If you have a way to lift the boat on and off, you could transport it on a car hauler by making a cradle bolting 4x4 timbers together.
Rick

[jthatcher]

Hi Archimedes,
   i had a trailer built  this summer for my cp23..   i think that the folks did a nice job, but  it was not cheap..  the trailer is worth more than the boat ( 1983)  at this point!     but it will pay for itself  in two seasons of not having the boat at the marina in NJ      where are you located?    mine was built in  Ohio, but there was also a place  in NC  that would have built one.    jt

[brackish]

If I needed a trailer, here is where I would go:

http://cpyoa.geekworkshosting.com/forum/index.php?topic=6444.0

[archimedes]

Thanks for the replies and links guys - very helpful.

I've been looking at boats priced at not much more than the cost of the trailers,  so I can see why people just don't replace the trailer when it wears out.  Would seem to me that it makes the boat more difficult to sell without one though.

I'm a 52 year old sailor living in FL (formerly from Long Island NY) who has been sailing since he was a kid and,  believe it or not,  I've never owned or used a trailer.  My boats were always in the water, so I'm kind of clueless when it comes to buying,  using, and maintaining a boat trailer.   However, it doesn't seem to be very complicated technology.

I don't have an "off" season here,  so the benefit to having a trailer would be that I could occasionally trailer the boat to different locations.  But I don't plan on taking the boat out of the water often.

Well,  it's 84* sunny with a 10-15 mph breeze here today,  I guess I'll go rent a CP 23 one more time.  Would be nice to own one some day.

P.S.    @JThatcher,  did you ever finish your tiny cottage at the orchard?  I haven't been over to Countryplans in a while?

[relamb]

Tampa is the land of boat trailer manufacturers, there are several in the area.  A quick search on the Tampa Craigslist will turn up quite a few dealer listings for new trailers.  There seem to be a lot of used trailers as well, but unless you're a handyman you'll have as much money tied up in fixing and modifying one as you will a new one.  But if you are handy, there are also several marine stores and trailer supply places that sell various repair parts, and sometimes Don's Marine Salvage has bunks, brackets, rollers, etc.
Rick

[HeaveToo]

If you can afford it, going the new route is much better.  I believe that the Hideaways did a big trailer modification and there is a youtube video of it.

If you are going to keep the trailer for a long time it is best to get an aluminum trailer....especially if you dunk it in salt water.

I had a ton of work done to my breaks and hubs last year when I bought my boat.  I had 4 new hubs and new brakes put on the trailer.  That was $1000.  I then added trailer lights and a few other things.  I spend over $1200 on my 1989 boat trailer.  This didn't include 4 new tires that most trailers will need.  My tires are fine for now but if I was going to pull to Florida I would do all 4 tires.  I also have 2 spares I picked up at a yard sale for $50.

If you buy a boat with a trailer, figure on doing work on the trailer to get it home. 

The good news is that if you have a trailer it could save you money.  My intention is to pull out for 6 months out of the year and I have free storage where I put my boat for the winter.  That is saving me $80 to $100 a month during the winter....or close to $600 a year.  Then I save the $300 for the haul out and wash because I do it myself.  That is $1000 a year, or close to it.  That pays for the trailer quickly.

My opinion is that I wouldn't trailer sail a 23.  The rigging is a lot to do and I don't want to rig it for a few hours.  If I am going to rig it, I want to be out for at least three days.  I also have to worry about tides when I haul out in my area.

Good luck and keep on looking around.

Oh, what is your total budget that you have for the boat?  That would help in finding something.

[jthatcher]

Hi Archimedes..   here is the  place that I mentioned  in NC      Triad Trailers LLC – 5831 Triangle Drive- Raleigh NC 27617  -   they are a bit closer to you than ohio!     My thinking  with buying the trailer is that  I was making a long term commitment to owning the boat.    I don't see a bigger boat in the future, especially now that I have experienced the constant bleed  of having  a boat at a marina..    I think that, all told,  the marina option was costing me around 3k a year..   so a 5 k trailer  is paid for in less than two years..     if i keep the boat for 10 years or more - which I fully intend to do -  I come out way ahead.. 

I opted for  a  lift -off trailer..   I am firmly convinced that once a trailer is dunked the clock starts ticking..  and if it is dunked in salt water, the clock runs three times as fast!     of course, it will cost  money to  unload and load the boat, but i am  thinking that it will happen  once a season..    so ask me in 10 years what I am thinking   

thanks for asking about the house..   we spent from july till thanksgiving in it..  and still get along!      we enjoyed  the month of december and the holidays  at our home in bear creek, and now we are back at the tiny house, greeting the new year!   

ok.  my wife just  asked if we could move the furniture!   we don't have a whole lot of options      but, like all good husbands, I will  try to accommodate!   jt 

[jthatcher]

here is a pic of  my new trailer..



and another


I am very happy with it.. only slight issue is the the  bunk for the keel  does not seem to be positioned  exactly where it should be..   the last  6-7 inches of the keel is not supported..    but  the keep at the point is rather narrow, and there is not that much weight there , so i am not  concerned..     I am not sure if that is a result of the  measurements that I took or  an issue with the transmittal of those measurements..   jt

[BruceW]

I bought a used trailer off craigslist for 400. It came with title. It had the bunks, but no keel guides. I had to find taller brackets for the bunks, and some keel guide brackets.

Also, it was rusty.

I now have about 1500 in it, with new springs also.

Next step, new wheels and tires, more work on rust. I may have made a mistake, but it got me through hurricane haulout and will work for hauling to scrape bottom.

The new ones were 4500; I don't think I'll get even close to that, even if I have to replace the axles and hubs, which would mean I had done everything.

Some hard work, some not so hard; the worst was finding parts, but I did find a great source in New Bern, near where I keep the trailer.

[nbsupply]

If I needed a trailer, here is where I would go:

http://cpyoa.geekworkshosting.com/forum/index.php?topic=6444.0

Gary at the plant has sold me mine it was Approx $3500 including 2 axle discbrakes, Hans

[archimedes]

Gary at what plant?

[HeaveToo]

Compac.  They provide great support.  If you hear the name Gary on here it usually means Gary Hutchinson, the builder and company owner.  He is great to chat with. 

That wouldn't be a bad place to check to get a trailer!

[wes]

It's "Gerry."

[HeaveToo]

Yep, you are right.  That is the price to pay for working night shift, the mind goes.