Trailer Rebuilding 101

[Tague]

Big thanks to Lee at LA Marine, home of the worlds fastest stock boat on rebuilding my steel trailer.

I don't want to do it again anytime soon. It was no fun, but I was able to do it for 20% of a new one.

[SHAWNO]

hey that looks like the fast cat mold

[tcalzone]

Hey, I have the same boat and need a new trailer. Do you know anybody that can rebuild a trailer in the NC area? How much did that cost? I have been looking at new custom trailers but they are 4500-6K. I have a 21 Foot Daytona Eliminator.

[typhoon]

I just rebuilt the rear of my trailer, sent it off for galvanising today.
Will get some more photos when it comes back and I have it all finished. The trailer is all C section purlin, so easy to cut and weld.
Meantime, here's a mid construction photo:


This is what I cut off teh back of teh trailer:

My mid priced MIG welder, using gasless wire, earned it's keep on this job!

Regards, Andrew.

[typhoon]

Trailer frame is back! How good does freshly galvanised steel look?
Should be good for another 30 years now.

Yeah, I know you guys like bunk boards, but this boat is light and a clinker (lapstrake) hull, so it's plenty stiff. It's been on the same trailer for 30 years with no signs of any warpage.
So, $240 for galvanising, $100 for lights, cable etc, $150 in miscellaneous hardware versus $2500 for a new trailer. Bargain!

Regards, Andrew.

[Matt Gent]

Why rebuild a steel trailer for South Florida? Our steel trailer for the eliminator was rusting to bits after only 2 years in salt, it looked new when we got it. On the way to the junkyard (without the boat on it), it broke in two.

Aluminum is the only way to fly around here. I bought a used one for $600 and converted the bunks to fit the hull.

[cocacola]

Whow!!! I never would have thought to rebuild one so thoroughly. I was wanting to sandblast and repaint mine...nothing more.

Was yours rusted so bad that it required beam replacement? I've noted a little rust around some weld joints, but mine has not been in salt water. It use to be used out west in Arizona and California. Not sure of the salinity of their lakes (Havasu and Needles).

What did you do with the boat while all of this was going on?