C&C 27 Association Forum

Guest

trailers

I recently acquired 25' somethingorother fixed keel boat sitting on a dandy trailer--tandem 3500# axles----8 ply 2240# tires---4 welded substantial uprights---heavy duty keel support across the frame--etc.  We own a marina  with a ramp---welder---etc. 
I dont have engineering drawings---only sketches---and product literature---on the Mk 111.  I could approx the dimensions I need by scaling what I do have but if someone has already gone through working out the trailer dimensions I would sure appreciate hearing about it.
I'm not thinking about using the trailer for over the road stuff--even though it appears to be adequate to do the job---I'm more interested in just hauling for bottom jobs---routine maint.---and hurricane survival.  I'll probably use the thing once a year.
I could certainly make the thing available to those in the group who might have use for it.
Any ideas are welcome--Best, Dave in sunny Ft Myers  82F ESE 5-7Dave Tinder
DAWN BREAKER  Mk3
Ft Myers

Guest

Re: trailers

Hi Dave,
    When I bought my 6 year old Mark 111 way back in 1984, it came with the original 'shipping cradle' that C & C sent boats out on, right from the factory. I used that cradle for 15 years as a winter cradle and over that period of time, I essentially replaced almost everything on it (a few pieces at a time) as they rotted away. The only original pieces left were the two plywood saddles.
    About 4 years ago, our Yacht Club mandated no more wooden or non-folding cradles so I built a folding steel cradle but instead of using 4 removable/adjustable pads, I salvaged the 2 old, original plywood saddles and bolted them to the uprights. Two crossmembers in the floor of my cradle carry a keel support.
   Perhaps you could make two saddles for the uprights on your new trailer if the uprights are at or near the appropriate distance apart --- you would need to take two cross-sections of the hull shape; bow and stern . Note that C & C put the saddles of the shipping cradles outside the hull, directly under the aft and forward bulkheads that are inside the hull so the weight of the boat didn't deform the hull.
  I'm pretty sure I have the sketches and dimensions from my cradle somewhere in a file and you're welcome to those if they'd be of any use.
  Clare Jordan

Guest

Re: trailers

Tks Clare---indeed the cross section info would be great to have.  C/C says 60% keel support and 30-40% hull support---I'll go along with that---and can probably locate the uprights and their connecting bunk boards to "find" the bulkheads.  Using only the profile or Plan drawings of course helps---but I'm only guessing without the cross sections.   Best DaveDave Tinder
DAWN BREAKER  Mk3
Ft Myers