Trailers
for the Beneteau F235 seem to be scarcer than hen's teeth unless
attached with the boat. For a custom made model, you are looking
in the neighborhood of $3200 or so. I haven't seen many that
go for less than $2500. I have been practically pulling my hair
out trying to locate one as hurricane insurance and to be able
to transport my F235 from its current location over 4 hours
away (click borrowed solution below after doomed attempt at
160 mile ICW journey which came unglued 20 miles after start
with a blown fuel pump gasket and sick VHF).
What
did I use to get our 89 F235 from Charleston, SC to Wrightsville,
NC? I ended up using an old Santana 22 trailer for a fin keel.
On a lark, I got four tops to boat jack stands and inserted
them into the pipes to replace the semi-adjustable units (only
two screw holes). This made it fully adjustable height-wise.
With the crane holding the boat over the bunks, we were able
to put several (as in about four) layers of wood to meet the
wing keel. We attempted to put about 50/50 weight distribution
between the bunks and the keel. Needless to say, the crane fiends
were not happy with the "OK, pull it up....ok, lower it....ok
pull it up" routine. $200 later, we were off with bulging
tires and prayers galore.
Beneteau First 235 Trailer Info Exchange
Recorded on Beneteau
Owners.Net Forum in May of 2003.
This is pretty much an ongoing discussion for those in need
of the F235 trailer.
NOTE: All the F235 trailer pics on this page click to full-size
view to see trailer detail. Most of the trailers do not correspond
to the posts at hand except for the pic above, Larry Pockras'
trailer for B Attitude, and the trailer with Hal
Newell's F235 Trailer measurements below.
Take a deep breath... Where to get a trailer?
by David Walters of Bayport, MN on 05/20/03
This
is one of the most frequently asked questions for the owners
of larger trailerables. I bought mine without a trailer 3 years
ago, thinking that I should easily be able to find a used powerboat
trailer and convert it. Whoo-boy, not so! After about 3 months
of looking I got lucky and found an outfit in Michigan ...that
had some demo Aluminum trailers for sale at a discount. To make
a long story short, $2,400 later, I have a trailer that does
the job, but is not perfect.
I have seen some really good deals on ALUMINUM trailers lately.
You really need to call the company to find out if they have
the specs for the F235. Most will custom make the trailer for
the boat. That is they will weld the exact length uprights to
the frame so that only your boat will fit the trailer. With
a modest upcharge, they might be able to make it adjustable
to a degree. Worth the cost if you ask me.
Needless to say, you'll probably not find a company in the Midwest.
Most are in Florida or East coast. Cost wise, I've seen the
new trailers go from $1,800 to 3,200.
FYI, I highly recommend the alum. trailer vs galvanized. The
new alloys and the I-beam construction is certainly strong enough
and the weight savings means a smaller tow vehicle. I tow mine
with an Isuzu Rodeo. Also, get a tongue extension at least 10ft
long.
on-line sources
www.tropictrailer.com
www.trailex.com
OR search the archives on the forums of www.trailersailor.com.
Check the archives in the classified section.
Editor: See this
link from TRIAD Trailers: http://www.sailnet.com/triad/2900o.htm
Larry Pockras offers Informative comments regarding his First
235 trailer experience
Larry offered this tale in an email to me recently. And I thought
I had a hard time. Use this to avoid similar pitfalls. Larry also
has done numerous documented projects to his F235 inlcuding taking
the time to do some drawings
of the cabin stripes. Hope to include his transom porthole
conversion as well
I too had to find a trailer, but I had (I thought) time to get
it made. You have a picture of my boat "B" Attitude
on the trailer, but it took two different trailers, three adjustments,
and two trips to Nashville - one empty both ways as the boat wouldn't
fit - to get it right. 
Mine was eventually made by 5 Starr, through an arrangement
with LoadRite (wrong) trailers. You see, I purchased mine from
Loadrite, who claimed to have built them in the past. Their
current frame, however, was not meant for a 235. The first trip
down to Nashville resulted in me pulling the boat out far enough
to take pictures of the misfit, and then settling her back in
to her dock. By this time, the marina, which had granted me
30 days to get her, was miffed by the fact that she was still
there. I managed to sweet talk them into another two weeks on
a transient slip for no charge.
The next trip down was with the same trailer, with taller rollers,
yet the weight was WAY too far forward, and I ended up with
over 900 lbs of tongue weight. I was able to limp home 5 hours
with my bumper nearly dragging every curb.
Incidentally, the nearest dealer who had "FREE" delivery
of the trailers was in Port Clinton, OH, on Lake Erie, and I
am four hours away in Cincinnati. Needless to say, I had numerous
trips to meet someone half way to take my misfits to/from the
dealer.
Anyway, after getting her home and taking more pictures, and
talking lawsuit, etc., Loadrite managed to have made a trailer
by 5 Starr, and had it delivered to the dealer, who now had
my boat and misfit trailer. They adjusted the new one, and that
is the one that I now have.
Since then, anyone asking me about LoadRite, had been told
to remind them of my fiasco, so that they get the right one
the first time. It cost $1800 in 2000, and is fully galvanized.
Link to 5 Starr: http://www.5starrtrailers.com/
Trailer for 235
George of Des Moines
If
you plan on trailering very far and/or often, I would recommend
a tandem axle trailer.
I have a single axle that I believe it was built by the company
below. I found this info in Yahoo yellow pages and it looks
like the name that is on my trailer that I bought with the boat.
I am thinking they do custom made trailers to fit the boat.
Mann Made Products
7211 Minnewashta Pkwy, Excelsior, MN 55331
Phone: (952) 474-8204
Another Trailer Source
Greg F of Jackson, TN
See Marine Cradle Shop in
Toronto: http://www.yachtsales.com/trailers/mcs/
I had one built last winter for my 235 wing keel. It has single
axle, surge brakes, winch post, tongue extension, and lateral
guides; it was about US$1950 then. The US dollar is weaker now,
so it would probably be around US$2250 today. The base trailer
for the 235 with no options is probably around US$1450 today.
They have all the prices at their web site (in CAN dollars),
so you can decide which features you want. From Knoxville it's
probably 750 miles, about the same as to the US manufacturers.
Since the trailer is custom
made for each boat, it's dimensions would be different for wing
and deep keels. The post heights have a usable range of about
+/-4" from mid-height.
Overall, I'm very pleased with
it and recommend MCS. The dimensions are right on target and
it tows well with our Olds minivan. Feel free to email me (grfnojunkmail@yahoo.com)
if you want more information or pictures. Good luck.
I've
done some on-line research since getting your reply. The Aluminum
trailers are about $4500, and ~ $500 for shipping to me (half
the cost of the boat - ouch!).
Others (Triad, LoadMaster, etc) seem to be about $3300 for 1-axle
and ~$3800 for 2-axle trailers (better ... but still steep!)
Now I have to decide if I really need 2 or 1 axles.
- Neil of Knoxville on 05/21/03
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Some
Beneteau First 235 Trailer Measurements
Hal Newell from MN was kind enough to forward some some
measurements from his First Beneteau First 235 he just
sold via ebay.
 OK,
six "Stanchions" or up-rights support the boat.
All of the following measurements are quoted "on
centers" (though if you're a little off, any discrepancy
should be easily be taken care of via telescoping stanchions).
NOTE: The stanchions all stand perfectly vertical and
do "telescope" via hollow square tubing being
inside of slightly larger square hollow tubing. The stanchions
are secured via a nut welded over a clear hole in the
outer square tube. A bolt passes through this nut and
is tightened down for the desired stanchion height. The
heights I have quoted below are all the fixed heights
for supporting the boat.
1) The first set of stanchions
(closest to the bow) stand 40" apart (athwartship)
on centers. Each of these stanchions stand 27 1/2 inches
tall from the top edge of the trailer "bed"
to the bottom of the wooden bunks (bunks are 2 x 6 lumber).
2) The second set of stanchions
are set 68" back from the forward-most set and are
54" apart (athwartship). This second set of stanchions
is each 23" tall.
3) The third and most
rearward set of stanchions are set back 61" from
the second set and are 62" apart (athwartship).
A few other helpful notes:
Weight distribution:
The single axle sits 15" back (towards the rear)
from the second set of stanchions.
Winch stand: This
is a tough measurement to make Kelly but as close as I
can tell (and I'm sure I'm within an inch forward/back
& up/down). The leading edge of the bow is located
58" forward from the forward most set of support
stanchions and 37" up vertically from the trailer
bed's top surface. It would probably be best to make your
winch stand on a steel pad with two square "U"
bolts attaching it to the trailer tongue. This way you
could move it forward or back to rest the stand/bow support
pad up against the boat's bow.
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View of Full Keel on single axle trailer
As in all shots on this page,
click for full
