Beneteau First 235 Forums

Daryl · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 11:43 am Post subject: As the thread turns

This thread is really quite a soap opera (my contributions included <g>) as it has wounds it's way around several issues.

And it turns once more to haggling over how much trailer a 235 requires. I'm not going to play, except to the extent of the following confession of stupidity, luck and good equipment that follows:

As most of you know, I drive a truck for a living. I average about 150,000 miles a year, plus my personal driving. {{EDITORIAL CLARIFICATION: IT HAS BEEN POINTED OUT THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE BOASTING. IT IS OFFERED IN EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE SENSE. A REASONABLE PERSON WOULD CERTAINLY CONCLUDE I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER. BUT IT DID HAPPEN. MY REAL POINT WAS SHIT NOT ONLY HAPPENS, IT CAN HAPPEN ANYTIME TO ANYONE. THAT'S ALL ds}} On that personal side I drove to Lake Lanier last month and picked up my 235 on Neil's tandem trailer with 6 poppits. I'm way outta shape, sad but all to obviously true. After wrestling with boat, trailer and rig for half a day under a Georgia summer sun, I was beat. For those of you that know the area I had just crossed Brown's Bridge a couple miles back, heading toward Cumming. For those not knowing the area, it's a narrow winding road with a lot of areas where the shoulder has washed away from the pavement. An oncoming car crowded the center line, I over corrected and dropped one side of the trailer wheels off the pavement. The boat and trailer popped back up, didn't fishtail and I held my breath until I found a wide spot to stop and inspect everything. I was lucky, didn't cut a tire and did no damage at all to either boat or trailer.

I can't say beyond doubt that I wouldn't have done as well with a lighter trailer. I also can't say beyond doubt that the boat would have come off if not tied down. I can say, with great conviction, that I'll not put myself in a position to ever find out.

One side here will apparently never convince the other. The above facts are only offered, with some personal embarrassment, for the consideration of grown up peoples to make up their own minds.

nquigley · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 12:27 pm Post subject:

The pads (or bunks) are only there to stop the thing falling over - they shouldn't be carrying any real weight. I'd guess that >90% of the weight is on the keel support.
When I put my boat back onto the trailer from the slings I was using when painting last month, we centered it nicely, and only barely brought the pads up to the hull - I could still wiggle all pads when the boat was on the trailer. Inevitably, the boat must lean one way or the other, but if it's set up right, none of the pads are supporting much weight - especially the two either side of the bow section. These latter two are useful though if painting/working under the boat on the trailer when you want to back off the pads beside the keel.
_________________
Neil Quigley
Ericson 32-2 'Molto Bene'
Knoxville, TN
(ex - F235 #252 'Traveler')

abstrait · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 12:32 pm Post subject:

BLACKSHEEP · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 12:36 pm Post subject:

Soap or no soap, thanks you for letting me use this great tool.
jon

abstrait · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 12:46 pm Post subject:

nquigley · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 12:46 pm Post subject:

abstrait · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 12:50 pm Post subject:

Yeah, I agree that the keel should be taking serious weight but my pads are cranked up to take some weight as well. I will say that some boats have more substantial bottoms; the F235 is not exactly thick there and really has no stub or serious reinforcement at the attachment point. It's a good topic, for sure.
_________________
Kelly Holsten ï¿½ abstrait
'89 "clear" WK | Hull #327
www.beneteau235.com

Steve Clausen · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 1:03 pm Post subject:

abstrait · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 1:11 pm Post subject:

Still one of the BEST designs for the F235, especially the wing keel, obviously. I have seen this trailer under a number of F235. Once the proper depth is figured out (just as Steve says), this thing is great.

kh
_________________
Kelly Holsten ï¿½ abstrait
'89 "clear" WK | Hull #327
www.beneteau235.com

Jon · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 6:06 pm Post subject:

Thanx Neil, I'm glad that I am not the only one who knows anything........heh

90% is correct!
_________________
Jon
85' Laser 28 #167*Pandora*
87' F235 WK #69 my ex

Lake Ontario NY

Jon · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 6:11 pm Post subject:

abstrait · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 7:23 pm Post subject:

Jon · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 9:42 pm Post subject:

mike · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 11:27 pm Post subject:

Dirk · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 6:06 am Post subject:

what about this one>? RKGSK 20 -22 B??? retail price list says 2,564$ ??
http://www.trailnsail.com/Galvanized%20Sail.htm
_________________
Alveola
'93 ~ EU367 ~ Swing Keel

abstrait · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 9:07 am Post subject:

What has become pretty obvious to me is that we need to find a company that can make a great F235 trailer at various levels and price points, as some would prefer a heavy duty, overbuilt, feature filled model, while others might want to get something more economical, while still doing the job.

I personally would put the most money into making the trailer truly custom made for the F235 allowing for the easiest launch and retrieve cability with the least hassle.

If we can find a company that could build these trailers for an economical price (for the low end) then I would work out a deal with them on a page dedicated to this goal.

kh
_________________
Kelly Holsten ï¿½ abstrait
'89 "clear" WK | Hull #327
www.beneteau235.com

nquigley · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 11:37 am Post subject:

mike · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 12:27 pm Post subject:

abstrait · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 12:37 pm Post subject:

mquigley · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 2:43 pm Post subject:

If everyone ends up with trailers, what excuse will we all use about not getting together?
_________________
Ex-235 Owner
But ya'll are still great...

mike · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 3:10 pm Post subject:

mquigley · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 3:43 pm Post subject:

I knew there was another excuse ready. :-)
_________________
Ex-235 Owner
But ya'll are still great...

abstrait · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 5:20 pm Post subject:

Michael Garman · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 9:29 pm Post subject: 90% ratio

When a boat is in jack stands, the boat basically sits on the keel and the stands stabilize it. I don't think the stands provide much in the way of vertical support, but keep it from moving horizontally. They certainly are not keeping the hull up..........as if it would start drooping???

Just my 2cents and late in the thread at that...
_________________
Liberty Edition #22 Hull #299
Wing Keel
Hull Identification Number: BEY1A299J889

BLACKSHEEP · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 2:51 pm Post subject:

I have not heard from Dirk. So, I have no idea what he is going to do. I will go to my bank and if it is not posted in my account by 3 o'clock it means the boat is for sale. Sorry, I have no other choice, I hope the money is there and he gets his boat. I hate this! This does not make for a good day.
jon