Bayliner Escort Trailer setup... I think its not right.

[Mark42]

Re: Bayliner Escort Trailer setup... I think its not right.

Update.....

Surprise! I removed everything from the boat except the gas tank and battery and there is about 80lbs on the trailer tongue. There were two additional 6 gallon tanks full of gas, a case of 2 cycle oil, and misc. other unnecessary items that needed to come out that were hiding under the splashwell skirt.

Just goes to show that loading can affect trailer balance, and maybe the way it tows.

 

[tic]

Re: Bayliner Escort Trailer setup... I think its not right.

I'm sorry I can't be of any help with the trailer problem but that is one sharp looking cuddy!... I never heard of a 16' cuddy!... Can you post some pics of the interior?.. I really like that boat...thanks

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Bayliner Escort Trailer setup... I think its not right.

The Bayliner 1600 Cuddy I reciently bought sits on a Bayliner (by Escort) bunk trailer. The trailer is rather custom made for that boat. By that I mean the bow stop/winch post is not adjustable on the trailer tongue. So to change the tongue weight, I am guessing that the axle must be moved.

On this Escort, the axle and springs are bolted to a rectangle shaped angle iron sub frame. The trailer bolts to the sub frame with large U bolts.

I want to put more weight on the tongue, because this trailer has no weight on the tongue at all. So I'm guessing I loosen the sub frame and slide it rear ward.

But it bothers me that it doesn't look like the frame was tampered with, adjusted, bent or otherwise messed around with. So why would Bayliner sell boats on trailers that have no tongue weight??? The boat is dry, no extra water weight, I took out the extra gas tanks and crap, still very light. Although it tows OK...

I am confused...

I just looked at one of those earlier today, they look to me to be something that someone came up with to be the bare minimum needed to handle the boat that they were sold with. Every Escort I've seen came with Bayliner.

Your only option on that is to move the axle carriage back till you get the right tongue weight. The only other option would be to either remove the fixed bow stop and bolt one farther up on the tongue. That may be too far to achieve the proper adjustment.
Most of those had a very low bowstop and were not very safe looking. The one I looked at had a 17' bow rider with a winch over bow stop set up and the bow stop supports were just stamped metal sandwiched between the two pre bent lateral frame members. The bunk brackets were custom to that trailer and not adjustable as far as angle. I was looking at only the trailer, the boat was junk. The problem I saw was that there was no way to vary the angle of the bunks for a hull that changes as it goes towards the transom. The boat I have starts out as a very steep, deep V, then gradually goes almost flat at the rear. The Bayliner continued in a V all the way back. I also didn't like the fact that I couldn't easily adjust the width of the bunk placement either.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Bayliner Escort Trailer setup... I think its not right.

. I just looked at one of those earlier today, they look to me to be something that someone came up with to be the bare minimum needed to handle the boat that they were sold with. Every Escort I've seen came with Bayliner.
.

Yes, that is because they are custom made by Bayliner for Bayliner. That is why it is an exact match to the boat. Thats why the bunks are not adjustable, they are designed to support that specific boat. This is not a "one size fits all" type of trailer. It is the trailer specifically designed for this specific boat.

I have to disagree with your assessment that it is "the bare minimum needed...". Actually, it seems to far exceed the need. For example:

- The boat and motor weigh in at 1190 lbs yet the trailer is rated 2000. That leaves lots of room to load up gear.
- The trailer is 4" box tube frame, not just C channel.
- All parts are galvanized, not just painted.
- The trailer lights are removable so they don't get dunked. They just slide off their mounts.
- The fenders are heavy gauge galvanized steel, not plastic.
- The rims are galvanized, not painted.
- The bunk wood is pressure treated.
- All hardware is galvanized.
- The bow stop is light grey rubber so it doesn't leave skid marks on the hull.
- The cross members of the frame have heavy vinyl rub guards on them so the hull cannot come in direct contact with galvanized steel and get scratched when loading.
- It is a low slung trailer for ease of unloading in shallow water.
- The trailer is 23 years old and it still has the original jack and winch that work as they are supposed to.

If Bayliner wanted to save money, they could have put a much cheaper trailer under the boat. This trailer is rigid. The Load Rite under my MFG boat flexes all over the place when being towed. And a rigid trailer is much better for the boat than a flexable trailer. Not sure who made the jack, but it is much heavier duty than the Fulton on my Load Rite. By comparison, the Escort trailer is head and sholders above the fully adjustable Load Rite.


From reading all the negative comments about Bayliner over the last few years, I was afraid to buy a Bayliner boat. But seeing as they were the only ones that made a 16' cuddy, I had no choice. Now I see that most of the negative opinions are unfounded.

 

[tommays]

Re: Bayliner Escort Trailer setup... I think its not right.

I love my 12 year old saltwater POS Escort Trailer

It came with top quality parts and tires that were rated well above the load they were carrying


Unlike many of the name brands i see with tires that just meet the min requirment



Tommays

 

[Mark42]

Re: Bayliner Escort Trailer setup... I think its not right.

I'm sorry I can't be of any help with the trailer problem but that is one sharp looking cuddy!... I never heard of a 16' cuddy!... Can you post some pics of the interior?.. I really like that boat...thanks

Thanks Tic! Keep an eye out in the projects forum for posts about this boat as I customize it. Don't have any pics of the interior right now (but it is low overhead in there) will try to get some up soon.