scipper77
Commander
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2008
- Messages
- 2,106
Yesterday as I was pulling into the launch and as I turned the corner one of my leaf springs snapped. I was stuck in the launch line but there was room for even large boats to go around me.
If you look carefully at the picture you will see that one leaf is a fresh break and the other is old.
I had to wait an hour for the local marinas to open just to be told that there service department didn't work on Sundays and I was out of luck. After sitting and thinking for that hour I had a plan. I drove home (27 miles) loaded up with tools, cut some 2 by 4s and headed back. I blocked up the axle with the 2 by 4s and secured the wood to the frame with c-clamps. Next I constrained the axle using a pair of ratchet straps pulling the axle in opposing directions. This was good enough to get me across the street into the parking lot.
I then stripped the boat of as much gear as I felt was reasonable and left the boat there overnight. There was still a gas can, deep cycle battery, 2 anchors, the trolling motor, and a pair of oars in the boat plus odds and ends like flares and fire extinguisher.
This morning I called around and found a trailer shop that could get me the spring by tomorrow. Unfortunately I work evenings tomorrow so this would mean my boat would sit two more nights. Did I mention that this lot is in the country and backs up to a trailer park. Here is where I either got real stupid or finally grew a pair. I drove straight from work to the boat this afternoon only stopping to pick up another pair of ratchet straps. I put both new straps on the axle keeping it from moving back. It this point I had three 500# straps constraining the axle one way and one strap the other way. I drove home on lake road which is a single lane the whole way (close to 30 miles) but it is the type of road I could get away with traveling at 30 mph or less. I had to pull aside to let cars pass me about 8 times and I stopped 5 times to check my makeshift axle support but I made it home and boy did that feel good.
So what is the moral to this story. I guess there are many morals such as be prepared, take nothing for granted. Most importantly, your trailer is just as important as your boat and needs to be maintained to the same high standard. I am very lucky that the leaf didn't snap at speed as it would have ripped the axle right off of the trailer. I have inspected the leafs but the crack formed under the bracket that bolts to the axle. Please take a moment to check yours. If I knew I had a had a crack I could have spent yesterday fishing. Two new leaf springs are only going to run me about $60.
If you look carefully at the picture you will see that one leaf is a fresh break and the other is old.
I had to wait an hour for the local marinas to open just to be told that there service department didn't work on Sundays and I was out of luck. After sitting and thinking for that hour I had a plan. I drove home (27 miles) loaded up with tools, cut some 2 by 4s and headed back. I blocked up the axle with the 2 by 4s and secured the wood to the frame with c-clamps. Next I constrained the axle using a pair of ratchet straps pulling the axle in opposing directions. This was good enough to get me across the street into the parking lot.
I then stripped the boat of as much gear as I felt was reasonable and left the boat there overnight. There was still a gas can, deep cycle battery, 2 anchors, the trolling motor, and a pair of oars in the boat plus odds and ends like flares and fire extinguisher.
This morning I called around and found a trailer shop that could get me the spring by tomorrow. Unfortunately I work evenings tomorrow so this would mean my boat would sit two more nights. Did I mention that this lot is in the country and backs up to a trailer park. Here is where I either got real stupid or finally grew a pair. I drove straight from work to the boat this afternoon only stopping to pick up another pair of ratchet straps. I put both new straps on the axle keeping it from moving back. It this point I had three 500# straps constraining the axle one way and one strap the other way. I drove home on lake road which is a single lane the whole way (close to 30 miles) but it is the type of road I could get away with traveling at 30 mph or less. I had to pull aside to let cars pass me about 8 times and I stopped 5 times to check my makeshift axle support but I made it home and boy did that feel good.
So what is the moral to this story. I guess there are many morals such as be prepared, take nothing for granted. Most importantly, your trailer is just as important as your boat and needs to be maintained to the same high standard. I am very lucky that the leaf didn't snap at speed as it would have ripped the axle right off of the trailer. I have inspected the leafs but the crack formed under the bracket that bolts to the axle. Please take a moment to check yours. If I knew I had a had a crack I could have spent yesterday fishing. Two new leaf springs are only going to run me about $60.
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