Can I get away with a straight axle here?

[Recoil Rob]

I'm replacing the axle on this Sealion trailer for an 18' Grady White. The original is a vee bend axle with 10" up to the hull but a straight axle will still give me 6" of clearance. The front and rear cross members only have 4" clearance. Any reason I'm missing that I can't replace it with a straight axle? Straights are easier to find and I would have to have the vee bend custom made.

 

[dingbat]

If your Grady has the SeaV2 hull, the bow is lower than the transom by a good bit.

 

[Recoil Rob]

Who knew? I looked it up and yes I have a SeaV2 hull, they started using it on the 180's in 1998. I can understand why a vee axle will help when launching as the rear cross member will be deeper in the water at the launch ramp. But what about the front cross member in shallower water at the ramp?

Could it be that the cross members don't move in relation to the hull but the axle does move up and down? Just safety factor for a large bump that brings the axle too close to the hull?

 

[Horigan]

I suspect when launching/retrieving the deeper V bow gets much closer to the axle than when fully on the trailer as shown in the picture. Think about the trailer at ramp angle and the boat approaching level in the water. The front of the bow will initially go deeper between the bunks.

 

[Recoil Rob]

I can visualize that but then the bow still has to cross over the front cross member which will be further up the ramp.

I took a closer look and, though unlikely, it would be possible for the straight axle to travel up to the frame and touch the hull.

Lucky for me I was able to find the correct bent axle so will go with it.


thanks,

Rob