Extending 22' Trailer to 26'

[62cruiserinc]

Hi:

I just bought a 26' Sea Ray 260 Sundancer with no trailer.

Trailers for this size boat are real hard to get (used) around here.

Here is a cheap trailer available (with junk boat on it) that is for a 22' boat:



Do you think it's reasonably possible to extend this trailer for my boat (assuming axle capacities are ok and I buy new tires)?

I would have a welder add some sections to the frame, not just extend the tongue.

Thanks
Steve

 

[wrvond]

That is one rough looking trailer!
The main problem, as I see it, is sufficient support for your boat, especially with rollers. You are going to have to have enough rollers to hold the weight of your boat, and that weight is going to have to be evenly distributed over the rollers to avoid pressure points on the hull and crushed rollers.
Plus, the weight carrying capacity consists of more than just the axle capacities. What is that frame rated to carry? The frame of the trailer under my 270 DA is made of 4x6 inch steel beams. I should think you'd need something similar.

 

[Maclin]

You need to go look at a 26 footer on a trailer. Compare the beam sizes to this one. I believe you will see what wrvond is pointing out regarding the main beam sizes. It is not just a matter of extending it 4' , it is that once you do that the trailer frame itself is outmatched.

 

[jimmbo]

Trailers are not designed/engineered to be added on to. Buy a trailer designed to carry a 26 ft boat. Buying used then spending money on a mickey moused add-ons is not going to be much cheaper than a new trailer designed for a 26 ft boat. BTW don't cheap out on the trailer,

 

[Maclin]

The trailer contributes to the overall boating experience and should not be viewed as just an accessory.

 

[jimmbo]

The trailer contributes to the overall boating experience and should not be viewed as just an accessory.

As witnessed at many boat launches

 

[62cruiserinc]

Used Trailer

OK, you guys have convinced me not to get a used short trailer (22') and try to extend it to my boat's 26' (see thread below).

Big trailers are few and far between here. I found one on CL with a 1988 25' Sportcraft 250. He wants $2000 for it. I am hoping he will take $1500.

I saw the boat last night. The boat itself is in surprisingly good shape. The outdrive is an OMC. He said he bought the boat 2 years ago and wanted to start a charter service but never got around to it. He had the boat in the water a few times.

The trailer is a roller type and most of the rollers will probably have to be replaced. Some keel rollers are busted completely. The trailer is a yacht club trailer. The rear-most roller is about 28 inches from the end of the transom. This boat is 25', mine is 26'. Looks like the winch post can be moved forward about a foot. Also the winch is mounted on a bracket which places it a foot behind the post, so if the winch was bolted to the post, I would gain about a foot. Also, the boat wasn't winched forward as far as it could go. I measured that I could gain about 2.5' by moving the post and winch and winching the boat forward until the eye was close to the winch. To fit my boat and support the transom, I would probably still need an extra foot. The square section tubes holding the rearmost rollers slips over the main square section beam, so it looks like I could just buy a longer piece of square section steel (currently about 3' long) and get a foot. These square section beams are not the main outside beams, just two inner beams running most of the length of the trailer to support the rollers. These beams look like about 3x3". The main frame is 2x5 inch closed rectangular steel.

He did have the wheels off the front axle and looks like the bearings were out. He said he has the wheels/tires and bearings. They were off because he was replacing the bearings and never got around to them. I am very familiar with replacing axles and bearings myself, having a travel trailer for 13 years.


Here are some pics I took.


Bow area:

Rollers:

Transom:

I realize this trailer is not the perfect one but the boat will be in a slip most of the time and I need a trailer to move it to the slip and once in a great while to another local place. Maybe 5 times a year not more than 30 miles away. Also I need to move the boat in a couple of weeks.

Any opinions or observations?

Thanks
Steve

 

[jbcurt00]

Same subject, different used trailer

Merged the 2 topics

 

[Grub54891]

That trailer also looks to small for the boat that is on it. Usually the rollers/bunks go all the way to the transom for the most support.