trailer with wrong size tires and wheels

[danray35e]

Re: trailer with wrong size tires and wheels

As a welder I'm sure you are capable of deciding if it's safe for you to do such a job. Of course just be careful to to get enough durability to hold up to the stress.

I plan on using some 1/2 inch thick 2x2 angle iron 2ft long to scab onto the axle for added strength across the weld point. It should actually be stronger than it was before.

 

[danray35e]

Re: trailer with wrong size tires and wheels

I owned basically the same boat years ago, it sat atop a trailer with 4.80x8" tires, I ran a 33hp Evinrude, which was a bit lighter than your 55hp, but I also carried a ton of gear and used mine for crabbing. The trailer carried the boat about 40 miles each way to and from the water for 10 or more years with no issues. It was a bit heavy on the trailer but it did the job for years. I felt the ideal fix would have been heavier tires as I wouldn't have wanted to add any height for launch purposes. My trailer was so low I had to fully tilt and support the motor when towing. Those boats are light, unless the foam core gets water logged, then at that point their just scrap.
Mine was abused and battered when I got it, I treated it pretty rough myself but it kept going. I sold mine after getting tired of fixing cracks around the corners of the deck and transom. The boat was getting heavy with water weight as time went on.

If it were me I'd slap a set of 5.70x8" tires on there and give it a try. Chances are they will do just fine.

Wow those would be really small tires. The ones i looked up that size didn't have a very high load rating. Im attaching pics of the boat as it was when I found it. And as it looks now. When I towed it home it was heavy as hell. At one point coming to a stop sign on a wet road it pushed me into the intersection. It was water logged. I drilled drain holes in the very bottom of the transom and let it drain. It drained a steady stream for four days, and continued to drip for another week. Then I sealed the every hole, and crack ever put in the boat. Its way lighter now.

 

[danray35e]

Re: trailer with wrong size tires and wheels



All done

 

[Mikeyboy]

Re: trailer with wrong size tires and wheels

Nice work. Looks like a whole new boat. Those wheels look a lot better on there than the old ones.

 

[Mel Taylor]

Re: trailer with wrong size tires and wheels

I drilled drain holes in the very bottom of the transom and let it drain. It drained a steady stream for four days, and continued to drip for another week. Then I sealed the every hole, and crack ever put in the boat. Its way lighter now.

If you had that much water trapped in the hull you more than likely have more serious problems than just trailer wheels. Problems such as rotten wood in the transom and under the floor of the boat. My suggestion is that you go to the Boat Restoration forum, post this quote there and see what kind of response you get. The people there will be really knowledgeable about water in the hull and transom. They can tell you how to check and fix any potential problems.

 

[danray35e]

Re: trailer with wrong size tires and wheels

I just have to finish some of the undercarriage work, replacing rollers and bunks, new lights on trailer. Then I can remount motor, build a new console and some seats. I have spent many an hour pouring thru the pages on this and other forums about a great many aspects of this project. Including water in the hull. Good thing about mckee craft boats is that there is not wood to rot under the floor. Its all fiberglass and foam. I know this for a fact because I cut holes in the floor to check. I also checked out the transom. I was really surprised to find the transom dry and no sign of rot. It is very sturdy. The only place they had wood was under the removable panels.

 

[Mel Taylor]

Re: trailer with wrong size tires and wheels

I just have to finish some of the undercarriage work, replacing rollers and bunks, new lights on trailer. Then I can remount motor, build a new console and some seats. I have spent many an hour pouring thru the pages on this and other forums about a great many aspects of this project. Including water in the hull. Good thing about mckee craft boats is that there is not wood to rot under the floor. Its all fiberglass and foam. I know this for a fact because I cut holes in the floor to check. I also checked out the transom. I was really surprised to find the transom dry and no sign of rot. It is very sturdy. The only place they had wood was under the removable panels.

In that case, I stand corrected (and happily so). And, congratulations on your acquisition of such a neat boat. I envy you.