Boat disposal

[Ron Dickey]

The Box Kite my first trailer is built on a free boat trailer.

Strip it down and check the springs. Also look closely at the metal for cracks and such. Mine did fine for a couple of years then I hit something really hard with the wheel and a weld broke 2 years ago I was crossing a road that had aver high center and the trailer went up the car went down and the tung went snap and not where the chain was but farther back fortunately the metal on the top held but it was dragging on the ground I was 200 feet from getting on a very fast highway in LA area.

so before you start your build make sure it does not need a little welding or reinforcement.
Mine had been in the ocean so it had contact with sea water, and had sat in a yard for 10-15 years.
I bought a new hub with bearings and all. Put on HF tires which have done very well for me. Mine was a "T" shape so I had to add plywood with 2x4's and metal to support the front corners. I was fortunate to find a free metal pallet which I cut up and used it under my front end and under the front boot.

Good luck
Ron

[Dirke]

Well I went to check out the boat trailer yesterday. The boat looks a little worse for wear but the trailer seems like it will work nicely. I will have to wait for Spring to get it out and I will need a machete to get to it!


The trailer is plenty big for what I want (5 x10 TD) but I will have to get rid of the fenders. No big deal. The tongue is really long, almost as long as the trailer itself! That will have to be shortened some.


Thanks for the advice on the structural cracks. I will be sure to check it very well and repair any that I find.

I like the pond idea a lot! The boat is fiberglass so it would work for that. It is pretty full of snow so I am not sure what I can scrounge off it. I think I may just try and give it away first. There are a lot of people around here who would love a boat project (I live near Lake Michigan and a hundred other lakes and rivers). I think since the trailer is getting a second chance at life, the boat deserves one too.

[pchast]

Dirke,

I've seen many boat trailers with extendable tow bars. It facilitates backing down into steep launch ramps.
Its most seen on a sailboat trailer.

The last person to move this may have just left the extension out.

Pete

[Dirke]

Dirke,

I've seen many boat trailers with extendable tow bars. It facilitates backing down into steep launch ramps.
Its most seen on a sailboat trailer.

The last person to move this may have just left the extension out.

Pete

Thanks, I will check on that when I get it. I have a buddy who is a welder and is going to help me put everything right.

[Dirke]

So many good ideas. I have been reading the build journals and it made me wonder if I could use th boat as a roof, not removable, just so as not to waste it. Build a frame underneath it and skin around the sides. It probably weighs too much but it would be interesting to see if it would work after getting rid of everything but the fiberglass shell. Use the rear section where the motor mounts as the hatch or entry door. It is a tri-hull boat so the shape would definitely be interesting.

It looks a little long so unless it were extremely light, it might be too big for the trailer. Could work as the roof for a storage shed. I wish I weren't such a pack rat. Where is the voice that says... "Let it go" ?

[KCStudly]

Let it go.

[Dirke]

so sad to see such a rare and such a gold mine of a boat being tossed in the dump!!!!!!!!!!!

what a shame!!!!!!!!!!

Don't worry, it isn't in the dump yet. I hate to throw anything away that still has a lot of life left in it. My intention is to try and give it away first and see if anyone wants it. It's yours for the taking if you want to bring a trailer all the way up to Northern Michigan.

[KCStudly]

No hassle.

I didn't mean to literally say throw it in the dump. What I meant was to suggest that Dirke has other priorities (building a camper) and should not let himself get side tracked by a major boat project (... you know what they say about boats being a hole in the water that you throw money into).

Dirke had already mentioned some options such as selling it, or donating it to a friend. That's what I meant by "dumping" it.

Sorry for the confusion.