![]() ![]() With the new bunks and winch in place, I wired the trailer with new LED lights and wiring kit, taking care to use grommets and other insulating material where the wiring insulation might chafe.Īfter reinstalling the fiberglass fenders with new stainless bolts, we were ready to winch the boat back onto its trailer. To reattach bunks and other components, I used Grade 5 galvanized steel bolts and washers and Nylock locking nuts to eliminate rusting and rattling loose. Then I cut them from treated pine 2-by-6 boards and covered them with new carpet, which I glued with contact cement and stapled with stainless steel staples on the underside. I measured for the new bunks using the old ones as templates. ![]() Reassembly of the trailer was straightforward and quick. Some components, especially around the bunk mounts and light brackets, were pretty corroded and required cutting off with an angle grinder. I followed this with a good acetone wipe to clean the surface and prepare it for me to spray cold galvanize paint on all the exposed areas. A thorough wire brushing to remove surface rust and scale was pretty easy, though messy and time-consuming. Much of the galvanized coating was in good condition, and the main structural members, I was pleased to note, were all in sound condition. I was able to singlehandedly flip the trailer to check the underside, something that would have been impossible with the wheels, springs, and axle in place. The added benefit was that with these components removed, the bare trailer frame was much lighter and easier to handle. I also removed the axle, springs, and wheel/tire assemblies so that I could properly inspect them for wear and corrosion. I removed the old rotten wooden bunks, the very rusty winch, the lights, and safety chains. ![]() In addition to taking photos, take measurements of where things like the axle, winch, bunks, or rollers, and any spare tire may go.įor this project, I wanted to get the trailer back to just the frame and start from there. With today's smartphones, it's easy to make a digital photo record of everything you remove, so putting it back together won’t be a puzzle. #Holsclaw Boat Trailers History freeWith the trailer free of the boat, strip all components from it and make a list of what you'll replace. ![]() On a previous occasion with a larger and heavier boat, I built a temporary cradle from treated pine to hold the boat while I rerigged the boat and rebuilt the trailer. If you don' t want the boat sitting on the ground, block it up carefully so that it’s supported at the transom corners and along the keel. In my case, the boat was small and lightweight so I was able to pick a good spot in our yard, tilt the boat nose-high, and secure the boat while I pulled the trailer out from under it. The size, weight, and type of boat will have a bearing on how easy - or difficult - it is to remove it from the trailer. "How do you get the boat off?" is a common question, and it can be as easy or as complicated as you make it. ![]()
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