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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Fifth wheel launching hub

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/12/2008 : 13:25:02

I'm starting a new thread from the [url="http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=16985&whichpage=1&SearchTerms=launch"]launch checklist in the C250 forum[/url] where we got off topic (big surprise) towards the end about fifth wheel mounts. I've been looking for a hub & mount to attach to my trailer to hold my fifth wheel instead of the clunky sliding contraption on of the PO's made. Here's the cheapest price I've been able to find, and lucky for me, it's right in my own backyard: [url="http://www.fisheriessupply.com/online/ln_menu/product.asp/mode/1/product_id/95295/Ntt/hub/N/%2d76432/Nty/1le/R/26623/act/A01/catalog_name/FISCO/Ntx/mode+matchpartial+rel+Inactive"]Tie-down Engineering Spare Tire & Hub Carrier[/url]

Randy, is this the same one as yours?

David
C-250 Mainsheet Editor

Sirius Lepak
1997 C-250 WK TR #271 --Seattle area Port Captain --

Edited by - on

sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2008 : 22:37:07

It looks like the one Randy has but isn't it turned over so the trailer can roll when launching with an extension? I like the whole idea with the spare hub with the 5th tire. My trailer, EZ Loader, has the same bearings which is the bare minimum for the load. My C25 weighed in at 6,000 lbs which is over the max for the axles. Due to maintenace of the hubs before a NW cruise I have caught bad bearings at home. Having a spare when over 700 miles away is the best protection. I have Boat US towing and carry spare bearings and grease which would have to be exchanged out on the highway. I see other boats along the highways alone with a axle missing a hub.

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2008 : 23:29:25

It looks close. Here is mine (looks beefier):

I'll look around and see if I see mine online. Back in just a bit.

Here it is! Heavy duty and fits our 5" frames. You want this one.

[url="http://www.shootnhunt.com/catalog/JM/boat_trailer_accessories/tie_down_3/5807047.html"]Heavy Duty Spare/Hub[/url]

Also, check out the thread where this was discussed. I use a jack with a lot of travel. Photos of the jack and the whole setup.

[url="http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=15554&SearchTerms=hub"]Launch Wheel[/url]

Edited by - Nautiduck on 03/13/2008 00:11:16

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 03/13/2008 : 21:21:36

Randy,
Thanks for the response, you're correct, yours is a bit beefier, the one I was looking at wouldn't fit. I ordered mine from [url="http://www.boatfix.com/bypartnokey.ASP?whichpage=3&pagesize=40&mfgitem=&make=TIE+DOWN+ENGINEERING%2C+INC."]BoatFix.com[/url] (scroll down a bit) the link you provided has a slightly higher price than they do, and their shipping is 2x. Total cost for the hub & shipping was a bit less than $105.

I am SO looking forward to trashing the system I have on my trailer right now, what a POS, and a major hassle to deal with.

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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 03/13/2008 : 21:55:20

do you rope launch with that wheel?

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 03/13/2008 : 22:53:58

I think Randy uses up to 70' of rope to launch his boat. We used to strap launch, but no more after spending $700 on new brakes, rotors & calipers a few weeks ago. I've gotten about 60' of 1-1/4" double braid that I'll be using in the future to keep my rear wheels out of the drink. Found the line on CL for $30. New I think it would have been closer to $250 for the same piece, and it came with two professionally done eyes so I didn't have to do them.

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 03/13/2008 : 23:01:53

I strap launch my C250 with the wheel setup. I have 80' of 3" strap rated for 24,000lbs. I also use a special "pintle" hitch to hold the strap. My tow vehicle never touches water.

Here is the pintle hitch:

One other thing. I mounted a jack on the rear port side of the trailer. At launch and retrievel it is down but a few inches off the ground. This ensures that the trailer cannot tip back if too much weight is in the stern.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 03/13/2008 23:09:38

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 03/13/2008 : 23:34:56

Randy,
FWIW I don't think you need ever worry about tipping the trailer down in the back. I had Kevin Mackenzie help me get my trailer hooked back up when I stupidly broke my trailer jack last year. He walked out to the very-very end of the trailer to try to unweight the hitch end so I could lift it onto the ball of my truck. I'm a pretty big guy, and Kevin's bigger than I am, and between us we couldn't lift the hitch end, even with him bouncing on the very end of the trailer and me grunting on the hitch end. It's unlikely that you could tip the trailer down when it was empty, and almost impossible when it's got the boat on it.

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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2008 : 10:39:35

Thanx, I'm going to do an over-haul of my trailer after I launch this spring. I've got to get rid of my nasty all steel & Rust tongue extension.

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2008 : 10:56:04

Randy,
Another thought just occurred to me. Do you use a full sized tire for your launching wheel, or is it a smaller diameter tire like I've got? I wonder if I'll have the clearance with the little tire, but I've got a spare tire mounted on the frame as well, if I don't have the clearance, I can simply switch tires & sell the little one or something.

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2008 : 13:12:21

That is my full size spare tire. With this setup you no longer need that smaller tire.

The back jack is used on boat ramps. I have experienced boats, including my 250, being tippy on the trailer while on a ramp. Not on level gound - on a ramp.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 03/14/2008 13:17:33

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2008 : 14:26:59

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Nautiduck
 That is my full size spare tire. With this setup you no longer need that smaller tire.

The back jack is used on boat ramps. I have experienced boats, including my 250, being tippy on the trailer while on a ramp. Not on level gound - on a ramp.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
That rear jackwheel acting as a "wheely" caster is brilliant.

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2008 : 18:05:56

Well, not to beat a dead horse, but the situation I described above was on the ramp where I usually launch. The trailer was still partially submerged. However, on reflection, I've just remembered my first launch experience (I've tried to block it out), where we did tip the trailer down, but that was with the boat partially off of the trailer, so there was significantly more weight shifted aft. In that instance, I think the caster would have probably prevented us from getting the boat off the trailer but maybe not. I'd have probably had to remove it or figure out how to get it to it's storage position so the trailer could have been towed backwards.

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2008 : 21:47:00

Geez, David, the horse is dead and on its way to the rendering plant.

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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 03/15/2008 : 09:59:09

Reviving the horse:
I routinely leave the front tie-down strap in place when staging the boat for prep to launch.

One time we removed both straps and had the winch strap laying over the roller atop the mast raising pole on the front of the trailer. We were just preparing to raise the mast, which was secured at the foot and resting on the aft mast support post.

Peggy was in the cockpit and I walked around to the back of the boat and started to climb the swim ladder. The boat moved! I jumped off PDQ not wanting to see how far it would rotate sterndown.

The stern trailer jack would avoid that issue, but now I just leave the front tiedown strap in place until we're ready to pull away from the staging area.

Paul

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