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 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
 Catalina 25 Specific Forum
 trailer tongue weight		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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newell
Navigator

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USA
113 Posts
Initially Posted - 07/17/2007 :  19:25:15  Show Profile
The C25 that I recently purchased was delivered to the previous owner on a trailer (Easy Loader) that came with the boat. Until I purchased the boat it had never left the lake from which the dealer operated. when I towed it to my marina I noticed that the tongue weight was almost zero and I had some fishtailing problems at speeds over 45 mph.

Has anyone else experience this with a "factory" trailer? Can the forward bow stop post be moved closer to the hitch without major welding?

Thoughts and opinions would be welcome.

newell
Newell
1980 C25 SR/SK
AVALON
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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts
Response Posted - 07/17/2007 :  20:15:13  Show Profile
Rule of thumb is 10% of towed weight on the tongue. You're looking at 500-600 lbs.
On my EZ loader, the winch/bow stop structure unbolts.
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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts
Response Posted - 07/18/2007 :  22:57:58  Show Profile  Visit Leon Sisson's Homepage
Too little tongue weight is probably the most common cause of trailer sway. I'd treat the 10% rule as a rough guideline. If the tongue is light, any increase helps. Almost all boat trailers have some provision for adjusting tongue weight, usually a combination of sliding the axles and the winch pedistal back and forth on the frame. Another way to adjust tongue weight is shifting cargo in the vessel, such as moving things from the aft end of the boat forward, or into the tow vehicle.

-- Leon S.
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At Ease
Admiral

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672 Posts
Response Posted - 07/20/2007 :  12:50:06  Show Profile
I agree with the previous posters...tongue weight is very important, and not just to control sway. Last month a friend unhooked his trailer and the tongue flew up and cracked a rib, he had negative tongue weight...but he won't next time,
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Bill Holcomb
Admiral

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USA
769 Posts
Response Posted - 07/21/2007 :  09:41:04  Show Profile
Hi Newell,

Tongue weight is critical to safe trailering. Anti-sway bars aren't a bad idea either. Your boat and trailer weigh in at 6,000 lbs (at least). The 4,500 weight listed in the C25 brochure is the enginered weight - not the manufactured weight. Nearly all C25s weigh in considerably heavier than the listed 4,500 lbs. I know of three C25s with trailering weights of 9,000+ lbs - due to gear, equipment, sails, microwave ovens, inboard engines, etc. The owners have opted for adding a third axel to their trailer. You should move the bow stand, and boat, forward till you have at least 600 lbs tongue weight.

BTW: When trailering, AND launching, make sure to keep the winch cable attached to the towing eye bolt and the cable snug. About five years ago, I watched from a distance as a fin keel C25 on an EZ Loader trailer rolled off the trailer as it was being backed down a launch ramp. The owner had released the cable - thinking that he didn't want to get his feet wet as the boat floated off the trailer.

You can imagine the difficulty he had getting the boat back on the trailer to tow home and repair damage to keel, rudder and hull.

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839
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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts
Response Posted - 07/23/2007 :  20:13:57  Show Profile
If you don't know how to figure it out. Go to an RV or trailer place, they will make adjustments for you or tell you how to do it...I went to an RV place and they told me it they would charge minimum half hour shop labor, but the mechanic who looked at it said it was just right and they didn't charge me for it.
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.