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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Trailer Question

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NCBrew
Captain

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USA
338 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/21/2011 : 07:18:01

I own a Catalina 25 Swing Keel. I was given a 26 ft Mcgregor that was missing a keel (lost in Texas). It came with a trailer but the distance from the trailer and the top of the pads is too short.

If you have a Cat 25 swinger and have a trailer can you measure from the place on the trailer where the keel would be and the top of the pads.

Thanks

1998 Catalina 250WK
Ravaging
Albemarle Sound,NC

I spent most of my money on boats and beer, the rest I just wasted.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 10/21/2011 : 08:00:29

"given..."

"lost.."

Mac

I have a couple of teeth I'd like to "give" you...

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 10/21/2011 : 08:35:34

Does the Macgregor trailer have dual axles?

Edited by - dlucier on 10/21/2011 08:36:45

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 10/21/2011 : 08:37:14

Patrick, you have to be careful on this one. The earlier C25 trailers from Trail-Rite have straight axles while the later models have axles with a dip in them. The latter allows the boat to sit lower on the trailer.

So . . .

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 10/21/2011 : 19:12:20

The Macgregor 26 is a significantly lighter boat than the Catalina 25, especially if it is a water ballast model. If the trailer is a single axle, it will not support the C-25. Dual axle is a must!

Edited by - dmpilc on 10/21/2011 19:15:56

NCBrew
Captain

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USA
338 Posts

Response Posted - 10/21/2011 : 19:22:09

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dmpilc
 The Macgregor 26 is a significantly lighter boat than the Catalina 25, especially if it is a water ballast model. If the trailer is a single axle, it will not support the C-25. Dual axle is a must!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

It was not a water ballast. It had a keel. It is a single axle trailer. Maybe I should consider giving up on this trailer.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 10/21/2011 : 20:01:50

Have you got a pic of the boat? All I found in Mac 26 was water ballast with retractable board or retractable daggerboard (my brother has one of the latter). Mac made a 25 with a swing keel like the Catalinas, but even those were a lot lighter and could ride on a single axle. Empty the boat weighs about 2550 lbs. A C-25 empty weighs 4,250-4,500 lbs., i.e. approx. 2,000 lbs more. Hence the 2nd axle requirement.
If you no longer have the Mac 26 hull, I would definitely try to sell the trailer or try to trade it for a 2-axle trailer.

Edited by - on

NCBrew
Captain

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USA
338 Posts

Response Posted - 10/22/2011 : 05:45:07

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dmpilc
 Have you got a pic of the boat? All I found in Mac 26 was water ballast with retractable board or retractable daggerboard (my brother has one of the latter). Mac made a 25 with a swing keel like the Catalinas, but even those were a lot lighter and could ride on a single axle. Empty the boat weighs about 2550 lbs. A C-25 empty weighs 4,250-4,500 lbs., i.e. approx. 2,000 lbs more. Hence the 2nd axle requirement.
If you no longer have the Mac 26 hull, I would definitely try to sell the trailer or try to trade it for a 2-axle trailer.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I still have the mac. I am going to scrap it. Too much to fix. I guess I should go the Mac forum and see if any one needs parts.

Edited by - on

JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 10/22/2011 : 07:39:48

Check the weight capacity on the trailer - I have actually seen a few single-axle's that were rated close to 5000 lbs. Of course, that doesn't help that much if you have gear onboard (you'll be pushing the 5K limit). Plus, since it came from a Mac, I'd bet that the trailer is actually only rated for about 3000 lbs.

If the frame seems beefy enough to hold the Cat's much heavier weight, another thing you might consider is taking it to a trailer place and having a second axle put on. I've even seen axles on Craigslist, if you're the DIY type. Typically, the axles I've seen are rated to 3500 lbs each (though, as I said above, there apparently are heavier weight axles), but you have to factor in the weight of the trailer itself.

Oh, and consider donating the mac to the Sea Scouts or others.

Edited by - JimGo on 10/22/2011 07:41:20

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 10/23/2011 : 07:01:26

Jim,
you are correct about 5,000 lb. axles. Both axles on my C-25 fin keel trailer are 5k axles, at least I think so because the GVWR on the trailer's label 9,990 lbs. However, that includes the weight of the trailer itself which is 1,480 lbs.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 10/23/2011 : 07:38:18

Axles I have on the new-to-me trailer are only 3500lbs each. 5000pound replacement axles run around $500 each. then you have to replace the tires/brakes/etc. The guy who towed the boat home for me suggested that it may be better to put on a third axle than to go to the expense of replacing everything. I thought it was an interesting idea. His other comment was that with a tandem axle, if you lose a tire, you lose the trailer, whereas with a tri-axle, you have a factor of safety in case a tire/bearing/whatever lets go.

Edited by - Prospector on 10/23/2011 07:39:24

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 10/23/2011 : 15:55:06

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">if you lose a tire, you lose the trailer<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Having had one blowout and actually losing a wheel on another occasion, i can report that neither was a major event on a tandem axle trailer.

Edited by - on

Prospector
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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 10/24/2011 : 07:17:34

Good to hear Dave.

Edited by - on

rrick
Captain

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USA
261 Posts

Response Posted - 10/24/2011 : 20:34:54

Tires on a tandem with weigh ratings 20% greater than load is also nice to have, probably owing to Dave's experience. While you're chances are better getting home or avoiding that second blowout, you'll be replacing two tires: the blown out tire, and the just overloaded tire.

Edited by - on

MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 10/24/2011 : 22:03:21

We have a bunch of Mac's, 21 to 26's where I sail, there use to be a couple of swing keel cat 25's here too. I don't think I'd put a Cat 25 on any of the Mac trailers. they are all built pretty light. the boats sit a lot lower and the support for the keel is on a section that dips down and just doesn't look like it is right for a Cat. good luck

Edited by - on

NCBrew
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USA
338 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2011 : 03:09:35

I think I have given up on using the trailer for my Cat 25.

Edited by - on

cshaw
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USA
460 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2011 : 06:45:40

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Prospector
 Axles I have on the new-to-me trailer are only 3500lbs each. 5000pound replacement axles run around $500 each. then you have to replace the tires/brakes/etc. The guy who towed the boat home for me suggested that it may be better to put on a third axle than to go to the expense of replacing everything. I thought it was an interesting idea. His other comment was that with a tandem axle, if you lose a tire, you lose the trailer, whereas with a tri-axle, you have a factor of safety in case a tire/bearing/whatever lets go.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I hauled Confetti from California to Texas on tandem axle trailer many years ago, but switched to split rims since I had blown the bead off of a standard trailer rim in the past (I did not lose the trailer, and even though I heard it, I actually did not even feel it when the rim/tire failed). Split rims allow using a heavier load range tire at higher pressure. I found mine at a junk yard, they were from a chevy pickup. Don't see them much anymore however.

When I retired and we moved to Florida, I needed to buy new tires for the trailer, but ran across a good triple axle trailer with two #5000 axles (with brakes on each), and a third #3500 axle (without brakes). I was able to pick it up for about $300 more than I sold the tandem axle for, and only had to get two more tires than originally planned for, and move some of the 8 support struts.

I have pulled tandem axle trailers for many years, but never a triple. I discovered a triple axle trailer is amazingly stable!!! So, if you ever get the chance to get one, I recommend considering it !

Cheers!

Chuck

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2011 : 10:26:23

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by NCBrew
 I think I have given up on using the trailer for my Cat 25.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I think you've made a wise decision Patrick. We've seen others here get a heck of a deal on motor boat trailers - and even after converting them they got off pretty darn cheap.

Something will come along, it always does. Many C25s being retired and/or parted out due to storm damage. After all, we live in the land of over abdundance!

Edited by - OJ on 10/25/2011 10:28:02

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2011 : 11:51:37

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by MattL
 
We have a bunch of Mac's, 21 to 26's where I sail, there use to be a couple of swing keel cat 25's here too. I don't think I'd put a Cat 25 on any of the Mac trailers. they are all built pretty light. the boats sit a lot lower and the support for the keel is on a section that dips down and just doesn't look like it is right for a Cat. good luck
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I bought an almost new Mac 260 (I believe) trailer for $1,500.00. It's got less than a 1k miles on it. It was only 1 - 2 years old when I bought it.

It's got 5" frame rails which appear to be the same as the Trail-Rites have and it's rated for 7k pounds as it sits now. I may put new axle's under it to increase the capacity but since I will only use it 1 or 2 times a year on flat ground to go 35 miles each way I most likely won't.

Edited by - GaryB on 10/25/2011 11:52:45

At Ease
Admiral

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672 Posts

Response Posted - 10/28/2011 : 15:36:45

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dmpilc
 The Macgregor 26 is a significantly lighter boat than the Catalina 25, especially if it is a water ballast model. If the trailer is a single axle, it will not support the C-25. Dual axle is a must!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

That's exactly what I was thinking...be sure the Mac trailer can handle the weight of a Catalina. There is a data plate on the left front of the trailer which will list it's GVWR...check it out.

As an after thought, that data plate is required by law, if it is not there, call the manufacturer of the trailer to get the axle ratings, GVWR, etc.

Edited by - on

JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 10/28/2011 : 17:13:17

GVWR is determined, at least in part, based on the capacity of the axles. I agree, the frame NEEDS to be able to hold the Catalina's weight, but it may already be able to. Adding another axle may be all that is necessary. A call to the manufacturer is a good idea; they can probably give statistics for the trailer frame itself.

Edited by - on

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