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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Rollers or Bunks? Pads maybe?

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/10/2003 : 08:41:34

My 1982 Trail-Rite has rollers instead of bunks. (This is the trailer that I am currently in the discovery phase of as to whether or not to convert the non working surge brakes into electric brakes. Single axle or both axels.) Anyway, there are 64 rollers on this puppy. Champion wants $10 and change per roller. Trail-Rite want $12. The current rollers are hard and braking off. With the brake job and the rollers I am looking at over a grand to bring the trailer up to spec. (Then I get to paint it!) Are these rollers worth the mony? Should I simply change over to bunks? How many bunks? Minnie looks like she only has two and they appear fairly low on the hull. Is two best for floating on? Would four be better so i could drop them one at a time while I do my bottom?

<img src="http://members.cox.net/fhopper/Catalina25/s-Port%20front.jpg" border=0>

Frank and Martha in Wichita KS. Lake Cheney

Edited by - fhopper@mac.com on 09/10/2003 22:07:00

Edited by - fhopper@mac.com on 09/10/2003 22:13:32

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 09/10/2003 : 08:53:35

The coupler... as Chevy would say. "Like a rock". Only this is rusted like a rock. Notice the weld bead at the bottom so the Dico 10 cannot simply be replaced without cutting it off. Welded jackstand at rear so the master cylinder cannot be pulled from the back. <img src="http://members.cox.net/fhopper/Catalina25/s-jack.jpg" border=0>

Frank and Martha in Wichita KS. Lake Cheney

Edited by - fhopper@mac.com on 09/10/2003 22:08:17

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Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 09/10/2003 : 09:17:23

Bad links on the pics there Frank. Bunks is cheaper. Pressure treated lumber and carpet. I always thought you did not want to dunk electric brakes...especially in salt water. Some states require brakes on both axles....As far as painting it, since you're about top strip it anyway, have you thought about blasting and epoxy paint? Do it once, do it right. Don't now what you have into it, but a couple of grand to have a as good as new trailer seems reasonable. From the year I assume its a 25?

Oscar
250WB#618 Lady Kay on the Chesapeake
<img src="http://www.woodenshoemusic.com/Images/familypics/Forumshots/sunglitter.JPG" border=0>

Edited by - Oscar on 09/10/2003 09:18:41

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 09/10/2003 : 22:12:27

aye she's a 25. Sorry about the links I hope they work now.
<img src="http://members.cox.net/fhopper/Catalina25/s-Starboard.jpg" border=0>
This was the day I brought it home, the old name is gone now and the VertGlass refinish made it look a lot better.

Frank and Martha in Wichita KS. Lake Cheney

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 09/10/2003 : 23:53:00

Frank and Martha,

I went through much the same trailer maintenance steps you are facing. Mine's a "Shoreline", very similar to an "E-Z Loader" I think, except that "E-Z Loader" is probably still in business, whereas "Shoreline" doesn't seem to be. Also mine's well galvanized, so no paint needed. If you can make the whole trailer as functional as new for anywhere close to $1,000 I'd say go for it. I spent a total of over $3k (including original used purchase price) by the time mine was in good working order. As you may have discovered by now, new trailers for these boats aren't inexpensive, and used ones in salvagable condition are hard to find.

What I'm doing about the aging rollers and their rusting hardware is to replace the worst few each year. I get just about all my trailer parts from [url="http://www.championtrailers.com/"]Champion Trailers[/url].

Brakes are important. I wouldn't install electric brakes on a boat trailer. I went with the stainless steel disks, aluminum/bronze/galv calipers on all four wheels, stainless hydraulic lines, and galvanized surge hitch assembly with electric reverse lock-out.

While I was at it, I ordered new galvanized axles, hubs, and wheels with new ST (Special Trailer) rated tires. I went with straight beam drop spindle axles and added a 3" lift kit under the frame, rather than bent saddle axles in order to clear the swing keel and still not scrape the ground on bumps.

Good luck, and let us know if you need more info.<img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>

-- Leon Sisson

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lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 09/11/2003 : 01:24:54

I have asked this question, Bunks or Rollers, of quite a few people, and the concensus of most Catalina 25 owners is that the Catalina 25 is too heavy to be safely supported on bunks. There is a good reason that Trail-Rite and EZ-Loader make trailers for Catalina 25's with 64 rollers - it's to spread the load. Another serious shortcoming of bunks is that if they fail due to wood rot or some other damage, the bunk riser posts will spear right through the boat hull as it falls.

Larry Charlot
Catalina 25 #1205 "Quiet Time"
Folsom Lake, CA

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 09/11/2003 : 10:17:49

I'll toss my 2 cents in with the 'keep the rollers' sentiment.

The configuration of the rollers and their mounts on my EZ-Loader make it pretty well self-configuring... they have enough slop to allow them to conform very nicely to the compound curves of the hull.

That auto-fitting effect would be much more difficult to achieve with pads/bunks and I think you'll have quite a bit of fiddling around to do getting a proper fit.

Currently maintaining two holes in the water...'77 Venture 23 and new to the family,
'78 Catalina 25

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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.