Best Trailer for A TomCat 255?

Sheri,
You might want to put the sale of the boat in the thread you started on it, rather than in the Trailer forum. That way, people who see the boat for sale, will know it has been sold.

Congratulations.
 
I'll post it on the Dealer forum and the original thread when the sale is finished. I was answering "wannaboat" as to why I would not be posting pictures & that the trailer was not available. The trailer was not in the equipment list at Bulldog Boatwerks with the TomCat but, the buyers want the trailer. Thanks.
 
Hello Everyone,

I have been talking to Float On about a trailer for the TomCat. As it turns out they can put a ladder on the thing, if I want.

What do we think about that? Warren mentioned above that many don't like the integrated ladder on the EZloader. Any thoughts?

I just don't to have trouble getting aboard on those few times we might launch from the trailer.

Alternatively, there is always an option like this.

---
mike
 
wannaboat":2wqb9w45 said:
Hello Everyone,

I have been talking to Float On about a trailer for the TomCat. As it turns out they can put a ladder on the thing, if I want.

What do we think about that? Warren mentioned above that many don't like the integrated ladder on the EZloader. Any thoughts?

I just don't to have trouble getting aboard on those few times we might launch from the trailer.

Alternatively, there is always an option like this.

I don't use a ladder to self launch/retrieve but it would definitely be nice.

---
mike
Click to expand...
 
Mike,

If you look at the photo of the Float On trailer that Dr. Bob posted you will see three steps on the Stbd. side of the winch stand. These steps have non-skid tape on them and work great. A ladder with hand rails would be possible but are really not necessary with the strength of the bow stop and the rails on the front of the boat.

Charlie
 
LED Lights-

EZ Loader had some issues when they first switched to LED lights. Their mounting bracket wasn't designed quite right, and over torqueing the nuts during installation would crack the light housing, and eventually short out the electronics inside. They have been replacing these under warranty, and I think it was 04 / 05 trailers that were affected.
 
SGIRhino":3ssglo7i said:
Mike,
If you look at the photo of the Float On trailer that Dr. Bob posted you will see three steps on the Stbd. side of the winch stand.
Click to expand...

Well, how about that! I never noticed them. I like that better than the EZLoader ladder.

Wonder why they don't alternate them port/starboard?

I think I'll ask. :)

Thanks...
---
mike
 
Wannaboat,
You grab the boat's railing as you go up--and duck under the top rail.
The reason that all three steps are on one side, is that the winch and the anchor are in the middle, and would be an obstruction to boarding in the middle of the bow.

The steps are wide enough (barely) to put two feet on them (#12 shoe size.) But the edges could snag some skin, so caution is necessary.
 
So - I got a price from float-on today. $9k, which includes Electric over hydraulic, guide rail, and spare tire.

Doesn't that seem high?

---
mike
 
Although it seems high, it is close to fitting with what I paid in 2006 for a similar trailer, with the surge brakes and just the center bunks--PVC guides, but not the outer bunks.
 
Mike,

If you want to take the time to look at the side-guides, ladder and front v-bunks modifications I made to my trailer, it is in the Cat Fever album under Trailer Modifications.

Be sure they mount the electric/hydraulic controller high enough above the waterline. If you have similar steps installed, have them use 3" angle instead of 2" that I used (easier on bare feet).

My next modification is to change my axles from leaf springs to torsion axles so that I can get the boat lower to the waterline. So far, I am very happy with what I have done. I use the front ladder all the time.

George
 
My Fast Load trailer was about the same price.
 
My EZ Loader was "free".... :shock:

I got it with the boat!

Charlie
 
Bad Boy ( George )

The pix from your trailer mod album could have been taken of our boat/trailer. The damage is the same. I have repaired the gelcoat twice now on the bottom of the sponsons. I will study your trailer mods, and maybe do a similar mod on the Discovery forward trailer bunks.

Thanks, Brent
 
Brent,

Slick Bunks substantially reduces the friction over carpet. I used the Slick bunks instead of carpet only on the forward v-bunks. This is the only area where the boat slides on the bunks when loading or launching. The boat floats off the bunks aft of the v-bunks I built.

By building v-bunks for the front of the sponsons, it effectively reduces the rubbbing pressure because it spreads the load of the front of the boat over a greater surface area than if the load is bearing on the knife edge of the sponsons. I hope I described this sufficiently.

George
 
George, I remember your pictures now that I see them again. That wear is a worry, though as you noted, slicks will help. Still, I like your solution. :)

Dr. Bob - have you seen this kind if of wear forward on the sponsons?

thanks...
---
mike
 
George - how many times did you launch/retrieve before you noticed that damage?
 
Matt,

Because my previous bunk was a single 6" wide under the front end of each sponson, it was difficult to load from the very beginning. It had a tendency to fall off one side or the other of the bunks if the boat couldn't be brought in perfectly straight. After about half-dozen retrievels onto the trailer, I noticed the wear on the knife edge of the sponsons and I knew this was not going to work.

I have said this before but I am very happy with this design. All I do now is guide the front end of the sponsons into the v-bunks and slowly add throttle until the boat just touches the front bow stop. I am able to look out the starboard window and see the bow stop so I know how much to throttle forward.

The side guides I built keep the aft end of the boat somewhat centered, but can sway side to side about 6-inches. The guides are angled narrower at the bottom so as I pull slowly up the ramp, the aft end of the boat drops down and the guides perfectly align the aft end of the boat square on the aft bunks.

Note, I also built a new tonque, increasing it by 2-feet. Because catamarans sit on top of the bunks, it is higher off the water and we must back our trailer deeper into the water. I hate for any part of my rear axle to touch salt water so I lengthened the tonque to prevent this. Once I change my leaf-spring axles to torsion axles, it will sit lower to the waterline and make it an even better experience.

I launch and retrieve the Tomcat by myself effortlessly and the front steps I built on the front of the trailer is absolutely a must to make it easy to do this without climbing up the front bow rail like a monkey.

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Did your trailer originally come with guides for your wind tunnel? As long as I'm somewhat close to center my guides keep her pretty well straight and in the middle of the bunks. I can't imagine trying to get a Tomcat on a trailer without those guides!
 
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