I need to add side guides to my trailer. It's a 22ft cruiser with tandem axle magic tilt trailer. I noticed the 8ft long guides in Cabalas or West Marine can't remember which one. Anyway are there any do's or don'ts reference mounting or length of guides. Anybody have any "satisfied" recommended brand they went with?
trailer/boat side guides
- Thread starter C-WEED
- Start date
C-Weed
The easiest way to add guide-ons might simply be to go to the manufacturer of your trailer and have them add them on. If they commonly equip trailers for C-Dorys, they'll know exactly how to fit them to their brand of trailer and make them fit the boat.
Since you're in Alabama, you trailer was probably put under your boat by a local/regional C-Dory dealer and was probably made back there somewhere. Out here, E-Z Loader and King Trailers are most common.
Check with your nearest local / regional C-Dory dealer to see if this would work and what the price would be from the trailer manufacturer.
If it doesn't, then go the custom route.
At least this is how I'd approach it. HTH. Joe.
The easiest way to add guide-ons might simply be to go to the manufacturer of your trailer and have them add them on. If they commonly equip trailers for C-Dorys, they'll know exactly how to fit them to their brand of trailer and make them fit the boat.
Since you're in Alabama, you trailer was probably put under your boat by a local/regional C-Dory dealer and was probably made back there somewhere. Out here, E-Z Loader and King Trailers are most common.
Check with your nearest local / regional C-Dory dealer to see if this would work and what the price would be from the trailer manufacturer.
If it doesn't, then go the custom route.
At least this is how I'd approach it. HTH. Joe.
Seaweed
If you have, or are contemplating the Wallas stove, be careful with the side guide type that run along the side of the C-22. I'm bringing my trailer back to Pacific Trailer tomorrow, specifically to replace them with the type that consists of two vertical guides at the end of the trailer. The Wallas exhaust overboard discharge is precisely the same height as the original guide and exhausts right into the guide fabric. Dunno the temps involved, but I'd rather be safe if we use the C-22 as an RV occasionally.
With previous trailer boats, the critical "guiding" was most often needed lining up with the trailer and getting between the center bunkers. I would assume it's slightly more difficult in a crosswind with a C-Dory if you're not aggressively powering on, but IMHO they're handier too.
Don
If you have, or are contemplating the Wallas stove, be careful with the side guide type that run along the side of the C-22. I'm bringing my trailer back to Pacific Trailer tomorrow, specifically to replace them with the type that consists of two vertical guides at the end of the trailer. The Wallas exhaust overboard discharge is precisely the same height as the original guide and exhausts right into the guide fabric. Dunno the temps involved, but I'd rather be safe if we use the C-22 as an RV occasionally.
With previous trailer boats, the critical "guiding" was most often needed lining up with the trailer and getting between the center bunkers. I would assume it's slightly more difficult in a crosswind with a C-Dory if you're not aggressively powering on, but IMHO they're handier too.
Don
Yup, but there's an easy fix on a Pacific without changing the guides. Personally, I like the full length guides; not sure the individual guides would be as easy to use. Quite often I use the middle of the full length guides, particularly in a crosswind.Sneaks":bloxdysk said:
The "Pacific fix" - if you want to use the Wallas with the boat on the trailer, simply loosen the two large adjusting bolts on the square tube that the front portion of the guide slides into. You can then slide the front of the guide out, ease it down, and it clears the exhaust port. Takes about 20 seconds.
Da Nag":2rnqystv said:
Interesting. Never thought about that, Bill. Pacific offered to change it and redistribute the weight via axle adjust (Trailer is porpoising on the road) gratis. I may have to rethink it since crosswinds are the only handling challenge with a C-Dory.
Would you still go with the rail type if you had it to do over again? LIS, I'm used to the rail type but prefer access to the sides for polishing.
BTW, did you see the joke in the paper about the guy who brought a new boat home to his wife and asked what to name it? She answered Call it "For Sale."
Don
C-Weed
Just got back from Pacific Trailer. Easy fix. I still have side guides, they're just a few inches higher than they were originally. The exhaust comes out far enough below the guide to present little problem. Pacific Trailer put longer legs on each end. They're a little wider because of the C-Dory potbelly, but should work fine. If you do get side guides (And I agree with DaNerd they're preferred) just make sure the bottom of the guide clears the top of the Wallas exhaust by at least an inch.
The porpoising problem was also solved. With the swing away hitch, there was too much up and down play between the hitch and the trailer. Pac Trailer laid a few welds down and the difference is remarkable. Totally stable feeling.
Just got back from Pacific Trailer. Easy fix. I still have side guides, they're just a few inches higher than they were originally. The exhaust comes out far enough below the guide to present little problem. Pacific Trailer put longer legs on each end. They're a little wider because of the C-Dory potbelly, but should work fine. If you do get side guides (And I agree with DaNerd they're preferred) just make sure the bottom of the guide clears the top of the Wallas exhaust by at least an inch.
The porpoising problem was also solved. With the swing away hitch, there was too much up and down play between the hitch and the trailer. Pac Trailer laid a few welds down and the difference is remarkable. Totally stable feeling.