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Author Topic:   One or Two Axles?

GAwhale posted 10-11-2009 10:02 PM ET (US)
http://www.jboats.com/j24/
My brother just bought a used J 24 sailboat. The boat is a 1982 and cost $5k. A new J 24 is about $45k.
His trailer is a bit of a rust bucket. It is single axle. We looked at another J 24 in the yard at the Jubilee Yacht Club in Beverly, MA. It was on a much beefier trailer with dual axles (four wheels). The J 24 weighs 3,000 pounds. Because it has a keel the boat is top heavy on the trailer. My brother told me they have had them tip over. Two axles seem like a no brainer, but to maneuver around the yard one axle turns much better. Most people dry sail the boat. You pretty much need a boat lift to get her in and out of the water. It would be very scary to try to launch the boat on a boat ramp. If you are not doing any distance towing and the boat will spend her life in the yard, one axle may make more sense.
The boat is going to need some fiberglass work on the hull. Instead of a foam core like a Whaler, the J 24 has a balsa wood core. If you wish to keep the boat legal to race in the class, you cannot alter the hull (For Example: repair with something stronger). To repair the hull a hole is often cut in the deck for access and then repaired afterward.
What is the weight (magic number) on a Boston Whaler to move up to a two-axle trailer?

GAwhale posted 10-11-2009 10:09 PM ET (US)
If you click on the link, then click photo gallery; the third photo shows a setup of a J24 on a two axle trailer. In the background is the one axle set up.
deepwater posted 10-11-2009 10:12 PM ET (US)
If your asking about axle weight limits than it can change depending on the axle construction,,Most trailers will have it stamped on a tag attached to the trailer
Peter posted 10-12-2009 07:58 AM ET (US)
You would not be launching a J24 at a launch ramp. The trailer is intended for folks to haul their J's from yacht club to yacht club for racing using the yacht club's lift to launch and retrieve.
In my view, the single versus twin axle boils down to whether the boat is going to be trailered any significant distances from club to club or is just going to be used as a cradle on wheels, for example. If the former, twin axle, if the latter, single axle.
jimh posted 10-12-2009 08:34 AM ET (US)
The typical boat trailer axle is often rated at 3,500-lbs. The typical trailer tire, say a Goodyear Marathon Trailer Radial in 14-inch size is rated at 1,760-lbs. Thus a single axle with two tires has an axle rating of 3,500-lbs and tire load rating of 3,520-lbs. If we allow a margin for safety, let's say 10-percent, these ratings would be reduced to 3,1500-lbs per axle.
If we assume that the distribution of weight in the trailer will be 90-percent on the trailer axle and 10-percent on the trailer tongue, this implies the total weight of the boat and trailer which could be carried on a single axle would then be 3,500-lbs.
To compute the boat weight, we must consider the weight of the trailer itself. This can vary with construction methods and materials. With steel construction, it would not be unusual for the trailer weight to comprise about 25-percent of the total weight, leaving 75-percent of the weight load for the boat. On this basis, a single axle trailer could carry a boat that weighs about 2,600-lbs. I do not see any consideration necessary for a Boston Whaler boat.
You could increase the weight rating by using axles with heavier ratings. An axle with a rating of 5,200-lbs is available. You could increase the weight rating by using larger tires. For example, you could use 15-inch tires with a rating of 2,500-lbs. This would allow a single axle trailer to carry perhaps 5,000-lbs. The design of the trailer frame may need to be stronger to carry all the weight on a single axle, so the trailer itself may represent a larger percentage of the total weight.
rsess1 posted 10-12-2009 03:04 PM ET (US)
I have owned a j24 since 1980 with a single axle trailer. I hate that trailer. Although I only drive the boat 5 miles twice a year it scares me. The boat is balanced over the axle and there is little tongue weight so the hitch rocks up and down on any little bumps. There is no way to change the weight distribution as the trailer is all welded up. If I could do it again i would get a double axle trailer. Trouble is a new trailer is worth almost as much as my current boat and trailer set up altogether.
GAwhale posted 10-12-2009 04:28 PM ET (US)
The Boeing 777 is billed as the worlds largest two engine airplane. It is a fantastic airplane.
On the Right Main Landing Gear there are six tires (three pair of two) and on the Left Main Landing Gear there are six tires.
It has a very clever design. When towing the aircraft, you unlock the rear pair of tires on both sides. This allows them sway from side to side for ease in towing.
When you tow an airplane, you are not required to have power on, but you must have hydraulic pressure in the reservoir and someone sitting in the cockpit "riding brakes" in case the plane breaks free or gets away.
GRAND NUSSIE posted 10-13-2009 10:15 AM ET (US)
I totally agree with Peter.
Dick
contender posted 10-13-2009 10:39 AM ET (US)
I would get a two axle trailer and not even think twice about it. It only takes one time to want to trailer the boat and then not be able to. The two most important things of a boat is the Engine, and the Trailer. I would also purchase a galvanized trailer, and before using it I would coat the axles, springs, hubs, nuts and bolt with LPS3. Being a 3000lbs plus rig you are not going to push this around a boat yard, it will be done by a of some type machine unless you are samson...so having four tires on the ground is not a problem.

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Author	Topic: One or Two Axles?
GAwhale	posted 10-11-2009 10:02 PM ET (US) http://www.jboats.com/j24/ My brother just bought a used J 24 sailboat. The boat is a 1982 and cost $5k. A new J 24 is about $45k. His trailer is a bit of a rust bucket. It is single axle. We looked at another J 24 in the yard at the Jubilee Yacht Club in Beverly, MA. It was on a much beefier trailer with dual axles (four wheels). The J 24 weighs 3,000 pounds. Because it has a keel the boat is top heavy on the trailer. My brother told me they have had them tip over. Two axles seem like a no brainer, but to maneuver around the yard one axle turns much better. Most people dry sail the boat. You pretty much need a boat lift to get her in and out of the water. It would be very scary to try to launch the boat on a boat ramp. If you are not doing any distance towing and the boat will spend her life in the yard, one axle may make more sense. The boat is going to need some fiberglass work on the hull. Instead of a foam core like a Whaler, the J 24 has a balsa wood core. If you wish to keep the boat legal to race in the class, you cannot alter the hull (For Example: repair with something stronger). To repair the hull a hole is often cut in the deck for access and then repaired afterward. What is the weight (magic number) on a Boston Whaler to move up to a two-axle trailer?
GAwhale	posted 10-11-2009 10:09 PM ET (US) If you click on the link, then click photo gallery; the third photo shows a setup of a J24 on a two axle trailer. In the background is the one axle set up.
deepwater	posted 10-11-2009 10:12 PM ET (US) If your asking about axle weight limits than it can change depending on the axle construction,,Most trailers will have it stamped on a tag attached to the trailer
Peter	posted 10-12-2009 07:58 AM ET (US) You would not be launching a J24 at a launch ramp. The trailer is intended for folks to haul their J's from yacht club to yacht club for racing using the yacht club's lift to launch and retrieve. In my view, the single versus twin axle boils down to whether the boat is going to be trailered any significant distances from club to club or is just going to be used as a cradle on wheels, for example. If the former, twin axle, if the latter, single axle.
jimh	posted 10-12-2009 08:34 AM ET (US) The typical boat trailer axle is often rated at 3,500-lbs. The typical trailer tire, say a Goodyear Marathon Trailer Radial in 14-inch size is rated at 1,760-lbs. Thus a single axle with two tires has an axle rating of 3,500-lbs and tire load rating of 3,520-lbs. If we allow a margin for safety, let's say 10-percent, these ratings would be reduced to 3,1500-lbs per axle. If we assume that the distribution of weight in the trailer will be 90-percent on the trailer axle and 10-percent on the trailer tongue, this implies the total weight of the boat and trailer which could be carried on a single axle would then be 3,500-lbs. To compute the boat weight, we must consider the weight of the trailer itself. This can vary with construction methods and materials. With steel construction, it would not be unusual for the trailer weight to comprise about 25-percent of the total weight, leaving 75-percent of the weight load for the boat. On this basis, a single axle trailer could carry a boat that weighs about 2,600-lbs. I do not see any consideration necessary for a Boston Whaler boat. You could increase the weight rating by using axles with heavier ratings. An axle with a rating of 5,200-lbs is available. You could increase the weight rating by using larger tires. For example, you could use 15-inch tires with a rating of 2,500-lbs. This would allow a single axle trailer to carry perhaps 5,000-lbs. The design of the trailer frame may need to be stronger to carry all the weight on a single axle, so the trailer itself may represent a larger percentage of the total weight.
rsess1	posted 10-12-2009 03:04 PM ET (US) I have owned a j24 since 1980 with a single axle trailer. I hate that trailer. Although I only drive the boat 5 miles twice a year it scares me. The boat is balanced over the axle and there is little tongue weight so the hitch rocks up and down on any little bumps. There is no way to change the weight distribution as the trailer is all welded up. If I could do it again i would get a double axle trailer. Trouble is a new trailer is worth almost as much as my current boat and trailer set up altogether.
GAwhale	posted 10-12-2009 04:28 PM ET (US) The Boeing 777 is billed as the worlds largest two engine airplane. It is a fantastic airplane. On the Right Main Landing Gear there are six tires (three pair of two) and on the Left Main Landing Gear there are six tires. It has a very clever design. When towing the aircraft, you unlock the rear pair of tires on both sides. This allows them sway from side to side for ease in towing. When you tow an airplane, you are not required to have power on, but you must have hydraulic pressure in the reservoir and someone sitting in the cockpit "riding brakes" in case the plane breaks free or gets away.
GRAND NUSSIE	posted 10-13-2009 10:15 AM ET (US) I totally agree with Peter. Dick
contender	posted 10-13-2009 10:39 AM ET (US) I would get a two axle trailer and not even think twice about it. It only takes one time to want to trailer the boat and then not be able to. The two most important things of a boat is the Engine, and the Trailer. I would also purchase a galvanized trailer, and before using it I would coat the axles, springs, hubs, nuts and bolt with LPS3. Being a 3000lbs plus rig you are not going to push this around a boat yard, it will be done by a of some type machine unless you are samson...so having four tires on the ground is not a problem.