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Author Topic:   Trailer Suggestions

cc378 posted 12-11-2009 06:54 PM ET (US)
I have a 1988 Outrage 20 with Whaler Drive. The time has come to think about replacing the 1988 trailer. I was wondering if anyone could suggest a manufacturer and model of a trailer that would work well for this boat.
Thanks in advance.
deepwater posted 12-11-2009 07:47 PM ET (US)
Well are you ok with the way it holds your boat and launches/recovers?,,How it tracks behind your tow veh?,Or do you want to change a few things?,,If its just old and it fits and works than try a swap and upgrade,,What can they say to a repeat customer
tedious posted 12-12-2009 08:52 AM ET (US)
What's wrong with the current one? Pretty much everything can be replaced except the frame - might save you some $$$, and the hassle of finding a new trailer and refitting the boat to it.
Tim
jimh posted 12-12-2009 09:26 AM ET (US)
User cc378 omitted from his profile any information about his location. Without knowing where he's located, suggestion of a replacement trailer becomes more difficult.
Trailer sales are generally quite localized. Most areas with a high population of boaters will typically have local manufacturers of trailers. A few brands of boat trailer are in national distribution and may be available most any place, assuming a local dealer exists.
For a 20-foot Boston Whaler boat a tandem axle trailer will most likely be needed to manage the weight. In most states, and, again, not knowing the location of use for this trailer makes this more difficult, a trailer of this size will require brakes. Adding brakes to the decision introduces many more variables. If the trailer is to be used with saltwater--again, it would be useful to know the location we are talking about--the materials used for the brakes may need to be substantially upgraded to provide good endurance and life. In addition, with any brake system we have a choice of brake actuator: surge actuator or electrical actuator. There may also be a consideration of electric brakes versus hydraulic brakes. Again this is generally influenced by the use in saltwater or freshwater.
The overall weight of the boat and trailer may need to be held to certain limits to suit the towing vehicle's rating. Weight can be saved sometimes by using aluminum construction for the trailer. If steel is used, there is a choice of painted steel or galvanized steel. Location and use often dictates which choice is made.
The type of towing anticipated is also an influence. If the trailer will only be used a few times a year to move the boat from storage to water, and few miles will be driven on the highway towing the boat, the trailer configuration can be less elaborate than recommended for heavy highway towing over long distances.
At the moment I don't know of any off-the-shelf trailer that is perfectly set up for a 20-foot Boston Whaler boat. My inclination would be to look at the products from:
--SHORELANDR
--E-Z LOADER
--PHOENIX TRAILERS
dfmcintyre posted 12-12-2009 10:19 AM ET (US)
Add the following that have been recommended over the years here at the website to the list:
- CONTINENTAL
- EAGLE
MarthaB posted 12-12-2009 10:24 AM ET (US)
Recommend Phoenix. Small company, but they have great customer service. They (Phoenix) corrected their error, even did the revamp, with new components, at our house. Didn't need to take the trailer to the dealer, which is a an hour and a half drive.
Tom W Clark posted 12-13-2009 12:03 PM ET (US)
In the Pacific Northwest, you want a KING or CARNAI trailer.
In Southern California, PACIFIC trailers are very good.
cc378 posted 12-15-2009 08:20 PM ET (US)
So thanks to Jimh's prodding I have updated my profile. Much overdue. I keep my Whaler in Falmouth, MA and use it in saltwater. My trailer gets about 150 miles per year of use. The reason for a new trailer is that the galvanizing has worn off the main frame of the trailer and the actual frame is starting to rust. So replacing parts is not a good option.
I was hoping to hear what other owners of an Outrage 20 from the late 1980's recomend as a trailer (down to the specific model of the trailer). I have seen on this forum that people have had problems with new trailers fitting older whalers and I am hoping to avoid that problem. An ideal case would be a member who has a newer trailer that works well with their Outrage 20.
Again thanks in advance.
deepwater posted 12-16-2009 07:18 PM ET (US)
If your happy with the fit of the trailer and only want the rust to go away I would contact the maker of that trailer and see if they have the same make model and configuration in an aluminum trailer or galvanized,,I would assume thew same model trailer would be the same year to year just ask for some specs and measure yours to see if its the same
MarthaB posted 12-16-2009 08:00 PM ET (US)
We have an '87 Outrage 18. The Phoenix trailer is great.
contender posted 12-16-2009 09:31 PM ET (US)
Deepwater is correct, purchase a good aluminum or galvanized trailer. (do not waste your money on a painted steel trailer) If you purchase a galvanized trailer get one that is channel or I beam do not waste your money on rolled steel. South Fla. Boatmaster is the way to go for large boats, Continental trailers are ok for smaller boats. Here me on this one.. if you trailer your boat a lot purchase a good trailer. The two most important things of a boat is the trailer and the engine period.
David Pendleton posted 12-16-2009 10:19 PM ET (US)
I would suggest a tandem-axle EZ-Loader.
I have a galvanized, tandem-axle model under my Conquest. It still looks and performs like new.
The only thing I've done is install LED lights; they come standard with LED lighting now.
You can buy them everywhere.
cc378 posted 12-17-2009 08:54 PM ET (US)
thanks for all the suggestions!!
David Pendleton posted 12-17-2009 09:16 PM ET (US)
I suppose I should have also mentioned my trailer is a 1999 model I've owned since new...
Duh.

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Author	Topic: Trailer Suggestions
cc378	posted 12-11-2009 06:54 PM ET (US) I have a 1988 Outrage 20 with Whaler Drive. The time has come to think about replacing the 1988 trailer. I was wondering if anyone could suggest a manufacturer and model of a trailer that would work well for this boat. Thanks in advance.
deepwater	posted 12-11-2009 07:47 PM ET (US) Well are you ok with the way it holds your boat and launches/recovers?,,How it tracks behind your tow veh?,Or do you want to change a few things?,,If its just old and it fits and works than try a swap and upgrade,,What can they say to a repeat customer
tedious	posted 12-12-2009 08:52 AM ET (US) What's wrong with the current one? Pretty much everything can be replaced except the frame - might save you some $$$, and the hassle of finding a new trailer and refitting the boat to it. Tim
jimh	posted 12-12-2009 09:26 AM ET (US) User cc378 omitted from his profile any information about his location. Without knowing where he's located, suggestion of a replacement trailer becomes more difficult. Trailer sales are generally quite localized. Most areas with a high population of boaters will typically have local manufacturers of trailers. A few brands of boat trailer are in national distribution and may be available most any place, assuming a local dealer exists. For a 20-foot Boston Whaler boat a tandem axle trailer will most likely be needed to manage the weight. In most states, and, again, not knowing the location of use for this trailer makes this more difficult, a trailer of this size will require brakes. Adding brakes to the decision introduces many more variables. If the trailer is to be used with saltwater--again, it would be useful to know the location we are talking about--the materials used for the brakes may need to be substantially upgraded to provide good endurance and life. In addition, with any brake system we have a choice of brake actuator: surge actuator or electrical actuator. There may also be a consideration of electric brakes versus hydraulic brakes. Again this is generally influenced by the use in saltwater or freshwater. The overall weight of the boat and trailer may need to be held to certain limits to suit the towing vehicle's rating. Weight can be saved sometimes by using aluminum construction for the trailer. If steel is used, there is a choice of painted steel or galvanized steel. Location and use often dictates which choice is made. The type of towing anticipated is also an influence. If the trailer will only be used a few times a year to move the boat from storage to water, and few miles will be driven on the highway towing the boat, the trailer configuration can be less elaborate than recommended for heavy highway towing over long distances. At the moment I don't know of any off-the-shelf trailer that is perfectly set up for a 20-foot Boston Whaler boat. My inclination would be to look at the products from: --SHORELANDR --E-Z LOADER --PHOENIX TRAILERS
dfmcintyre	posted 12-12-2009 10:19 AM ET (US) Add the following that have been recommended over the years here at the website to the list: - CONTINENTAL - EAGLE
MarthaB	posted 12-12-2009 10:24 AM ET (US) Recommend Phoenix. Small company, but they have great customer service. They (Phoenix) corrected their error, even did the revamp, with new components, at our house. Didn't need to take the trailer to the dealer, which is a an hour and a half drive.
Tom W Clark	posted 12-13-2009 12:03 PM ET (US) In the Pacific Northwest, you want a KING or CARNAI trailer. In Southern California, PACIFIC trailers are very good.
cc378	posted 12-15-2009 08:20 PM ET (US) So thanks to Jimh's prodding I have updated my profile. Much overdue. I keep my Whaler in Falmouth, MA and use it in saltwater. My trailer gets about 150 miles per year of use. The reason for a new trailer is that the galvanizing has worn off the main frame of the trailer and the actual frame is starting to rust. So replacing parts is not a good option. I was hoping to hear what other owners of an Outrage 20 from the late 1980's recomend as a trailer (down to the specific model of the trailer). I have seen on this forum that people have had problems with new trailers fitting older whalers and I am hoping to avoid that problem. An ideal case would be a member who has a newer trailer that works well with their Outrage 20. Again thanks in advance.
deepwater	posted 12-16-2009 07:18 PM ET (US) If your happy with the fit of the trailer and only want the rust to go away I would contact the maker of that trailer and see if they have the same make model and configuration in an aluminum trailer or galvanized,,I would assume thew same model trailer would be the same year to year just ask for some specs and measure yours to see if its the same
MarthaB	posted 12-16-2009 08:00 PM ET (US) We have an '87 Outrage 18. The Phoenix trailer is great.
contender	posted 12-16-2009 09:31 PM ET (US) Deepwater is correct, purchase a good aluminum or galvanized trailer. (do not waste your money on a painted steel trailer) If you purchase a galvanized trailer get one that is channel or I beam do not waste your money on rolled steel. South Fla. Boatmaster is the way to go for large boats, Continental trailers are ok for smaller boats. Here me on this one.. if you trailer your boat a lot purchase a good trailer. The two most important things of a boat is the trailer and the engine period.
David Pendleton	posted 12-16-2009 10:19 PM ET (US) I would suggest a tandem-axle EZ-Loader. I have a galvanized, tandem-axle model under my Conquest. It still looks and performs like new. The only thing I've done is install LED lights; they come standard with LED lighting now. You can buy them everywhere.
cc378	posted 12-17-2009 08:54 PM ET (US) thanks for all the suggestions!!
David Pendleton	posted 12-17-2009 09:16 PM ET (US) I suppose I should have also mentioned my trailer is a 1999 model I've owned since new... Duh.