and got on this forum site. My Mac video indicates that 35,000 Macs have been sold, thats a lot of trailers, even if only half the folks had the need of a decent priced (no rust) trailer dealer.sigh ! ...
Discounts on a new Mac X Tandum (no rust) Trailer...
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LOUIS B HOLUB
- Admiral
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- Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2005 7:40 am
- Location: 1999 Mac-X, Nissan 50 HP, Kemah, TX, "Holub Boat"
Discounts on a new Mac X Tandum (no rust) Trailer...
So many Mac owners "eventually" need a new trailer. Wouldnt it be a an interesting idea if some one had a Trailer manufacturer contact that would build an aluminum tandum trailer, with nice disc brakes at a "reasonable" price. Its just a thought, and why hasnt ROGER thought of this ? Give us MAC owners a $$$ break--a good competitive pricing for a new Aluminum low upkeep, no rust, decent brakes, decent tires, and good lights Mac Trailer. There's definately a market out there for Mac owners, if only a trailer manufacturer saw the and got on this forum site. My Mac video indicates that 35,000 Macs have been sold, thats a lot of trailers, even if only half the folks had the need of a decent priced (no rust) trailer dealer.
sigh ! ...
and got on this forum site. My Mac video indicates that 35,000 Macs have been sold, thats a lot of trailers, even if only half the folks had the need of a decent priced (no rust) trailer dealer.sigh ! ...
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Catigale
- Site Admin
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- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Admiral .............Catigale 2002X.......Lots of Harpoon Hobie 16 Skiffs....Island 17
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Louis - Ive always thought you could just buy an off the rack bunk trailer from EZ Loader or like ...most power boats in the 26 foot range double or triple the mass of the Mac, so you should be able to buy a trailer that is easily rated for our lightweights...
Maybe they are an arm and leg and Im out of touch on this....
Maybe they are an arm and leg and Im out of touch on this....
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Chip Hindes
- Admiral
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- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 6:13 am
- Location: West Sand Lake, NY '01X, "Nextboat" 50HP Tohatsu
The problems with your ideas are several.
An "off the shelf" trailer would be a compromise. It wouldn't have the drop center design of the custom Mac trailer and would therefore put the boat well higher on the trailer; IMO the Mac already maxes out the freeboard on the trailer parameter, and any higher would be even less satisfactory in the towing department.
The bunks of any off the shelf trailer would almost certainly not match the Mac, and would have to be rebuilt, modified or moved to fit the Mac.
Now lets say instead you convince somebody to do a custom aluminum tandem trailer for the Mac. I believe Jack O'Brien has fairly recently done so in FL. The problem the value of the new trailer versus the cost of shipping it a considerable distance doesn't make economic sense. You can't just throw one of these in a UPS truck and ship it out to East Podunk. Something this size has to be truck shipped, and the cost over a distance can mount up in a hurry. It adds so much to the total cost of the trailer that you can't afford to do it. Could be 50%, 100% or more, depending on distance. As I recall Jack had to pick his up at the fabricator. Champion (Slidell, LA) makes quite a variety of trailers, some custom or which could be modified to carry the Mac. However, though they ship components worldwide, when it comes to complete trailers it's FOB plant, i.e., pick it up yourself or don't bother; they will not ship, make arrangements to ship, or even tell you who to talk to about shipping. BTDT, totally not interested.
This is also why Roger Mac will not sell you a trailer separately. Who's willing to pay him $2500 for a trailer, and another $2500 to ship it?
So the potential market for a custom Mac trailer is fairly much limited to the local area around the fabricator, and I believe your're $$ ahead if you instead of shopping nationwide, find a local guy who can custom make you a trailer. If I had it to do, I'd take what's left of my current trailer, drop it off to a fab, and tell him to quote me a cabon copy, but in aluminum, tandem with disc brakes, etc.
A couple possibilities: You could get a few guys who lived fairly close together to share the delivery cost of one truckload of custom Mac trailers. Or maybe figure out how to stack three or four atop one another and then share the cost of one of you with a decent tow vehicle picking them up and bringing home all four. Payment, registration, insurance, etcetera would have to be worked out in advance, but it could be done.
My prediciton is that you'll have a hard time finding more than one or two in any particular area who are interested in buying a $3000+ custom trailer at any given time.
BTW, though I don't have time to search right now I believe Jack O'Brien reported several months ago on his trials and tribulations with purchasing a custom Mac trailer, and as I recall it wasn't a particularly positive experience.
An "off the shelf" trailer would be a compromise. It wouldn't have the drop center design of the custom Mac trailer and would therefore put the boat well higher on the trailer; IMO the Mac already maxes out the freeboard on the trailer parameter, and any higher would be even less satisfactory in the towing department.
The bunks of any off the shelf trailer would almost certainly not match the Mac, and would have to be rebuilt, modified or moved to fit the Mac.
Now lets say instead you convince somebody to do a custom aluminum tandem trailer for the Mac. I believe Jack O'Brien has fairly recently done so in FL. The problem the value of the new trailer versus the cost of shipping it a considerable distance doesn't make economic sense. You can't just throw one of these in a UPS truck and ship it out to East Podunk. Something this size has to be truck shipped, and the cost over a distance can mount up in a hurry. It adds so much to the total cost of the trailer that you can't afford to do it. Could be 50%, 100% or more, depending on distance. As I recall Jack had to pick his up at the fabricator. Champion (Slidell, LA) makes quite a variety of trailers, some custom or which could be modified to carry the Mac. However, though they ship components worldwide, when it comes to complete trailers it's FOB plant, i.e., pick it up yourself or don't bother; they will not ship, make arrangements to ship, or even tell you who to talk to about shipping. BTDT, totally not interested.
This is also why Roger Mac will not sell you a trailer separately. Who's willing to pay him $2500 for a trailer, and another $2500 to ship it?
So the potential market for a custom Mac trailer is fairly much limited to the local area around the fabricator, and I believe your're $$ ahead if you instead of shopping nationwide, find a local guy who can custom make you a trailer. If I had it to do, I'd take what's left of my current trailer, drop it off to a fab, and tell him to quote me a cabon copy, but in aluminum, tandem with disc brakes, etc.
A couple possibilities: You could get a few guys who lived fairly close together to share the delivery cost of one truckload of custom Mac trailers. Or maybe figure out how to stack three or four atop one another and then share the cost of one of you with a decent tow vehicle picking them up and bringing home all four. Payment, registration, insurance, etcetera would have to be worked out in advance, but it could be done.
My prediciton is that you'll have a hard time finding more than one or two in any particular area who are interested in buying a $3000+ custom trailer at any given time.
BTW, though I don't have time to search right now I believe Jack O'Brien reported several months ago on his trials and tribulations with purchasing a custom Mac trailer, and as I recall it wasn't a particularly positive experience.
I have an aluminum trailer, custom made for a 26x, it was made by an outfit in miami called rocket trailers. I bought it from a guy that was tring to get a little business going called cutratemall.com, he was a 26x owner.
rather than wait for him to get one made for me, I bought his for $1750
and he ordered a new one for himself. rocket didn't build the 2nd trailer
as robert(I think that was his name) thought they would, not as good a fit
too high off the road, he got discouraged and gave up on tring to sell custom aluminum trailers for the mac. I am real happy with the trailer. no sway , tracs straight at 70mph but I try to keep it at 60-65
it fits good , drive the x right up on it everytime . it is 490 lbs. Its only
single axle rated for 3500lbs. I have the mac x owners manual here that shows boat wt. of 2100lbs, at the time I had a honda 25hp @ 150lbs, +490 lbs for trailer. and very little additional load maybe 200lbs. So it was near 3000lbs trailering wt. check out the aluminum on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2006-VEN ... 0702QQrdZ1
Tom 96 26x Son of a Sailor
rather than wait for him to get one made for me, I bought his for $1750
and he ordered a new one for himself. rocket didn't build the 2nd trailer
as robert(I think that was his name) thought they would, not as good a fit
too high off the road, he got discouraged and gave up on tring to sell custom aluminum trailers for the mac. I am real happy with the trailer. no sway , tracs straight at 70mph but I try to keep it at 60-65
it fits good , drive the x right up on it everytime . it is 490 lbs. Its only
single axle rated for 3500lbs. I have the mac x owners manual here that shows boat wt. of 2100lbs, at the time I had a honda 25hp @ 150lbs, +490 lbs for trailer. and very little additional load maybe 200lbs. So it was near 3000lbs trailering wt. check out the aluminum on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2006-VEN ... 0702QQrdZ1
Tom 96 26x Son of a Sailor
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zuma hans 1
- Engineer
- Posts: 129
- Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2006 12:29 pm
I had to buy a new custom trailer, the factory trailer was damaged as I was towing my boat home having just purchased it.
The other guy's insurance paid for everything. I made a deal for $3k with a custom trailer guy in Ventura CA.
It was a nightmare.
I cannot understand how he would hand me what he delivered: the trailer was way undersized for the load, and to top it off, the I-beams were cracked where they had been torqued.
The trailer manufacturer, to his credit, took the trailer back and rebuilt it from the hitch back. Now it is oversized, if anything.
The whole process took 6 months and was a pain in the ass. I missed a whole summer.
One piece of advice: if you are designing a new trailer, make sure the mac's prow is elevated at the same angle vis-a-vis horizontal. I didn't, and while the boat nose os lower, making coming ashore onto the trailer easier, and making the trailer ride more aerodynamically, the ballast does not drain completely on the trailer.
That is not a major problem - I simply jack it up aqt the nose, and use some wood blocks for elevation. But residual water sitting in the ballast can get icky, and is a definite safety problem on a hoist.
The other guy's insurance paid for everything. I made a deal for $3k with a custom trailer guy in Ventura CA.
It was a nightmare.
I cannot understand how he would hand me what he delivered: the trailer was way undersized for the load, and to top it off, the I-beams were cracked where they had been torqued.
The trailer manufacturer, to his credit, took the trailer back and rebuilt it from the hitch back. Now it is oversized, if anything.
The whole process took 6 months and was a pain in the ass. I missed a whole summer.
One piece of advice: if you are designing a new trailer, make sure the mac's prow is elevated at the same angle vis-a-vis horizontal. I didn't, and while the boat nose os lower, making coming ashore onto the trailer easier, and making the trailer ride more aerodynamically, the ballast does not drain completely on the trailer.
That is not a major problem - I simply jack it up aqt the nose, and use some wood blocks for elevation. But residual water sitting in the ballast can get icky, and is a definite safety problem on a hoist.
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LOUIS B HOLUB
- Admiral
- Posts: 1315
- Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2005 7:40 am
- Location: 1999 Mac-X, Nissan 50 HP, Kemah, TX, "Holub Boat"
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Chip Hindes
- Admiral
- Posts: 2166
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 6:13 am
- Location: West Sand Lake, NY '01X, "Nextboat" 50HP Tohatsu
Well Louis; guess I'm not too surprised. If you're serious I'd definitely go the extra $$ for four wheel brakes, or alternatively I estimate you could do it yourself with Champion parts for about $300.
Makes you think that spending some addtional $$ to preserve and upgrade your stock trailer might be money well spent. I'm certainly glad I did.
Makes you think that spending some addtional $$ to preserve and upgrade your stock trailer might be money well spent. I'm certainly glad I did.
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Jack O'Brien
- Captain
- Posts: 564
- Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 6:28 pm
- Location: West Palm Beach, Florida, 2000X, Gostosa III
Custom Aluminum Trailer
Louis:
That price is in line. I paid $3,700. for mine. It came with two sets of goal posts, 4-wheel disc brakes, spare tire, ladder, LED lights, torsion suspension & extra length for long bunks. It tows great.
That price is in line. I paid $3,700. for mine. It came with two sets of goal posts, 4-wheel disc brakes, spare tire, ladder, LED lights, torsion suspension & extra length for long bunks. It tows great.
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argonaut
- Captain
- Posts: 531
- Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 8:23 pm
- Location: '97 26X, Yammy 40 4s, Central Fla.
Was this a specially built trailer or a particular model?It came with two sets of goal posts, 4-wheel disc brakes, spare tire, ladder, LED lights, torsion suspension & extra length for long bunks. It tows great.
Are the bunks lengthwise or crosswise like the originals?
Is launching just as easy as with the stock trailer?
Really would like to replace mine with an aluminum dual w/brakes. Florida's harsh on trailers.[/quote]