Is this trailer OK for a Bravo?

[Bill McKee]

Is this trailer safe and harmless for this Hobie Bravo? It's a 2009
Bravo offered by a Hobie dealer Austin. I live in San Antonio, 45
minutes from the Canyon Lake where I'll be sailing. I have four
concerns:

First, the hull sits less than an inch from the wheel covers.

Second, the hull sits on some very thin rails. (I suppose if I put
padding between the wheel cover and hull, that might solve both
problems.)

Third, the dealer advises to let the wheels cool after getting to the
lake so that the grease (which he says will liquify from the heat of
the trip) doesn't leak upon contact with the water when backing the
trailer down the ramp. Does that sound right?

Fourth: he suggests laying the covered mast and sail flat on the
trailer under the hull.

http://www.photoshop.com/users/bamboohaiku/albums/a000cbe840024962922f1e64c6dc6409/view#f003d838c39f448fbc5caabe2153ec7d

http://www.photoshop.com/users/bamboohaiku/albums/a000cbe840024962922f1e64c6dc6409/view#4aff4ddcc7c243bd8c78d1058b35b0d3

http://www.photoshop.com/users/bamboohaiku/albums/a000cbe840024962922f1e64c6dc6409/view#f6af97ce56a04bbf8fd762fc49212691

http://www.photoshop.com/users/bamboohaiku/albums/a000cbe840024962922f1e64c6dc6409/view#2f111c42317947008c876da19d4973ae

Many thanks.

Bill

[Mike Beuerlein]

The trailer is certainly adequate to transport the boat but, you're right, it would be better if the boat sat on rollers or pads and not directly on the frame.  That said, trailer modification and customization is one of the under-reported and, therefore, less appreciated joys of boat ownership.  I'd mount rollers or pads, install a wooden deck on the trailer to sit or stand on when you're not sailing, get a large diameter tube to store your sails and other gear in, maybe put a gear box to store parts and other crap.  Sure, you could just haul all your stuff around in the back of your pick-up truck, like Jim Casto does, but where's the style points in that?  Keeping all the stuff for sailing on the trailer means you never have to drive back home for the drain plugs or something like I have done many, many times.

Mike Beuerlein

Bill



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[Jim Casto]

that trailer is fine for that boat.  you'll want to modify the trailer in any number of ways. 

-put some kind of carpet/cushion on the inside edges of the fenders, so you don't bang the hulls when loading unloading.

-raise the entire platform above top of fenders.

Make sure to mount a container big enough to contain an extra set of plugs.  Don't be a Beuerlein.

if you stay with the rollers, make a small cradle of some kind to spread the load.  simple 2x6 or 2x8 about 12' long, aligned with length of hull, and small pieces wood screwed to bottom, to keep it on the roller.  pull the boat onto the rollers, then before tying down going on road, slip the cradles under the hulls.  or buy some from Chuck.

http://www.saylorspecialties.com/catbunkdetail.html

http://sailboxes.com/hull-cradles.html

http://www.murrays.com/archive/55.pdf

 

 

grease/liquid leaking out,: maybe you just need to wear a bra. 

http://www.bearingbuddy.com/bra.html

the real problem with hot bearings being backed into water is that water may be sucked inside any cavities in the bearing, as everything suddenly cools.  this problem is worse with salt water, not really a problem with lake water.  or just let it cool down a bit.

 

By the way, the back of my pickup had no sailing equipment at all, that was just beer disguised as sailing equipment, so you wouldn't drink it.  Apparently it worked, based on how I felt Sunday.

 

 

Jim Casto

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From: Mike Beuerlein <mike.be...@gmail.com>
To: austi...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Mon, May 21, 2012 12:07:36 PM
Subject: Re: [austincats-gg] Is this trailer OK for a Bravo?

[Bill McKee]

Jim . . . Mike . . .

Thanks for the reassurance and suggestions. I'll see what I can talk
the seller into doing for me to sweeten the deal.

Can you point me to a picture of the rollers or cradle that I'd put on
a trailer like this? This trailer has a winch, but I'm sixty-something
and am guessing that getting the boat and mast out of the water and
onto the trailer will be the physically most difficult thing I'll have
to do. Anything that would make that easier is, for me, worth the
cost. Everything else about this boat looks stupid-simple, which is a
good match for my talents.

Bill

[sailboat shop]

Hello Bill,

I am hoping that I can address some of your concerns regarding the Hobie Bravo on the Sportsmans trailer.   Since the boat is made from 3 layers of Roto-Molded Polyethylene, it is extremely tough and light weight.  Its design, weight and small size, makes it very easy to trailer.

- The Bravo sits above and to the inside of the wheels which are fully covered by the metal fenders.  There is no possibility of the wheels touching the boat.  Also the tops of the fenders sit about 1 inch above the metal frame rails.  The Bravo fits easily and snugly between the fenders and on the rails.  This keeps it from being able to move from side-to-side.  The bow stop/stand with the winch keep the boat from moving fore and aft.  The lack of movement prevents any abrasion.

-  On a larger, heavier boat additional padding or rollers are usually required to prevent abrasion and to make it easier to get the boat on and off the trailer,  however, this boat is so light and easy to maneuver, that I usually back the trailer into the water to where the back rail is wet and then pull the boat on and off the trailer with one hand, never even using the winch.  We have had several different Hobie Bravos dating from the original 2003 models that have come back into the shop that are sitting directly on the trailer rails and they have not deformed or shown any real abrasion.  If they were fiberglass, it would be a different story for sure.

- If you would still like to get the boat off of the metal rails.  We could add carpet to the metal rails.  In addition, there are several ways we can easily adjust/modify the trailer so that it sits on the carpeted bunks, instead of the metal rails.  Rollers are also an option for the rear of the trailer, but not for the front.

-  The trailer with the Bravo has a set of Buddy-Bearing style caps that allow you to periodically (once or twice a year), easily grease the bearings with a grease gun. As long as you keep grease in the bearings, you should not have to worry.  Also, letting the bearings and grease cool-down is not usually a problem for sailors because it always takes several minutes to rig up the boat before you put in in the water.

- I need to clarify on the transport of the mast and sail.   The mast does not go under the boat on the trailer.  The sail is furled around the mast and when you take the mast down, you can cover it with the sail cover and then the mast rests on top of the boat, but under the mast A-Frame. It is strapped down at the front using the mast A-Frame and at the rear using a combination of the rear handles and the rudder brackets.  We do not usually use a mast stand for the Bravo, but one could be added if desired.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to help...

Thanks,
Chuck Wheeler
www.yourSailboatShop.com
604 Highland Mall Blvd.
Austin, TX  78752
512-454-7171

On Mon, May 21, 2012 at 10:55 AM, Bill McKee <haiku...@gmail.com> wrote:

Bill

[Mike Beuerlein]

He's the expert, I'd listen to Chuck.

Beuerlein

[Bo Kersey]

Bill,

I have to agree too, Chuck is the expert.  I really hate agreeing with Beuerlein too :)

Cheers,

Bo

---

Bo Kersey
VirCIO - managed network solutions
4314 Avenue C
Austin, TX 78751
phone: (512)374-0500

[Bill McKee]

Chuck,

Thanks so much for the explanation. These questions came to me on the
ride home after we talked at your shop on Saturday. I'll give you a
call in the morning so we can figure out what if any carpeting or
rollers are needed to make me happy so we can finalize this. Looking
forward to it.

Bill McKee
(210-402-9624)

> not go under the boat on the trailer. * *The sail is furled around the mast

> >http://www.photoshop.com/users/bamboohaiku/albums/a000cbe840024962922...
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> >http://www.photoshop.com/users/bamboohaiku/albums/a000cbe840024962922...
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> >http://www.photoshop.com/users/bamboohaiku/albums/a000cbe840024962922...
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> >http://www.photoshop.com/users/bamboohaiku/albums/a000cbe840024962922...