G’day! I’m a decent way into a bery build, just got the outside glassed last weekend with the excellent help from some excellent friends. This will replace the FS14LS I built about 5 years ago that we use to chase reds, snook, tarpon etc on the gulf coast and Chok, etc. More about all that a little later. For the moment, I’m trying to track down a suitable trailer. I’m in Southern Vt, so skiff trailers are not exactly run-of-the-mill here.
I’ve looked at some karavans and am looking at some Ventures, because that’s what are here for local dealers, not because they have the right trailer, neccessairly. It seems like the available trailers that can accomodate the length(18.5) are typically setup to handle much larger/heavier boats.
Does anyone know of a manufacturer that distributes in the Northeast that makes a suitable trailer? I’d prefer Aluminum but beggars can’t be choosers. Shipping one from FL may be possible but I suspect it may be cost-prohibitive.
There’s nothing that special about a skiff trailer other than the right torsion axle. My trailer doesn’t have drop down cross members and it works fine for dry launching. Any number of guys here can help with the spacing of the bunks and height of bunks.
I gave my trailer place basic dimensions which determined the trailer frame width and thus the axle.
I would buy a used aluminum trailer of appropriate size, change out to a torsion axle to drop the height and replace any other items necessary. Will fit better and be less expensive than any of the non custom off the shelf options.
“There’s nothing that special about a skiff trailer other than the right torsion axle“ Agreed, I can make about anything work, I have a long, rich history of modifying trailers for my purposes……it just seems like as you get into off-the-shelf trailers for 18-19 foot boats, they get a lot wider and heavier than what I need. This boat will be very light, which is the whole point. So I’d like to find a suitably light, narrow trailer that is long enough, but that’s been the challenge.
As for torsion axles etc, I envy you guys who can dry launch. I have to tow back and forth to FL from NE and I like to tow with my motor vertical(I am under the strong impression that this is best for the transom, which is probably a debatable point), which means my boat is fairly high, which means dry-launching is not an option. I bring an extra set of hubs with me and before I head back home, put the fresh hubs on, then refresh both sets of hubs once home. Getting the boat higher up also subjects it to a little less road debris on such a long tow(at least i feel like it does).
So, anyway, I’d love to find a long, light, narrow trailer, locally….but will admit it may be a very tall order.
At the moment I am looking hard at a vask-2300, the Venture Skiff trailer. Cost is about 3k from my local dealer in western mass, where I’m also getting my tohatsu 60. I got a quote from Ameratrail based on general dimensions and it was around 7k. Someday I hope to be in that spend-bracket but am def not right now.
The Magic-tilt ALSK1923XN does look like a very good option. Not many dealers too close to me but I have a message into the two nearest. Appreciate it!
Just sent them a note, will see what they say, appreciate the tip. We do drive right through there when going from Ozello to Chok so I could at least pay a visit and see their trailers.
I don’t why an off-brand aluminum trailer that fits your boat would be any heavier than any of the top “skiff” trailers. My trailer for example is 3" x 4.4" I-beam with a 60" wide frame. I would guess that is a very common size. It would fit you Beryllium like a glove.
If I build another Conchfish or the Glades 18, I’m 100 % building my own trailer and sticking probably $3k in my pocket. There is zero welding on my current trailer.
“I don’t why an off-brand aluminum trailer that fits your boat would be any heavier than any of the top “skiff” trailers“ You may well be spot-on about the weight, it looks like the weight doesn’t actually vary that much as they get longer. They definitely get wider, though magic tilt does have a narrow one I’m looking at. I like narrow cause I’d like to mount my wifes fishing kayak to the side of the trailer. Did this with my row/sailboat trailer, worked great. That trailer is quite narrow.
More of my trailer-madness - DRZ400 mounted like a side-car on my FS14 trailer. Worked great for a shuttle vehicle when the RV was setup at a campground. We’ve since switched to a truck-camper and ditched the DRZ. Did 3 round-trips to FL like this. Good idea? Maybe…..
Someday I hope to be in that spend-bracket but am def not right now.
