Trailer design

[Jeff]

I love my Nautique, but I hate what the trailer does to the boat.

Does any one have any suggestions on keeping the bow from getting damaged? I have a prestige trailer and the pads on the front, above he winch have distorted the rub rail. I added the giant turnbucle, and it seems to help some, but there is still some movement of the bow while towing. BTW I tow 45 minutes to the lake.

My last two boats had trailer buddies, much better idea.

Jeff

[jefe]

Boatmate Trailers are now producing for Nautique. I have one for the 210 that I love. It also comes with a BoatBuddy, but it is about an inch to low so it works only if you set it up right the first time.
Also, Prestige have changed there trailer design last year, and they are also producing a dealer installed optional boatbuddy.

I know that doesn't help you to much now, but maybe in the future? Since 99, there are alot more choices out there for trailers.

[Luke]

I agree, I have a 2003 Prestige trailer for my boat and it is terrible, I have had nothing but problems with it. If I had known better I wouldn’t have batted an eye about special ordering a different brand.

Nautique needs to make their own trailers like MC does. I think the MC trailers are awesome.

[Edwin]

Agree with ya guys on this one. It's one of the reasons I held off buying a Nautique this past winter / spring. The Ramlin has gotten away from the wishbone, but didn't have a swing away tongue (I think). The Prestige had a removeable tongue but used the pads / turnbuckle solution. Couldn't figure out how you could cover the boat if the rub rail was up against the pads. Didn't seem like a good design to me.

The SMP under my Malibu pulls well, but the fit and finish isn't even close to the MC trailer I had under my old PS190.

I traded emails with Owen at Boatmate...they will be building a trailer for my new boat when the day comes. Read some GREAT stuff on MBO regarding the customer service from Boatmate as well.

[jefe]

Ya Owen is awesome, I agree. Great products and customer service on my end as well. You can see some pictures of the Boatmate trailer in my personal gallery.

[Jeff]

I have a couple of friends with boatmates, and I had the MC trailers. Both are great. The prestige pulls great it just kills the front of the boat. I think there should be a bolt or weld on retro kit to fix this bad design. I have talked with prestige, but they dont want to make one. So that just leaves us owners of anything other then brand new out with no fix I guess. To bad CC wanted to put there boats on this crappy trailer design, not all CC owners have there boats on lifts.

[Edwin]

Jeff - you may want to sketch a quick drawing of what you're looking to modify and take it to a trailer repair shop. I've had two trailers modified at a local trailer shop...both turned out great.

I can't see why a good metal worker couldn't cut off your current set up and weld you a winch stand.

[skinautique]

RamLin is the trailer to get. As far as the bow stop goes: tighten the bolt that holds the stop in before you load the boat. Put the boat as far up in there as you want. To cover it, loosen the bolt and maybe the turnbuckle. If you do this, you will never have a problem. The new prestige trailers stink. They make a generic trailer for the boats. The bunks don't rest under the hull properly at all. I am not that impressed with the quality of boatmate trailers at all. I do have to agree that the older CC trailers are bomb proof. As for now, the RamLin is the next best thing out there.

[gotwake]

Are you talking about the carpeted nose bunk? I replaced the carpeted nose bunk on my 02 Prestige trailer with two pieces of 3/4" starboard. Using the carpeted boards as a template, I countersunk the four holes in each and attached them with new stainless. So far, (100 hours later) no rub rail damage. I could send you pictures if you would like.

[gotwake]

Are you talking about the carpeted nose bunk? I replaced the carpeted nose bunk on my 02 Prestige trailer with two pieces of 3/4" starboard. Using the carpeted boards as a template, I countersunk the four holes in each and attached them with new stainless. So far, (100 hours later) no rub rail damage. I could send you pictures if you would like.

[jefe]

What don't you like about the Boatmate Trailers, skinautique?
The only thing I don't like about it is that the Boat Buddy is about an inch to low, but it works, you can't even get a Boat Buddy for a RAMLIN.
Other than that, the bunks fit the boat real well, the swing away tongue rocks and is only about 2-3 inches past the bow (break away SUCKS!) Aluminum Treadplate and stainless steel fenders are solid and nice looking. Lastly, the LED lights are superbright and look real classy.

Yeah, I guess I have ownership googles, but I am completely happy with my trailer.

[skinautique]

It is like owning a Malibu Boat. It looks great when you first get it and then stuff starts to fall apart too soon. My fenders rusted way too soon and parts and pieces started to fall off too soon. I have been much happier with the CC and Ramlin Trailers.

[jefe]

fair enough, I haven't had anything like that happen to mine, and lets hope it doesn't!

[Edwin]

jefe - do you have the standard eye on the bow of you boat? MC's come with a long one to work with the boat buddy. Might be the 1" you need for the boat buddy to be just the right height.

[H2Oskier]

The Ramlin only has one problem and I believe they are correcting it now. The 02 and older trailers had the carpet on the step platforms. If you ski as much as I do then you already no that they stay wet about 95% of the time. I took all mine off and replaced it with Aluminum Tread Brite. Looks awesome and no more damp carpet to rust my trailer. The Ramlin Loads Awesome and Pulls even better!

My.o2

[jefe]

Actually, I have the longer one. I had Extreme throw one on in the spring right when I got the boat. No it is the actual Boat Buddy that is off about an inch. If it was just a little higher, it would work perfectly.

[SuperAir]

I've have a Dorsey trailer and I ordered it with a V-block on the keel, a Boat Buddy and a swing away tongue. The only problem I have with mine is the Bow Eye is small so the boat buddy pin and winch clip makes for a tight fit but it works. You guys might look into a Dorsey Trailer as I believe the dealer can customize them with the options you want.

John S.

[tlb]

I have a DHM trailer that I custom ordered for my SAN. I used to have a MC with the boat buddy so I ordered it on the new trailer. DHM made the post that the boat buddy is on adjustable so I've got it dialed. The guys at the dealer thought it was a dumb idea but I love it.
I'm really happy with the trailer overall. I'll try to post some pics tonight.

[wake_fun]

My DHM with LED lights, spare carrier in rear, rollers, big steps, and reverse lights.

http://planetnautique.com/forums/files/5.jpg

http://planetnautique.com/forums/files/4.jpg

http://planetnautique.com/forums/files/3.jpg

http://planetnautique.com/forums/files/2.jpg

http://planetnautique.com/forums/files/1_159.jpg

[dquick]

What is a Boat Buddy? I'm failry new to boating, and I haven't heard this term before. As far as trailers go, I have a trail-rite out of Southern Cal and I haven't had any problems with it, other than the price for all of the extras. I didn't like the looks of the tall bow pads.

[MarkP]

Hollywood wrote
Every published capacity/limit has a "Factor of Safety" along with it. If every axle were failing when it's weight reached that exact limit, we'd be seeing more boats lying on concrete.


I agree with you totally,but with the leaf spring suspensions if it was over weight you cracked a spring with one or more left not broke!! Then you could replace it or even add more
leafs now with torsion bar suspension whats going to give the trailer support as on that moomba!! What about the torsion bar itself in the first part of the year in 2002 trailers with torsion bar suspensions were collapsing it was a bad batch of axles happened to boatmate and mastercraft it was burning up finders ect!! Granite that was a design flaw thats been resolved,but at what point are you pushing the weight limit??
In nother words with torsion bar suspension are we going to see more boats on the ground!! I agree that moomba probablyly was just a fluke, but I guess I have these thoughts because of it!! If you put a lighter boat
on that trailer would it of ever happened??