F18HT Class Trailer Questions??

[Mike Hill]

I was looking at the picture of your 6 boat open trailer for your F18HT on the web site. I have a pretty good idea how it's laid out.

I'm pretty sure that you attach the boats by the front and rear beam. How do you attach the beams to the trailer so that you don't cause damage? How do you attach the front beam so that it doesn't damage the dolphin striker?

When loading and unloading do you attach the brackets first for each boat and then stack them one by one attaching the brackets to eachother on the trailer? How do you get the third boat on top of the second?

Do you detatch the truck so that you can unload the front boats off the front and the rear boats off the rear at the same time?

Is the whole thing including the brackets made out of aluminum?

And finally who built it and how much to build another one?

Sorry for all the questions. It is really a great idea. Do you think the 6 boat open trailer is the ultimate way to go or can you envision something even better?

Keep One Hull Flying,
Mike Hill

[Mike Hill]

No need to answer. I saw the trailer at Catfight this weekend. It is really neat. I answered all of my questions as I helped load a boat.

Mike Hill

[Greg Evans]

Mike,

Since you have seen the F-18HT class 6-boat trailer, can you tell us more details?

-How are the boats secured to the trailer?

-Where do you put 6-mast?

-Are those "towers" fixed to the trailer or do they move?

-How sturdy does the trailer seem?

Thank you,

Greg

[Mike Hill]

-How are the boats secured to the trailer?

They fit into L brackets that attach over the beams. The boats are then also tied down to the brackets with regular tiedowns.

-Where do you put 6-mast?

There are brackets on the supports for the boats where you can slide the masts inbetween the hulls of the boats.

-Are those "towers" fixed to the trailer or do they move?

Each of the towers can be moved in a long track that is built into the trailer. The front tower was fixed and then we slid the back support up on the boat when we had it in place.

-How sturdy does the trailer seem?

Very sturdy. Though loading the trailer with the top boat would seem to be a little dangerous if someone were to slip as the boat was loaded.

I'll even answer some of my own questions.

-I'm pretty sure that you attach the boats by the front and rear beam. How do you attach the beams to the trailer so that you don't cause damage? How do you attach the front beam so that it doesn't damage the dolphin striker?

The carpeted brackets slide just to the inside of the dolphin striker so that there is no damage.

-When loading and unloading do you attach the brackets first for each boat and then stack them one by one attaching the brackets to eachother on the trailer? How do you get the third boat on top of the second?

No, the front bracket is already on the trailer and you stack the boats one by one sliding them into the front bracket. The third boat on top looks hard to load after seeing the trailer. You have to lift it way high to load the third boat.

-Do you detatch the truck so that you can unload the front boats off the front and the rear boats off the rear at the same time?

The truck was detached but since it took 4-6 people to unload each boat they are unloaded one at a time.

Mike Hill
H20 #791

[Greg Johnson]

Your class trailer is looks great ( www.f18htclass.com/Gallery/Trailers/OpenTrailer1.html ). Would your class consider leasing it to another catamaran group?

Contact me at [e-mail], if this is a possibility.

Greg Johnson

[JC]

Mike, I thought you just stick your boats on with buggars (sp)