Drift Boat Trailer

[Pete]

My trailer is rusting out badly and I need to replace it. I don't know that I'm ready for polished aluminum, but I haven't shopped yet. What should I look at?

[Spooled]

Hi Pete. I talked to my friend Dave Traaen at North River Boats in Clackamas the other day. They are going to start making trailers. The price he was talking was extremely competitive. It would be worth your time to give him a call before you buy. Hope this helps.

Thanks again for the calendar.

Merry Christmas,

Troy

[Pete]

Thanks Troy, I will! My Willie came with a Zolatoned Baker trailer. The roller doesn't roll, the lights don't light, the main hitch brace is cracked and the inside is rusted so bad it looks like it's bleeding when I pull it out of the water ... I just know it's going to fail some morning when it's 33 degrees and raining!

[fop]

Pete, I just went through the same problem but my trailer wasn't in such bad of shape. I took my old trailer to a shop in my home town and had it sandblasted and then they did a "metalize"process that sprays a zinc coating on it. You can paint over it but I like the gray color so I just left it plain. It will not rust from the outside now and rocks don't knock off the zinc. This is the third trailer that I have do this to and IMO the only way to go without going to new.
I also have shoulder problems and can't lift the bow up to unload so I put on a double roller system(check picture) and now I can unload the boat(on a flat surface) with one hand and it comes on easier than any trailer I have ever had. And it looks like it's new.
The boat sits on both rollers that are heavy plastic with metal pipe inserted with UHMW bearings that I made. I also installed new lights and gaskets. While installing the lights I found several bare wires and I wonder why my lights didn't short out before doing this repair job.
I do not know if the boat riding on the rollers will wear out the bottom "aluminum" but it's something that I had to do.
I had some extra bearings made if anybody is in need of a good setup.
Also if you were to buy a new trailer go with galvinized(sp)....
fop

[NEUTRON]

Fop, looks good! I have a shorelander that's
galvinized but the rear roller needs some attention. The roller was metal on metal snice
the day I bought it new, after 11 years of use I
need to fix it before it falls out. I would be
interested in purchasing the extra bearings you
have.

[WaterDog]

Pete,
If your trailer is “bleeding” it’s hosed. My old man had a painted baker under his sled and in three years it rusted so bad you could literally put your finger through the cross members. :shocked: The boat was never in the salt more than a couple times a year. It rusted from the inside out. A galvanized trailer is the best way to go, just make sure its galvanized on the inside and has good drainage. Good luck.

[fop]

NEUTRON, No problem, but they are made to fit a certain size pipe that I install inside of the plastic pipe. If you can check the inside diameter of your roller pipe I can send you a picture of all the parts you need if you are interested. It sounds like you have the roller welded on the ends already and you would have to cut off the ends so the bearing would fit inside of you pipe. You would probably need new inside pipe and the outside plastic pipe. It's real simple. The bearings take a 5/8 shaft that I also have. It makes for a fine roller setup.
fop