Advice on Trailer Modifications

[wkwtucson]

I am looking to modify trailer so I can hoist the boat with slings instead of dumping the trailer in salt water.
I am getting tired of having to spend so much time & $ to keep the trailer road-ready after every dip in the brine.
The existing trailer has wooden bunks wrapped in carpet that run fore and aft.
See the attached jpeg's of the old trailer setup, which do not allow for slings to go under the boat.
Also, the bottom of the hull is developing some slight indentations near the very aft portion of the wooden bunks.
The hull indentations seem to work them-selves out mostly after floating in the water for a couple of days, but never-the-less it seems I should be able to make the boat bed better on the trailer. Since one of the bunks came off the last time I launched the boat, it is time to fix the trailer one way or another. I have been getting a lot of different opinions on how I might make this all better. I was contemplating using a series of pads so that I might be able to service the hull bottom while on the trailer (for sanding, painting maintenance reasons).
Anybody go through this recently?
Kevin in Tucson

[Tom Elsen]

Palm trees & rocks in the pics, Tuscon in the signature....very curious, where are you anyhow?

RE the trailer project: You can pretty easily shorten the bunks. Not a big deal at all.
Set things up so that the straps fit through.
Recommend not using 'roller'bunks'. These can be distinctly un-fun if you need to stop in a hurry with the boat behind the truck.
Alternatively if you want a bigger /more fun project - it's possible to rig 'cradle' type bunks like the Melges 24s have.
It will take some effort and a little bit of engineering, but its do-able, with a bit of creativity..
The toughest part is (apparently) getting the correct profile of the bottom. Needs to be done while the boat is in the slings or up on jacks.

[wkwtucson]

Tom,
[The photo is from San Carlos Sonora Mexico (mainland side of the Sea of Cortez). I race the 7.9 in spinnaker fleet with the Tucson Sailing Club… this year in 30th International Regatta over Memorial Day weekend... got a first place!]

Thx for the reply on the trailer. I will start looking for details regarding the Melges 24 approach. Could use any S2 7.9 profile data from anyone out there. Was thinking of jacking the trailer and boat up in the air a couple of feet and using stands and/or timber to support the boat in the yard such that the trailer could come in and out for repairs and fitting… otherwise I will spend too much time in the hoist which is at the marina ramp. Collecting input so I can buy what I need and head back south to Mexico to effect repairs since I left the boat there in dry storage. When I launched going in, one of the bunks said enough is enough and so I tried to repair the bunks but the boat did not sit right, so I left it down there. I think you have helped me before, and I might like to pick your brain some more if you are up for it.
Kevin

[wkwtucson]

I just tried to attach a file to the web site as a pdf but apparently the web site does not like pdfs. darn!
Anyway, I have created a pretty interesting scaled drawing of my boat and trailer and would like some feed-back to see if I am on the right track or if someone else has been thru all this.
So if someone want to see the pdf please email me at wkwtucson@aol.com and I will send it, as I am willing to share.

Kevin Walker
Tucson AZ
hull29
520 881 6193