Trailering Upright and Trailex Trailers

nielsen

Hartford, CT
I have been trailering my new sunfish using the small SUT-200 full aluminum Trailex trailer for approximately a total of 300 miles now. As some of the readers might know this trailer transports deck side up. The trailer itself is light and design to flex transmitting less impact force on the hull.

I would appreciate some feedback on boat damage -or- no damage, on trailering a sunfish deck side up. Has anyone else had experience with this trailex trailer? placement of the support bunks? modifications or extra support for the boat?
 
Dave, for year I transported my fish on a bunker rack on top of my pickup cap. Worked the greatest. But medical problems stopped me from getting it up and down so I had to go to a trailer. I researched trailer for over a year and I ended up with the same one your have. With the tires inflated to the recommended 15 psi, the fact that it doesn't have any keel supports where the fish has no support, and the pads are adjustable enough to move them under areas where the foam blocks are I towed about 2000 miles total with a 1991 thin skin Pearson 108 pound fish and didn't have a crack.
If you can't use a form fitting bunker arrangement the Trailex trailer is the next best thing.
 
I built some blocks to modify the trailex trailer to carry the boat upside down out of 2X4s. made them match through a bunch of measuring to the points on the deck, cut them, put 3 together for each bunk, and belt sanded them even. Those pads right in the middle of the flat spot scare me when the boat jumps off the ground over bumps. :eek:
 
I too have this trailer. I discovered that you can trail a Sunfish upside down without any modifications other than to place the existing bolsters. I have mine set so they are in line with the mast step in front and just behind the lip of the cockpit in back. I have been intending to enlarge the bolsters but I haven't yet. I check the deck of my boat every week and I see no problems from the bolsters. The interesting thing is that the boat trails better upside down than right side up. The trailer doesn't rock as much over bumps in the road. To save my bearings, I don't dip my trailer. I transfer the boat to a dolly. I can do this alone with the use of a two foot step ladder with a blanket for padding. I set the ladder up next to the trailer at the stern of the boat. Then I lift the stern off the trailer and support it on the ladder. Then I lift the bow and set it on the ground. I remove the ladder, flip the boat over, and slide it on the dolly. All with minimum stress on my back.
 
Hi. I'm looking into getting my first sunfish. I live near the Hudson River. Have access to a boat ramp in my town. I'm wondering if It's possible to rack the Sunny on top of a BMW sedan. Is this crazy? (I'm I crazy?) What's the chances of me getting the boat on and off my car roof by myself without doing damage to the boat or my (mother's) car?
 
Re: BMW roof rack

I'd think youd be fine witha quality rack set and plenty of tie downs. Dont for get two from the bumper to the bow handle and two from the rear bumper to the stern if possible (I'm not sure what you'd attach to at the stern though).

The tricky part would be getting it off the car by yourself. I do it all the time with a 70 pound canoe, but at 230 pounds (that is my weight) I would not attempt a 130 + pound sunfish. I'd think with and additional guy (or two cute young ladies interested in sailing) you could get it on and off (the car) without any damage to boat, bodies, or BMW.

One more tip if you do go with a roof rack: Load and unload on level ground if at all possible. If not possible, you'll probably want another person to hold the hull from sliding off the racks. On a surprising slight amount of slope, the hull will tend to slide on the racks. The splash rail might stop it from comming off completely, front to back. But it might not. If the hull comes sliding off before you get it tied down or as you take the tie downs off, you could end up with some serious damage to the hull and the car.

Good luck
 
Sailing on the Hudson can be alot of fun. The wind can really tunnel down the river. With that said there are a few extra things to think about. 1: Current--the Hudson is quite tidal (even up where I used to sail opposite Kingston). Plan your sail accordingly. 2: Waves -- that wind combined with the tide can create some large waves. Don't underestimate them. 3: Size -- Except for the occasional windsurfer you will be the smallest thing out there. Stay out of the way of the big boys...they will plow right over you and travel faster then you think. I would also make sure you have a whistle, a life jacket for each person, and a paddle.

Have fun!
 
Hey thanks for the good advice. Sailing a Sunfish out in the Hudson sounds a little like riding a bull! :) I need a little adventure this summer.

Is there a good place around the area that I can find used Sunnys? I don't have $3000plus for a new one. Or a classified section that I could make a good find?
 
you can try posting in the "wanted" section of tghis board. also you may want to check ebay there are usualy 2-3 fish up on there. Vangaurd also has a used boats section on thier website so you can check there to.
 

Back
Top