26X Trailer

[Compromise]

Hey There,
wondering if anyone has contacts in Florida who deal with Mac trailers or a private sale.
Have a 26X and am in need of one soon.
Any info would be appreciated

[Robert]

Maybe you can find another Mac26X owner that keeps it in a slip near you that can loan you their trailer. I am assuming that you are in the water since you don't have a trailer, many Mac26X's are always in the water, so logically there are many Mac26X trailers that could bebefit from getting used once in a while.
..
To the Mac26X in a slip with a trailer to lend... Let this other Mac26X test that trailer that's been sitting there with their own Mac26X before you risk puting yours on it. The trailer will get some maintenance out of the deal.

[Compromise]

I just bought the X and have been getting trailer quotes at around 2500-2800 for a new . Does this seem to be about right?

[kmclemore]

The guy on eBay that sells them has been getting between $2400 and $2700, but his are all aluminum and have dual axles and all-stainless hardware. Only thing it's missing in my opinion is disc brakes.

[Compromise]

Thanks for the input. I found a guy locally (Cocoa, Fl) who will do a trailer for $2400 plus tax, it's a single axle but does have disc brakes. Obviously, I was hoping to get something cheaper but plan on keeping the X for the next several years. From reading here about the factory trailer, it seems like they don't last too long so this one is probably worth the investment.

My tow vehicle is a Tacoma double cab but other than the odd jaunt to the Keys, I'll mainly lauch locally, lots of islands to explore on the Banana and Indian rivers. (Intercoastal here)

These forums have been a great resource for researching the Mac and helping me come to what I hope, is a good decision to buy a 26X.
Thanks

[Frank C]

Congrats on the new boat ... you named her aptly!

Be sure that your trailer guy is using (at least) ST225/75R15 tires on that single axle and you should be okay. I chose these radial ST (special trailer) tires to provide 2,150# per tire (at 50 lbs. air pressure), or 4,300 pounds as net tire capacity (after tongue wt). That's about the minimum needed for a 26X with weekend supplies & 50 hp motor. Tire ratings are rather too complex for listing here, but you can see an example of ST tire specs on this Titan Tires webpage.

My factory white trailer wheels starting turning rusty orange within six months. You might ask him to use these aluminum trailer wheels from Greenball Corp. I chose the 15" by 5-lug version. They were only $75 each at the local America's Discount Tire store.

. . . . GBC2000
(Yes, I have duly noted warnings that these will quickly succumb to the ravages of salt water, but they simply cannot look worse than rusty orange).

[Jack O'Brien]

Kevin wrote:

"The guy on eBay that sells them has been getting between $2400 and $2700, but his are all aluminum and have dual axles and all-stainless hardware. Only thing it's missing in my opinion is disc brakes."

That is Ace Trailer in Tampa. I went there two weeks ago. They will do disk brakes as an option. I am going to have them make a trailer for my X. They never do sailboat trailers but will make an exception as it will be so similar to their normal ones. I am going to get Kodiak disks on all 4 wheels, LED lights and a ladder but otherwise their stock trailer has all the attributes I want. Their prices are competitive.

Anybody want my stock X trailer? It has SS disks, new bearings in one wheel, new brake line, new tail lamps insides - and rust.

[kmclemore]

Kevin wrote:

"The guy on eBay that sells them has been getting between $2400 and $2700, but his are all aluminum and have dual axles and all-stainless hardware. Only thing it's missing in my opinion is disc brakes."

That is Ace Trailer in Tampa. I went there two weeks ago. They will do disk brakes as an option. I am going to have them make a trailer for my X. They never do sailboat trailers but will make an exception as it will be so similar to their normal ones. I am going to get Kodiak disks on all 4 wheels, LED lights and a ladder but otherwise their stock trailer has all the attributes I want. Their prices are competitive.

You ought to get him to use yours as a pattern and keep the measurements for the bunks, winch post, etc. for future reference - I expect this isn't the first Mac he'll end up doing!

[DLT]

Ace did one for another member of this board, but didn't know it was for a sailboat...

The other member made the modifications himself. He told me he was pretty happy with it. So, I investigated getting one myself after a rather dissappointing trip with a less than 1 yr old trailer...

When I contacted them, they refused to make the modifications for me, held fast that they don't make sailboat trailers, and wouldn't even acknowledge that the modified trailer I showed them pictures of (courtesy of the other member) was even theirs...


Jack, I'd love to know what your final price is... I figgen HATE this stock trailer... I have a trailerable boat, but after that trip I don't trust the trailer to take me much further than the 300' to the water, from where I store it...

[Frank C]

FWIW, I towed my stock Mac trailer 3.000 uneventful miles, and it was just a dragging brake shoe in the last 30 miles that forced my upgrades. The basic trailer does the job, and should last for many more years with investment of only $850 for wheels, tires & brakes. Search on the word "budget" for a detailed upgrade listing. I'd rather spend the extra 1,600 bucks on goodies for the boat.
Hmm, gimme a minute ta think on this ...
- new full-batten mainsail
- removable traveler
- improved rudders
- new fix-mount GPS
- pressure water system
- shower in head

YMMV.

[argonaut]

Wow! Yours has brakes!

[Jack O'Brien]

I started talking with Ace Trailer last November and one of the Owners is more flexable and helpful than the other Owner. The nicer one offered to design the trailer for the boat to have least height above water for easy launching from shallow ramps. The less-nice Owner won't do much different than use lower bunks. And the bunks will be lengthwise, not crosswise like the original Mac trailer.

DLT wrote"
"When I contacted them, they refused to make the modifications for me, held fast that they don't make sailboat trailers, and wouldn't even acknowledge that the modified trailer I showed them pictures of (courtesy of the other member) was even theirs... "

As you can see, these guys are very independent and rather touchy - but they build good trailers. Although I have several good, unused trailer parts, such as goal posts and winch stand, they are unwilling to use anything they don't provide. Their attitude is rather uncompromising.

I suggest you all hold off from contacting them until I get my trailer so that:
1) they don't change their minds about doing one for me
2) they see how easy it is to make a trailer for a Mac so they will be willing to make more
3) I can get lots of good info for you including prices and options and whether you can bargain, etc.
4) I can offer suggestions that may make subsequent trailers better.

By the way, I need to bring my boat to them so they can measure, "design" and adjust the trailer to fit the boat when it is done. We will both record measurements to enable replication.

I can either leave my old trailer with them or try to figure out what to do with it in Tampa. They know a guy that decontaminates them (removes grease, brake fluid, etc.) hauls them away and sells the old ones for scrap. I would prefer to sell my old trailer in the area or canabalize it and leave it at a scrapyard.

My schedule precludes my going there until about August 20th and I hope to be able to go there then.

I will keep you guys posted and see if I can help us all out.

Anybody interested please send me an email.

[kmclemore]

By the way, I need to bring my boat to them so they can measure, "design" and adjust the trailer to fit the boat when it is done. We will both record measurements to enable replication.

Given their apparent 'love' for sailboats, perhaps it might be best to just leave the mast at home? Just a thought...

[Frank C]

Good point, Kevin ...
that way they won't even know it's a sailboat.




Strange how ya sometimes gotta drag 'em kickin' 'n screamin' into a new market ...
like convincing Roger to build that Mac 29

[PeteC]

If they can design the trailer with lengthwise bunks I think that would be better than the factory crosswise setup.