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Message board > Miscellaneous topics > Cost and where to buy a trailer for a Family Pilot 20?

Message 8 of 8
Posted by member Clive ffitch on Wednesday 16 January 2013

So... after all that, we ended up with a trailer! The boat we had settled on which had all we were looking for, turned out to be Adele, with a 75HP Mariner, complete with a pretty good condition SBS dual axle trailer. First of all must got grateful thanks to Simon, who we engaged to carry out the marine survey for us, and who gave us excellent service, and a lot of very useful information to help guide us in our deliberations. Simon's services come much recommended, so if you are in need of a survey for your potential purchase of a Hardy boat, do not hesitate to call him! We eventually took delivery of Adele near Fowey on the 21st of December (it was sunny for once!) when it was towed down from Dorset for us by MarineTec, the company who also fully inspected and serviced the engine and trailer for us. The experience we gained trailer-wise is that, whatever the age and condition of the trailer, if it is for any significant (or even small amounts!) of road transport, getting the trailer fully checked over is very important. Particularly with reference to the bearings and breaks. An audible squeakiness originally identified by Simon, was easily sorted by new brake shoes. Bearings were in good condition in our case, but if not, and depending on the design/type of bearings used on any trailer you are considering, these can potentially be a considerable extra expense if not factored in. Not all bearings are of the relatively easy home-DIY servicable type that I have been used to. We also had a fresh water flushing kit fitted to the hubs while all was disassembled. It was also handy having the same people tow the trailer the first time, who had serviced the trailer! They perhaps have more than a passing interest, and you get a road trial thrown in as well! As to launching the first time, we may well get the boatyard to do it, but at least Adele is now easily moved around, can be taken home for short term projects and maintenance if required, and can be taken to other locations for launching if we need or want to. So, new year, new boat, and all we need is a new summer! Thanks for all the trailer thoughts, Clive

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Message 7 of 8
Posted by member Simon Kidd on Monday 5 November 2012

Steve - Good idea, I second that! Had one on my old Defender - made life so easy!

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Message 6 of 8
Posted by member Steve Pickthall on Monday 29 October 2012

Just an idea for you. Why not fasten a tow ball to the front of the discovery. Very handy then to see and move your trailer if reversing it is a problem.

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Message 5 of 8
Posted by member Clive Ffitch on Sunday 28 October 2012

Thanks Simon, that is really useful information and helped a lot, and thanks Robert - my present 16ft sailing boat (soon selling now I'm converting to a Hardy!) is on a centre keel roller style trailer, and I can't help but feel this is better. My recent thinking has been that a trailer will be useful for self launching, with help, and for bringing home from the boatyard for working on when needed, but counter to that are thoughts on steepness of the slip (Penmarlem in Fowey) - and it's a steepie! - though we have a Discovery (but the boatyard have whopping great tractors!), and access and manoeverability of the trailer at home... (not easy!). So, I slowly seem to be unconvincing myself of the need for a trailer, but keep my options open! And of course, it depends if the boat we settle on has one or not.... Will keep you posted! Best regards, Clive

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Message 4 of 8
Posted by member Robert Sneddon on Friday 26 October 2012

Hi Clive. Just to add to the previous comments. I use a Parrymore twin axle trailer and it carries quite a bit of adjustment. I prefer the keel roller type as mentioned by Simon. It's steady as a rock on the road and as long as I have a decent bit of tide my FP floats on and off the trailer quite easily. Only downside for me is I have the maintenance of 4 wheels instead of 2. Regards, Robert

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Message 3 of 8
Posted by member Simon Kidd on Tuesday 16 October 2012

Hi Clive. I usually buy boats without trailers - it's just the way it is sadly. At least you can choose the right trailer for the job. Currently I use a "Degraaf" trailer for the Navigator - this seems a heafty bit of kit and works well. I used to have a 24' yacht with an RM trailer, thats was fine and also I've had an Indespension on the 20'er. The latter two were twin axle. Consider the type of launching and slipways you'll be using: Shallow slips often work well with a "Roller Trailer" - i.e. lots of rollers. For the Hardy's, I prefer a centre keel roller trailer to properly support the keel full length - but not as easy as the roller type to use. Main trailers I see often are: De Graaf Beckton Extreme Trailers. Indispesion. Snipe / Mersea Trailers Superspeed etc etc There are likley others. I like bearing savers, flushable hubs - these mnake life easier for you. Ref Single of Twin Axle - I like Single axle as these tend to be easier to service and easy to move around by hand. The can be more supseptible to "Snaking" and of course a type blowout would be horroible - though I use a heavy tow car with 110kg trailer nose weight and a stabiliser and carefully check the tyre pressures and tyre condition each time. The Navigator is an easy stable tow. For a pilot - if used for local towing you'll liekly be ok with single axle, though make sure the trailer capacity of ok for the boat + engine + equipment, fuel water etc. Ideally for a Pilot I'd go for a twin axle if looking to cover any distance - much for stable with a high sided load like a pilot. My views anyway, hope they're of some help. Simon.

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Message 2 of 8
Posted by member Simon Kidd on Tuesday 16 October 2012

Clive, Just to add ( I was in an hurry earlier - as you tell from my spelling), Cost - My trailer was secondhand low miles from Degraaf direct. Approx £900. A new trailer should be somewhere from £1500 - £2500 depending upon the weight capacity and features. I'm sure some cost more than this. I'd get a quote from at least four or five companies. Most UK trailers are adjustable and thus the supports can be dropped and lowered to fit the hull shape of the Pilot when you first recover the boat. The roller supports tend to pivot and wobble, so the fine tuning is looked after already. I would say, the later Pilots do have a deep keel and I'm not sure all multi roller trailers will work - someone else here may know. If you talk to the trailer companies, they have most likely already built trailers for Pilots - certainly Arther at De Graaf knew the Navigator shape, but be carefull, earlier piots did have a shallower keel.. Best Regards Simon.

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Message 1 of 8
Posted by member Clive Ffitch on Thursday 11 October 2012

First post... We are looking to buy a Hardy Family Pilot, and looking at options. Some come with a trailer, some don't... What I am trying to determine, is how much would a double axle trailer likely cost, and who are possible suppliers (somewhere near Cornwall would be great!)? I've seen one post suggesting Superspeed Trailers (scary name!) of Brightlingsea for a single axle, but no others unless I missed them. Is there such a thing as a "standard" template for a Hardy Fanily Pilot trailer??? If so, then presumably most trailer manufacturers would be able to build on... I presume! Has anyone else been in the same position, or ever bought a trailer separately from the boat? Rough costing info would be really useful - thanks!

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