Help building a trailer

If anyone has read my other thread, I just bought a Tornado. It's 20 feet long and has a beam of 10 feet. It did not come with a trailer, so I need to figure out a way to transport it around.

I could always tilt it, but would rather not because that would be placing unnecessary strain on the lower hull. I would rather just unbolt the hulls, slide them together on the trailer and haul them that way.

One issue I have is finding/modifying a trailer for it.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks.

I have built several utility trailers over the years. If you have a welder (or access to one) then it is a simple job. you can even get the metal cut to length when you buy it so that you end up with a "kit" to weld together. As far as your needs go, I would suggest you are not the first Tornado owner to trailer a boat like that, so look for one and copy it. Either one in person or pictures of one. I have no idea what liability issues you folks have in the USA regarding home made trailers, but if it is like here you can just get it registered and licensed as a "home made" trailer with no problem.

You might get a better answer on catsailor.com, since there are few Hobie owners that have experience wth 10' wide catamarans.

Couldn't the hull roller supports be on laterally sliding tracks (parallel to the axle?) then once you have the cat on the trailer, and its all derigged, you just unbolt the frame, and slide the two hulls closer together. You could probably just use some of those large size door rollers. i think i saw them at home depot once; they look like the sliding metal pieces with bearings on the inside of cabinets, only much much bigger. Its just a thought, and i know its just another thing to oil up, but then you would have a stable platform for all the rigging, esp. mast stepping, and then when you need to it can be collapsed.

just an idea. If i had time, I would love to build that.

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Peter Scranton
'14 Tandem Island "Awesome"
'03 Windrider Rave "Menage a Trois"

Just as a heads up, with a trailer that would tilt your boat to the side. As long as the rollers or surfaces that you’re sliding the boat on to are horizontal there is almost exactly the same weight on each of the two hulls. I say almost because since the center of gravity of the boat is slightly above the centerline of the boat, when you rotate the boat the CG will move a few inches towards the lower side. You’re still looking at pretty darn close to 50/50 weight distribution though.

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1984 H16 - #80541

How do those tilt trailers work anyway? I've been lookign for some pictures online and cant find any good ones. I am just curious because in conceptualizing it I see alot of problems with whatever rail the rollers slide up on must either be sticking up vertical and in danger of hitting the hulls, or must be sliding from below the trailer, which virtually eliminates and clearance you have.

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Peter Scranton
'14 Tandem Island "Awesome"
'03 Windrider Rave "Menage a Trois"

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HCANA Class Member

Anything over 8' 6" wide is considered a "wide Load" and needs special permitting to go down public roads. Just my 2 cents.

My hobie trailer is home made and licensed just fine. That wont be the problem. The width might be an issue...

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Proud new owner of a 1991 Hobie 18.