Wow, you guys have been very busy posting since I was last on. I'll try and respond and give you an update, update first.
Yesterday evening I caught Tim Egan of EZ-Loader Trailers in his office. He is very familiar with me and my problems and actually between calls to C-Dory and EZ-Loader was the only one to own up that this problem is their's and promises to assist me in fixing it at their expense. Interesting that he brought up your name, Brent of Discovery, as having conversations with him about your TC24.
He tells me that C-Dory came to them when they started building the TC24 and said they needed a trailer. They refused to pay extra for engineering and just said let's make this one work, EZ-loader balked, but gave in. Twice Mr. Egan has checked and he assures me there were only 7-8 of these trailers produced. "lucky for him" he says. I don't know how that can be true though, because I've personally photographed two more besides mine within 2 hours of my house.
As a side note, when I've talked to Sea Glaze reps about front window problems, they also specifically told me that they told C-Dory that a sliding window wasn't appropriate on the TomCat center window and C-Dory told them they were going to do it anyway. but I digress.
In my discussions with Mr Egan last night he told me that he really isn't sure exactly what to do to make this work. His goal is to assist me in modifying this trailer (supplying parts and freight) so that it is acceptable to my needs (bascially, good enough) he doesn't think I will ever be completely happy with this trailer for this boat. The whole problem (besides the height) is the changing angles on the forward portions of the pontoons. It's ALL about the front bunks, being the problem. I'm glad you mentioned about how your guides got switched over to the outside for a while. Tim Egan was sure EZ-Loader hadn't done that, but I wasn't so sure.
Mr Egan providing the material and Alaska Mine & Dive Supply modified TC24 "Barrel O Monkey's" trailer. (He is a C-Brat member) Problem is he keeps his boat in a slip thru the entire season and still hasn't made a recovery with the trailer yet.
What EZ-loader is freighting to me right now are 12 ft 2x6's with the plastic slick stuff on them and mounting brackets. The boards mount flat, below the bunks that the boat is supported by. The idea is that when the trailer is backed into the water and the rear end is floating up, the front end is still heavy in the trailer. Instead of the forward area of the pontoons swiveling in their bunks and pushing deeper into the V created by the bunks, the bottom of the pontoon will contact this slick board allowing the boat to be gently lifted easily and without damage from the front bunks. That's the theory at least, again not tested.
We have basically ended our boating season after our finale trip where we got charged by and killed a brown bear in defense of life and property last week. (if you want to check that out, hit my www below and go to "Montague Deer Hunt")
So at this point, I can make all the mods I want, but there won't be much in the way of launch and recovery for testing.
Moving on "therick": Good idea on the U-bolts, good enough that I did that a month ago. The photos just didn't get updated yet.
As far as moving the boat back, I did that too. Moved it 1 1/2 ft back, the tongue was still heavy, launching was a little easier, BUT the boat started swerving back and forth in the 55-60 MPH range. Tim Egan at EZ-Loader highly recommended that I move the boat back forward to get transom and motor support again. He didn't like this solution at all. Recommended 6" between boat transom and back edge of bunk.
As far as moving the wheels and axles. I actually had to move them forward. The tongue weight is EXTREME, I haven't put it on a scale, but I had to have overload springs installed on my truck to keep from reverse bowing the springs.
As far as lowering the boat by spreading the bunks. This was the previous owner's solution. But, the bow area of the pontoons is narrower, so as you would drive or winch the boat on to the trailer with the spread bunks, the front pontoons wouldn't find support initially and would contact u-bolts and trailer metal and start gouging out fiberglass. We brought them back to their original position.
"therick", your ideas are good, good enough that we've already worked thru them so far, but we didn't come up with them all at once like you did.
Brent, Tim Egan of EZLoader and I both think I need the beefier center section similar to yours. I'm kind of on my own building this with out EZ-loader assistance. I know where lot's of that highway sign material is available, but the state wouldn't appreciate it. :lol: I carry a spare drum, wheel, and bearings. I would sure like to see a picture or get a source on that mount if anyone has more info. My poor tongue is already so......overloaded though. I carry the spare in the bed of my truck.
"Thataway", we are pulling with an old, tired, F150 right now, appropriately rated for the boat weight, I should add. At this point any heavier truck will be an improvement, but I will make sure and look at the F350's also. We are around 6000#, by the way.
Da Nag, the guys with the trailer built in Florida seem to be very happy, it's just this EZ-loader trailer. Don't give up on the TomCat, I don't think we could ever leave the cat hull after the ride we get now in the slop.
Joe, although an interesting concept, the extend-a-hitch is getting us deep enough in the water now. No more tows off the trailer by the harbormaster while I was in full reverse power, like the first time we launched. Careful how much pressure you put on that winch eye on the boat. I put to much pressure on mine, heard some fiberglass cracking sounds. (Tim Egan of EZ-loader said he heard the same thing on a TomCat 24 when he was working with the C-Dory factory) Upon investigation we found a tiny little starboard backing plate. We have since reglassed this area and reset a huge starboard back plate for the winch eye.
I sure appreciate the ideas guys.
John
