Learn more about C Dory boats, boat trailers and complete boat service at Bulldog!
There are many kinds of trailers, steel, aluminum, galvanized, anodized, painted, with brakes, without brakes, float on, winch on, with rollers, with bunks, and so on. Which one is right for you? First look around, what do the others in your area use most? There may be a good reason. If you boat in salt water, you pretty much have to use an aluminum or galvanized trailer if you want it to last. If you boat only in freshwater a painted trailer is OK.
If your boat is light (under 2000 pounds fully loaded), then you probably only need a single axle trailer. If your boat is over 2500 pounds fully loaded, then dual axles (4 tires), and brakes are a good idea. Check your state’s laws, you might have to have brakes.
Trailer brakes come in three types. Electric brakes, which are controlled from a controller in the car, some folks don’t like them because the claim that they are more subject to rust (I have not seen that). Hydraulic brakes come as either old style drum brakes, or new style disk brakes. The Stainless Steel disk brakes seem to be gaining in popularity, since they are simple, have few moving parts, and provide very positive stopping.
Both use hydraulic cylinders that are part of the hitch. As the car slows and the boat pushes against the hitch, it activates the brakes in proportion to the force. Unlike electric brakes there doesn’t need to be any wiring or modification to the car (you don’t need a specially rigged car to tow a trailer with hydraulic brakes). However, if you have disk brakes it is advisable to have a reverse lockout, the disables the brakes when you back up. Otherwise the brakes can prevent you from backing the boat up the driveway. The lockout us a hydraulic solenoid valve that is activated by the backup lights (one extra wire).
Whatever trailer you choose, make sure that it fits your boat. It should be not only the right length, but the right width and the right weight carrying capacity (an 18′ boat can weigh 1500 to almost 4000 pounds). Also it is very important to have the trailer adjusted to support the boat properly, both to protect the hull and to secure it properly.