Not Sure About New Trailer

[rickh]

I bought an older SRV 185 outboard without a trailer back in July. I just bought a used trailer, and I'm not sure it's big enough. It is a 1992 trailer, labled a "SeaRay" but I think it is made by Shorelander. The guy I bought it from said he had a 17' SeaRay on it. My boat seems to fit, although I had to slide the winch tower about 18" up towards the hitch. The boat hangs off the bunks very little, less than two inches. The weight rating for the tires is 1400 lbs. My boat probably weighs about 2000 lbs with gas, etc. There is no tag on the trailer that I can find that has the weight limit for the trailer. My plan is to take it to my local marina, with the boat on it, and ask them if it looks okay. Anyone out there have a better idea?

Thanks.

 

[SloBurn]

Two inch overhang on the bunks is a little too much, IMO. Try to move bow stop/winch tower two more inches. Ideally the transom should sit flush with the end of the bunks. But I'd be more concerned with the tongue weight, as this will effect trailering performance. Too much weight forwards or aft and she'll wag her tail down the highway.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Since you can't read the trailer tag, is the VIN number listed on either the sales agreement or the registration/title? Call ShoreLand'r with the VIN and ask them for the carrying capacity. Sea Ray does not make their own trailer, but instead they will have a reputable company make it to their specification. ShoreLand'r is a good one - expensive if you have to buy it outside of the "package deal" with the boat, but very good.

Given it's a Sea Ray hull, I'm less worried about the 2" overhang - some boats would develop a "hook" over time, but yours won't. It's better to be a heavier on tongue weight than lighter, as long as it isn't too much for your vehicle.

 

[Night swimmer]

When I got my trailer my boat hung about a foot off the back. I moved the winch stand forward about 10 inches and I moved the bunks back about 4 inches. Which means I have about 2 inches of bunk sticking out of the back of the boat. Now I have too much tongue weight so I'm gonna move the stand 2 inches back and it should be perfrct.
You could always try moving the bunks back.