How to swap a boat from an old trailer to a new Aakron Boat Trailer

This is not a 5 minute job and it helps if you are possessed of a good degree of common sense in practical matters If you cant get it to a factory where you can leave it to the experts, the next best option is to drop the boat into the sea from the old trailer at the nearest quiet ramp once you have the new trailer alongside ready to go. Don’t attempt this in the weekend “rush hour” or you will cop abuse from the queue of fishermen waiting their turn!
So you need a mate with a towbar to help. You will also find the following equipment  useful:
Ratchet spanners and sockets, especially 17mm, 19mm and 21mm. plus an adjustable spanner about 12inch, a large engineers hammer, A power cut-off saw preferably battery operated, or take a long power lead and ensure there is a source of 230volt ac somewhere near. Otherwise a hacksaw will work but you need strong arms and patience and probably several spare blades. Car jack(s) especially the hydraulic type with wheels, about 8 timber blocks of “100x50mm” or “150x50” about 300mm long, a knot free 100x50 or 100x75 post about 1.8m long.

  1. Before you even get to the ramp pre- set the new boat trailer up just like the old one so all the wobble rollers and keel rollers are like the old trailer; ie the same distance out from the centre line and about the same height above the cross frames. The winch post should be positioned at the same distance from the rear-most wobble roller so the boat will not come too far forward. The winch posts should be clamped securely as you need it to hold the boat when towing it out of the water.
  2. Now float the boat off the old trailer and onto the new one. Secure it using the winch strap and safety chain so it cant roll back, and then tow it out of the water.
  3. Check the balance so there is about 25kg-40kg lift at the towbar. Move the boat back or forward until its right. If that doesn’t  balance the boat and trailer rig while keeping the back of the boat still on the rear-most wobbler, nor overhanging the rear roller by more than say 200mm, you may have to shift the axle position.
  4. To shift the axle; jack up both sides till the wheels are off the ground, loosen the U-bolts holding  the spring mounting frames, then using your foot nudge the whole axle/spring/wheel assemble back or forward about 100mm at a time till you achieve the correct balance. Ensure you move each side exactly the same as the other.
  5. Then start with the rear wobblers as low as possible, and pack the boat with wood blocks until its level, while keeping it as low as possible without the chine hitting the trailer mudguards etc.
  6. Work forward pushing up the wobblers (using the 100x50 beam about 1.8m long as a lever) till they are firm against the boat hull while keeping clear of strake lines.  Tighten the U-bolts to hold the wobblers in place. DONT OVER-TIGHTEN as you will strip the treads. Galv bolts are softer than normal and the U-bolts don't need to be super tight.
  7. When all wobblers are tight and the trailer is balanced so as to leave about 25-40kg weight at the towball, adjust the trailer winch and snubbing block so as to support and stop the boat at this position. Ideally the winch strap should be horizontal with the towing eye on the bow, while the snubbing block can be either above or below the winch as appropriate for your boats bow. Make sure you have enough room to turn the winch handle with the boat fully on the trailer.
  8. Now use the cut-off saw to remove any un-necessary down pointing ends of the wobble and keel roller posts. If you don’t these will drag on the ground as you drive over places like the tops of ramps or you own driveway access and may be badly damaged themselves, let alone what they do to the road. The important ones are the ones at the back of the trailer and the front. The ones near or between the trailer wheels are not much of a problem as its nearly impossible for them to snag the road.
  9. Double check your lights are working and the new number-plate and WOF are in place.
Note: if the boat is not too large you can back it onto a stack of strong tyres on your lawn while drawing the old trailer out from under it. A rope secured to a strong plum tree or fence post will help to hold the back of the boat in place as your car tows the old trailer away. Reverse the new trailer into place by using the trailers own winch to pull the trailer under the boat while removing tyres as you go. Then proceed as above.

Remember; patience, careful attention to detail and a fair bit of common sense are the ingredients you will most need.