The Plastic Classic Forum

I think Tim mentioned loading a Triton so that the space between the salon windows was just forward of the trailer balance point. In my case this would be close to directly above the front axle of my tandem.

This is what I'm planning unless someone has a more specific suggestion or corroboration.

I'm hoping for input.

Thanks

Steve Scoll

The idea is that most trailers and trailering rigs want to have slightly more weight forward than aft, so that the tongue weight doesn't get too light (you don't want too much forward either, of course). But it's usually better to have a little too much tongue weight rather than not enough, as too little tongue weight can wreak havoc with the handling of the tow vehicle and make the trailer squirrely.

I don't recall exactly what I said in the past, but the space between the two deadlights is aft of the boat's center of balance. What you're suggesting sounds like it'll put the boat too far aft, though, if I'm understanding correctly. The center of balance of the boat is somewhere within the ballast area, which is at the forward part of the keel (and beneath/forward of the forward deadlight), so I'd suggest that this location will be a better frame of reference for determining how to balance your trailer, depending on all the variables that exist with your specific trailer. The goal is to ensure proper weighting of the trailer tongue, and this may take some experimentation the first time you try your setup.

I recently posted links to photos of three different Triton/trailer setups in this thread, which you might want to have a look at.

Thanks Tim. If the majority of the weight is forward of the mid point between the deadlights then I should be tongue heavy by putting it above the front axle. I hauled the boat home once several years ago and it was indeed squirrely. I've since beefed up the truck suspension so I'll move the boat forward and try again.

The Triton sales brochure line drawing is useful here as well. Thanks again.

Steve

Hi Steve,

My Triton #185 sits so the centre of the two deadlights is about 2" forward of the centre line between the wheels. This gives me 1,000 lbs on my ball as measured with a scale.

Thanks Yvon and Tim,
I went a little overboard with the tongue weight but it certainly followed me home without getting squirrely. Next year I'll try it a little further back. I think its probably a foot ahead of the center line.
Steve Scoll #532

I just bought a Triton actually #99. I have to trailer it home from RI to WI. I have a Skid steer hauler 14,000#. It is 13.5' long bed wise. 8' from center of dual wheels to front. 5.5' to back. It does have a beefy 7' tongue. I have seen Steve's cradle that would fit right on it. This is a rather low trailer and I would like to keep the load low as instructed (Above). Does anyone have any measurements from the centerline point or the center of the two dead lights to the rear of the boat. Also from the center to where one could put a cross angle iron just in front of the keel. I have been looking for line drawing of the boat but cannot find any that I can read these measurements.

Thanks Dan

Dan,
My cradle is here in WI and you can use it if you like. I'll need it back before fall, but its here in the yard.

Steve

I made it home with my new Triton. I learned a lot about loading sailboats on this trip as well as how to build a really nice trailer. I am glad that I borrowed Bob's trailer rather than finish mine for the trip. Although I hope I do not have to trailer mine much (I'd rather sail it). I am going to build it so that it can load and unload the boat easily. I can get it on and off Bob's trailer in a half an hour using a skid steer loader. I can get it on and off in 2 hours without using anything other than blocks (not quite as nice but it works). Because I have torsion axles on my trailer it will be much easier to load using blocks. RI to WI left Sat afternoon arrived Monday afternoon.

Dan