Lifting Keel Yacht Trailer
Lifting keel yachts are carried on a trailer which supports the weight of the boat on the keel. The keel support will vary depending upon the type of keel, yachts with bulb or winged keels having a wide keel platform rather than a channel.
For boats with long keels or flush bottoms, keel rollers can be added which, with the addition of a winch and guide posts, will facilitate launching and recovery.
Some lifting keel yachts lend themselves to a trailer/sailer design whereby the boat can be easily launched and recovered by two people without immersing the hubs. This is particularly useful where the boat is to be kept in a boat yard when not in use or sailed in the Solent one week, Falmouth the next and the Scottish Lochs the next, depending upon the wind and your whim. To see how a trailer/sailer design can work for you, click here.
Optional Extras
- Tie down straps
- Wheel clamp
- Spare wheel and carrier
- Immersion kit
The Immersion Kit is useful if you plan to immerse the trailer to launch and recover the boat.
The kit consists of a flushing system which allows all the brake drums to be flushed out from a single ½" hose connection.
To be effective this flushing must be done immediately after immersion before the salt dries on the brake parts.
We recommend that the trailer is rocked back and forth a couple of feet while the flushing is taking place to ensure the fresh water is distributed around the brake mechanism.
Also included is a system of brake transmission cables which eliminate the usual bowden cables which can cause problems if they become sticky or seize up.
