Trailer design

[Jeff]

I love my Nautique, but I hate what the trailer does to the boat.

Does any one have any suggestions on keeping the bow from getting damaged? I have a prestige trailer and the pads on the front, above he winch have distorted the rub rail. I added the giant turnbucle, and it seems to help some, but there is still some movement of the bow while towing. BTW I tow 45 minutes to the lake.

My last two boats had trailer buddies, much better idea.

Jeff

[jefe]

Boatmate Trailers are now producing for Nautique. I have one for the 210 that I love. It also comes with a BoatBuddy, but it is about an inch to low so it works only if you set it up right the first time.
Also, Prestige have changed there trailer design last year, and they are also producing a dealer installed optional boatbuddy.

I know that doesn't help you to much now, but maybe in the future? Since 99, there are alot more choices out there for trailers.

[Luke]

I agree, I have a 2003 Prestige trailer for my boat and it is terrible, I have had nothing but problems with it. If I had known better I wouldn’t have batted an eye about special ordering a different brand.

Nautique needs to make their own trailers like MC does. I think the MC trailers are awesome.

[Edwin]

Agree with ya guys on this one. It's one of the reasons I held off buying a Nautique this past winter / spring. The Ramlin has gotten away from the wishbone, but didn't have a swing away tongue (I think). The Prestige had a removeable tongue but used the pads / turnbuckle solution. Couldn't figure out how you could cover the boat if the rub rail was up against the pads. Didn't seem like a good design to me.

The SMP under my Malibu pulls well, but the fit and finish isn't even close to the MC trailer I had under my old PS190.

I traded emails with Owen at Boatmate...they will be building a trailer for my new boat when the day comes. Read some GREAT stuff on MBO regarding the customer service from Boatmate as well.

[jefe]

Ya Owen is awesome, I agree. Great products and customer service on my end as well. You can see some pictures of the Boatmate trailer in my personal gallery.

[Jeff]

I have a couple of friends with boatmates, and I had the MC trailers. Both are great. The prestige pulls great it just kills the front of the boat. I think there should be a bolt or weld on retro kit to fix this bad design. I have talked with prestige, but they dont want to make one. So that just leaves us owners of anything other then brand new out with no fix I guess. To bad CC wanted to put there boats on this crappy trailer design, not all CC owners have there boats on lifts.

[Edwin]

Jeff - you may want to sketch a quick drawing of what you're looking to modify and take it to a trailer repair shop. I've had two trailers modified at a local trailer shop...both turned out great.

I can't see why a good metal worker couldn't cut off your current set up and weld you a winch stand.

[skinautique]

Here is your solution

RamLin is the trailer to get. As far as the bow stop goes: tighten the bolt that holds the stop in before you load the boat. Put the boat as far up in there as you want. To cover it, loosen the bolt and maybe the turnbuckle. If you do this, you will never have a problem. The new prestige trailers stink. They make a generic trailer for the boats. The bunks don't rest under the hull properly at all. I am not that impressed with the quality of boatmate trailers at all. I do have to agree that the older CC trailers are bomb proof. As for now, the RamLin is the next best thing out there.

[gotwake]

Are you talking about the carpeted nose bunk? I replaced the carpeted nose bunk on my 02 Prestige trailer with two pieces of 3/4" starboard. Using the carpeted boards as a template, I countersunk the four holes in each and attached them with new stainless. So far, (100 hours later) no rub rail damage. I could send you pictures if you would like.

[gotwake]

Are you talking about the carpeted nose bunk? I replaced the carpeted nose bunk on my 02 Prestige trailer with two pieces of 3/4" starboard. Using the carpeted boards as a template, I countersunk the four holes in each and attached them with new stainless. So far, (100 hours later) no rub rail damage. I could send you pictures if you would like.

[jefe]

What don't you like about the Boatmate Trailers, skinautique?
The only thing I don't like about it is that the Boat Buddy is about an inch to low, but it works, you can't even get a Boat Buddy for a RAMLIN.
Other than that, the bunks fit the boat real well, the swing away tongue rocks and is only about 2-3 inches past the bow (break away SUCKS!) Aluminum Treadplate and stainless steel fenders are solid and nice looking. Lastly, the LED lights are superbright and look real classy.

Yeah, I guess I have ownership googles, but I am completely happy with my trailer.

[skinautique]

It is like owning a Malibu Boat. It looks great when you first get it and then stuff starts to fall apart too soon. My fenders rusted way too soon and parts and pieces started to fall off too soon. I have been much happier with the CC and Ramlin Trailers.

[jefe]

fair enough, I haven't had anything like that happen to mine, and lets hope it doesn't!

[Edwin]

jefe - do you have the standard eye on the bow of you boat? MC's come with a long one to work with the boat buddy. Might be the 1" you need for the boat buddy to be just the right height.

[H2Oskier]

The Ramlin only has one problem and I believe they are correcting it now. The 02 and older trailers had the carpet on the step platforms. If you ski as much as I do then you already no that they stay wet about 95% of the time. I took all mine off and replaced it with Aluminum Tread Brite. Looks awesome and no more damp carpet to rust my trailer. The Ramlin Loads Awesome and Pulls even better!

My.o2