*That trailer is too short???*

[Dads Dream]

Let me set the stage.....I work in a small home-town bank....and one of my customers tells me he's buying a 'new to him' 22 ft CC from a dealer/guy that sells stuff on consignment. My customer is a retired guy- he's stepping up from a 18' bowrider and he and his wife expect this will be their last boat.

Ok, I've kicked a few tires in my day but not like this one

The boat is a 2000 22' ProLine CC with bimini; powered by a 2000 Johnson 2stroke- boat has been owned by an older couple that didn't eclipse 100 hrs on the engine. Its clean- nobody has ever fished on it and its been stored for more than a 2 yrs. In the parking lot we run the motor off the garden hose- starts up nice, idles fine, little smoke.....nothing seems wrong....getting ready to schedule a sea trial before making some kind of offer.

Wait a second.....what the???? Ok, you're telling me that's a 2007 brand new Venture trailer...dual axles, etc ....but the freaking bunks on the trailer END 2.5 feet from the transom/stern?? The boat is not centered, its hanging over the fenders PORT side by 4 inches and almost and inch over fenders STARBRD.....

What's that? You're telling me the owner bought that from a dealer and it was fitted to the boat?

In my few years of boat experience it's clear to me this trailer is undersized (short & narrow)

Anyone have some input on this deal? If this guy buys the boat/trailer setup as is......but he's not going to trailer it much.......will he have problems?? (How about the NEXT person that buys it.....?) Will this thing wheelie the truck @$$ end off the ground??

To look at this rig from the side.....you can tell it was a scam job from the dealer that sold it to him

Oh, the 411 on that dealer that sold it? Yep, out of business & closed doors in March 2008. Maybe the FTC shut him down?

What's the current asking price? $16,500

[mrfishy]

should be fine as long as he's got 60+% of the boats weight infront of the trailer axles. My grady hangs off atleast 3 feet and thats not including the motors.

[LuckyLady]

Call Venture and ask them what size trailer is recommended for that engine and boat package. Each trailer company is a little different.

I have seen many many trailers be sold that are truely undersized for the boat, from different dealers. A direct accident was caused just by this,. On an uphill pull, trailer starting swaying, and boat actually came off the trailer. Load Rite actually gave them a new trailer to replace the old and the customer paid an upgrade fee.

Another case the customers axles were scraping the ground

Trailers are nothing to mess with.

Tongue weight is extremly important and needs to be adjusted and checked.

I havent had too many dealings with Venture Trailers to know what is what on thiers.

[flatbottom]

also I would call the boat manufacture and ask what support is needed for that boat. Not all hulls are equal. Me, I would have all the support in the trailer as possible.

[Dads Dream]

should be fine as long as he's got 60+% of the boats weight infront of the trailer axles. My grady hangs off atleast 3 feet and thats not including the motors.

Thanks MrFishy
I think using your ratio that this guys got issues...and his weight distribution is probably swapped with what you've recommended

[captcl]

Call the folks at Venture and they can set you up with the right bunks!They are pretty easy to deal with, better if you yhave a Venture trailer dealer.

[Dads Dream]

Call Venture and ask them what size trailer is recommended for that engine and boat package. Each trailer company is a little different.

I have seen many many trailers be sold that are truely undersized for the boat, from different dealers. A direct accident was caused just by this,. On an uphill pull, trailer starting swaying, and boat actually came off the trailer. Load Rite actually gave them a new trailer to replace the old and the customer paid an upgrade fee.

Another case the customers axles were scraping the ground

Trailers are nothing to mess with.

Tongue weight is extremly important and needs to be adjusted and checked.

I havent had too many dealings with Venture Trailers to know what is what on thiers.

*Oh Mary...
You're so good to offer expert advice on this...thanks, I was thinking of you when I drafted up the thread- "hmm, why don't I just PM Mary- she'll know what 2 do"

I found a guy today that worked for a dealer that had Venture trailers- he's gonna check out the situation early this week

How's your fishing down there in Jersey?

[Dads Dream]

Call the folks at Venture and they can set you up with the right bunks!They are pretty easy to deal with, better if you yhave a Venture trailer dealer.

*That's something I didn't think of.....he could simply lengthen the bunks for more support- then slide the bow yoke forward enough......

This could be the best solution...

Thanks CaptCL!

[LuckyLady]

*Oh Mary...
You're so good to offer expert advice on this...thanks, I was thinking of you when I drafted up the thread- "hmm, why don't I just PM Mary- she'll know what 2 do"

I found a guy today that worked for a dealer that had Venture trailers- he's gonna check out the situation early this week

How's your fishing down there in Jersey?

Fishing has been good for the most part Thanks for asking.

Just be careful with some trailer dealers they will steer you wrong. Not all but there are alot of people inexperienced with trailers all together some are not. If the place sells trailers exclusively then its a different story.

I always call, if they supply me the wrong trailer and info for the specs that I gave them its thier problem if something goes wrong.

Proline boats can be on any style bunk or roller no problems what so ever. The only boats that should not be on rollers is deep v hulls like the Contenders, heavy heavy boats, boats that are primarily kept on the trailer or transported long distances. Just my 02 and preference.

When I get up off the couch in a little bit I will look and see if I have the reps info in my rolodex and see if I can get some answers for you.

Also on another note proline packages thier boats from the factory with the option of a load master bunk trailer.

I think everything that you described is fine but safe than sorry and not seeing it is tough to tell.

I forget the ratio for tongue weight. , tongue weight is how the is distributed on the trailer and the load on the forward portion of the trailer connected to your vehicle.