Problem: My aluminum boat trailer is rated at 500 lbs. My H16 weighs around 360 lbs, which leaves only 140 lbs for extra out-of-car storage for 2 adults & 2 kids for a 2 wk beach vacation. I know the load rating of trailers is customarily under-rated (by up to 50%) for safety and liability concerns, and I probably packed well over 140 lbs worth of cargo on it last year. It trailered fine, but I am wary of aluminum due to the possibility of microscopic stress fractures followed by catastrophic failure.

Solution (?) I have a 4 X 8 foot utility trailer rated at 2000 lbs that I used to take to the beach before I got my Hobie. I hope to convert it to carry my H16. Has anyone ever done a project like this? I have two possible plans.

1. Follow the general layout of my existing cat trailer and attach 2 treated 4 X 4 in. beams (about 8 ft long) across the front and rear ends of the trailer bed, and then attach rollers to the beam ends for the hulls to rest on, OR...

2. I have removable sides I made for this trailer using 2 x 4's for the frame with 1 X 4's attached to them as the siding material. The assembled box is about 3 ft high, and has an optional top made of 1/2 in. plywood. After packing this box I could lift the boat's frame onto the top of the box. This would mean the boat would be resting on its frame, with the hulls hanging unsupported. I am unsure if this will stress or damage the hull pylons during the 900 mile round trip. Or I could put it upside down on the top of the box(?).

Does anyone know if it is inadvisable to transport a Hobie 16 this way? Any other ideas/comments?

(Yes I know I will have to install the three extra running lights on the rear of the trailer).

Thanks

Mark Owens
1976 H16 sail # 19857