Trailer and sail tube construction :: Catamaran Sailboats at TheBeachcats.com

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Do-It-Yourself: Trailer and sail tube construction

Added by Jmhoying on Nov 08, 2002 - 11:01 AM

Jack Hoying brings us step by step illustrated instructions for building your own catamaran trailer and sail storage tube. The Beachcats mailing list always has lots of discussion about these expensive items, and the ongoing debate of cat box vs. storage tube is never ending. This is one sailors solution that he has agreed to share with us.

Photos of my homemade trailer and sail tube.

Click on images to enlarge.
Trailer is made primarily from 2 inch box steel.
Torsion arm axle is from QDS Components, Jackson Center, Ohio (937) 596-6125

Welding up the frame

Removable rear support made from leftover bleacher railing parts. Upper V is 1/4 inch x 3 inch aluminum.

One pin on each side holds the support in place. (small screw is the stop)

14 inch x 10' x 3/16 wall PVC (heat duct available from any heating and cooling contractor or supplier) is fairly lightweight. Door and rear plug is made from 1/2 inch plywood, coated with epoxy and painted. Vented area is from an old fridge. I cut 1/2 inch from one end of the tube and glued it inside the tube (after cutting to size) for the door stop. A couple small drain holes are drilled in the bottom- front and back of the tube. The supports on the trailer frame help hold the thin wall PVC shape are are made from wood, also coated with epoxied and painted. It's all held on with some large stainless steel hose clamps.

Storage box from a Home Depot type store.

The front mast support is set up for clearance of my full size van. If I change to a smaller towing vehicle, I can remove the black section of the support for a lower profile.

I welded J hooks onto the frame for tie-downs. Also shows the welded on brackets for the rollers.

I made this bracket to change from single rollers to double rollers. 3/16 inch x 2 inch x 12 inch steel for the sides. 1/4 inch x 1 1/2 inch x 9 1/8 inch cross pieces. I used 9 inch rollers.