[Moved to THE GAM for discussion of best trailer type.]
Q1: between the choice of a bunk trailer or a floppy-roller trailer, which should be used to transport a 2005 255 CONQUEST?
Trailer for 2005 255 CONQUEST
Re: Trailer for 2005 255 CONQUEST
A floppy-roller trailer is unsuitable for use with any Boston Whaler boat due to the nature of the Unibond hull.
The best trailer set up is to use a combination of keel rollers to support most of the weight of the hull, and outward bunks to stabilize the hull. However, there is usually not a trailer on the market these days with those features.
A compromise is to use a bunk trailer but one with a set of inner bunks located close to the keel to support the hull weight and outer bunks to stabilize the hull.
While the original c.1970 advice strongly recommended using keel roller trailers, Boston Whaler has been delivering its newer boats on bunk trailers. For a 2005 255 CONQUEST, the bunk trailer is certainly the choice over a floppy-roller trailer.
The topic trailering is discussed in more detail in an article in the REFERENCE section. See
https://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/trailering/
For advice on fitting the trailer to the hull, see
Trailer Rigging For Boston Whaler Boats
https://continuouswave.com/whaler/refer ... ailer.html
The load of a 255 CONQUEST may push the trailer into the three-axle variety. If buying a two-axle trailer, don't scrimp on the trailer load weight specifications. You may be surprised by the total weight of a 255 CONQUEST when on a trailer.
The best trailer set up is to use a combination of keel rollers to support most of the weight of the hull, and outward bunks to stabilize the hull. However, there is usually not a trailer on the market these days with those features.
A compromise is to use a bunk trailer but one with a set of inner bunks located close to the keel to support the hull weight and outer bunks to stabilize the hull.
While the original c.1970 advice strongly recommended using keel roller trailers, Boston Whaler has been delivering its newer boats on bunk trailers. For a 2005 255 CONQUEST, the bunk trailer is certainly the choice over a floppy-roller trailer.
The topic trailering is discussed in more detail in an article in the REFERENCE section. See
https://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/trailering/
For advice on fitting the trailer to the hull, see
Trailer Rigging For Boston Whaler Boats
https://continuouswave.com/whaler/refer ... ailer.html
The load of a 255 CONQUEST may push the trailer into the three-axle variety. If buying a two-axle trailer, don't scrimp on the trailer load weight specifications. You may be surprised by the total weight of a 255 CONQUEST when on a trailer.
Re: Trailer for 2005 255 CONQUEST
Figure 1 shows (what I believe is) a 2004 255 CONQUEST rigged with twin 150-HP engine on an aluminum bunk trailer, and being towed by a FORD F250 V8 PowerStroke diesel-engine truck. My wife Chris is in the frame to give a sense of scale to the rig. This set-up is quite a lot of boat to be hauling around on a trailer. Certainly an F250 truck would be appropriate, but whether or not the diesel engine is necessary would be determined by the expected length of trips on the highway and frequency of such trips.
Note also the excellent rigging on the trailer. The chine line of the hull is positioned just an inch or so above the trailer fenders. This puts the boat as low as possible on the trailer, keeping the center of gravity as low as possible. Also when trying to launch the boat from a sloping ramp, carrying the boat as low as possible on the trailer will help to get the boat afloat with the least submerging to the trailer (or the truck rear axle).
- Fig. 1. A very new 255 CONQUEST that came to the April 2004 Boston Whaler event held in Stuart, Florida at a Marine Max dealer there. Photo by the author.
- 255CONQUESTonTrailer.jpeg (156.08 KiB) Viewed 19954 times
Note also the excellent rigging on the trailer. The chine line of the hull is positioned just an inch or so above the trailer fenders. This puts the boat as low as possible on the trailer, keeping the center of gravity as low as possible. Also when trying to launch the boat from a sloping ramp, carrying the boat as low as possible on the trailer will help to get the boat afloat with the least submerging to the trailer (or the truck rear axle).