Problems With Heritage Trailer??????

ShowSomeSkin · Newbie Joined: 15 Sep 2004 Posts: 4 City: Quincy

I just picked up my 05 Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV from the dealer. I put it in the water and it runs great. I completely splashed the trailer to get it completely wet before loading the boat. After loading the boat on the brand new 05 Heritage trailer, I noticed two 3 inch wide scratches on each side of the bottom front of the boat where the boat meets the trailer, each scratch about 3 foot long. Both carpeted running boards scratched the hell out of my brand new boat. The dealer is going to fix the boat and hopefully the trailer but I'm 250 miles from him and this is a huge inconvenience. Anyone else had any similar encounters?

MrBlean · Posted: Nov 03, 2004 4:10 am Post subject:

No personal experience and it sucks but from your description, it isn't obvious if it happened on launching or recovery. If there was dirt or grit on the trailer on launching, wetting it on recovery would have had no effect, the damage was already done.

Is the drive from the dealer to your launch venue particularly dusty/gritty? Would hate to see a repeat performance on a freshly repaired hull!

ShowSomeSkin · Newbie Joined: 15 Sep 2004 Posts: 4 City: Quincy

From the appearance of the scratches, I am quite confident the problem was from loading.

Broccoli B · Posted: Nov 03, 2004 3:00 pm Post subject:

How do you load your boat? Furthermore, what is the correct way to load a boat? Did you power it on to the trailer, or did it ease on all the way up to the front catch?

When i load mine, i only need a little bit of power to get the boat the last 1 ft of the way up on to the front catch.

ShowSomeSkin · Newbie Joined: 15 Sep 2004 Posts: 4 City: Quincy

I always crank my boat on the trailer with the winch, up to the front catch.

MrBlean · Posted: Nov 05, 2004 12:50 am Post subject:

Broccolli B - It all depends on the angle of the slip way (ramp). Our MC 205 was a ***tard to launch and recover on even modestly steep ramps. The rear of the boat would continue to float even thought the nose was firmly on the trailer bunks. This meant the tip of the bow was below the height of the boat buddy until the very last inch or two of travel. Hence we invariably winched ours the last 2 ft or so to avoid any potential mishaps. On very shallow ramps, simply drove straight on like a dream as the boat floats level with the trailer.

chaz28o · Posted: Nov 05, 2004 5:35 am Post subject:

Sounds like you sank your trailer too low when you put your boat on (or off) the trailer - or......

They used lag bolts in the stringers, and one is up and tearing into your boat Sad

ShowSomeSkin · Newbie Joined: 15 Sep 2004 Posts: 4 City: Quincy

I have been boating for over ten years with several different boats and trailers on the same ramp. I have loaded my boats several different ways through the years(depending on how much I had to drink) Very Happy

I have never experienced anything like this. There is definitely a defect in the trailer of some kind. It really appears to be carpet scratches, as the scratches don't seem deep enough for any type of bolts. I didn't want to put the boat in the water to check the trailer, as I didn't want to increase the damage. My dealer is booked up with winterizations and won't get to check on the problem for a week or two.