SURVEY: Nautique Trailers

I am winding down on the 81 Nautique restoration and one of the remaining tasks is the trailer. I am personally fond of the original Correct Craft #3 trailer and am going to build a replica one for the 81. I am determined to doing this I began wondering what opinion all you collectors have about a classic sitting on any other brand of after market trailer. In your opinion does it detract from the boat? Does it matter to you? I am very interested in all input and view points.

Hasbeen, You may already know my answer but I'd say if you can't find a original, build one. From the looks of the boat, (looking great) and the work you put in to it, it seems that you have the ability to build a trailer. They, as you know are relatively simple. Get the 3" channel out and the welder buzzing!

http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1046&sort=&pagenum=5&yrstart=1966&yrend=1970

The original trailer is a bonus, but not having one wouldn't keep me from buying the boat.

I like the originals, simple and low.

Just my opinion but these older boats look better sitting on a period correct bunk trailer. I think it's important for the package to look correct not just the boat. I'm in no way a purest but I want my boat to look as good sitting on the trailer as it does in the water. hence my search for a deluxe lowboy with the fiberglass skirts. Sooner or later I'm going to give up on that and make a mold and build my own.

Doc, I can't vouch for the build quality of cc trailers but I never liked to the short ones they put under the Tiques where you had about 3' of the boat hanging off the back but that's how it was done back then and still looks correct.

When I fist bought my 64 it was setting on a brand new Shorlander trailer. I thought the same thing,,gotta find an original trailer, but after pulling the boat across the midwest, Its not as big a deal as before.

One thing I do like about mine is it sits pretty low ,so you dont have to be as deep to launch. Also nice not having 12" tires as most of the early 60s trailers had.



I am planning on replacing the plastic fenders with metal ones and installing "guide-ons". Also planning on putting a set of Torque-thrust mags on it...and a prop guard. Hope to make it look a little more 60's...

quinner wrote: Today there are some better trailer options then a Ram-Lin, when ordering our 99' the dealer had a Ram-Lin and Eagle right next to each other on the showroom, the Eagle appeared to be a much better built trailer hence we ordered one then and again for our 206. If that was my 81' I would opt to put a factory trailer underneath it.

I agree with Quinner. For all the boats through the early 80's, the original CC trailer looks best, and anything else looks out of place. The newer boats dont look bad on their CC/Ramlin trailers, but they can look just as good or better on nice aftermarket unit (especially tandem axle). Functionally, Im not crazy about the new Ramlins- the hull fit isnt the greatest and they make a lot of noise. My '90 with an aftermarket tandem tows nicer than our '92 CC trailer ever did (or my dad's '03 Ramlin for that matter).

I like keeping everything as original as possible. However, I would probably purchase an Eagle trailer if original wasn't an option. The only thing I didn't like about my 1980 Nautique trailer is that the rear-end of the boat was floating in the air. The guides stopped at a certain point and left a chunk suspended. What's up with that?

Ken

75, Axles are really pretty cheap even with a set of wheels and tires. It makes me wonder if they are coming over from China! The steel I would say would cost less that $250 and the rest is labor and paint. I didn't mention brakes since none of the early ones had them.

A Correct Craft trailer is good, but a galvanized CC trailer is even gooder!!

Good answers guys, and I thought It would be a majority. I will press on with the program .

mackwrench...I can do that for you, no problem!