Thread: Boat repair and Maint in East Tenn.

Originally Posted by tenncrappie

For those of you who may need maint. to carpet, seats, or trailer I'd like to share thru my bad fortune of late some folks who do some really quality work(they are not around every corner)
1 Looking for maintenance for seats or carpet. Marine Interiors Athens Tn. 423-506-0718 The job they done for me was better than the one that came on the boat new.
2 If you have trailer issues. Put on brand new set of tires last year to find the other day they were to the cords on the inside. Took a ride to A&B Trailer Sweetwater Tn. 423-337 2390 And they ordered a new axle for my trailer. Here's the problem. Most manufacturers build a 2000lb boat and match it up with a 1500 lb axle and trailer. This does fine after they get you out the door and for about 5 years. then the axle begins to bend like a sway back horse and you have trouble. Now thanks to A&B I have a 2000lb boat on a 3000lb axle and trailer. Hope Slab doesn't mind me sharing this. Not many people have these problems. Most trade before they show up but if your looking for repair work here it is these folks are hard to find sometimes. Enjoy

GOOD INFO right there

Over the years I've learned a lot about boats and trailers. Most new boat dealers try to load a boat with features then skimp on a quality trailer to keep the price down. Trailers are rated by the number of pounds it is designed to carry. What many never consider is the trailer ALSO has to carry the weight of itself then all that it carries. My first Bay Pro I ordered the standard single axle trailer with 3500 pound axle. My first set of tires lasted about 3000 miles and I had a blow-out on the way back from the lake. Once I replaced the off-shore junk tires the trailer company put on it with Carlisle tires, I went to my local recycling place and dropped the boat and trailer off on their scale. Total weight was over 3800 pounds!!! I immediately called my dealer and ordered a tandem axle trailer with dual 3500 pound axles. Problem solved. That issue was on me, not my dealer. I personally think any boat of any style over 18 feet long should be on a tandem trailer.

One other thing: not all trailers are quality built. Trailer axles are pre-loaded to weight. A slight bow is built in to accommodate the weight. On each axle on one or both ends of the axle near the inside of the hub assembly, there will be a weld bead about the size of a quarter. If that bead is not straight up toward the boat, the axle is not properly aligned. Poor alignment means poor tire wear that will never get better even though quality tires will last a bit longer. I've seen the axles installed wrong from the factory more than once. Your dealer should be involved with that situation immediately.

Thanks Doug that a good point. Hope this post helps everyone( to keep from having trouble.) Just this week I give two friend boat owners a heads up on adding water to their batteries. They had never checked and didn't know anything about it.