UPDATE: I've waited a while to make comment on whether the 'upgrade' has been worth undertaking. Having once again made the return trip from Aberdeenshire to Cornwall I can confirm the boat trailer rides much better than the original 8 inch wheels. The boat gets a much easier ride on our pot holed roads. It seems more solid sat behind the tow car at the legal 60 mph on the motorway. The hub bearings are running just as smooth as the day they were fitted - they certainly don't revolve as fast or far over the same distance. A job worth doing and a beneficial upgrade in my view.
You’ve certainly got the right mentality when it comes to all the safety & maintenance aspects Phil, there would be nothing worse if you had a breakdown or an accident because the trailer wasn’t maintained. A few others on the roads should watch your boat videos, they’re excellent.
Hi Hutch, thanks very much. Those bearing buddies are brilliant. That slight positive pressure pushing grease into bearings in my view really protects them. My last adventure down to Cornwall (Fishing Falmouth 2024) was a 1300 mile round trip. Bearings still nice and smooth.
Great video. The bearings savers are a great idea. Good Intel on the larger wheel upgrade too. I've bought an extra bank of rollers for my trailer to make my solo launch and retrieves easier. Tight and safe lines.
Nice one Phil; makes total sense. That's a very practical trailer/boat combo you are working up there mate. I may have to blatantly steal all of your ideas!!!
Thanks you're very welcome. To be honest as I mentioned in one of the other videos, the trailer is a bit of a 'Trigger's Brush'. I've replaced / upgraded most parts of it now. 😀
I have a 14ft Broome speedboat,I changed the trailer wheels to 13" from the old BMC mini wheels.I fitted spacers on the hub in order to allow the suspension units to fit inside the 13" Nissan Micra wheel profiles.Every inch you gain on the dia gives you 3.14"more on the perimeter.ie. ten inch to 13 inch gives you 12.42 inches.per wheel revolution.
Thanks Stan. Good advice, I think I’ve gone a big as I can on this trailer / boat combination. Maybe in a few years I’ll look into replacing the old trailer with something newer on 13’s. For now I think I’ll see quite a bit of an improvement. Next job it a wheel bearing on the other side that has a tiny bit of rumble starting. Topic for another winter video if anyone is interested.
We always carry two spare bearing kits and grease.Bearings with grease nipples are handy before your trip home in order the flush out the salt contaminated grease from the bearings. Mixing certain types of grease can melt the grease,what gives grease it's body is the soap they use. So,sticking to the same grease is a good idea.
Snap. The yellow box you see in the video has all those together with a jack, mini tyre inflator and spare ratchet straps. Best to be able to get yourself out of a mess rather than rely on anyone else.
Bearing savers or buddies as mine are called are great, I used to go through a set of bearings almost every year. Since putting the buddies on, I'm at 3 years and going so far. I re grease mine every time I recover the boat before driving home. My old coastliner had 10 inch wheels too.
Thanks for watching and commenting. I agree the bearing savers / buddies are well worth fitting especially on a high mileage outfit like mine. I’d noted the newer Coastliner’s and 440’s seem to use 10 inch wheels. I’m sure the boat will get a softer ride now.
Hi Dave, thanks for watch and commenting. The bearings on the Orkney have been on for three years and done many miles - three trips to Cornwall and several over to the West Coast. One side is only just beginning to rumble despite repeated dunkings in salt water. I'm totally sold on these Bearing Buddies. Evidently your Drascombe Lugger can be launched and retrieved without getting the hubs wet, however our Dabber hubs usually end up in the water though. Keep the Bala videos coming - I learnt to swim there as a kid when we had an old caravan at GlanLynn Campsite at far end of lake 👍
Hi, well that is a good upgrade and I think you will really notice the difference, I put 13" car wheels on my trailer and it's great on the road and lightly loaded so little chance of a puncture, hopefully 😕. Do you use fuel treatment? I found a noticeable improvement in engine running, and the fuel is supposed to last a lot longer. A good video anyway 👍👍👍
Thanks. I do use the fuel treatment and also use the premium E5 fuel. Over the winter I start the outboard once a month to run fresh fuel through it. Also, I have the boat/trailer on jack stands to keep weight off tyres whilst stored. Think that helps too.
UPDATE: I've waited a while to make comment on whether the 'upgrade' has been worth undertaking. Having once again made the return trip from Aberdeenshire to Cornwall I can confirm the boat trailer rides much better than the original 8 inch wheels. The boat gets a much easier ride on our pot holed roads. It seems more solid sat behind the tow car at the legal 60 mph on the motorway. The hub bearings are running just as smooth as the day they were fitted - they certainly don't revolve as fast or far over the same distance. A job worth doing and a beneficial upgrade in my view.
You’ve certainly got the right mentality when it comes to all the safety & maintenance aspects Phil, there would be nothing worse if you had a breakdown or an accident because the trailer wasn’t maintained. A few others on the roads should watch your boat videos, they’re excellent.
Hi Hutch, thanks very much. Those bearing buddies are brilliant. That slight positive pressure pushing grease into bearings in my view really protects them. My last adventure down to Cornwall (Fishing Falmouth 2024) was a 1300 mile round trip. Bearings still nice and smooth.
Nice one Phil, great information as usual👍
Thanks Douglas 👍
Great video. The bearings savers are a great idea. Good Intel on the larger wheel upgrade too. I've bought an extra bank of rollers for my trailer to make my solo launch and retrieves easier. Tight and safe lines.
When I bought the boat I replaced all the rollers with new rubber ones, in hindsight the harder ‘nylon’ type would have been better. Tight lines. Phil
Nice one Phil; makes total sense. That's a very practical trailer/boat combo you are working up there mate. I may have to blatantly steal all of your ideas!!!
Thanks you're very welcome. To be honest as I mentioned in one of the other videos, the trailer is a bit of a 'Trigger's Brush'. I've replaced / upgraded most parts of it now. 😀
I have a 14ft Broome speedboat,I changed the trailer wheels to 13" from the old BMC mini wheels.I fitted spacers on the hub in order to allow the suspension units to fit inside the 13" Nissan Micra wheel profiles.Every inch you gain on the dia gives you 3.14"more on the perimeter.ie. ten inch to 13 inch gives you 12.42 inches.per wheel revolution.
Thanks Stan. Good advice, I think I’ve gone a big as I can on this trailer / boat combination. Maybe in a few years I’ll look into replacing the old trailer with something newer on 13’s. For now I think I’ll see quite a bit of an improvement.
Next job it a wheel bearing on the other side that has a tiny bit of rumble starting. Topic for another winter video if anyone is interested.
We always carry two spare bearing kits and grease.Bearings with grease nipples are handy before your trip home in order the flush out the salt contaminated grease from the bearings.
Mixing certain types of grease can melt the grease,what gives grease it's body is the soap they use.
So,sticking to the same grease is a good idea.
Snap. The yellow box you see in the video has all those together with a jack, mini tyre inflator and spare ratchet straps. Best to be able to get yourself out of a mess rather than rely on anyone else.
another good video there Phil well done, the only thing i would say is watch the sound i had to turn you right up, ha ho, Thank you,
Sorry about that. I have to get some better microphones or just face the camera when I'm talking.... 😀
no worries mate keep them coming @@anotherangleUK
Bearing savers or buddies as mine are called are great, I used to go through a set of bearings almost every year.
Since putting the buddies on, I'm at 3 years and going so far.
I re grease mine every time I recover the boat before driving home.
My old coastliner had 10 inch wheels too.
Thanks for watching and commenting. I agree the bearing savers / buddies are well worth fitting especially on a high mileage outfit like mine. I’d noted the newer Coastliner’s and 440’s seem to use 10 inch wheels. I’m sure the boat will get a softer ride now.
Aha, Now I see what the bearings are! Interesting idea. Without them do you think your bearings would be rumbling every October?
Hi Dave, thanks for watch and commenting. The bearings on the Orkney have been on for three years and done many miles - three trips to Cornwall and several over to the West Coast. One side is only just beginning to rumble despite repeated dunkings in salt water. I'm totally sold on these Bearing Buddies.
Evidently your Drascombe Lugger can be launched and retrieved without getting the hubs wet, however our Dabber hubs usually end up in the water though.
Keep the Bala videos coming - I learnt to swim there as a kid when we had an old caravan at GlanLynn Campsite at far end of lake 👍
Hi, well that is a good upgrade and I think you will really notice the difference, I put 13" car wheels on my trailer and it's great on the road and lightly loaded so little chance of a puncture, hopefully 😕. Do you use fuel treatment? I found a noticeable improvement in engine running, and the fuel is supposed to last a lot longer. A good video anyway 👍👍👍
Thanks. I do use the fuel treatment and also use the premium E5 fuel. Over the winter I start the outboard once a month to run fresh fuel through it.
Also, I have the boat/trailer on jack stands to keep weight off tyres whilst stored. Think that helps too.
If you can get those lug nuts off that fast garage shop would have to pay you double.
You're right there. But once they've had a few salt water dips they will take a bit longer to spin on 😀