
Here's a picture of the boat I brought home. Based on my experience of hitting Seattle traffic on the way home I think fixing the brakes will be justified - even if not 100% necessary. About $100 and I can have the brakes working as well. Fenders, lights/wiring, and paint will get it looking brand new. This is going to be a project that is definitely worth my time and won't cost as much as I anticipated since the wheels and axle are in great condition and I can fix the winch. I checked the bearings periodically and they were nice and cool. I had to use nylon straps that held tight but couldn't torque it forward so the load took extra long. I won't be taking it out again until I have repaired the winch.

We loaded the boat at a launch and it proved very strong. It was pretty rough getting up there- bounced on every bump. I drove it 130 miles north today to pick up a 19 1/2' Glasply. On top of that generic green turf attached with galvanized roofing nails - a tip I read somewhere on this forum. I screwed it down as well about every 12". On top of that put another 2x4x10 that reached all the way down. I screwed them down with 2 1/2" mechanically galvanized wood screws. I stripped it down to its bare element and bolted a 2x4x10 down on each side in 3 places and cut another into four pieces and stacked between the bolts. I stayed up most of the night last night cutting metal and building bunks. Re: 80's Calkins 20ft trailer restoration I have an outboard with electrical problems I paid $250 for and a 19 1/2 ft Glasply I'm getting for free (it has a broken stringer and the owner doesn't want to mess with it) all going on simultaneously and I want to finish them all by May 1, 2012. My goal is to have this looking almost new with an investment of $500 or less. After that, I'm going to strip it down, paint it, rewire it, put metal bunks on and hopefully get the brakes working again, although that can wait. I didn't hear anything awful towing it.įor the moment I'm adding wood bunks so I can move a boat tomorrow (another project). It came with 14" tires and they are in surprisingly good shape. There is a brake piston on the tongue but I haven't checked it out yet- might be able to be rebuilt. It came with brakes but they are of no use since they are corroded as well. The winch isn't seized but will need serious work, possibly replacement. Earlier today I pulled all of the horseshoe rollers off since they were completely rusted out.

I think it spent quite a bit of time in and out of salt water and was never rinsed off. It is in really tough shape but the frame is solid. I picked up this 21' Calkins trailer today in trade for a drum set and and two speaker cabinets I haven't used in years.
