A trailer I modified to carry my Hobie Pro Angler

Hi, I’m Jerry and I’m new to the whole kayak thing.  I decided to get a PA to use for fishing and hunting.  After research, I figured my best route was to build a trailer for it.  I have read several threads on trailers for my Pro Angler and decided that would start with a single jet ski / PWC trailer and add the plastic pipe for bunks.  On craigslist I found several and negotiated a price of $300 for the one you see here.  It was stored indoors and in near perfect shape.  The owner had decided to get a second PWC so his girlfriend would have one and was looking to get a dual trailer.  Trailer home, the work begins;

Removed the bunks off the trailer, those 2x6 carpet covered boards the PWC rested on.




Next I started to mount the hardware that would hold the pipe bunks.  This hardware is from a salvage shop near where I live that contractors use.  It’s called “Uni-Strut”.  I’ve seen some trailers on here that use it to build a frame over their kayak trailer to hold a storage box;


The uni-strut has a goldish plating like anodize but it’s steel.  I also used lock nuts. 


All four brackets are now mounted, but not tightened.  The brackets can rotate and that adjusts the spacing between the bunks. 


I cut the first tube to a length that allowed less than an inch overlap at the rear, and a foot in the front. Then I marked the second tube and cut it too.  I used a sawsall with a hacksaw blade on it. 


One at a time, I took off the bracket and marked, then drilled the holes.  I rotated the tube so the holes would be in the lettering.  That way I knew exactly were on the far end to mark length-wise.  I also oval out the holes length wise so that when the PA is on the trailer, the bunks and sag under the load and wrap the bottom.  If I hadn’t, they would not have flexed as easy.


I pre bent the washers so they wouldn’t crush the plastic tube.  I won’t be tightening the fasteners, just snugging them so the bunks can float on the oval holes I drilled.


Installed washers only snug tightened lock nuts.


With all four ends mounted, I can now adjust my bunks.  Here’s a series of photos showing the range and my final measurements.  Outside to outside on 4” tubes is 16” and center to center is 11 ¼”.  The center to center should be good for any size tube you use.  A smaller diameter than 4” could be used on the tube, but I chose it due to the unsupported span I had; 5 feet.  I’ve seen on line here, trailers with 2” tubes but there was a support mid span.





Final product!!



Here’s the PA on the trailer.



Here’s photos close-up under and where the bunks meet the PA.  As the weight begins to flex the bunks, the slots I drilled in will allow the bunk to sag properly and form-fit to the bottom of the PA
REAR:


FRONT



The hardware store had these plugs.  They were red and had a gasket and wing nut on them.  I think red is for 4”.  I could only find a photo of a 3” plug.  If you put a plug in each end and had sealed the drilled holes, these tubes could be used for storage.


Well, there you go.  Total cost was under $50 for materials from Home Depot and the local contractor salvage and a store called Habitat for Humanity where people donate construction stuff and they sell it to raise money to build homes. With the original $300 investment in the trailer, I found this to be pretty economical way to haul my PA around and store it too.   

Sweet, nice job. 

Nice set up.  ( like the 650 too)

nice set up, are the tubes long enough to store rods?

Excellent all around. Congratulations. Hope to see it ashore and you OTW soon.

Great job on the trailer bro. Thanks for sharing.

Jedmo

Nice job on the trailer modification.  Thanks for sharing Jerry.

Thats a beautiful job you did there.

Great job Jerry!  (I saw your trailer on the Hobie site also).  are you planning on backing right into the water? 
What happened to your side rails on the PA?  The way this winter is shaping up it won't be long before you can get on all the high country lakes. 

Thanks everyone, for the positive feedback.  The tubes won't be used to store anything, although they could with pressure testing plugs installed.  My side rails are not mounted because I just picked up the thing on Thursday and haven't put them on yet.  This is a virgin boat.  I'm taking the time this winter to put her all together first.  Fish finder is going in next with a battery and a solar panel.  I've got a 1amp@12vdc max panel That will fit on the back deck. 

Sweet Job!!!

  ConGrats!!!

Man, i wish I was "handy". 

Great job on the trailer.

I'll post photos later, but I bought this cover off Cabela's on sale for about $50 and it fits the Pro Angler very VERY well!!!