So I'm finally getting over to Tampa next week to bring my project skiff home but the trailer is pretty sketchy for such a long drive home. I've decided I want to get it home and do a full inspection of the trailer before I decide if I want to invest much time or money in repairing it or if it would be better to just buy a new one when the time comes. Plus, there's no spare with the trailer, etc.

Anyway, anybody have any recs for some place in Houston to rent a utility trailer to haul this skiff home? The boat itself is 15'10"L x 72" W and as it's a gutted hull probably weighs less than 100 pounds right now.

Here's the hull sitting on the trailer:

Drive over in your pickup with an old kayak bed extender. Get help loading the hull into the bed and let them keep the trailer. For the cost of renting a trailer and the extra gas you can buy a trailer locally in similar shape. Maybe better shape.

Milwaukees Best Light said:

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Drive over in your pickup with an old kayak bed extender. Get help loading the hull into the bed and let them keep the trailer. For the cost of renting a trailer and the extra gas you can buy a trailer locally in similar shape. Maybe better shape.

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Even with a bed extender (which I have) the hull is too wide to fit in the bed of my truck. And with the hull already being gutted down to the below pic there's too much flex in the hull to not be fully supported as on the trailer as it sits. Besides, I already own the this trailer.

Bottom line, putting the hull in the bed of my truck ain't gonna work.

I've got a 8.5x20 cargo with a small v-nose, so call it 21'. The boat and trailer would prolly fit inside. Etrack down both walls and on the floor to tie down. $50 to rent it but you gotta get it in CS and bring it back.

We rented a car hauler here

It was a day rental just around the Houston Area, not as cheap as you think it would be.

Have you looked into a moving company hauling a LTL from Tampa to Houston?
or
A freight broker that can put your load on a 18 wheeler LTL from Tampa to Houston?

rgarza35 said:

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We rented a car hauler here

It was a day rental just around the Houston Area, not as cheap as you think it would be.

Have you looked into a moving company hauling a LTL from Tampa to Houston?
or
A freight broker that can put your load on a 18 wheeler LTL from Tampa to Houston?

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Yeah, it wasn't cheap either.

Plus, I need to take some good booze over to my buddy who has been storing it and I'm gonna sneak in a day of fishing while I'm in Tampa.

Should take Rexter up on his offer

I agree with Corps Ag

Corps_Ag12 said:

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Should take Rexter up on his offer

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I'm strongly considering it.

Standard 77" x 20' utility trailer should do it. You might have to improvise some bracing.

Considering you will need a boat trailer to move it eventually, have you considered contacting McClain or another manufacturer to have one made? I use a generic McClain boat trailer for my skiff, modified a bit, but they are built to be adjustable. I did most of the finishing work for the initial build and the entire refit project with the boat hull on the trailer.

OR: ask for measurements on the axle and just bring a new axle with new hubs and tires with you, and replace the old one there. Very easy. Maybe bring a trailer light kit too. Should take maybe an hour to replace the axle and rip out the old lighting and replace it with new. The rest of it shouldn't require that much work.

MouthBQ98 said:

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Standard 77" x 16' utility trailer should do it. You might have to improvise some bracing.

Considering you will need a boat trailer to move it eventually, have you considered contacting McClain or another manufacturer to have one made? I use a generic McClain boat trailer for my skiff, modified a bit, but they are built to be adjustable. I did most of the finishing work for the initial build and the entire refit project with the boat hull on the trailer.

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Yes, but not yet.

The plan is to get it home and assess the trailer while I rebuild the skiff. Once I get it home it's going to be several months before it's ready for the water. The hull alone is worth what I paid for it and the trailer so I'm not at all opposed to getting a new trailer for the finished product but it's a bit premature at this point.

Finn Maccumhail said:

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Corps_Ag12 said:

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Should take Rexter up on his offer

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I'm strongly considering it.

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It's near Tower Point, and empty.

Rexter1200 at yahoo if you decide to take it.

I'm trying to figure out how you're going to pull both the crappy trailer and rental trailer home at the same time.

Put skiff on trailer inside cargo trailer then tow.

Finish the hull bottom side up 100% and have your trailer ready by then. Flip it upright onto the trailer and then do all topside work. Pro tip.

AgLA06 said:

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I'm trying to figure out how you're going to pull both the crappy trailer and rental trailer home at the same time.

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You serious Clark?

Crappy trailer with boat hull goes on/in good trailer for the drive home.

Alrighty. I wouldn't want to count on straps to keep a rusted trailer secure directly behind me if I had to stop abruptly at highway speeds. To each their own.

Just curious why you got that when you just had that badass custom boat built last year?

AgLA06 said:

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Alrighty. I wouldn't want to count on straps to keep a rusted trailer secure directly behind me if I had to stop abruptly at highway speeds. To each their own.

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How do you think the vast majority of cargo is secured on a daily basis on the roads?

Why wouldnt something like this work?

https://www.uhaul.com/Trailers/Auto-Transport-Rental/AT/

Schedule the pickup and,rental in Tampa, drive one way back here.

FIDO*98* said:

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Just curious why you got that when you just had that badass custom boat built last year?

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Because I wanted a project and because, as badass as that panga is its still limited in terms of getting into really skinny water. The panga needs 10" to pole in and nearly double that to run safely. When built out this project will be a 5-6" poling draft boat and my goal is to have the hull rigged out with a 40hp tiller and weigh less than 700#. The hull alone on my panga is like 1500#. And when I hit a hump in the panga it's too heavy to push it over with the push pole, I've got to back up and find a way around, with this one I can just skid over the hump.

Same reasons Salt of the Water has his panga and a Gheenoe and ShallowRickSawyer has his Beavertail Micro and IIRC, a Boston Whaler. Different tools with different applications.

Plus, I got the hull & trailer for only $500.

As for hauling it, with enough straps placed correctly it will be rock solid.

FIDO*98* said:

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Just curious why you got that when you just had that badass custom boat built last year?

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Skim through this thread for the pics and you'll see what one of these bad boys looks like when restored and much of my inspiration: http://www.microskiff.com/threads/79-banana-river-skiff-refurbish.17451/

My plan is to go super simple. No trolling motor, wide open front deck, 40-50hp tiller, fuel forward, open bulkheads, and minimal electric.

If I can get my hands on a 2stk with a pull start I make go with zero electric- manual tilt, self-actuating trim-tabs, and battery-powered LED nav lights from Railblaza.

Smart Tabs

Railblaza NaviPak

I hope you take pictures of the rebuild and post them here. I always admire and appreciate guys who have the skills, patience, and dedication to undertake projects like that. Nothing like seeing new life breathed into an old boat someone else has given up on. Too bad you're not closer to New Braunfels, I'd let you take my utility trailer just to help you out.

I just snapped that my brother has a lowboy trailer. Either 16 or 20'. He lives in Tomball, but is out of town for the near future. He may rent it out though. I can't reach him until tomorrow.

New wheels, tire, bearings, & grease are likely cheaper than a rental

If you can't find a flatbed, you could always rent a slip, keep your panga in the water for the weekend and take your panga trailer. I think you could find a slip for maybe 50 a day in Galveston. Probably cheaper on an area lake.