[Dr_Snapid]

Hi all

This will be my build thread for modifying my Caper Cat 14 catamaran trailer to be a permanent storage / transport trailer for my camping gear. The Caper Cat is great for camping as it has massive storage areas in each hull (even an esky!) so I'm trying to combine all my sailing and camping gear into an easy tow away setup. I hate wasting a day loading up and another unloading for a weekend away...

Here's my cat and the trailer

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2012-07-24 14.24.52 (Small).jpg

The frame as it is now

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bare chassis.png

The frame i'm adding

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frame.png

The first stage finished will be just sides with an open top which I will tarp. The cat needs a new tramp and that will limit my $$$ so I may not get the top done right away

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cat trailer mod open.png

But eventually it will look like this

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cat trailer mod.png

The wall height is 400mm and since the floor goes at the bottom of the chassis, the inside depth will be about 500mm
That back section is 2400x1200 (8x4feet!) and the front triangle is 1.8 long.

I hope to store all the camping gear and sailing gear in it.

[Dr_Snapid]

Also f100 pattern hubs to suit jimny wheels and tyres. If I can find the hubs that is, supercheap don't do that pattern anymore

[atari4x4]

looks good Mr Dr,

will the box be long enough to store the boom & main sail or are you going to strap it to the tramp?

any good trailer place will be able to get F100 hubs in to suit your existing axle/bearing set up, give some of the local trailer mobs a buzz/visit. mine were $60 each from SA trailer & chassis.

[Dr_Snapid]

Thx for the hub advice, I think there is a few trailer places in South Grafton who should be able to help me then.

The boom & main is about 2.6m so it does not quite fit in the 2.4m long main area. Although it would fit in the 2.4m area diagonally, but that would be a PITA for the rest of the gear.

My original plan was to have the whole 4.2m long trailer one single area but I think I have changed my mind.

I am now considering putting a front wall in the 2.4m area but with a hole through (much like the ski hatch in many car boots) so the main can poke through into the front section and then i will a large bit of PVC pipe with a end cap to prevent weather getting into the trailer. The boom (main wrapped) will sit in the box with the end sitting in the PVC pipe giving me that bit of length I need.

This way I have a 1.8m long triangle area (uncovered) where I can put kids bikes and other stuff that can be outside (jerry cans, gas bottles) as this area does not sit under the cat's trampoline and items can be taller. I do need to consider drawbar/towball weight though...

I have 4 kids (12, 10, 2 and another due soon) and man, you just cant carry enough stuff. I think I need to buy a unimog if this trailer doesnt work out!

Will make these decision as I go I think, for now, the frame can be all welded, the sides can be skinned, and a floor, by that stage I should have made up my mind

[Dr_Snapid]

What does everyone think about sewing canvas with a normal sewing machine? Do you need a mega machine? Seems to be different opinions among those I have asked so far... anybody here tried it?

[Santos]

I think if it was a thin-but-stong ripstop canvas then you should be good, get a good thread though. Heavier traditional stuff probably to much for a domestic unit

[Dr_Snapid]

Well i've completed stage 1 of the trailer build

Raised the guards (first time i've ever welded)

Changed hubs and bearings (also first time) and fitted bigger wheels

Rewired and fitted new lights with LEDs

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2012-09-30 13.11.00 (Medium).jpg

Ready for rego now, and the boat almost ready to sail. Just getting a tramp made up by landenberger one design then once i'm ready i can drop the trailer at the welder to get stage 2 done - the floors and sides

[zukenutter]

I've wanted to buy a small sail boat for some time and have thought about trying to mount it on top of our camper. How heavy is the cat?

Only reason I haven't bought one is that I have nowhere to put the trailers we have.

Four kids... I don't think a unimog would be big enough

[Dr_Snapid]

2 people can lift the boat off the trailer. Not drag, lift and carry. Calypso say the boat weighs 111kg and I would believe this includes mast and sails etc.

I put it on and off on my own (i'm not he-man), I can also rig it on my own but stepping the mast is not easy! (scary on your own, there is a 'technique')

The hulls have a gap of just over 1.7m between them. I think you would be able to carry it on any 6x4 box trailer as long as the draw bar is long enough. Seriously man, very long. My trailer is over 5m long (rollers to hitch) and while it's a touch generous (i suspect my trailer was for 16 or 18 footer actually) this allows 90 degree articulation. Also the mast is about 7m long so you need some length to accommodate that without too much hanging over the rear (or over the car). I have heard of people transporting them (read: small cats) upside down but wouldnt recommend it, I'm buggered if I know how they flip it!

There is actually 2 of these for sale on ebay right now, you have to search "caper cat" (with the quotes) or you get a bunch of unrelated matches. I have not even sailed mine yet... but Jesse Martin (the young fella who sailed unassisted around the world) once sailed one up the cape... see http://users.tpg.com.au/kkmiller/jessemartin/jesse_martin1.html

As for not enough room for trailers - this is exactly why I am modding this trailer for dual purpose. Cannot justify the room otherwise.

[zukenutter]

Cheers for the info, weight is less than I expected.

[Dr_Snapid]

PROGRESS!

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Weren't able to get the sheet for the floor and sides done yet, will hit it again in a few weeks.

TOWS SO MUCH BETTER! The trailer is now stiff, it used to flex and cause the boat to get the wobbles. Tows like a dream now.

LED lights are win except the clear lenses aren't very good in bright sunlight.

Also the boat is now sailing, kids and I having a ball.

[Dr_Snapid]

Aaaand here's the reason i'm putting so much effort into a trailer.

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92381 (Small).jpg

[Jackson]

Thats awesome, I used to love going sailing with the old man when I was younger.

[got_bar_work]

Dam ur pics now i want to go finnish my paper tiger that i started like 8 years ago lol
I used to tow a 16 hobbie with my coily
Use to get some strange looks
Trailer looks good
Hope it works out as planned

[Dr_Snapid]

Love progress!

Sides and floor are in! Discovered that the padded foam square flooring fits pretty well too...

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2012-12-14 17.09.00 (Small).jpg

Started work on the lids. Frames m

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ade with easy joiners, the curve is made by sitting the bar on uneven ground, and erm, jumping on it. Till it looks right

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2012-12-14 17.31.06 (Small).jpg

[zukenutter]

Great use of all that space between the hulls, coming together well.

I need those mast props.

[Dr_Snapid]

I have to work out a new mast prop for the rear now. I want to be able to remove the rear lid and tailgate, and load the trailer without removing the mast and prop. So I am thinking of having the rear prop off to one side, the mast will sit at an angle, but i dont think it will matter...

Bought some 3M rubber seal from ebay.

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2012-12-17 09.04.46 (Small).jpg

[Dr_Snapid]

Front lid done, hinged and sealed.

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2012-12-27 12.01.37 (Small).jpg

After I took this photo, I filled the trailer. I mean FULL. 6 people is a lot of camping gear, man!

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I have tonight also added some LED lights in the trailer and picked up my 2 x 300CCA batteries that were in my jimny, I will keep them in the trailer with solar chargers so I have 12V batteries i can use for the fluros/leds when camping.

[jdk81]

What are the springs like when loaded?

[Dr_Snapid]

Havent even started to sag. I dont think they were ever the right spring, personally. With just the boat they were too stiff. They might be better with the weight but there is a good chance i'll swap them out for eye to eyes anyway.

[Dr_Snapid]

Trailer went unreal on it's maiden voyage. 2 cubic metres of weatherproof storage - full to the brim. Even the boat hatches were full.

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2012-12-28 12.49.35 (Medium).jpg

Towed like a dream. Next mod is to make the tailgate flip to become a splashback for the sink (yes I go camping with everything incl. the kitchen sink!), it will seal up against the other lid, which leaves room for a 120mm shelf between it and the sink, on which i'll put a water container with a tap.

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[Jones]

Awesome!













or should that be "Oarsome"?? I'll get me coat...

[zukenutter]

How was the sailing?

[Dr_Snapid]

The wind was great a few times... mostly when i was busy and unable to sail!

Mostly too quiet for real fun, although my kids and I enjoyed our first pitchpole on day 1! Dylan flew right off the boat lol

Never got to reach right across the lake in a strong wind, oh well, maybe next time

[zukenutter]

must be difficult to right a cat?

[Dr_Snapid]

Probably! We didnt quite go all the way over... nosedived her big time, Isi held on but dylan went flying all the way to the front crossbeam, I held on and the boat settled back down right way up, this time!

[Dr_Snapid]

Wrapped her in silver vinyl

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I have fitted a hinged mast step which makes getting mast up and down much easier but it will need mods to work properly.
I also fitted a roller furler on the jib but it isnt working correctly, I need to do some work on the jib yet, need to get it lower.

Shit photo, must do better. Boat was in the shade

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And here is a little plan we cooked up...

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[zukenutter]

Great set up

[Ausuki]

awesome
do you have anything to save the hulls from gravel rash?

[Dr_Snapid]

Gravel rash? You mean from trailering or beaching?