My deepest feelings of sympathy and understanding go out to you! I sounds
as if nobody was hurt, thank goodness - metal can be replaced!
If you have followed the Potter pages for the last year or so, you will
undoubtedly have heard of my similar experience in the Rocky Mountains of
Idaho this spring with our new (I had owned it for less than 24 hours!)
P19. (for the gruesome details: see (http://www.tx3.com/~ej/windsong.html).
We had our trailer disintegrate at hiway speed. Our boat came off the
trailer, but stayed upright, skidding along on the little bit of keel
protruding from the hull. The fiberglass repair was expensive, but
managable.
The end result is that we had a custom EZ-Loader, galvanized trailer made
for Windsong. I noted your comment regarding tongue weight, and we now have
about 175# - and if just 'feels' right. Ended up investing about 1700 clams
in the new trailer, but upon reflection (and looking at before and after
photos of the boat on the old 'garges' standard issue trailer compared to
the new EZ-Loader) I feel so much better hauling the boat now. Those new
14" wheels are great, and the trailer is rated for 3300# total weight. It
also has torsion bar suspension rather than leaf springs and an axle - this
allows the boat to ride much lower - resulting in easier
launching/retrieval.
Wish we were closer, as I would gladly lend a hand, and a trailer if we
were. One suggestion: when we determined that we had to get a custom
trailer made for Windsong, the dealer who made the sale agreed to let us
use a Shorelander trailer he had on the lot for temporary storage while the
new trailer was manufactured. I basically said I would by the new one from
him if he would keep our boat on one of his trailers in his secure storage
area while the fabrication took place. You might give that approach a try.
Boat dealers are a hungry bunch.
Best of luck to you both, I think I know how you are feeling. And I am so
glad we didn't just throw in the towel. This has been one heck of a great
summer sailing season for us!
Tom & Valerie
P19 #352 Windsong
Whidbey Island, WA