>6) The trailer: The former owner of my boat and trailer had the trailer
>tires inflated with 32 psi, the standard setting for automobile tires.
>The trailer tires side-walls list 90 max psi. Can any of you suggest the
>ideal "psi" for both safety and performance?
The higher the pressure, the less the rolling friction, and the cooler the
tires will run, and the less likely they will be to fail. You'll also get
better gas mileage with the higher pressure. The 90 psi is the recommended
pressure at the maximum load indicated on the tire. If your load per tire
is significantly less than that maximum, I would guess that a pressure of
70 to 80 psi would be sufficient. The pressure should be measured with the
tires cold, that is, before driving any distance on them. The 32 psi would
appear to be way too soft for your high-pressure tires.
>
>8) I have the thought of greasing the trailer extender to keep it from
>corroding and to make it slide in/out more easily? Is this a reasonable
>idea or is there some hidden danger in doing this. Is common axle grease
>ok or should some marine compound be used that will withstand salt water,
>i.e. probably the bearing grease? Is coating the trailers leaf-springs
>with axle grease a good idea to help keep them from corroding?
I'm not sure, but greasing the trailer extender may do more harm than good
because the grease is likely to collect road dirt and become an abrasive
instead of a lubricant. Grease on the springs would get pretty grubby also,
but probably wouldn't hurt anything. I'm thinking of replacing the rusty
axle, springs, hubs, and wheels on my trailer, but the trailer is 32 years
old. My springs have survived pretty well without grease. I just hose them
off when I get home from a saltwater sail. Perhaps spraying them with WD-40
would be a good idea.
>
>9) Hull Painting: Suggestions? Ideas? Recommendations? Best
>anti-fouling paint. Is it reasonable for me to attempt painting my WWP
>19=EDs hull bottom over the winter while it sits on the trailer and in my
>garage? How much paint does it take to adequately cover a WWP 19 hull?
No need for antifouling paint if the boat is stored on its trailer. I
wouldn't repaint as long as the gelcoat is in fair condition.
Harry Gordon
P14 #234, Manatee
Mountain View, CA