I might buy a new boat !!!!

[Harry]

Click on this link http://www.edsmarinesuperstore.com/yard_sale_boat_prices.htm Scroll down and look at these DLV prices. For a little more than what I paid for my 198 DLV with a 90 hp Suzuki, I could get a 23 DLV with a 140 !!!!!

[TXFSHRMN]

I called Ed's today and it looks good on the ad. The boats are listed w/out a lot of the accessories such as tandom axle trailer, hydraulic steering, water seps, leaning post, etc...etc. That is for the 238 and 258 DLV models. A salesman told me the boats would have to still be ordered for the 238 and 258 DLV due to them selling out. Try the boat ramp in Port Neches, TX.

I was told $21,000 for 258 DLV w/ 200 HP Suzuki and that it would be $9,000 more for twin 90s (should not be more than 4 or 5). With the basics added (mentioned above w/ t-top +$3,000) the special sale price would be $38,000 plus ttl when I get back to TX for the 258 DLV. The Boat Ramp in Port Neches, Tx has them beat by $5,000.

[fission]

Ed's does have a great price and my family has bought several boats there and been happy. Be aware, though, that they do charge 'admin' fees (about $300-$500) on top of those prices, that the trailer is going to be a single axle and generally of poor construction, and that there are absolutely no accessories included (no swim platform, rails, etc). Ed's prices on upgrades are very steep.

By the time I upgraded the trailer and added options to suit the wife (bimini top, boarding ladder, etc)... it became cheaper for me to get the boat somewhere else.

My uncle, on the other hand, keeps his boat at a dock and doesn't need all the bells and whistles. He bought from Ed's and made out like a bandit!!!

[Harry]

I added anything I wanted myself.

As for the trailer, I keep hearing everyone say there junk or cheapies ????? I got a road king trailer under my boat and am VERY pleased with it. Nice Solid trailer IMO.

[fission]

My bad...I shouldn't have said poor construction.

I guess what I meant to say was that Ed's price includes a single axle galvanized trailer.

For the 238 or 258, I'd be sqeamish about pulling it too far with a single axle trailer...that's just me. I did a lot of shopping and most dealers put tandem alxes on DLVs over 20 feet. Eds advertised prices include single axle all the way up to and including the 258.

As far as the galvanized goes...its an excellent trailer material. Aluminum may be a little better but generally costs more. Both have pros and cons, just make a note when shopping dealers so you can compare apples to apples.

Again...no offense intended to anyone or anybody's equipment. RK makes a fine trailer.

[Harry]

No offense taking here 010

I know aluminum is better for saltwater then the galvanized, but $ for $ it's ok.

The last trailer I had (older, not sure of the make) the spring hangers were welded to the frame & rotted off 001.

On the road king trailer, they are not, and you can slide the axle FWD or back to change the tounge wieght which I thought was great ...

Since I now slip the boat, trailer issue's are not a major concern.

[Willie]

Harry, are you serious? Willie

[Harry]

Harry, are you serious? Willie


About what? 006 ???

[Willie]

about buying a new boat, did you start this topic???????????? now I am ??? 001 006

[Harry]

OH,
I thought you meant about the road king trailer comments..... 001

No,
I started this thread, and just thought at these prices I could almost get myself into a 21 or 23 footer .... ;D

If I sold my boat (after adding all the bells and whistles) I could get for it what a 21/23 footer cost and could start all over again.... 005

Plus the wife loves our new CS and when I mentioned we should look at the 21/23 she said " you should have just gotten it in the first place" .... 003 010 011

[Willie]

that sound promising. you just want to do the bells and whistles all over again, you had too much fun getting it all together......... 003

[skiff_fisher]

Have you checked out Grass Shack in Buford, GA? my dad got his 2790DLX there. it was a great deal and they were easy to work with. I wish it was the 258 DLV but it is not my money ;D anyway good luck with your purchase

[al_e._gator]

The prices I've seen from Grass Shack's website didn't look all that good to me. I bought from The Sports Center in Perry, GA and couldn't save enough to make it worth traveling for my purchase.

[captkirk]

Harry,
I just bought a 2007 ELV from Ed's Marine and so far, so good. I am curious about a single axle trailer on
a 21 foot boat, do you or any of the others on the forum think this is good enough for a 21' ELV with a 140
Suzuki???? I will pick it up on the 4th of Oct., should I try to get a tandem or is this trailer sufficient?
The yard sale price was way below any other price I could find for this boat. I will have to add my own
bimini, cover, power steering, and other accessories, but I still am way ahead of any price I could find.

Thanks for having this forum!!

Kirk

[Harry]

Guess it really depends on how heavy duty the trailer is built and the weight rating.

I don't think a dealer could/would sell a trailer for a boat that it's not rated to carry. Imagine the lawsuit if the trailer broke in half, or the axle slid out and the boat went through someones car and killed somebody ??

I have the 198 DLV w a 90 hp, on a single axle trailer. The boat weighs 1475 not counting the motor and the 21 DLV is 175 pounds more.

If you do a lot of long distance trailering it might be peace of mind to see if it's worth the double axle upgrade, but I would consult the dealer about if it's needed or not.

My buddy has a 218 DLV w/140 Suzuki. I'll see what trailer he has and get back to you.

And THANK YOU, for joining up here & good luck with your new boat !!!!

[captkirk]

Harry,
Thanks for the encouragement. I talked to the dealer and they say it is good to go on the wt and balance
of the Road King trailer for the 21 foot ELV, but Carolina Skiff gave me a caution about bow interference on some
models of the Road King trailer on steep launching ramps. It seems some of the CS have hooked the rolled gunnel
bow on the winch stand, but only during loading and unloading when the stern of the boat is high relative to the
trailer and the bow is down.
Of course, I called Road King and they say the fix on these situations is to raise the winch higher. By the way,
road king lady wanted me to talk to the dealer rather than them about this problem, but I persisted until Road
King gave me the answers to the question I had asked.

Thanks again!
Kirk

[Harry]

Yup,
Go to the search feature here and type in front roller hang up. You'll see where I posted photo's and issue's I had with it.

Once you find the sweet spot , by trail and error , It's easy. Be cautioned. The steep angle or non angle of your launching ramp will detretmine how far back you have to go to get her off the trailer without any issue's. Take it slow the first couple launches and watch what the boat does.

The steeper the ramp, and if your too far in, the back of the boat will float before the bow leaves the roller, causing it to hang up.

Any other questions give me a shout. I think you'll find the search feature on this most helpful....

[Harry]

Here I did the search

http://carolinaskiffowner.com/index.php?topic=58.0

And this one too

http://carolinaskiffowner.com/index.php?topic=255.0

[o2bfishn]

Yes dealers have sold under sized trailers with new skiffs. There was a post with pic. on the MSN site some time back about this. Way undersize trailer too.


I think you would be happer with a tandum axle if you pull any distance. The 21DLV is on the border between a single and tandum axles weight wise. A tandem is easyer to pull, less chance of swaying in traffic and it is easyer to balance-adjust- your tongue weigth.


DON"T forget you WILL need brakes on either one.


o2bfishn

[captkirk]

Thanks for all the help!!!

This is going to help me a lot and help avoid some serious troubles!!!

Again, thanks!

Kirk

[Familymanof5]

Sorry but I hate single axle trailers. ALl of them. They are alot harder to back up. I have been towing for 20 years now. I own 1 single axle utility trailer. It seems with a long wheel base truck you are constantly chasing the trailer. I would say there are about 10000 things you should consider when towing with a single axle trailer. But here are the top 3 or 4 things that I would be concerned with. First is the trailer rated to carry that amount of weight. Second, what is your tow vehicle. (Is it up to the task, not only to pull but stop and handle in oh shi* moments) and just how far are you going to tow that boat. If it is just a mile or so to the ramp that you will use ALWAYS, then probably ok. If you plan on taking it to the Keys twice a year and you live in NY, I would have a dual axle under almost any boat. And always carry a spare no matter how far you are going.

My .02 worth

TOM

[Randell]

I have a 218DLV with a Road King Aluminum Trailer. This trailer is rated @3000lbs.
The bunks support the entire boat with a lil to spare. If you get a sing axle
trailer that is rated for your boat w/gear and supports the hull properly you
will not have a problem.


sorry about the pic size on these. 006

bunks come all the way up to support the entire boat

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a208/rbque/951.jpg

bunks past the stern

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a208/rbque/953.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a208/rbque/01247.jpg

[captkirk]

Thanks again gentlemen for all of your advice and inputs. I'll let you know how it all turns out!!

Regards,
Kirk

[Loki]

I'm with Familymanof5. I'm under much less stress when I load the family and boat and head to the keys twice a year.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x116/loki_240/218dlv.jpg