EpicMarine Opinions

[tenn162000]

Guys Looking for some opinions:   I am thinking very strongly about getting a boatmate trailer.   I've seen post before about how a couple guys want the oil bath bearings with disc breaks, which is something I am interested in as well.   Base is 3200 for a custom trailer with swing away tongue.   Of course, there is always that looming "option" area which can add to the look of the boat/trailer.   Basically,  I plan on getting the upgraded winch, jack, and one or two spare integrated spare mounts.   They want 700 to upgrade the wheels to some powder coated black ones (which i like) or 900 to upgrade to chrome.    Who among you would get the upgraded looking wheels?

Anyone interested in an east coast round up 09?  I'll be around the last two weeks of august on vacation and if i have the new trailer i'll pull the boat down from Nashville.     

[cyclone]

Definitely up for a ROUND UP this year on the east coast. Boat is ready to drop in the water, trailer is sketchy as usual:) I'd like to plan a camping trip, that way it's not all on one person (Hi Ron!)

I would not pay that much to upgrade wheels, does that include different tires or the same size? You can always get a set of rims.

Boatmate trailers are super nice.

[breakawaydaze]

I agree, lots of great rim deals out there.  if you just take the standard wheel with a 15" tire you just need to find some 15" rims you like.  lots of inexpensive great looking 15" rims at Discount tire, pep boys and even sears has great looking aftermarket rims.  I once read that highest markup of the boat is the trailer.  Some say the dealer markup on a trailer is 100%.  I verified this when looking for a trailer for a 17 ft. Boston Whaler we have.  The quoted trailer price was initially $1475.00  (galvanized, not painted, single axle, no brakes).  I decided to wait until last fall and bought the exact same trailer from another dealer for 840.00.  He said he would sell it to me at cost.  If I were you I would call around and double check different dealer prices.  Even if you have to drive a couple hundred miles it could easily be worth the $$.  Plus with boat sales down over 42% this year there has to be some trailer hurt going on out there too!

[Johnny B]

not too sure about the oil bath bearings.  my buddy has them on his Supra's trailer and the spindle just broke.  He is going back to grease..  I just put new bearings, wheels and tires on my trailer.  nothing fancy but they are aluminum and were only $159 per wheel with the tire already mounted on them.  It sure pulls nice now.  the old ones were horrible and about to go at any minute, now I can do a road trip!

[tenn162000]

There is alot of debate online about oil bath bearings-   I think you either love them or hate them.   I hate packing bearings so oil bath just seems like the right choice for me.   I'm trying to get some things finalized with the boatmate people before I commit but  I am sure my ameritrail could be salvaged but I and doing my part to stimulate the economy!!!! I think Ive decided on the standard wheels.   They color match the trailer to the boat so its going to be red. 

 I love the boat so i have a list of things I am planning on doing.   My work situation (mostly overseas) doesn't' give me much time to spend working on the boat but the plans are the change the rub rail from white to black like the epicmarine logo boat.  Trampoline top (powder coated blk) with grey sunbrella.  Sand blast the tower re-enforce some of the welds (maybe) and then get it powder coated red.   I want to tint the windows black but not to dark.  Redo the interior (switch from the "fire and ice" them to more along the lines of a "cool grey")   THE LIST IS LONG and $$$

I'll let you guys know if i get the trailer or not and how the projects turn out...

Anyone else planning any projects?   

[Lakeside]

Tenn16200 - I contacted Boatmate over the winter and they said that they haven't built a trailer for a Toyota before and that the only way they build a trailer for a new model of boat is to have the boat at their factory, so they can fit it properly.  If you go forward, would you be taking your boat over to Maryville to be fitted?  If so, what kind of Epic do you have and is your hull the same as a 1999 Epic 22?  (That's what I've got.)

I've been thinking of replacing our single axle Ameritrail, particularly after Tantrum's trailer failed last fall.

[Lakeside]

Doh!  I see you've got an X22.  Is an X22 hull the same as an E22 hull?

[tenn162000]

Yea - I'll be taking it up that way and leaving it for a few days if I go through with it. (about 120 miles each way)  Owen is the name of the guy I've been speaking with.  He described the process very vaguely but basically they lift the boat by a crane and build the trailer under it to assure a proper fit.   They only do "custom" fabrication on fridays as they are on skeleton crew b/c of the recession but it only takes till the following wednesday to get a finished trailer.   

Ask Capt Rick about the hull design. 

[cyclone]

My dealer sold my buddy a new single axle boatmate with oil bath brgs, etc. for 750$ about three yrs ago. He tacked that onto the price of the Ski Brendella he bought for 7k, so I'm sure he made money back that way. I agree, I think there is huge markup on trailers.

[tenn162000]

I asked Capt Rick if the Hull for the E22 and the X22 was the same:  "Yes except X22 has wake plate"

As far as the price this is the response I got from Boatmate:  "Trailers purchased through dealers probably do carry a large markup. However, a custom fit trailer for your boat is most likely practically unavailable and you've been quoted dealer (wholesale) price. It is a very good price and the best I can offer."

Looks like my total will be about 3500.   Upgrading the winch and jack, and getting two integrated spare mounts with one spare wheel and tire.  (I have a spare that doesn't match but I'll throw a cover on it.)   

[tenn162000]

Dropped off the Boat at Boatmate this morning!!!  Should get the new trailer next week...

Old Ameratrail is already on ebay.   

[tenn162000]

Okay I've had the boatmate for about a month and can't say enough good things about it.  My ameritrail was in bad shape but the difference between the two is like compairing a Lexus to a KIA.  I can't believe I didn't take a better picture of it but I'll attach one with my old purple cover.  Ha ha, I didn't want my new one fading in the sun the week it was at the boatmate factory.  My old trailer sold on eBay for 600 bucks.  I was hoping for more but glad just to get rid of it.   The new trailer was 3600 bucks, but I got alot of upgrades such as the winch, jack, and two spares (one on each side). 

As far as the Trampoline top goes I found one on the TMS parts list and Capt Rick verified he had it so I bought one off him.  I had heard for years there weren't any factory ones left but I guess it was just a rumor.  Anyone interested should check with Capt Rick. 

On the list next is reupholstering the interior, replacing the white rub rail to black, painting the tower to match the red boat, and I'm even thinking about tinting the windows with a very light gray tint.   

I think I put about 30 hrs on the epic this summer and I think I only have a one or two weekends left to enjoy it this summer.  Sad times

[cyclone]

That boat looks great, especially hanging in mid-air!! The trailer is awesome, I know they are not cheap when you go out and buy one. What a nice upgrade to that boat!

[Wet-N-Frugal]

S-W-E-E-E-E-T!!!   Looking good.

I'm giving my ameritrail new bearings and bunk covers... Sure wish I had the funds to part with it completely.
I've never had the wheels fall off or anything, but it's a ^%$$#@ pain to load the boat on the trailer. Specifically the bow to bow stop interference. I've tried loading with the trailer submerged at various depths; from the fender tops a couple of inches out of the water, to a couple of inches under, and ALL points in-between. On flat pavement the ball to tongue height looks very level.

Has anyone had success improving their boat retrieval by lowering the ball (tongue) height?

-WNF-

[epic_toy]

I always wondered if other people had that problem with the bow ring running into the trailer stop. I hate that thing and don't understand why they put it there. I've run the ring into it so many times I can't believe it's stayed on the boat (I think it's slightly damaged at this point), and also tried all trailer depths. The least damaging approach I've found is to put the wheel wells even with the water, drive the boat on until the ring is just up to the stop, and then hand crank it the rest of the way (E21). It's not as elegant as driving it all the way on for sure.