Performance Trailer in Lake George. I do believe Bill sold to one of his people, but hear that things have carried on as before. I have have several Performance Trailers ans they have all worked well. Like I said above, this one looks as ugly today as it did a decade ago when it was new. Ten years on any steel trailer and they are showing their age, even the Eagle I had was showing rust in the welds after a few years. Great trailer, just the reality of painted steel and age.

Great info! Thankyou. I have calls into a bunch of manufacturers. I didn't bother with myco because of their price. Both Broward and evolution said they won't build one small enough and be competitive with other manufacturers. I agree that one of the regular aluminum trailers or "mass produced" trailers by loadmaster, load rite, etc will probably be fine. But from what I have seen they want $3200 plus tax for a new Trailer. I figure for an extra $800 or so ( that was one of the quotes I got, around 4K) I could have a custom one built just for my boat, all welded, etc

You could do a stainless steel trailer and not have to worry about the salt water or painting it. I built this all stainless trailer for a friend that will be pulling his trailer out of the salt water all the time. In the pictures it is rough looking because we were test fitting the boat on it before it is polished but it is being polished right now and will look like a chrome plated trailer.

I could not find a stainless lug nut that would fit so we custom machined him some out of bar stock and went ahead and put his initials in them.

Check out Rolls Axle. Rolls Axle: Boat Trailers I had one under my 30' Superboat and it was great. Towed great, supported the boat well.

Pics are a very typical construction of what people refer to when conversing about bolt together, aluminum I beam trailers. Manufacturer lists as 15k lbs. I get where your going with the support comparison and the cantilever but there are flaws to your argument. A boat trailer is in a temporary submersed environment (soaking the wood every time it is used) and the trailer is also a moving object subject to shifting weight load coupled with outside forces vs your comparison. The 2 main bunks, there are a lot of 3" and even 2" used out there. I haven't come across the 4" but Im sure its out there as you indicated. Road forces, ramp duties, and more come into play. Example: a bunk system used for rack storage is going to see different loads and forces than a trailer on the road. Its not just the bunks you have to look at most of the bolt together trailers have an axle without brakes, the axles/tires are usually just adequate, and the tongues sometimes are way to long. Im sure you have seen that, after research I found out thats because some trailer manufacturers use one frame for a range of sizes and move the axles and bunks as needed. I went more thorough this last purchase and visited the Loadmaster and Manning factory and also had an in depth conversation with Myco. Received quotes and trailer education from all 3, before having our trailer built. I have also purchased a bolt together twice so don't think Im focusing on one brand or type vs another. A new bolt together fit what we needed 3 boats ago, $20k boat needs a trailer, not going to put $15k of trailer under it. $3,800, This was almost 10 yrs ago, and we were boating. "Diamond Plate" fenders wobbled going down the road and the trailer would float by itself no kidding, not easy to load without adding weights. It worked good enough and we had fun. After moving up a few boats and using custom built trailers now I get what custom trailer owners were telling me. The load is spread and supported thru the whole frame of the trailer by using multiple sets of bunks. Going down the road the boat is seated, solid and fitted to the trailer vs what I had before sitting on top of and twisting when taking turns.This also makes for very easy loading and centering by itself every single time the exact same way at the ramp.
This is from my experience, not meant to offend anyone or get anyone typing like a madman. Talk to some trailer builders, look what boat manufacturers put under their new boats. I have had custom alum, custom steel and bolt together alum.. They all fit a certain need and want, you as the owner have to choose what will work for you.
As far as welded alum vs steel, its what you prefer. For resale the alum gets the edge because your market is open to fresh and salt water owners. If thats not a concern to you then you have choices.

now you are talking . Stainless stronger tougher a will last a life time. Thumbs up

i have this type of trailer. I dont like the way the wood bunks hang out the back. I pulled the boat up as far as possible to eliminate some of that overhang. This trailer can work but if I were mind set on buying a new one of this style, I would get it longer so the I beams are at transom, cut the over hanging large wood bunks off and move axles forward to compensate for balance. Bunks can be added to these for extra support. They aren't as good as a lot of trailers out there but the can be modified if you are willing to work on it. I prefer the custom fit trailers. Galvanized or aluminum. That stainless trailer posted is awesome idea.

Why not make the i beams extend as far as the wood bunks???. At least you have added support to the cypress and give start to what could be a well supported piece at less cost. I bought my boat on this trailer type, I'm adding bunks and guides front and rear to help with support and loading the boat so it easily centers itself. I have a post with pics before I started making changes. I moved the boat further up to reduce th amount of overhang. Would definitely like to see longer I beams .

Are you really sure that Stainless Steel is stronger than regular Steel? And remember, there are tons of different alloys of both out there, so I'm talking the most commonly used alloy of each.

Stainless is much stronger than regular steel. I'm talking 304 316 . Take a a piece of 304 and mild steel sheet metal of the same dimensions and bend them. The stainless is much stronger. Most channel, ibeam, rectangular tube is mild not alloy