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We had a tire blowout and broken leaf spring (not clear in what order) last summer, and the leaf spring was replaced with a 2-leaf apparently identical to the original. I now want to replace the other side since the trailer is 11 years old, but only find 3-leaf springs on the major internet trailer parts sites. I can get a 2-leaf from EzLoader, but am wondering if it would be smarter to change both springs to 3-leaf rather than the original 2-leaf. Neither the spring that broke nor the other original spring show(ed) much rust, so if there is no downside I'd like the added strength another leaf would provide. The 3-leaf spring would certainly be stiffer though - would that put too much jarring stress on the hull of a Sport 130?
Thanks!
2003 Sport 130 with 40HP Merc 4-stroke EFI, freshwater TX and NC/SC lakes
I would match the weight rating of the original springs. Adding stiffness just beats up your boat more. Whaler used to specifically caution against using trailers built with more capacity than needed.
Boat and motor probably weighs about 850 or a bit more. Most 1200-lb. capacity trailers use 2-leaf springs. It's possible the original springs were exposed to a lot of salt water and not rinsed. I've got 2-leaf springs on my 13 (WI - fresh water only) and the trailer is a 1980's vintage with no sign of overloading, nor corrosion.
