Hello Listers, Sailing season has ended here in colorful Minnesota, I had my M23 pulled from the mighty Mississippi and the bottom power washed before moving her to her winter slumber area. My trailer had been sitting all summer, but I gave her a good looking over, aired all the tires and spare, and topped up the fluid in the brake master cylinder. I got the spars all secured and all gear unloaded or stored. Off I drove from the marina, headed south 25 miles to my storage site. About 7 miles south into the trip, I'm going through the small town of Nelson, and I hear this loud thumping noise. At first I thought it might be the new piece of road I was on, but stopped and got out to inspect my cargo. A quick walk around the trailer revealed nothing, tires looked good, boat still secured, hmmmm. Started driving again, went one block and the noise was getting louder. OK, this is not good. I pulled off the highway onto a residential side street, and as the trailer came around the corner, in my mirror I saw the left rear wheel flopping around at an angle, ready to fall off! Well, the wheel bolts had come loose, and 4 out of the 5 were gone. The wheel rim itself was not bent. What to do. I took my tongue jack and bolted on to the frame behind the problemsome rear wheel, I was able to lift the trailer high enough to align the wheel on to the drum. I took a walk down the highway in town and found 2 wheel bolts. One was too badly stripped to be of any use. I did have a socket set with me, so I stole one wheel bolt from each of the other 3 wheels to get the left rear remounted. I of course checked all the other wheel bolts, and they were tight. I lit off again, driving 45 mph till I got to the next river city, Alma, which had a NAPA store. I purchased some 1/2 " bolts, which replaced the ones I had removed to get me roadworthy. This story does have a happy ending in that I was going slow through a town then the bolts exited, If I had been going at highway speed, on the river bluffs road where there is little shoulder, I could have had a disaster on my hands, and a ruined M23. Moral of the story, CHECK YOUR LUG NUTS OR WHEEL BOLTS BEFORE TOWING! I will from now on. Bones
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