Modular sailboat trailer

A sailboat trailer for launching and retrieving a sailboat having a keel extending outwardly from a sailboat hull including

• a frame comprising two elongated side frame members (112, 113) positioned in spaced relation relative to each other and carried on a spring-connected wheel-bearing axle (114) for movement upon a roadway surface,
• each one of said side frame members having a forward portion converging toward the other side frame member at a forward end to form a vehicle engaging tongue portion and a rear portion which extends parallel to the other side frame member to form a boat-supporting portion,
• a boat-supporting cross member (134) carried by and extending between said side frame members and adjacent the rear end of the trailer to laterally space said side frame members from one another,
• said boat-supporting cross member (134) having opposite ends which are pivotally connected (137) to said boat-supporting portion of said side frame members (112, 113) for fore and aft pivotal movement of said boat-supporting cross member relative to said side frame members about an axis extending transversely of said boat-supporting portion of said side frame members to facilitate raising and lowering a sailboat having a keel extending outwardly from a sailboat hull on to and off of the trailer,
• at least one additional boat-supporting cross member (133) extending between and pivotally (137) connected to said parallel boat-supporting portions of each of said side frame members (112, 113) for fore and aft pivotal movement relative thereto,
• said additional boat-supporting cross members (133) and said boat-supporting cross member (134) being positioned parallel to and on opposite sides of said spring-connected wheel bearing axle (114), and
• boat hull engaging support means carried by said additional boat-supporting cross member for pivotal movement therewith,
• said boat hull engaging support means carried by said boat supporting cross member (134) and said additional boat-supporting cross member (133) each comprising
• at least two support bars (165) extending parallel to said rear boat-supporting portion of said side frame members (112, 113) and carried (145) by said boat-supporting cross member (134) for pivotal movement therewith,
• a plurality of boat hull engaging rollers (167) supported by each of said support bars (165) for contacting a boat hull placed thereupon,
• adjusting means (166) carried by each of said support bars (165) and positioned between said support bar (115) and said boat hull engaging rollers (167) supported thereby for varying the lateral spacing between said boat hull engaging rollers to accommodate different size boat hulls,
• said adjusting means being pivotally supported (55) on said support bars and pivotally connected (67, 68) to said boat hull engaging rollers so that said boat hull engaging rollers will conform to the configuration of a boat hull placed thereupon, and
• at least two telescoping post-forming members (145) each secured at a lower end to each of said boat-supporting cross member (134) and said additional boat-supporting cross members (133) for pivotal movement therewith and extending upwardly therefrom above said side frame members with the upper end of said telescoping post-forming members secured (152, 153) to one of said support bars (165), and
• means for selectively adjusting the length of said telescoping post-forming member to vary the elevation of said boat hull engaging rollers above said side frame members for accommodating different size sailboat keels.