Kevin,
I'm not an expert, but have been trailering around a Devlin BB2 and Broadbill for a while. The Broadbill is on a Karavan, and the BB2 is on a custom built trailer from Sureride (out of Maben, MS).
The Sureride is 1200 lbs capacity w/4.80x12 tires and has held up fine carrying the BB2, engine, 6 gallons gas, 6+ dozen weighteed keel dekes plus longlines w/ anchors, plus. plus...... for many hunting trips. Even filled the boat with dekes to the top of the combing and towed the rig from MS to WA.
I'd try to get an axle with the flow thru grease system (zerk fittings in the end of the spindle w/ a passage to the space beteen the axle seal and inner bearing) like Pete mentioned. My karavan came with them and they are the bomb. Champion Trailer also sells them. My BB2 trailer has regular spindles, and packing bearings is no fun, plus, I had to install bearing buddies to deal w/salt water here in WA.
I think galvanized is worth the extra bucks. Not necessary for fresh water, but it will protect your investment.
LED lights last much, much longer than conventional taillights, unless you are like me and run them into things. Will be buying a new starboard taillight soon as I'm sure the duck tape is not keeping the saltwater out : (
Recommend 2 sets of carpeted bunks for the boat to set on, wide side against the boat to keep down the stress points. Had wood only bunks when initially setting up the Broadbill on its first trailer- wore through the paint and started eating into the epoxy at the contact points. No wear from sitting on carpet (and I have many towing miles and launches on the BB2 now). Side bunks or roller guides are very useful, especially in the weather we hunt in.
With the transome position on your BB3 the Center of Gravity (CG) of your rig will be differnt than mine. On a BB2/BB3 with the normal motorwell cutout the CG of the boat w/engine in farther forward, so the axles on a lot of standard trailers are too far back to achieve proper tongue weight. However, I would even move the axle on my Karavan forward, if I could. From your description, I assume your engine is farther back, so you may not have an issue, or at least less of one. I would weight the wheels and tongue and look at how the boat sits on the trailer before locking in the bow stop location. CG/ axle location is why I had my BB2 trailer custom made.
You probably know BB2/BB3 are fairly close on the beam/length, and I think the attached dimensions are close to optimal for a BB2/BB3 with motorwell cutout (at least, they work for me).
You may be able to save a ton buying used, but make sure you know what you are looking at. I did not know squat on my first Broabill trailer (bought a cheap used jonboat rig for the engine and tailer), and ended up taking the trailer to the scrap yard after one year. At a minimum, pull the hubs and inspect bearings.
Have a great season!
-Bill
