Boat trailer guide on's & side posts
Submitted by West coast pom on Tue, 2012-12-04 13:19
Hi all,
Not specifically a fishing question, but it impacts my ability to go fishing on my own!!
Anyone know where to get those vertical guide posts that bolt onto the rear frame of a boat trailer (to help straighten the boat when retrieving on my own). I have found loads of suppliers in the US, but can't seem to find any in Perth or in Oz for that matter.
Anyone know a supplier/ where i can get them in WA?
Uploaded a picture off the net to help.
Cheers
James.
Image Upload:
fishcrazy
Posts: 1235
Date Joined: 27/01/07
guides
They look pretty easy to knock up
scano
Posts: 1247
Date Joined: 31/05/07
good question mate
I was literally hunting for the same thing myself this morning.
I want to fit the same thing to my boat trailer for when we do launching at beaches or rougher area's.
ideally if they have a small roller at the top of each post that can run along the side of the boat as it goes in the trailer would be best!
I would think Martins trailer parts in Bayswater woud be worth a try for them but i would say they are closed by now.
If they made them bolt on an galvanised with a roller attached at the top of each post then that would pretty much solve all of my problems.
so if anyone has any idea on where to locate these it would be a great help to me also
scano
wagyl
Posts: 219
Date Joined: 08/03/09
I have them on my US trailer,
I have them on my US trailer, they are just a galvanised post with poly water pipe over it and it rotates as you pull the boat on - this acts as the roller, they work great.
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Spot on, no need for a roller
Spot on, no need for a roller when its going to contact your rubrail anyway.
sunshine
Posts: 2620
Date Joined: 03/03/09
Regularly fish launch and retreive by myself
The key is NOT to back in too deep to permit it to float off, mine self centres all the time and at 6.8 it would be a real handful if it got side on
Dizzy
Posts: 753
Date Joined: 21/02/11
Ditto - takes a bit more
Ditto - takes a bit more elbow grease on the winch but by the time it gets into where the guides are the rollers have got it into position anyway.
At least guide posts give the option of floating on/off and would definitely being good to for bunk trailers.
wagyl
Posts: 219
Date Joined: 08/03/09
Forgot to mention, mine are a
Forgot to mention, mine are a square post bent in an L shape with a bracket on the trailer, with the round poly over the top at the back of the trailer about a metre from the back. I float the boat on and off (bunk trailer, not rollered) by myself, to load I just pull the boat between the posts, it self centres and winch it on, the posts hold it in place. My boat is 8 metres and I load it by myself (with a finger jetty next to the boat).
bradz
Posts: 693
Date Joined: 29/10/07
Poly pipe
Mine is the same. I kept the guide posts from my old Seaswirl trailer when I sold it. Using it now on my multi-roller trailer for my Cruiescraft 575.
The uprights are simply bent square tubing with the poly pipe over the top. The poly rolls as the boat is winched up. Makes it very easy when the wind is on your side for single person retrieving.
Your could fabricate up a u-beaut fixing bracket where the posts meets the trailer, but really all you need are some u-bolts and fish plates which you can get from most boating shops or Martins trailer parts.
I will post some pictures tonight or tomorrow for you to have a look at.
Cheers
Brad
I did then the best that I knew how. When I knew better, I did better.
mungus
Posts: 60
Date Joined: 15/03/11
I got one from the All Boat
I got one from The Boat Business' stand at the Mandurah Boat Show. It was all of $5.00, and works a treat. I would guess that they will have some in their shop.
Alan James
Posts: 2226
Date Joined: 30/06/09
They needn't be bolted to the trailer
I have these guides on my trailer and the uprights are removable. The round galv pipe simply drops into a fitting / bracket on the trailer. Simple as.
West coast pom
Posts: 38
Date Joined: 17/03/11
Cheers guys,Sorry for the
Cheers guys,
Sorry for the late response, been busy!
I have a mate who's got a pipe bender and a welder, so this weekend we are going to bend a couple of pieces of 1 1/2" galvanised steel pipe to the correct width for the boat (plus maybe 2" ether side tolerance) and weld straight onto the trailer chassis. The steel upright would only be 6" high and then slip the PVC pipe over the top to act as the guide/ rollers.
I might look into getting a pipe bracket instead of welding to the trailer frame to give it some adjustability in terms of width though.....will post some pics when i'm finished
1 week till the end of the demersal ban......!!!!
Cheers
James
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Might pay to rethink
Might pay to rethink that.
If the steel is only 6" high, the boat would barely have to nudge it to snap PVC off and the gouge your boat on what is left.
Its pretty clear from the image and others that the steel gets above the gunwhale height on the boat and pvc isn't very strong in shear.
Dizzy
Posts: 753
Date Joined: 21/02/11
Yep, you want the steel as
Yep, you want the steel as close to the contact point as possible for strength.
Anything above the gunwale can be poly only as it takes no weight, and only acts as a visual aid.
From the gunwale down the smooth poly rolls and protects from scratching / other damage.
6" posts would be almost useless - even if the poly didn't break it'd flex like crazy, offering bugger all support to keep it centred.
Don't do the same thing as a bloke I heard of - fitted them nice and close to the rear gunwales with the boat on then got the bow stuck launching it - derrrrrrr.
West coast pom
Posts: 38
Date Joined: 17/03/11
Hi guys, Luckily i re-thought
Hi guys,
Luckily i re-thought my "design" before going ahead with it and extended the steel above the gunwhales! Blonde moment when writing my previous post!
Did it on the weekend as follows:
3m of 1.5" galvanised pipe, measured up and cut to suit. Pipe bender to put the 90. deg bend in it. Fitted up to the trailer and checked and rechecked before welding (including room for the bow of the boat too- though there is plenty of spring in the tall guides even with 1.5" steel pipe).
Arc welded onto the trailer frame and the steel guide runs a good 100mm over the top of the gunwales.
Cold galv spray on the welds and slipped 2" dia pvc pressure pipe (thicker wall) and end caps over the top.
Works like magic and cost $35 for the pipe and $25 for the PVC and caps! Will upload a photo in a sec.
Cheers
James.
fishy fingers
Posts: 1719
Date Joined: 28/04/07
Works like magic
and will start to rust in no time even with cold gal paint.......would have been better clamping it on.
Rob H
Posts: 5806
Date Joined: 18/01/12
I just knocked these up,
I just knocked these up, $50
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
Gaz Mero
Posts: 80
Date Joined: 19/04/10
Or you could make them fold away like mine.
The height and width is adjustable also. Im in the process of getting them galved now.
I only use these when Im launching where there is a sideways current or ramps like Hamelin bay or the old Dunsborough ramp, never had the boat move off the trailer since.
Cheers
Gazza
West coast pom
Posts: 38
Date Joined: 17/03/11
Nice Gaz, i like the roller
Nice Gaz, i like the roller finish though mine are more like yours Rob, but welded on rather than clamped.
Work like a charm, especially at snapping rod handles if you forget that you've just installed them doh! Oh well, live & learn......
Can't seem to upload a %#$% photo though