Boat trailer setup
Hi guys, I need assistance with a better setup on my trailer, as it is a pain in the ass to retrieve my boat.
The current setup has keel rollers with just 2 wedges on the stern of the trailer, and works shit.
The nose of the boat has no guide, and if the trailer is not fully submersed and the ute is driven into the water, the winching in of the boat is hard work and grinding the rear of the boat onto the stern wedges, and the boat does not centralise...
This always makes an unpleasent retrieve and pisses me off after a good day out.
I know I can take $5K to Dunbier and get a ride on trailer, but the boat is only worth about $8K, so that is not an option..
Looked around the internet, and heaps of wobble roller sets and guides and stuff, and it looks like about $500 could sort it if I fitted the bits, but... if I select the wrong bits and sit with more issues, thats a waste of money..
Who would assist down Rocko way, or even do a reasonably priced job to fit these rollers, or be able to advise me on the ideal setup with these wobble rollers and new guides.
It is a 5.5m fibreglass runabout with a single v hull - nothing too complicated..?
Cheers,
Cold Feet
dodgy
Posts: 4570
Date Joined: 01/02/10
Got a pic of the current set
Got a pic of the current set up?
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
bradz
Posts: 693
Date Joined: 29/10/07
Photo
Post a photo of the rear of the trailer so we can have a look. It may only require something very simple to make it all work nicely.
I did then the best that I knew how. When I knew better, I did better.
Cold Feet
Posts: 120
Date Joined: 04/08/15
Pics added..
... and I have never really noticed those 2 sets of red twin rubber wobble rollers before, but they dont help currently.. the boat always loads to one side..
Cheers for taking a look...
Cheers,
Cold Feet![](http://fishwrecked.com/sites/all/libraries/fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/msn/shades_smile.gif)
dodgy
Posts: 4570
Date Joined: 01/02/10
That's not a lot of side
That's not a lot of side support at all. The hull is designed to sit on its keel but there should be more support on the side as well.
I would add another set of rollers forward as a minimum. If the hull is rocking the side rollers need to be lifted a little as well.
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
bleicester
Posts: 219
Date Joined: 10/09/14
eziguide
Have you looked into a self guiding setup like the EZIguides? For less than $200 it might be the go.
www.whitworths.com.au/main_itemdetail.asp
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Cold Feet
Posts: 120
Date Joined: 04/08/15
Yeah..
I saw the eaziguides, but that will guide the boat on, but not stop it from been a pain to winch onto the trailer, thanks anyway - might add that if i get the load balanced and sorted..
Cheers,
Cold Feet![](http://fishwrecked.com/sites/all/libraries/fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/msn/shades_smile.gif)
Cold Feet
Posts: 120
Date Joined: 04/08/15
Sliders..
Can you use those Blue Teflon sliders on a wooden support on fibreglass boats for guides and supports, as it seems they are only recommended for ali boats?
Cheers,
Cold Feet![](http://fishwrecked.com/sites/all/libraries/fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/msn/shades_smile.gif)
Marineboy
Posts: 842
Date Joined: 14/03/14
Sliders
you can get white/opaque stuff for glass boats, I have a length in the garage if you want it.
Located hamersley.
My spots are so secret even the fish don't know about them !
Bluedog
Posts: 251
Date Joined: 28/07/11
Replace that side roller and
Replace that side roller and wedge with a skid similar to how Epic Marines trailers are setup on the post he just did. That's how my old trailer was setup, still wasn't super but got the job done easy enough for an old fraser 525. I also replaced the old rubber on the skids with the blue stuff and it was no worries on fiberglass.
bleicester
Posts: 219
Date Joined: 10/09/14
skids are generally only for ali boats
i think skids will tend to scratch a glass boat over time.
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Fish not found
Maccas
Posts: 24
Date Joined: 14/08/09
You haven't got enough
You haven't got enough support on the side of the boat. Either add more rollers on the side to support and guide the boat as it comes on the trailer or add a skid on each side. Add the ezi guides and it will be easy to load boat by yourself.
DTrain
Posts: 486
Date Joined: 10/02/12
It looks like those wedges
It looks like those wedges are straddling between the two chines on the boat. So the two pointy parts of the chines are digging into the wedges instead of the boat sitting flat on the wedge if that makes sense. I think if you put the wedges on lengthways and try and position them on the flat section between the chines then that would help the boat winch up easier. Or you could just remove them and put in some bigger skids.
You want to try and put 90% of the boat weight on the center rollers and just use the side skids to stop the boat moving from side to side.
Also check that the rollers are all greased and spinning freely.
Cold Feet
Posts: 120
Date Joined: 04/08/15
Cheers, will check all that out and let you guys know how i go..
Thanks for the help so far..
Cheers,
Cold Feet![](http://fishwrecked.com/sites/all/libraries/fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/msn/shades_smile.gif)
epic restos and...
Posts: 226
Date Joined: 22/06/15
reckon step one put another
reckon step one put another bracket at the back widen thous skids weld braceing between your cross members and add few more rollers in between (replace the old ones to, but most of all straighten the side roller so its pushing in not out
BlueKiaser
Posts: 422
Date Joined: 22/04/15
Like DTrain
Like DTrain, I'm a little uneasy with those blue wedges at the back.
I would like to know if the boat loads ok in very calm conditions with the trailer in normal depth. That is, if the boat only goes off the central rollers in non-calm conditions, then I would suggest you try to ignore the temptation to put the trailer too deep in the water when retrieving.
I have a suspicion that when the conditions are not extremely calm, the wind, waves and those blue wedges are encouraging the hull to easily lift off the middle keel rollers (especially when the lowest deadrise section about a third from the back of the boat is sliding up over them). Again as DTrain says those central keel rollers should be taking the majority of the weight. If they aren't, and if the blue wedges (or the red side rollers) are taking too much weight, then it will become harder to retrieve.
My boat (22ft Ali) has a very flat deadrise at the stern. In windy or rough conditions, contrary to most suggestions, I need to retrieve the boat with the trailer quite a long way OUT of the water. This puts extra weight on the central keel rollers. It does make it heavier to wind up on retrieve, but it stops the back of the boat lifting (from wind and waves) to the side and off the central keel rollers. That is, by retrieving the boat with the trailer further out of the water, the central keel rollers can generally self guide the boat up straight. As soon as too much water gets under the hull and takes weight off those central rollers, the waves and wind can easily move the back of the boat off to the side.
I would first start with the current keel rollers. Your black central keel rollers look very small and the back two red keel ones do not look like they do much in the way of self guiding.
Cold Feet
Posts: 120
Date Joined: 04/08/15
Thanks for the feedback..
I will check this out over the weekend, and make a few changes.
The red side wobble type rollers can be turned by hand with the boat loaded on, and the blue wedges seem to be taking the weight only on the side that the boat is loaded to, like in the pics, the left wedge. I plan to remove the blue wedges and replace them along the side of the boat to just take some weight when the boat is on - so along the length of the stern against the hull, instead of wedging the stern as they are now.
I pulled this off the net this morning.. any comments on this type of setup??
These guys sell rollers, wobble sets and stuff, and I have ordered a centralising roller and 3 other replacement rollers to match the trailer, as well as 4 x wobble rollers to replace the existing red rubber wobble type rollers, and see how it goes - that was just over $100 including freght - so will give this setup a bash and see how it goes..
You only have to look at the workouts happening around boat ramps to understand most boat roller setups are wrong. You have to be crazy if you enjoyed huffing and puffing when launching the boat from your trailer.
Launching and retrieving should be an easy, professional operation. With some minor alterations and additions to your trailer, boating will be a dead set breeze.
Most manufacturers do not build trailers for their boats rather they source trailers their trailer suppliers range of boat trailers. There are a few boat manufacturers making their own trailers which is good news because these boats fit their trailers perfectly.
Have a good read below and you will find the best setup for your boat.
THE GOLDEN RULES FOR POWER BOATS
Boat rollers setup.
EXAMPLES
The key to a good setup is 60% keel weight and 40% wobble weight. Once setup up, your boat will glide off the trailer.
I hope you find a few clues on how to improve your boating. Good luck
Cheers,
Cold Feet![](http://fishwrecked.com/sites/all/libraries/fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/msn/shades_smile.gif)
BlueKiaser
Posts: 422
Date Joined: 22/04/15
Good info there
I'll be utilising some of those recommendations myself. Good info and thanks for sharing.
bleicester
Posts: 219
Date Joined: 10/09/14
# 12 is a new one
That's a great resource Coldfeet.
I knew that the harder rollers (usually blue) are recommended for Ali boats while the softer rollers (usually red) are for glass boats but I've never heard of smelling the rollers too!
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Cold Feet
Posts: 120
Date Joined: 04/08/15
Bit late to smell them after buying though..
Imagine the return note: - " These rollers smell funny, so I want a refund" lol..
Cheers,
Cold Feet![](http://fishwrecked.com/sites/all/libraries/fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/msn/shades_smile.gif)