What type of guide on's do you use?

[Expidia]

Re: What type of guide on's do you use?

I've got a 23 foot deck boat, and all our lakes are in the mouths of canyons so the wind is always blowing. I saw what they wanted for guide ons, so I buil my own with 1 1/2 inch aluminum conduit. I have access to a bending machine at work so I did that myself, too.
I started with just the rear posts. I looked at just buying some, but after seeing a boat lifted up by a wave and coming down on one post, breaking the post and impaling the bottom of the boat ( most of the store bought ones only have the metal post part way up the height of the post), I figured I'd make mine full length aluminum and covered them with 2 inch pvc. I then bolted them to the frame with U and bracket bolts. They still weren't enough to keep the boat on the trailer while loading, so I used the same conduit to build the side bunks. I used them with a 2x6x8 covered with marine carpet (4.59/yd), painted them the same color as the trailer, and they look and work great! I spent less for both sets than just a set of post guides would cost.
The side bunks make loading a snap no matter the wind!

That's exactly how I felt about those short post models and the ones with the rollers too. I pictured the wind blowing my boat into the exposed metal on the outside edge. I had also already pictured my backing in too far and having a wave slam the boat down on top of a guide just as you described.

Post a pic of your trailer for us to see the finished product!

 

[Nova II 260]

Re: What type of guide on's do you use?

PVC not rust. build your own sturdy guide-ons $30.00.

 

[sharps45]

Re: What type of guide on's do you use?

Here are a few pics of my home made ones. It was very easy, and the parts that bolt on to the frame don't show unless you really are looking for them.
I've never done attachments so I hope the photos show up.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: What type of guide on's do you use?

I have the round upright style simular to Tashasdaddy.
They are clamped to the frame about the same also.
Since they are the round ones, they will rotate forward on the trailer without bending or breaking.
This helps if and when you come in too hot to the trailer and are not lined up good enough. Which I have done with no damage to the guide-on, just push it back upright and good as before.

 

[mikecjn]

Re: What type of guide on's do you use?

I also have the pvc upright type. Makes it nice when coming in at dusk because I can see where the rear of the trailer is and it works decent with the incoming and outgoing tide currents.

 

[bassboy1]

Re: What type of guide on's do you use?

Learn how to line the boat up on the trailer and how to tie it down, and then forget the guide-ons.

I will guarantee that if you try to back our trailer with our tow vehicles, you will wish for the guide ons. You cannot see anything of the trailer until it turns too far to the left to fix it. otherwise, it is a complete guess as to where the stupid thing is. Aside from 1 time (the second time to trailer a boat in my life) I have gotten it dead on.

 

[Pony]

Re: What type of guide on's do you use?

Pony I love the guides you built what diameter of galvinized pipe did you use in construction.

It is all 1" Pipe.....

The most convienient thing to me is the fact that I can see the lights and verify they are working at all times. This is great at night.

 

[Expidia]

Re: What type of guide on's do you use?

I think you might be backing your trailer down to far into the water. Even if you don't want to power load, you can still drive the boat on half way up the trailer. Once it that far up on the trailer, the boat won't rift.

I just sent back another set of bunk style guide on's. These were $159. These were made by Shoreland'r (which is the make of my trailer) and were made very well.


They were certainly solidly made. Weighed in at 35 lbs. But they were "too low" for my boat. Only came up about an inch on the side of the boat. I noticed in the install directions they showed 3 different models. Overton's where I bought them only carries the shorter model.

So they are going back. But I stand corrected on how far I was driving the trailer into the water depending on the ramp. Since I had the guide on's off while I was waiting for the new ones to come in I found if I back in with only the end roller slightly under water . . .

I can drive the boat half way up as you have said. Or I can crank it up by floating it to the end of the trailer and the boat slides right into the correct position each time!

So as another poster had said that I don't need guide on's. They were right and I'm not going to use any now. If it's windy, 90% of the time I'm not going to be on the water anyway. And for that 10% when I get cought on a windy day coming into the dock I'll drive it half way up!

Thx for all the responses. My $159 savings can now go towards my Marine stereo.

Overton's was very good on both returns. The first one they picked up the shipping both ways (the TieDown model was cheaply made and defective). The second ones they only charged me their UPS rate of $13.95 to return this 35 lb box. I thought that was fair, so I didn't push for them to pick up the postage going back too!

But for these type of bulky items I would suggest that one buys locally, because there are so many variables with guide on quality, boat sizes and trailer configurations. Just the hassle of sending boxing them back up and sending them back each time is not worth the cost savings by buying on the net.

 

[22E6441]

Re: What type of guide on's do you use?

No welding on mine. It is all threaded pipe. I can, and have, taken it apart to change some of the trailer wiring.

Not much to look at, but it has recently gotten a new batch of paint.

Pony, how are they mounted to the trailer? I see the disc thing with the bolts in it, but what is that? Is the pipe threaded into that? Is that an off the shelf thing?

 

[freddyray21]

Re: What type of guide on's do you use?

never had a problem with these even when retrieving in the river current. got them at Bass Pro

 

[AZcamperguy]

Re: What type of guide on's do you use?

Anybody else have pictures of their set up for guide ons? I am looking at doing some on mine soon and am trying to figure out what will work for me. The pictures on here thus far have been great.

 

[G_Lipe]

Re: What type of guide on's do you use?

Pony, how are they mounted to the trailer? I see the disc thing with the bolts in it, but what is that? Is the pipe threaded into that? Is that an off the shelf thing?

He has used a floor flange there should be available at any hardware store

http://plumbing.hardwarestore.com/52-331-galvanized-floor-flanges.aspx

 

[BIGcarpy50]

Re: What type of guide on's do you use?

I just got a pair of the Moeller 45% Roller Guide ons. THey are heavy duty. fully adjustable and i love them....

 

[coastalcruiser]

Re: What type of guide on's do you use?

Made these myself out of a unwanted galvanized cart left outside.
The tubes are Sanitary abs pipe,
I kept missing the middle of the rollers cause I can't see my trailer as its underwater.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: What type of guide on's do you use?

Learn how to line the boat up on the trailer and how to tie it down, and then forget the guide-ons.

this from someone who probably does not launch and retrieve in river current.

 

[Wee Hooker]

Re: What type of guide on's do you use?

The PVC pipe type that go straight up and down and are higher than the boat rail are the best IMHO. These allow the same degree of guidance and centering of the hull regardless of water/trailer depth. The type that are under the rail or are angled decrease in there usefullness as the depth of the water over the bunks/rollers increase.

More generally, IMHO, guide on's are the best $60 you can spend on your rig. They make backing down the ramp 1000% easier by keeping you on course vs having to correct major overstears. They also make single handed hauling ( and launching) a cake walk. Just get the bow inside the guides and crank. She'll come up straighter than a dog on a leash in any weather/sea condition.
If you want even more peace of mind, mount your trailer lights up high /out of the water on tehm. It will easily triple the lifespan of conventional trailer lights based on my experience.

 

[AZcamperguy]

Re: What type of guide on's do you use?

I have a question for you guys. It is hard to tell from the pictures. How far out from the gunwhales? are your guide ons? Couple of inches?

 

[wellsc1]

Re: What type of guide on's do you use?

My boat guides are homemade. First set worked for years and still in place. Made them with PVC shed. 40 pipe and plumbed a smaller pipe in that to create a double-walled set, including the 45 degree elbow.

Recently I added padded guides, also homemade. Used treated 2x4 and left over boat carpet. Brackets made from bed frame, then spray on galvanize and about 5 coates of rustoleum.

I rarely put in salt water ramp. Access to Gulf of Mex. capable from brakish water or river ramps. Boat is 14 foot aluminum flatbottom.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: What type of guide on's do you use?

I'm planning on making a few sets for my boat trailers here.
What I plan to do is use 1 1/2" square galvanized tubing, mandrel bend it at 90 degrees and weld on a 3/8" flat flange and attach each post with U bolts. I'll just touch up the tubing with galvanized spray and silver paint where I weld.

I have one trailer that has solid galvanized steel posts, which are shaped to fit the boat and trailer, a 14' flat bottom boat, and they have 1" PVC guides over top of the rod with a bushing at each end. They work fine for a small boat but would no doubt flex if the boat wasn't so light.

All but one of my boats now are aluminum, and would work fine with even just PVC guide ons but I'm more concerned with a heavy guide on bouncing and flexing down where it mounts to the frame, this would no doubt break something sooner or later.

I like TD's clamp on guides, they distribute the weight and movement well being clamped across the top of the frame like that. What I find is that every trailer or frame material or type often takes a different mounting method to work well.

I have a set of home made bunk boards on my one trailer, they are 30" carpeted 2x4s mounted to a forward and rear 1/4" galvanized flat bar about 24" long with the appropriate bends on each end to match the boat. These bolt to the same bolts as my fenders do.

 

[Wee Hooker]

Re: What type of guide on's do you use?

"I have a question for you guys. It is hard to tell from the pictures. How far out from the gunwales? are your guide ons? Couple of inches?"
The closer they are, the better centered your boat will be. I always set mine to less than 1" clearance .
hth