installing guide-ons

[pootnic]

are they always attached using U type bolts?
they seem flimzy...makes me want to put a galvinized or stainless bolt through

is the reason the U bolts are used instead of bolting because of rust issues or is it a strength issue(not wanting to put holes in the frame)

i noticed that everything seems to use U bolts so it must be a strength issue?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: installing guide-ons

it is a strength and installation issue. drilling a hole thru them. weaking them, also with a hard hit, they ubolt may allow it to give, rather than just twist and ruin the guide on totally. they are a lot stronger than they look. i set mine 1/2 inch away from the widest part of the boat. it has no choice but to line up in the right position.

 

[just_crsn]

Re: installing guide-ons

Pootnic, I have the PVC type of guide ons ......and they work great. The u bolts are in my case strong. I did have questions on how they would fair over the boating season but was quite pleased.I only have 1648 lowe , so not alot of weight compared to larger boats. I have had on windy days the guide on was pushed it such a way that i thought it would either break it or loosen the u bolts. Never had to ......

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: installing guide-ons

i have 3 boats with them. the largest is a 5000 lb 23 footer, no problems.

 

[jennis9]

Re: installing guide-ons

Just installed ours last night for the maiden voyage! took about 20 minutes and they work GREAT. I thought the'd be flimsy as well, but it's a sturdy setup. Worth every penny for the time saved.

I left the lights off the setup though - we'll see if we need them. We will be going out from the same launch mostly and have great lighting. Was thinking of setting up a battery powered rig for instances where we would need them. Found a great lighted night bobber that we mounted to our planar boards that would do the trick without having to splice wire for the few times we would need it.

if anyone has a brainstorm on an alternative battery operated light mount - let me know. I think our bobber idea - in tandem with our million amp headlight will do the trick if we need it.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: installing guide-ons

this will save a lot of headaches with tail lights.

 

[jennis9]

Re: installing guide-ons

TD - I remember seeing this in another post. Is this the rig where you have the lighting set up direct from the towing vehicle - not on the trailer?

Your post gave me the idea to run a double set of wiring through the trailer since I was fishing new anyway... so we now have a second set (terminated) in case we get into trouble on a long trip - two wrenches and we're back on the road. My trailer has two 4-wire adapters and I terminated the dead one so it wouldn't corrode.

I couldn't do your exact set up, but thought it was clever. Ohio law states that the license plate must be lit - we use the trailer lights to do that for us. Mounted the plate under the lights.

BUT now that we have our new guide-ons, we can use this idea asa backup AND for lighting the guides -- I love the multi-purpose. Thanks again, I forgot that one!

 

[pootnic]

Re: installing guide-ons

Thanks for all the replies:
I'm glad this thread went other places than just talking about the U bolt question.I always liked the looks of the low profile bunk style guide-ons,but after reading this thread it made me realize that the higher PVC style was the way to go,due to the steep ramps I use(plus later maybe putting the lights up).So functionality(if thats even a word)wins over looks.
Thanks again

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: installing guide-ons

in Florida, as long as it has a tag on they don't hassle us. the law states the tag must be lighted also. not enforced. but the working lights is enforce heavily. you could always mount the tag and a marker light on the frame, out of the way. then you only have one fixture to worry about.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: installing guide-ons

TD, does that boat have stick steering? I dont see a wheel.