Self centering keel rollers X2?

[Expidia]

Does this make sense?

I have a front (the one closer to the winch) standard rubber 8 inch roller mounted in a plate.

I was thinking of getting a replacement 8 inch "self centering roller" for this front one and just reuse the plate and rod.

For the back one (stern) I wanted to mount a roller since it has this cheap flat piece of plastic that slides out of place anyway. With a roller I could use my transom saver that fits over a roller.

So I figured I'd get a 12 inch self centering roller (about $20), a 12 inch plate, rod with end caps (about $20).

I know Tashasdaddy from other threads uses two. But I can't seem to find "both" an 8 inch and a 12 inch in the same colors from various sources.

I just edge my trailer into the water until the bunk ends just go under so the back one should hit the keel fine.

The front one as self centering would be nice since many times I have to back boat off a little cause it's not centering on the front one on the first try.

Anyone know (to save on shipping) where I can buy an 8 and a 12 inch and the hardware from the same source and same colors?

Does it make sense to use "two" self centering rollers or is two a waste of money?

Thx

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Self centering keel rollers X2?

looks like everyone sells just the 12 inch self centering roller.Stoltz makes the deep V rollers in 8 inch.
I would go the deep V on the front,it should still help center it.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Self centering keel rollers X2?

looks like everyone sells just the 12 inch self centering roller.Stoltz makes the deep V rollers in 8 inch.
I would go the deep V on the front,it should still help center it.

Thx Gary, I snapped 3 pics of what I'm talking about (see link below).

One is of that useless black plastic keel protector the trailer came with and two of the front one. I guess I could use a deeper V type but the self centering one looks better to me if I could locate matching ones. The bow roller is already white and the front keel is black, so I didn't want an orange one on the back or that clear greenish color unless all 3 are the same color. I don't want my trailer looking like a cob job made up of various spare parts!

Another option is I could just get two 12 inch self centering rollers mounted on brackets and mount the 2nd one in the middle of the trailer where there is yet another useless flat black plastic keel protector. I figure once the keel is rolling through the two self centering ones by the time bow goes gets to the 8 inch front V roller, it should be rolling pretty dead center by then.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Self centering keel rollers X2?

I bought two 12 inch self centering rollers, 2 rods with pal nuts and two 12 inch brackets off iboats yesterday.

After much searching around iboats was actually very competitive in their pricing of all these items and only $9.95 for shipping.

Last time I needed an item they were way off the other sites, especially on their shipping.

Glad I checked them again, because I'd rather steer business their way when I can and when they are in the ballpark, since they provide us with this great boating medium!

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Self centering keel rollers X2?

Thats good to know.I need 12 new rollers..ugh!
I have replaced my bow stop and guide on rollers with the gold colored Stoltz rollers but they are expensive.
So buying 12 more at 20 bucks each is a killer...
I'll see what iboats prices them at..

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Self centering keel rollers X2?

i now use on the big boat 2 selfcentering roller from the stern 1st is a flat roller, as it usually does not make contact with the keel until the boat is father up the trailer. 2nd for stern, SC roller, this is where the bow 1st contacts, then the 3 roller SC, these two throw the boat in proper configuration for loading. with the guide ons, straight motor, it idles right up to the bow stop. this is my 23 footer. my smaller boat i am now using SC at 2nd from back. and only 1 inch clearance on the guide ons.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Self centering keel rollers X2?

Thanks Tash.

I think I'll use one 12 inch self centering roller in the forward position where the 8 inch v roller is now because that's the one that can be an inch or two off sometimes when I finish cranking up and have to release the winch line again and re-center.

I'll use the other 12 inch self centering one in the mid section of the trailer since as you say that's the first roller the keel hits anyway.

I think I'll leave the rear pad protector on which is cheap but protects the bow from hitting and scuffing on the cross member and put a wire tie through it, so it does not slide back and forth like it does now.

Then I'll take the extra 8 inch v roller which is mounted on a bracket already and mount it upside down on the cross member, so I have a place to hook the semi circle end of the outboards transom protector device.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Self centering keel rollers X2?

that works for me.

 

[JUSTINTIME]

Re: Self centering keel rollers X2?

side bunjs help a ton out also

 

[Expidia]

Re: Self centering keel rollers X2?

side bunjs help a ton out also

I've tried 3 different bunk guide on sets when I first bought the boat and returned them as they were both made cheaply for the cost. All 3 kept bending down and the crappy hardware didn't help. All 3 sets started to bend as I was tightening down the hardware.

They probably work better on a trailer that has wider rails to attach them on. My trailer is a light weight, narrow frame one.

I don't have a problem getting the boat on. It's just the slight shift I get sometimes. I know if I bought the side bunks from Shoreland'r they would be OK, but they are very, very heavy and I don't need to tow all that extra weight around.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Self centering keel rollers X2?

Iboats package came last week. Pics of finished product in my link to Photobucket below. Click on a pic to make it bigger.

Had to drill 4 extra holes (two for each cross member) since the OEM holes were for an 8 inch brackets.

Not a cheap upgrade: $93 for rollers, brackets and roller shafts with pal nuts
plus $15 for a 1/2 inch drill bit and another $25 for 2.5 inch stainless steel bolts, nuts and washers (pricey West Marine, but at least they had them). All tolled about $133.

At least I saved a few bucks by re-using the 8 inch front roller to mount upside down on the rear to attach the transom saver that I had from another boat.

I left the rear pad on, since it offers a little more protection from the bow hitting the cross member than if I had mounted the 8 inch roller in the normal position. I finally got a chance to drill two holes to wire tie that cheap pad on as it tended to slide off all the time.

Those pads tended to rattle around too making a lot of noise trailing on the side roads.

I might even pick up a cheap welder since I've always wanted one anyway. Saw some advertised at Harbor Freight for $199. I'd like to spot weld all the hardware like the winch and now the new rollers from the launch thieves.

I probably have A $200 deductible on my insurance anyway, so I figure the welder would pay for itself once I spot weld the easy removable stuff on.

One poster in another post said he had a friend who had his spare tire stolen off his rim, when he came back rim was on boat but no more tire

Thanks for all who responded to my post, thought you would enjoy seeing the finished product in the pics.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Self centering keel rollers X2?

Nice Job! Those new rollers look good.
I looked at your pics of the winch stand and you can tell its been walking on the frame.I think a bit of welding would solve that.
Nice looking rig for sure!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Self centering keel rollers X2?

when you have a trailer that is hard to mount guideons, run them under the frame and a piece of schedule 40 pvc pipe connecting them, this keeps them stable.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Self centering keel rollers X2?

Nice Job! Those new rollers look good.
I looked at your pics of the winch stand and you can tell its been walking on the frame.I think a bit of welding would solve that.
Nice looking rig for sure!

Ya, except I know as soon as I run a bead of weld, I'll want to re-position the boat again. I did like the inch or two of bunk showing to use as step up. But being aluminum there are big rivets along the transom edge which are starting to eat into the bunk's carpet. Proper position for this rig is probably where the transom overhangs the bunk ends by an inch or two. I only had the boat one season, so I'm still jockeying things around as to how the boat should ride on the trailer.

Last season, I picked up two of those plastic L shaped sliders that are about 6-8 inches long and go over the bunk ends. But when I went to install them the instructions said don't use these with aluminum or riveted bottom boats as they will wear the paint away. So I returned them.

When I removed the original rollers the boat dropped down an inch or two and settled better into the bunks. I think I was carrying too much boat weight on the rollers before. As I was researching this and various boating sites on going to the self centering rollers and how a boat should ride on the trailer . . . I discovered that the rollers are only to guide the keel and should not be load carrying. I had the rollers adjusted incorrectly before.

This is probably why I've never been happy with how the boat rode on the trailer. Very noisy on the side roads and somewhat wobbly when I view it thru the review mirror. My guess is it's going to be riding a lot better now.

Amazes me how the dealer did not adjust my boat to the trailer properly. I complained several times to them about the fit, but it seemed they didn't have the knowledge or the inclination to get it right. When I first picked up the boat as soon as I unhooked it from the ball the tongue shot up in the air. I had to take it to the lake myself to float the boat, so I could move the wheels back a hole on the trailer. I didn't want to lose the boat for another week if I had to leave it with the dealer. It was already mid June by the time I took delivery. Now the dealership has been sold to new owners, but same tech are still there I'm sure.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Self centering keel rollers X2?

when you have a trailer that is hard to mount guideons, run them under the frame and a piece of schedule 40 pvc pipe connecting them, this keeps them stable.

I know you make up your own stuff, so you can of course use better weight materials. But I'm telling ya . . . everything is made in China or worse now and the materials and hardware are simply crap. It's not the space to mount to the frame it's how thin this stuff is. You can't even tighten them down or the stuff starts bending. And for the prices they get, I don't want to have to go out and buy better hardware.

All 3 "mid level quality" guide on sets from 3 different companies that I bought from were crap IMO.

Anyway, with practice, I found that if I only allow the bunk ends to go just below the water line it's always a piece of cake to slide the boat right on, even on windy days. It's only 14.9 feet and it's easy to guide on without the guide on's. The new self centering rollers should allow it to stay centered now the first time too!