boat guides

[andrewsailor]

Hi There,This may seem like a silly question,But how far from the side of my boat should I position a set of 4 foot long boat guides.
I have a alumacraft 165cs and a bunk trailer
Thanks guys

 

[likalar]

Re: boat guides

Not silly at all. Mine are shorter than yours, but I installed them to barely touch the centered boat. They have some "give", and the idea is that as the trailer comes out of the water, the guides will help the partially floating boat settle in the centered position.
Larry

 

[andrewsailor]

Re: boat guides

Thanks for the quick reply,Do you find with them being so close to the boat they rub the paint off when trailering,I guess the closer they are the better centered the boat is..

 

[EddiePetty]

Re: boat guides

...mine are four and a half feet tall and are installed with less than an inch of clearance per side. I am loading a V-20 and yes, they do bow as they center the boat. However, I wax the guide posts when I wax the boat and have yet to notice any color transfer. My rub rails are aluminum so rubbing is no concern. I would advise mounting them tight to the hull to minimize vibrations when trailering, especially if you have the lighted type guide posts.
FWIW....Ed in 'ol Virginny

 

[andrewsailor]

Re: boat guides

I think I may have given some wrong information,the ones I want to install are carpeted horozontal side guides,so same origional question applys.
Thanks Again

 

[j_martin]

Re: boat guides

I think I may have given some wrong information,the ones I want to install are carpeted horozontal side guides,so same origional question applys.
Thanks Again

My wind boards (That's what ya got) are mounted so they clear the boat an inch or so for trailering, so they don't dull the finish.

just my 02
John

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: boat guides

I like to set them as tightly as possible, but since I have a trihull, I don't have the taper that a traditional hull has at the forward, rail position. That means I have to leave a little room to prevent getting caught on them during retrieval.



???

 

[EddiePetty]

Re: boat guides

I think I may have given some wrong information,the ones I want to install are carpeted horozontal side guides,so same origional question applys.
Thanks Again

.....and I think I may have made a bad assumption !!!!!:redface:

Okay, I have the wind-boards, rub-rails, horizontal guide rails....whatever ya' wanna call 'em on the trailer for our 14' Stumpnocker. They are carpeted and colored to match the hull. They fit with about a 1/2" clearance per side.
The only drawback that I have encountered is that they make it difficult to clean the hull in their contact area, especially if I have run through some skunky water (high water debris).
Just yesterday I was noticing the hull color while the boat was afloat....the area normally blocked by the rails, when trailered, IS slightly darker than the rest of the hull. Perhaps the rails have shaded UV radiation from that area. (I, honestly, don't wax the 'ol Stumpnocker near as frequently as the V-20 though).
again, FWIW....Ed in 'ol Virginny

 

[jeeperman]

Re: boat guides

you could consider a little alteration.................
Assuming those horizontal boards are on two vertical or near vertical tubes that go down to the frame................
Take the boards off the tubes and install two short sections of tubes to the boards that will slide down over the existing tubes.
When at the right height drill a horizontal hole thru both tubes and secure with a 1/4" hitch pin.
Like this or similar: Then when your cleaning the hull you can pull the boards off and leave em off so the hull fades the same as the rest.

 

[andrewsailor]

Re: boat guides

Thanks for the help everyone