Boat hitting trailer, need help or ideas

[snowman48047]

First off, my boat is not in the pic but is similar. The front of the hull/keel is hitting the part of the trailer where the "V" is attached to the tongue during launch/retrieve. Is there a pad or something that can be added to this area to prevent damage? There is a roller but it does not prevent bumping. I was thinking about raising the front part of the bunks but I don't believe this will fix the issue. I also want to pull the boat forward on the trailer to better balance the weight but I think this will worsen the potential for damage. I was thinking about cutting part of an 8 mil rubber floor/shop mat and using hose clamps to attach it. Anyone have any other ideas?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Boat hitting trailer, need help or ideas

Most trailers have a pad or roller on that cross member. Anything from part of a tire tread, to a hard plastic material will work.

 

[jjzepplin]

Re: Boat hitting trailer, need help or ideas

Original trailer? Boat should not be able to come into contact with any part of the trailer that was not intended to support the boat.! A mat will not fix the problem I wouldn't think. You should be able to adjust and or reposition the supports to either lift your boat up or otherwise to fix the problem. I bought a different trailer for my boat and had to do a few modifications for the trailer to fit my boat including moving the winch support ("V") forward a few inches and placing an extension plate on one of the forward rollers to make it come in contact with the boat. These things aren't easy to do with the boat still on the trailer but probably should due to needing to know exactly when the modification has helped in repositioning the boat. I used a floor jack and a very large piece of wood to carefully lift the boat and do the mods. Lower the boat very slowly after adjustment and voila!!!

 

[TahoeQ4Pilot]

Re: Boat hitting trailer, need help or ideas

Take a look at the red circles in the pic, loosen the bolts there and slide the beam in the direction of the arrow until the nose rests on the roller and the bow is off the trailer.

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: Boat hitting trailer, need help or ideas

my boat did the exact same thing when I bought it....a 23 year old boat its whole life on the same trailer and if you were in to deep while retrieving I would gouge the crap out of the keel on it....started looking at things one day and realized the forward most main cross beam was set on its lowest setting. raised it up to its hightest setting and then moved the bow stop forward as the last poster said and all is good .....cant belive the PO hit that thing for 20+ years and didnt take the time to adjust a few things.

heres a thread to when I first tried to tackle the problem....there are lots of sugggestions but ultimately I only had to raise the forward support and adjust the bow stop

http://wellcraftv20.com/community/showthread.php?t=11147

 

[snowman48047]

Re: Boat hitting trailer, need help or ideas

Tahoe, I don't want to move the winch rearward as there is only about 5 pounds on the tongue. I think the boat is too far rearward and the 200+ pounds hanging on the transom make it very light on the tongue. My 6 year old grandson can lift it up.

I need to pull the boat forward on the trailer maybe 6-8 inches. I have the boat in the water now so I think I'll try to raise the front mount of the bunks first (the cross members are all welded), and push the winch forward and see what happens. I was hoping there was a roller of some sort that mounted there but maybe not. I've had the boat and trailer since new I'm the original owner but I've never noitced this till now. I usually look over the hull every spring.

 

[DJ]

Re: Boat hitting trailer, need help or ideas

Moving the boat forward on the trailer will actually help. It will float off at a different angle. I would try that first, besides proper tongue weight is very important.

As mentioned, backing the boat too deep will cause what you describe.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Boat hitting trailer, need help or ideas

have seen this many times... the boat hittting the trailer isn't the problem but rather it is the symptom....... Backing in too far is the problem

there are plenty of things you could add to the trailer but learning the proper depth to launch and retrieve will solve this...... Next is the reason you back in so far... You want the boat to slide on and off the trailer easily..... adjust the keel rollers to take part of the weight off the bunks and if needed add plastic bunk sliders. Life will get MUCH better for you, fish will line up for a chance at your hook and the ladies will beat down your door....... Or maybe you'll just look like a pro at the ramp..... Let us know which LOL

 

[snowman48047]

Re: Boat hitting trailer, need help or ideas

I'll try the not backing in so far approach and see what happens. There are no keel rollers...just one 8 foot bunk on each side. In the meantime I did move the boat forward and added the perma-temp padding. I think moving the boat forward made this issue worse, I also raised the front of the buks up maybe an inch. Now I have roughly 50 lbs on the tongue and it doesn't bounce so much..The boat is not torqued down with the winch in this pic.

 

[jjzepplin]

Re: Boat hitting trailer, need help or ideas

Rubber is better than metal hitting your boat and is much more forgiving. Kinda sounds like your boat was not set right on the trailer to start with.Looking at the pic, seems like your headed in the right direction just move that roller to come in contact with the boat or get a different one that does. Make sure your modification do not put excess stress on any one part of the hull. Weight should be evenly distributed .