Boat won't properly load onto trailer

[Twhjelmgren28]

I have a mid-80's 16.5' fish and ski on a Spartan trailer - I'm pretty sure it's the original trailer the boat came on.

For some reason it always loads unevenly onto the trailer - If looking at the front of the boat, the boat is always shifted up to the right. While loading, it appears it's going on straight but by the time it gets to the single center roller (towards front of trailer), it's shifted up on the right. Subsequently, it is shifted right once it gets to the bow stop. I can then winch it tight into the bow stop so it looks centered there but then looking in the rear-view the boat is pretty uneven...

The trailer itself has 2 guides on the back, a couple sets of rollers on each side, a center roller towards the front, and then the bow stop. It's always shifted up the right, never the left. I can post pictures of it later...

Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Simple_Man]

We need pics of your rig from all sides.

 

[Sprig]

The problem could be a lot of things but what I see most often causing this problem is backing the trailer too far into the water. If the boat is completely floating on the trailer, every time you pull out of the launch ramp the boat will move over to one side or the other. The secrete is to back the trailer into the water just far enough so that you have to winch the boat onto the trailer the last 3 or 4 feet. The boat will then right itself perfectly on the trailer. The problem could could be that you need to adjust the height or angle of the rollers or bunks. Really need to see pictures.

 

[David Young]

I'm also thinking, he is too deep in the water.

 

[airshot]

Yep I'll third that motion......

 

[sutor623]

I used to have this issue. I have a relatively heavy boat. The old rule was to keep 1/2 of the bunks out of the water so that the boat tracked right coming back up onto the trailer. Buy with a heavy boat it wouldnt want to come up. Back farther into the water and the boat doesnt line up right coming out of the water.

Sooooo, I fixed that issue with trailer guides. Now I can back the trailer into the water so deep that it takes little effort to winch it up to the bow stop. When you pull out the guides keep the boat centered and the boat drops itself perfectly onto the bunks. Very simple!!

 

[Twhjelmgren28]

Thanks for all of the replies...I do back the trailer in quite a ways. I'll experiment with not backing in as far.

I fixed that issue with trailer guides. Now I can back the trailer into the water so deep that it takes little effort to winch it up to the bow stop. When you pull out the guides keep the boat centered and the boat drops itself perfectly onto the bunks. Very simple!!

I do have guides on each side of the back of the trailer...perhaps I'll see if I can adjust them a bit closer together or something. I don't have any bunks, just rollers.

Thanks again for all of the replies.

 

[sutor623]

Yea just tighten those guides up until they ride both edges of the boat. Obviously this only works if your boat is centered.

 

[jimmbo]

With some trailers, this is more than deep enough

 

[brian4321]

I was having that problem too till I figured out if I don't back in as far it loads straight every time... especially if there's a crosswind

 

[Grandad]

For some reason it always loads unevenly onto the trailer - If looking at the front of the boat, the boat is always shifted up to the right. While loading, it appears it's going on straight but by the time it gets to the single center roller (towards front of trailer), it's shifted up on the right. Subsequently, it is shifted right once it gets to the bow stop. I can then winch it tight into the bow stop so it looks centered there but then looking in the rear-view the boat is pretty uneven...

The trailer itself has 2 guides on the back, a couple sets of rollers on each side, a center roller towards the front, and then the bow stop. It's always shifted up the right, never the left.

Just reading between the lines, it sounds like you're power loading. Don't use the engine to load. Try just winching the boat onto the trailer. The winch literally leads the boat by the nose and combined with trailer guides near the stern, the boat has no choice but to center up properly. - Grandad

 

[Simple_Man]

You are most definitely putting the trailer in to deep. with a roller trailer you don't need much in the water. and I agree with Grandad NO POWER LOADING it ruins ramps! winch it on and it will center every time.

 

[hz293]

I've got guides on the rear and the front. Problem solved.

 

[Simple_Man]

good glad you got it figured out