is my trailer too short for my boat

[rookie456]

I bought a 1985 17 foot bluefin. It came with a 1982 continental trailer, which makes me think it wasnt the original trailer for the boat. The hooks on the transom are about 3-4 inches rearward of the hooks for the trailer. Should the hooks line up so that the transom and the trailer line up? I could push the winch bracket forward so that the transom moves forward, but that could posibly change the tounge weight of the trailer. This is my first boat, and would like to have it set up as safe as possible.

 

[Redneck_Randy]

Re: is my trailer too short for my boat

A picture sure would be nice

 

[rookie456]

Re: is my trailer too short for my boat

I've added a picture, isnt the best pic, its dark here now and this is the only one I had. Seems like the boat is overhanging the back end more than I thought. I know you cant see the winch in the pic, but I have about 4 inches of room to move that bracket forward.

 

[zopperman]

Re: is my trailer too short for my boat

Does it wag when you drive it?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: is my trailer too short for my boat

Well ideally you want to support the transom with the trailer.... I'd say move it forward those 4 inches and you'll likely be fine.... You definitely aren't what I would call unsafe tho. The bow is attached to keep the bow down and stop it from going forward... the stern is attached so as to keep the stern down and from going rearward... together those 3 attachment points trap the boat, so overhanging the rear a few inches doesn't matter from a safety viewpoint.

 

[sublauxation]

Re: is my trailer too short for my boat

Mine was set up like yours when I bought it. The one problem I had is the straps getting frayed where they rubbed on the transom. I moved the boat up a couple inches and then was able to slip some square tubing into the back of the trailer frame to extend them back a bit more so the straps just touch the transom without rubbing.

 

[zopperman]

Re: is my trailer too short for my boat

Well ideally you want to support the transom with the trailer.... I'd say move it forward those 4 inches and you'll likely be fine.... You definitely aren't what I would call unsafe tho. The bow is attached to keep the bow down and stop it from going forward... the stern is attached so as to keep the stern down and from going rearward... together those 3 attachment points trap the boat, so overhanging the rear a few inches doesn't matter from a safety viewpoint.

yes triangulating the support is very important... You can also throw a big ratchet across the middle if you're worried about the straps fraying..

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: is my trailer too short for my boat

Your trailer is setup fine. Moving it forward another 4" is fine also. The tie down points have really nothing to do with where the boat sits. If your stern straps go under the boat to connect to the trailer, that is fine and doesn't matter one bit. Obviously, moving the trailer forward will help support the stern a little better. It is a misconception, that a trailers bunks have to go all the way to the stern though.

 

[zopperman]

Re: is my trailer too short for my boat

Your trailer is setup fine. Moving it forward another 4" is fine also. The tie down points have really nothing to do with where the boat sits. If your stern straps go under the boat to connect to the trailer, that is fine and doesn't matter one bit. Obviously, moving the trailer forward will help support the stern a little better. It is a misconception, that a trailers bunks have to go all the way to the stern though.

it's not really a misconception... it's best for the trailer to take the full transom weight... it just doesn't HAVE to be in order to be safe..

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: is my trailer too short for my boat

Its a misconception, because the transom weight is not located just through out the transom. The transom is connected to the sides, the stringers, the bottom, etc etc. Have you ever seen a roller trailer come all the way back to the transom? As long as your distributing the weight evenly, it isn't going to hurt anything to be a few inches shy of the transom. Would you want to stop them 3 ft short,no, but a few inches isn't going to make a difference.

it's not really a misconception... it's best for the trailer to take the full transom weight... it just doesn't HAVE to be in order to be safe..