Keel rollers?

[Riley1840]

Back to the well of knowledge. First thank you to all that have been answering my questions.
I would like to know if I need any support under my keel while on trailer. I have attached some pictures. As you can see the boat is entirely supported by the bunks. Have only pulled on road once other then a little bounce at bow it road well. Took care of bounce by moving winch block
[ something I learned here]. The gap between keel and trailer is 1\4 inch .

 

[alldodge]

In most cases the keel rollers are not used to support weight, they are there to protect the keel when the boat is loaded and unloaded. Once boat is in position the keel will not touch them

 

[Riley1840]

So adding a keel roller has some benefits. There not that expensive so think I will get one. Thank you for reply.

 

[Mad Dog 2]

So adding a keel roller has some benefits. There not that expensive so think I will get one. Thank you for reply.

Any spot you can put a roller is good idea to protect the keel. I use widest rollers that fit.

I have always tried to put most of the load on the keel because it is the strongest point. Then I adjust the bunks to carry some of the load. I think of the purpose of the bunks is balancing the boat on the trailer.

I would like to hear and understand the think behind:
“ In most cases the keel rollers are not used to support weight, …………. Once boat is in position the keel will not touch them”

 

[alldodge]

I would like to hear and understand the think behind:
“ In most cases the keel rollers are not used to support weight, …………. Once boat is in position the keel will not touch them”

Most all keel roller pins are no more then 1/2 and the weight of the boat sitting on a small area maybe the size of a quarter at most. That small an area can crack the gelcoat. A heavy boat such as the ones I have and do have can bend the pins

So if you have a light boat or one with aluminum hull it will be of no concern

 

[Riley1840]

Most all keel roller pins are no more then 1/2 and the weight of the boat sitting on a small area maybe the size of a quarter at most. That small an area can crack the gelcoat. A heavy boat such as the ones I have and do have can bend the pins

So if you have a light boat or one with aluminum hull it will be of no concern

Sorry forgot say mine is aluminum, I was concerned about the weight sitting only on bunks.

 

[Mad Dog 2]

Most all keel roller pins are no more then 1/2 and the weight of the boat sitting on a small area maybe the size of a quarter at most. That small an area can crack the gelcoat. A heavy boat such as the ones I have and do have can bend the pins

So if you have a light boat or one with aluminum hull it will be of no concern

I have always had light boats.
The poly/rubber rollers do increase the supported area (pounds/inch).

Your point is supported by some modern boat manufacturer clearly stated publicly that they require the traditional bunks and prohibit “bunk rollers”. Also several boat manufacturers supply fitted trailers that do not have keel rollers only traditional bunks.
I have seen keel rollers damaged by excessive weight.
Thanks for your follow up comments.

 

[airshot]

As an aluminum only boat owner, I use all the rollers I can to support the hull. My last two trailers gave been all roller trailers, no bunks. If the roller is causing damage to the keel or hull, then you don't have enough rollers ! I can see where fiberglass hulls might have a different thoughts about support. As for the original poster, I could see a self centering roller at that point in the trailer frame, added one to mine and it made a big difference in loading !

 

[Renken2000Classic]

My middle one apparently does nothing but scratch the hull (the mounting bracket corner of it) if I try to recover the boat by rolling it on and it's not exactly centered. It doesn't support any weight with it loaded.

There's one more forward and one more rearward (each attached to a pivoting "U" with two smaller rollers more outboard), that both support weight.

Dunking deeper and floating the boat off and on solved the scraping risk thing.

 

[airshot]

My middle one apparently does nothing but scratch the hull (the mounting bracket corner of it) if I try to recover the boat by rolling it on and it's not exactly centered. It doesn't support any weight with it loaded.

There's one more forward and one more rearward (each attached to a pivoting "U" with two smaller rollers more outboard), that both support weight.

Dunking deeper and floating the boat off and on solved the scraping risk thing.

Good set of side guides, adjusted properly will prevent the scraping as well by keeping the boat centered at all times. Loading depth is also critical as you have discovered.

 

[cyclops222]

My small Aluminum, has several keel rollers. 4 Guide On Posts. And a hand winch. 4 full length bunks. The 4 guides center the boat perfectly. Done

 

[JimS123]

As an aluminum only boat owner, I use all the rollers I can to support the hull. My last two trailers gave been all roller trailers, no bunks. If the roller is causing damage to the keel or hull, then you don't have enough rollers ! I can see where fiberglass hulls might have a different thoughts about support. As for the original poster, I could see a self centering roller at that point in the trailer frame, added one to mine and it made a big difference in loading !

THAT's the correct answer. If the bunks are adjusted properly you don't need to protect the keel. Adding keel rollers is done to make launching and loading easier.

Properly adjusted keel rollers should take most of the weight. Side bunks are only to keep the boat from tipping over. If your keel can't take the weight you have a rotten hull.

I built my first boat (and trailer) in 1968. As a young novice I went to the library and read the "Trailer Boater's Manual". What I just said mirrors what I learned way back when. For the last 56 years I have set up every boat I ever bought the very same way. Never damaged a hull, and when people watch me at the launch ramp they usually look with mouths open.

The way trailers are made these days is to make them cheap, not to be user friendly. Back in the 1970's EZLoader came out with a new design. Worked great. To make sales, their competitors made them cheaper by drastically reducing the number of rollers. The result was dented hulls and that's why the new generation thinks rollers are bad.

 

[cyclops222]

If people who have never been taught CORRECTLY how to set up all the DIFFERENT types of trailers want to do it themselves ????? You may be repairing he boat bottom and the trailer. During your learning curve.
Your boat to do whatever you want to.