Proper roller placement

[diaric]

I have a very flat bottomed 14' runabout. the trailer rollers don't seem to be placed very well. the rear set of 3 were way ahead of the transom and causing some hook to the hull( which I'll have to figure out how to repair). The pics show one side original and the other side that i've moved as well as the rear. There are also 5 keel rollers. Am I doing this correctly or should these roller packs be more to the sides as guides when trailering? I have a hard time getting this boat centred on the trailer.

 

[diaric]

Re: Proper roller placement

sorry,, can't seem to upload pics,, they are too large and having heck of a time resizing

 

[diaric]

Re: Proper roller placement

pics

 

[diaric]

Re: Proper roller placement

pics links

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k176/diaric/100_0158.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k176/diaric/100_0157.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k176/diaric/100_0156.jpg

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Proper roller placement

There are two problems that I see. Except for the keel rollers, the trailer does not lend itself to "helping" the boat center itself. Second, the outer groups of rollers appear to be fixed and provide no fore-aft or side-to-side movement like more modern roller trailers. In other words, the rollers look like they support the boat properly, but they provide little or no help with loading. They may actually hinder the loading process. I once owned a similar trailer and got rid of it quickly as it was simply not a good design. Shorelander, EZ Loader and others make very nice roller trailers. I'm on my third Shorelander. Launch and retrieval are a snap. Probably not what you wanted to hear but food for thought.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Proper roller placement

Is the winch at the front of the trailer adjustable? If so move it back about4 to 6 inches and your boat will not get hooked by the rearmost roller. Install some simple guide posts for loading which are easy to make or purchase them pre-made. I had a similar situation on a tri-hull and I made side guides with 2 X 4 that I had carpeted.

 

[diaric]

Re: Proper roller placement

no, the winch isn't adjustable. From the one picture you can see that i have moved the side set of rollers almost to the transom.from rapping on the hull i can tell that I'm on the a more solid part . I can take these rollers out and positon them to the outside of the frame and have them centre the boat better . Doing this, most of the weight will rest on the keel rollers. Should I do this or leave them where they've been moved to and add some guides as you've suggested? Thanks

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Proper roller placement

Although moving the rollers to the outside of the frame would likely help with the loading process, you would lose much of the support they provide. I would not do that.