Replace roller with bunks?

[jspriddy]

This is a 15.5 aluminum bass boat with the trailer that came with it originally (I think). It's not hard to load if you have someone watching, but hitting this roller is a pain at best. Could this roller be replaced with a pair of close-spaced bunks (one on each side of the keel)? Or does the boat need this support under the keel itself? You can see where the rear bunks stop in the lower right of the picture.

Or, does anyone have any other ideas? Wider roller?

 

[Mikeyboy]

Re: Replace roller with bunks?

I am I no way an expert in this stuff but I'm sure you would be fine replacing that roller with two bunks.

 

[Pony]

Re: Replace roller with bunks?

I am guessing that you are driving onto the trailer to load??

I never have driven onto my trailer (or had a trailer set up for that for that matter) but I have always found that if the keel roller (the one closest to the winch post) is just out of the water the weight of the boat keeps in on that roller and I can just winch it the last few feet. The boat centers itself on the roller behind that. But like I said...I never drive on, so if you do, your loading experience is entirely different.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Replace roller with bunks?

Should be able to set up either one, wider roller or a set of center bunks. Either will work.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Replace roller with bunks?

I agree with Chiscraft there is no reason why you cant replace that roller with another set of centering bunks but a set of guide on posts at the rear of the trailer may be your best bet, flat bottom boats can be an issue to center properly

 

[jspriddy]

Re: Replace roller with bunks?

I agree with Chiscraft there is no reason why you cant replace that roller with another set of centering bunks but a set of guide on posts at the rear of the trailer may be your best bet, flat bottom boats can be an issue to center properly

CJ, Mikey & Chris: I should have posted another picture, but it does have guide-on's at the rear. My main concern is that I'll miss the roller and somehow hole the hull with the roller brackets. I think I'd just feel more confident with bunks instead. I've just got into boating and my experience as a kid always involved winching the boat up. I had no idea people "powered" them on.

Do you think a pair of short bunks would suffice? Or should they be about 3-4' like the rear bunks?

Thanks,

John

 

[jspriddy]

Re: Replace roller with bunks?

I am guessing that you are driving onto the trailer to load??

I never have driven onto my trailer (or had a trailer set up for that for that matter) but I have always found that if the keel roller (the one closest to the winch post) is just out of the water the weight of the boat keeps in on that roller and I can just winch it the last few feet. The boat centers itself on the roller behind that. But like I said...I never drive on, so if you do, your loading experience is entirely different.

I do drive on. All ramps are different, of course, but most of the time, if the roller was just barely visible, the rest of the trailer would be under water, making it harder to center the boat.

Thanks,

John

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Replace roller with bunks?

You could do a set of short bunks but I would put longer ones on to anchor the boat better to the trailer but then I drive like a man on fire so I'm all about strapping the trailer down for light speed!!

Longer ones may even take some of the guessing out loading the boat as well

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Replace roller with bunks?

That roller in the picture looks more like a bow roller than a keel roller. Most keel rollers are 5"-6" long and are calledd spool rollers. Go into te iboats store here and look at them.

Is that the only roller on the trailer?

 

[jspriddy]

Re: Replace roller with bunks?

You could do a set of short bunks but I would put longer ones on to anchor the boat better to the trailer but then I drive like a man on fire so I'm all about strapping the trailer down for light speed!!

Longer ones may even take some of the guessing out loading the boat as well

Well, I guess there's no reason not to go with longer ones, is there? I'll get under it today and do some measuring.

Thanks

 

[jspriddy]

Re: Replace roller with bunks?

That roller in the picture looks more like a bow roller than a keel roller. Most keel rollers are 5"-6" long and are calledd spool rollers. Go into te iboats store here and look at them.

Is that the only roller on the trailer?

It could be. Do you think it's the wrong roller for its position on the trailer?

Thanks,

John

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: Replace roller with bunks?

Probablt gonna start a war here. Oh, well here goes. All aluminum boats should have bunks under them. I know there are thousands of people using aluminum boats on rollers but,,,,,,,, If you have ever been in charge of the warranty department at an aluminum boat company and seen the amount of bottom damage caused by roller trailers. You would believe me. A lot of that is caused by overloading the boat beyond the capacity. I see picnic tables, extra boat motors, trees and shrubs, building materials, lawn mowers, chain saws, and the wood they cut, etc. every Friday going down the highway loaded in boats on the way to their cabin up North for the weekend.

 

[muskiemike12]

Re: Replace roller with bunks?

I would move that existing set of bunks out wider and put new longer bunks closer to the keel.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Replace roller with bunks?

Probablt gonna start a war here. Oh, well here goes. All aluminum boats should have bunks under them. I know there are thousands of people using aluminum boats on rollers but,,,,,,,, If you have ever been in charge of the warranty department at an aluminum boat company and seen the amount of bottom damage caused by roller trailers. You would believe me. A lot of that is caused by overloading the boat beyond the capacity. I see picnic tables, extra boat motors, trees and shrubs, building materials, lawn mowers, chain saws, and the wood they cut, etc. every Friday going down the highway loaded in boats on the way to their cabin up North for the weekend.

What kind of arguement are you trying to start? I'll call BS on your statement. I have a 28 year old Lund that has spent all but the last year on a keel roller trailer and there is not a bit of damage anywhere on the bottom of this boat! So if you are going to argue about overloaded trailers that happen to have a boat on them that is a whole different story and I have no pity for anyone that would do that and a situation like you mention it would make no difference what the hull is made from.

John, yeah that is the wrong roller. Again go to the iboats store on this website and look at rollers, Keel rollers and bow rollers and then decide for yourself.

 

[jspriddy]

Re: Replace roller with bunks?

I would move that existing set of bunks out wider and put new longer bunks closer to the keel.

OK. Should the existing bunks be moved out to what I've marked position "A"? And the new bunks start at the stern and come to "B", which is where the bow starts its upward sweep?

John

 

[jspriddy]

Re: Replace roller with bunks?

...John, yeah that is the wrong roller. Again go to the iboats store on this website and look at rollers, Keel rollers and bow rollers and then decide for yourself.

Bonz:

I'm going to look at all options. I think you're right about it being the wrong roller, though. It's just too hard to hit.

Thanks,

JOhn

 

[jspriddy]

Re: Replace roller with bunks?

Probablt gonna start a war here. Oh, well here goes. All aluminum boats should have bunks under them. ...

Thanks, George. I'm leaning in this direction. Appreciate your input, as well as all other's.

John

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Replace roller with bunks?

View attachment 143108

OK. Should the existing bunks be moved out to what I've marked position "A"? And the new bunks start at the stern and come to "B", which is where the bow starts its upward sweep?

John

Your stern bunks should be where they are already. They are in between the chines so that helps the boat stay on center. If you put the stern bunks on the outside of those chines you are asking for trouble. Just put yourself a new wide roller where the old one is now or a set of forward bunks and you will be good to go. I think in this case a set of forward bunks is your better option. The forward bunks about 3 to 4 feet long with the center mark front to back being where the roller is now should seve you well. Good luck.

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: Replace roller with bunks?

Sorry, I wasn't talking about using the keel rollers. I meant trailers with ALL rollers and no bunks at all. Even those can be OK if they are set up properly with all the rollers under transon and ribs, keel and keelsons. Unfortunately, unless they come from the boat manufacturer specific the model they usually are not set up correctly. You got a good trailer there and with some up the suggestions on here it will be very good for a long time to come.

 

[jspriddy]

Re: Replace roller with bunks?

All:

First, let me give a heartfelt thanks to everyone.

I'm going to check and measure this weekend to see what kind of brackets and such I need for two bunks alongside the keel. I may be back for more advice as this goes along. I just want to do away with that roller with its "brackets from hell" staring at me.

Thanks again,

John