Ribbed or non ribbed?

sublauxation

Lieutenant
Joined
Oct 13, 2008
Messages
1,317
......wobble rollers? Any advantages, disadvantages or differences for an aluminum boat?
 

airshot

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 22, 2008
Messages
5,365
Can't say for sure, can only give you my experience...My 22' boat has sat on a roller trailer for its entire life (1983) and my trailer has a roller trailer with the smooth type rollers. From visual comparisons only the mooth appear to be a larger dia than the rollers with notches in them. By feel the notch rollers appear to be much harder rubber/plastic material then the smooth rollers, which mine are truly rubber. You need to be sure you have plenty of rollers to keep from denting your hull and their placement is also critical. On my boat the rollers are spaced where a cross rib goes and I have no dents in my hull. Also be sure the stern rollers do come back to the stern of the boat for proper support due to weight of motor. A lot of people out there do not prefer rollers for aluminum hulls but....if properly setup and maintained you should have no issues....I haven't in 35 years.
 

H20Rat

Vice Admiral
Joined
Mar 8, 2009
Messages
5,204
So... Many... Comments... Your thread title is just asking me to be banned on a family friendly forum!

My experience is that the ribbed rollers tend to last longer, smooth/solid ones tend to crack.
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,082
Ayuh,.... Donno, the only ones I've changed, I took off rotten broken black ones, 'n installed pretty new yellow ones,....
 

airshot

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 22, 2008
Messages
5,365
Hey Bondo ....do they make wobble rollers in the yellow plastic polymer stuff?? Can't say I have saw them, trailer keel rollers and winch stop rollers yes but wobble rollers?
 

sublauxation

Lieutenant
Joined
Oct 13, 2008
Messages
1,317
You can even get orange, and if you order from Australia they have some pretty red and blue ones too!

So I'm guessing no real difference? Seem the smooth ones may give a little bigger contact point.
 

airshot

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 22, 2008
Messages
5,365
Well what do ya know....learn something new everyday and ya know the price is pretty good also!
 
Top