rollers or bunks which carries the weight

[Maclin]

Re: rollers or bunks which carries the weight

Sounds really good. Seems like you were about to have all that act up on you very soon, glad you got to it now.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: rollers or bunks which carries the weight

Congrats on your project. Good find on those rotting bunks. Now only you can judge if you've gotten it right by actually using it! Once finished I judge the final work by how smoothly it loads and unloads and how much effort it take to winch it on

One thought for you to add to all the confussion. I have seen a number of hulls were the keel angles up at the stern. Though I have never had to deal with this type I think I would have left the stern roller even with the rest so that as the boat moves back on launch the keel is not being raised off of the middle roller. On a light weight boat such as ours I don't believe that it will make as whole lot of difference in the weight loading between the hull and the trailer or put any more stress on the transom. But should make loading and unloading easier and not subjecting the stern roller and front roller to more weight if the middle roller is not making contact.

Make sense?

If the stern roller was even and level with the other 2 how far would you have to move the boat on the trailer before the stern roller would make contact with the keel again? A few inches or a lot more?

 

[belairbrian]

Re: rollers or bunks which carries the weight

bonz-d I think your right. From the roller to the bottom of the keel is about 6 inches. The keel is going to ride up. Considering I extended the bunks to the stern the roller could be lowered.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: rollers or bunks which carries the weight

Yeah I know it goes against everything I say about the position of the rollers, but looking at the whole picture in my mind it makes more sense. My belief is that the rollers should support some of the weight and at the same time aid in the ease of loading and unloading the boat.

 

[JimS123]

Re: rollers or bunks which carries the weight

I follow my rules religiously, but then again some things change. My current Starcraft has a slight rise in the keel at the transom. I set her up perfectly and couldn't figure why I had a problem pushing her off. She would move an inch, then stop. Then I noticed that the keel rose an inch right at the transom. So, I turned the aft roller around so it hit the keel just before the rise. Still plenty of support. Now, as soon as I unhook the winch she rolls off by herself.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: rollers or bunks which carries the weight

Great solution Jim.
Question. Did you move the roller bracket to the inside of the rear crossmember or reverse the brackets? How do those brackets mount to the trailer? I'll have to keep this in mind should I ever get in that situation.

 

[JimS123]

Re: rollers or bunks which carries the weight

Great solution Jim.
Question. Did you move the roller bracket to the inside of the rear crossmember or reverse the brackets? How do those brackets mount to the trailer? I'll have to keep this in mind should I ever get in that situation.

I moved it to the inside of the crossmember. Just shimmed it and used the same u-bolts.

 

[belairbrian]

Re: rollers or bunks which carries the weight

I moved it to the inside of the crossmember. Just shimmed it and used the same u-bolts.

I was looking at doing that as well, but my rear crossmember is a"C" channel not a full box. I could weld a piece of flat stock to the front and use longer U-bolts (or even a different bracket). That would move the roller under the keel at a point equal to the other 2 rollers.

Truthfully I'd like to replace all three roller brackets. The current ones are Large Aluminum "U"s with the roller across the top. They are held to the frame by 2 u bolts which clamp the bracket to frame. When I pulled them off they were all bent and had to be straightened.

Was thinking something like these

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: rollers or bunks which carries the weight

Just to add to the fray. I just had my 10,000lb trailer's axles replaced after 15 years of excellent service. I asked the manufacturer to replace the yellow stoltz roller which had badly rusted shafts. He indicated that they no longer use the rollers and suggested I use the poly glides the now use. They are essentially 6x24" pads that sit on top of the cross beams where the rollers used to reside. My only concern is trapping saltwater between the pad and the frame causing corrosion. Other than that I like the zero maintenance aspect of no rollers.

They also make military trailers. Mine is just like the ones in the picture. Here's the link http://www.boatmastertrailers.com/


The first picture is of my trailer the other much cooler! Notice no rollers

 

[JimS123]

Re: rollers or bunks which carries the weight

I was looking at doing that as well, but my rear crossmember is a"C" channel not a full box. I could weld a piece of flat stock to the front and use longer U-bolts (or even a different bracket). That would move the roller under the keel at a point equal to the other 2 rollers.

Truthfully I'd like to replace all three roller brackets. The current ones are Large Aluminum "U"s with the roller across the top. They are held to the frame by 2 u bolts which clamp the bracket to frame. When I pulled them off they were all bent and had to be straightened.

Was thinking something like these

That's the brackets I have. I bought them aftermarket. It was a bunk trailer that I converted to roller. I have C channel as well. The "shim" I used was merely bushing that covered the bolts so that the "C" wouldn't collapse.

 

[JimS123]

Re: rollers or bunks which carries the weight

Just to add to the fray. I just had my 10,000lb trailer's axles replaced after 15 years of excellent service. I asked the manufacturer to replace the yellow stoltz roller which had badly rusted shafts. He indicated that they no longer use the rollers and suggested I use the poly glides the now use. They are essentially 6x24" pads that sit on top of the cross beams where the rollers used to reside. My only concern is trapping saltwater between the pad and the frame causing corrosion. Other than that I like the zero maintenance aspect of no rollers.

They also make military trailers. Mine is just like the ones in the picture. Here's the link http://www.boatmastertrailers.com/


The first picture is of my trailer the other much cooler! Notice no rollers

View attachment 170200

View attachment 170197

Mine came with pads as well. Threw them in the garbage. Rather ROLL than SLIDE.

I admit I'm in freshwater so the salt is not an issue. Regardless, because of the rollers I don't have to dunk them anyway.

 

[pootnic]

Re: rollers or bunks which carries the weight

The information giving is probably your best bet....
I just wanted to say,there are thousands of boat trailers with only 1 roller and of coarse the majority of the weight(stern) sits on bunks....especially for smaller lighter boats > like yours.

 

[JimS123]

Re: rollers or bunks which carries the weight

The information giving is probably your best bet....
I just wanted to say,there are thousands of boat trailers with only 1 roller and of coarse the majority of the weight(stern) sits on bunks....especially for smaller lighter boats > like yours.

You're right! And all those boats are just fine. Just like all the boats with all the weight on the rollers are just fine.

The issue in my mind is how easy is it to launch? And how much trouble will you have? Do you care if you get your feet wet and / or have to back the car in so far that the exhaust is bubbling? Do you strain your back every time you try to push it off? Do you have to power load and mess up the ramp?

Boating is supposed to be fun. If launching is a PITA its no fun.

PS - This morning was a madhouse at the launch. Seems like everyone was taking the boat out for the winter. Those thousand you talked about were all here this morning struggling along....LOL.