Setting up trailer (please help quickly!!)

[dirtyoldman]

I have a 1969 Mark Twain Deep V boat (18' V sonic) and a 1978 Rolco Trailer. I have the boat off the trailer now fixing some cracks I believe to be from a misadjusted trailer. I have two cracks on one side of the boat. The big one is about 5' long. The other one is a fairly short one that had been improperly damaged previously.

The boat has four bunks and two rollers in the middle. Each roller has a horizontal section and an inclined roller on each side or it. The boat has a thick skeg?? That sits on the center roller and not the others. Forward of the front roller there is little support for the boat other than the winch and support.

I currently have the boat up on two cranes (too cool, right??) and was planning on lowering it on the trailer so that the rollers were touching but not supporting a lot of weight and adjust the bunks up until they are carrying weight as well. I was also considering removing the center roller, as it seems that a lot of weight is concentrated there and is causing flex on the trailer.

Lastly, The trailer is flush when loaded with the back of the bunks and there is zero tongue weight. I was planning on moving the axle back about 9" to adjust for this.

In conclusion:

1) Remove center roller or not?
2) How to adjust bunks?
3) Move axle or move winch?

Thanks a lot guys!! A quick response is greatly appreciated. I want to take the boat out this weekend!

 

[dirtyoldman]

Re: Setting up trailer (please help quickly!!)

Here's Pictures:

 

[jonesg]

Re: Setting up trailer (please help quickly!!)

if the tongue is long enough that the bow of the boat doesn't come through your back window then moving the winch stand is probably gonna be the simpler choice.

If you move the axles ( its got 2 right?) make sure you have an angle grinder with a good cutoff wheel, they often don't want to unscrew if they've seen saltwater. You might need some new U brackets if you have to start cutting too.

Thats why I prefer to move the winch if given a choice.

keep the keel rollers for centering on the bunks.
Thats a neat trailer.

 

[dirtyoldman]

Re: Setting up trailer (please help quickly!!)

if the tongue is long enough that the bow of the boat doesn't come through your back window then moving the winch stand is probably gonna be the simpler choice.

If you move the axles ( its got 2 right?) make sure you have an angle grinder with a good cutoff wheel, they often don't want to unscrew if they've seen saltwater. You might need some new U brackets if you have to start cutting too.

Thats why I prefer to move the winch if given a choice.

keep the keel rollers for centering on the bunks.
Thats a neat trailer.

I was worried about the fact that the rollers on the back would not be under the boat and that there would be no support for the boat between the front keel roller and the winch stand. Also, since the middle keel roller is horizontal, how does it center the boat?

 

[jonesg]

Re: Setting up trailer (please help quickly!!)

sounds like you takes your pick, move the axles or move the roller pivot bolt to keep the rear rollers under the stern.
A bevelled centering roller can make loading easier, if you don't have a problem you don't need one.

I find bunks make moving the weight easier, I left the rear of the bunks 12 inches extra long, good job because the boat needs to go back for balance, now all I need to do is move the winch post.

 

[dirtyoldman]

Re: Setting up trailer (please help quickly!!)

sounds like you takes your pick, move the axles or move the roller pivot bolt to keep the rear rollers under the stern.
A bevelled centering roller can make loading easier, if you don't have a problem you don't need one.

I find bunks make moving the weight easier, I left the rear of the bunks 12 inches extra long, good job because the boat needs to go back for balance, now all I need to do is move the winch post.

I got the axles moved last night - took about half an hour. I moved the bunks a little bit - but think I need to do some welding on the trailer to set it up properly.

Thanks for the help!