Solo hand loading boat question

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Solo hand loading boat question

BTW: Drill a small hole (about 1/8 to 3/16 inch) centered in the bottom of both crossmembers under the keel rollers. No matter what you do, water will get into the crossmembers and collect there. Eventually it rusts out the crossmember right under the rollers.

Yeah! I have that trailer model too with 12 inch tires. I removed both bogeys and replaced them with bunks. I drilled the axle carrier angle irons and added center rollers both front and rear

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Solo hand loading boat question

If you can't winch the boat onto that trailer no matter how shallow you probably have roller issues.... a roller trailer should be nearly effortless to winch the boat off of dry ground let alone floating.... general consensus for salt is just touch the water with the last roller and winch it on

make sure the rollers and their axles are free... rusted up stuff doesn't roll worth a darn

EDIT: actually looking again your rear roller frame looks to be bent on the left side.... that can't be doing you any favors

 

[DarrellK]

Re: Solo hand loading boat question

If you can't winch the boat onto that trailer no matter how shallow you probably have roller issues.... a roller trailer should be nearly effortless to winch the boat off of dry ground let alone floating.... general consensus for salt is just touch the water with the last roller and winch it on

make sure the rollers and their axles are free... rusted up stuff doesn't roll worth a darn

EDIT: actually looking again your rear roller frame looks to be bent on the left side.... that can't be doing you any favors

Thanks for the advice. there is some rust and the rollers aren't excatly "free" rolling. I believe you are correct, I do have a roller issue. The frame just looks that way in the picture; both sides are flared the same (it's that sweet 1978 design man!).

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Solo hand loading boat question

free up those rollers and you'll have a whole new trailer... glad to hear it's not bent..... nothing wrong with the 70's... I'm a '74 model myself lol

 

[DarrellK]

Re: Solo hand loading boat question

I freed up the rollers and backed in just until the rear keel rollers were above the water and it worked great. The boat loaded the best ever (and in a day of chop none the less). Thank you Frank, Smoke, and God. Now I face a new challenge: since freeing up the rollers, the boat just wants to run off the rollers. As a result, I cannot get any slack in my winch strap to release it. My method the other day was unconventional and I would like some advice. Thanks.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Solo hand loading boat question

To keep the boat from rolling back on the trailer and keeping the winch tight:


Attach a line to a front cleat, or the bow eye, and wrap it around the winch post a few times, holding it tight.
THen release the winch and feed out enough to unhook it from the bow eye.

Then unwrap the line from the post and the boat will be free.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Solo hand loading boat question

OK I'll bite. What did you do and what would you like to know?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Solo hand loading boat question

I freed up the rollers and backed in just until the rear keel rollers were above the water and it worked great. The boat loaded the best ever (and in a day of chop none the less). Thank you Frank, Smoke, and God. Now I face a new challenge: since freeing up the rollers, the boat just wants to run off the rollers. As a result, I cannot get any slack in my winch strap to release it. My method the other day was unconventional and I would like some advice. Thanks.

I generally climb in the boat n start the engine... put it in forward gear at idle n then unhook the winch... Then I simply pull it to neutral n roll off the trailer

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Solo hand loading boat question

My ramp is fairly level, so I am lucky in that I can back in just a bit, disconnect the strap and give it a push. I also pre-tie the aft and bow lines to the dock, then when the boat is floating, walk it down the dock, re-tie the bow and aft linesback, start the boat and let it run at fast idle while I park the truck

on steep ramps, I do one loop from the bow line around the post, disconnect the winch line, then undo the bow line, allowing the boat to roll off in a controlled manor.

 

[DarrellK]

Re: Solo hand loading boat question

To keep the boat from rolling back on the trailer and keeping the winch tight:


Attach a line to a front cleat, or the bow eye, and wrap it around the winch post a few times, holding it tight.
THen release the winch and feed out enough to unhook it from the bow eye.

Then unwrap the line from the post and the boat will be free.

Thanks all. I guess I wasn't too far off from what roscoe suggests. I attached a rope to the bow eye and tied it around the neck of my trailer jack. Fed out and unhooked the winch strap and let the boat out off the bow line. Wrapping the bow rope around the winch post seems like a better idea than the jack neck. Getting in and starting the boat to idle is not an option. My engine is a 1978 Volvo Penta, they do not have chokes. It takes some love to warm this engine up and I don't think others want to wait while I do so at the ramp.