Trailer winch tower bow stop adjustment

[70Cougar]

We took out our brand new used boat ('86 Sea Sprite 175) this past weekend. While towing I noticed the boat seemed to bounce a lot. After looking at the trailer, talking to a friend, and looking online I think what I need to do is adjust the winch tower / bow stop so the bow is tight against the roller. I'm looking for some input on how I should achieve this. I'm not sure if I should lower the winch tower (there is already a hole about 2" below where the bolt goes through now), move the winch tower forward, or both. As you can see the winch is really close to the tip of the bow now & I really don't like that.

This trailer (made by Hercules Custom Trailers, Lawrenceburg, KY), which I believe was the original one for the boat but don't know for sure, has the winch higher than the bow stop roller and is the opposite of the newer trailers I've seen. Also, the bow stop roller is not one solid piece of rubber like you see now, it has rubber on each end & a metal sleeve over the bolt in the middle. So, should I get a new style bow stop roller as well?

 

[muskiemike12]

Re: Trailer winch tower bow stop adjustment

Try putting the strap under the roller when you crank it up. I would put one more bolt in there also. That winch stand does not look right. It should be straight, not angled I would think.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Trailer winch tower bow stop adjustment

We took out our brand new used boat ('86 Sea Sprite 175) this past weekend. While towing I noticed the boat seemed to bounce a lot. After looking at the trailer, talking to a friend, and looking online I think what I need to do is adjust the winch tower / bow stop so the bow is tight against the roller. I'm looking for some input on how I should achieve this. I'm not sure if I should lower the winch tower (there is already a hole about 2" below where the bolt goes through now), move the winch tower forward, or both. As you can see the winch is really close to the tip of the bow now & I really don't like that.

This trailer (made by Hercules Custom Trailers, Lawrenceburg, KY), which I believe was the original one for the boat but don't know for sure, has the winch higher than the bow stop roller and is the opposite of the newer trailers I've seen. Also, the bow stop roller is not one solid piece of rubber like you see now, it has rubber on each end & a metal sleeve over the bolt in the middle. So, should I get a new style bow stop roller as well?

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First of all that strap should be winding from underneath the winch. Not over the top like it is now.That looks like a homemade contraption which in my opinion is going to be more involved versus buying a new one.The winch seems to be leaning in towards the boat and when you pull the put to the stop like it should be the winch is going to hit.You see where i am going with this?When the boat is all the way to the stop, the bow eye should be just below it. Isn't going to happen with that setup.

You need something on this configuration.

You can look on iboats site and see if they have them or go below if not

www.trailerpartsdepot.com/
I saw one on there that might work for you for $100.00 bucks complete.
List Price: $127.50
Our Price: $99.45
Item Code: 6198.87

 

[70Cougar]

Re: Trailer winch tower bow stop adjustment

First of all that strap should be winding from underneath the winch. Not over the top like it is now.That looks like a homemade contraption which in my opinion is going to be more involved versus buying a new one.The winch seems to be leaning in towards the boat and when you pull the put to the stop like it should be the winch is going to hit.You see where i am going with this?When the boat is all the way to the stop, the bow eye should be just below it. Isn't going to happen with that setup.

OK, so I should think about just replacing the whole winch & bow stop roller?

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Trailer winch tower bow stop adjustment

OK, so I should think about just replacing the whole winch & bow stop roller?

In my opinion yes.Look how my winch is below the bow stop. It won't hit the boat on launching or retrieval. Your is going to hit even when the boat is just setting there.

 

[70Cougar]

Re: Trailer winch tower bow stop adjustment

OK thanks. Also, after looking at the website link you sent & thinking of MuskieMike12's comment, I'm now wondering if the winch stand on there now isn't backwards also. Mine is leaning TOWARD the boat & the ones on the trailer parts website lean AWAY, or at most are straight up.

 

[muskiemike12]

Re: Trailer winch tower bow stop adjustment

I think you are right about being on there bassackwards. You will probably have to move the jack stand to where the spare tire is and move the tire to the other side or just back farther.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Trailer winch tower bow stop adjustment

The winch would have to be turned upside down compared to the way it is now. Don't know how your going to do that. It looks as if it's all welded.Nothing changes by moving things around.The angle of the winch is wrong. If that homemade brkt that the winch is on had been oriented downwards rather then up it might have worked. Look at your pic.#3. No matter where you move the winch stand nothing changes other then the boat being more forward or rearward. Notice how much room you have between the boat and the roller. If you move the boat to the roller like it should be, where do you think that winch is going to be? From looking at your pic's it appears it's going to be in the gel coat. Then when you trailer it what happens then. The boat from what i can see look's to be in nice shape. Why not get what should be there.Take notice where the winch is in relation to the bow roller on the new ones. Or just look at mine.You can bring the boat up as far as you can get it and it will never hit the winch.

 

[cribber]

Re: Trailer winch tower bow stop adjustment

I'd definitely say you should replace your winch stand. They're usually a single piece and not bolted in the middle like your setup. Looks like someone tried to bolt two mismatched pieces of square stock.

 

[muskiemike12]

Re: Trailer winch tower bow stop adjustment

Sorry to say, but you are wrong ensign. The top of the winch stand is seperate from the bottom. The OP needs to flop the bottom part of the stand and re-bolt the top. It is fine if the strap comes off the top of the winch. That is not the problem.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Trailer winch tower bow stop adjustment

Sorry to say, but you are wrong ensign. The top of the winch stand is seperate from the bottom. The OP needs to flop the bottom part of the stand and re-bolt the top. It is fine if the strap comes off the top of the winch. That is not the problem.

How does flopping the bottom and re bolting the top change anything? If you look better at the #3 pic you would see that there is even a flat plate welded on it.Can't see that working any time soon.Or do you mean turning it 180 degrees?Ya that might put the bow roller somewhere around or on the rub rail.

 

[muskiemike12]

Re: Trailer winch tower bow stop adjustment

Sorry I meant 180 degrees. The height is adjustable on it. I bet it works and it does look original to the rest of the trailer.

 

[70Cougar]

Re: Trailer winch tower bow stop adjustment

Thanks for the input everyone! I don't mind buying a new setup if need be, but the winch stand seems to be original to the trailer, although it's almost 30 years old & you never know what's been done to it. I wonder if someone took it apart to fix or paint it & then forgot how it should be. A lot of the stuff seems bassackwards on there. The spare is on the left side (same side your winch handle is on) & usually they're on the right, the tongue jack is right up against the winch tower, and you shuld've seen the wiring that had splices of different colored wire just twisted together and not even taped! Anyway, the main upright that bolts to the trailer frame is seperate from the winch plate / bow stop & it slips over the main upright, bolts into place, and is adjustable for height by putting the bolt in different holes on the main upright.

I think this weekend I'll unbolt the 2 U-bolts, turn the main upright of the stand 180 degrees (the winch plate & bow stop roller will keep same orientation), which should make it angle away from the boat, & see how that matches up. I believe that will also then make the winch sit lower than the bow roller.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Trailer winch tower bow stop adjustment

70cougar, the winch post you have on your trailer is a very poor design and does not match well with your boat. Bow angle is just too steep for it. I would look for a different one or have the top part modified so that the winch is on the opposite side of the post with the bow stop above the winch strap.

If there is nothing wrong with the winch itself then don't replace it.

Makes no difference if the strap is coming off the top or the bottom. Mine comes off the top because it has to because that is the way it winds on because my handle is on the right side of the winch post. It also alows me to keep more pressure on the strap as I start to winch it up. No I do not drive onto the trailer because I always use the tilt function of my trailer.

Makes no difference which way the post leans either. I've seen some very exspensive trailers that have them leaning forward! As long as it's secure is all that matters.

 

[90stingray]

Re: Trailer winch tower bow stop adjustment



Here's another pic of a winch post just to help. Mine is adjustable... i had to do some work to make it like it is... but it works good now. I think you can work with what you have. Just need someone with some welding / fab skills.

 

[70Cougar]

Re: Trailer winch tower bow stop adjustment

Thanks again everyone! I'm anxious to start experimenting with it now. I'll play with it in the next few days and let everyone know what I come up with.

 

[70Cougar]

Re: Trailer winch tower bow stop adjustment

Well I lowered the winch stand to the bottom hole, installed a new Poly bow stop roller, and threw some paint over it. The boat sat well against the stop roller & towed SO much better. I loved not having the boat want to bounce when we went over a big bump. It's hard to tell from the pictures, but there was plenty of clearance between the winch and the bow, so I was happy with that to. After we put the boat back on the trailer the hook on the winch strap didn't want to go under the bow stop roller, so the bow is again not touching the stop roller, but it is still a lot better than before. I need to do some more adjusting, and if I still can't get it to work, then I'll be buying a new set up.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Trailer winch tower bow stop adjustment

Well I lowered the winch stand to the bottom hole, installed a new Poly bow stop roller, and threw some paint over it. The boat sat well against the stop roller & towed SO much better. I loved not having the boat want to bounce when we went over a big bump. It's hard to tell from the pictures, but there was plenty of clearance between the winch and the bow, so I was happy with that to. After we put the boat back on the trailer the hook on the winch strap didn't want to go under the bow stop roller, so the bow is again not touching the stop roller, but it is still a lot better than before. I need to do some more adjusting, and if I still can't get it to work, then I'll be buying a new set up.



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Situate the strap so it winds and unwinds under the winch not over the top. It is winding on wrong.

 

[70Cougar]

Re: Trailer winch tower bow stop adjustment

Thanks Thalasso, Do you know how I can get it to do that? I tried briefly to get it to roll from the bottom, but it kept going to the top. I should mention this had a steel cable on it when I got it, and I drilled a hole, installed the retainer bolt, and installed the strap. Could that be the problem?

Also Thalasso, I'm guessing your signature indicates you were in Vietnam. I guess You have some pretty great stories?

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Trailer winch tower bow stop adjustment

Situate the strap so it winds and unwinds under the winch not over the top. It is winding on wrong.

Can you please explain why it is winding on wrong?