vertical guides / goal post style guide question

[ctswf]

I made a set of goal post style trailer guides out of an aluminum ladder stabilizer and PVC.

It doesn't look to much different than "real" ones I have seen.

How close do you mount them? There is some flex, should they be tight to the boat and flex as I pull in, or should I stay off like 2" on each side, if so should I eliminate the flex so they can actually guide the boat in or are they more for a visual reference?

Thanks

 

[oldjeep]

Re: vertical guides / goal post style guide question

On my Malibu trailer they are 2-3" off each side of the boat. Enough to get it into the right place in the water but not be rubbing on the boat when it is out of the water.

You don't want them to flex, mine are steel and they are designed to keep the boat in place.

You can kind of see the spacing in this picture:

 

[rsmitty814]

Re: vertical guides / goal post style guide question

I made the same thing this year. Much cheaper than buying from trailer/outdoor store. I have them about 1 " off the rub rail. I use more for seeing the trailer when retrieving the boat. I used 2" pvc and the "ladder stabilizer" runs about 24" up into the pvc. It does flex but is stiff enough to right the boat when loaded a little off center.

 

[bspeth]

Re: vertical guides / goal post style guide question

I would space them the same distance of the bumpers you use while at the dock. I always forget mine are out and one gets inbetween the boat and the guide.I am always like "back up a little more hun" then I realize.

 

[Pony]

Re: vertical guides / goal post style guide question

On my Malibu trailer they are 2-3" off each side of the boat. Enough to get it into the right place in the water but not be rubbing on the boat when it is out of the water.

You don't want them to flex, mine are steel and they are designed to keep the boat in place.

X2 on that post....

My guides aren't the taller vertical type like the PVC ones or oldjeep's, they are just the ones you see on the side of the trailer in my signature picture. Obviously they are stiff and are meant to keep the boat aligned and in place.

I too like to have goal posts to drive through since my guides can be tough to see....so I made some removable ones that store in the truck bed.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: vertical guides / goal post style guide question

I made mine from 1.5" x1/8" wall square tube steel... Two uprights on each side and a 2x6 bunk about 3' long.... I put them a few inches below the rub rail and made em about 4" narrower than the boat so each flexes out 2" when I load