boat not loading straight!

[js361]

Any advice out there for a guy who can't seem to get his boat to load evenly onto the keel roller of a roller model trailer, even on a CALM day, with out wind & the trailer evenly in the water? I've had people on the lake tell me everything from "the trailer can only be with the lights in the water"...to "the whole thing has to be submerged!" Neither worked. Could this be an issue of needing to distribute my gear weight on the boat better......or should I just start shopping for a new trailer? It's a 1995 Spartan trailer, just F.Y.I.

 

[jtexas]

Re: boat not loading straight!

Depth has a lot to do with it. Trial and error. Approach slowly and if you see you're off-center, abort and go around, corrections are just about impossible.

Go to the ramp on a weekday when traffic is light and work it out...once you learn the right depth you'll get it every time. Probably shallower than you think it should be.

Do you power load?
Do you have guide-ons?

Also try two of these:

self centering keel rollers.

Made all the difference for me!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: boat not loading straight!

Too deep means the boat can float all over and miss the keel rollers. Too shallow and you have to be spot on as the keel hits the keel rollers first. You should be deep enough so the side wobble rollers hit first. On my Shorelander, I back in until the back edges of the fenders just touch the water. This allows the side rollers to force the boat to center itself. I rarely have a problem.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: boat not loading straight!

i have replaced the 2 back rollers on my trailers, with the self centering type and this has solved all my problems.

 

[levittownnick]

Re: boat not loading straight!

I have a '98 Load Rite trailer with wobble rollers. From day 1 it never loaded dead on (I don't drive on, I use the winch.). The dealer claims that a "small" offset is normal. I finally accepted that. I really don't see any problems being caused by the offset.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: boat not loading straight!

I find that it is real easy to get within an inch either way of the keel roller but getting it bang on can take a 2nd attempt. I have an E-Z Loader trailer. As stated in an above post. There is a "sweet" spot with the depth were you have just a bit of "wag" at the stern end while dropping the keel right on the keel roller.
Bottom line it was trial and error for me to learn my particular set up.

 

[bassboy1]

Re: boat not loading straight!

Well, If you try to load it straight and it is crooked, try to load it crooked and It will load straight.8)

 

[snowshoe]

Re: boat not loading straight!

I back the trailer to the top of the wheels in the water and drive my boat onto the trailer. I have bunks and side guides on the trailer.. Once on the trailer and the winch snugged up I can center the boat on the trailer if it has not exactly centered inself bay backing into the water a little bit more (just till the boat floats) and watching the boat move to the center position I then pull out. Most of the time I can get it dead center between the guides usiong this method.
We call it our entertainment to sit watching the weekenders load and unload their boats at our seasonal RV/lake resort. You wouldn't believe the number of wasted motions some people use to lanch/ load their boats. The majority of the residents at the resort drive their boats onto and off the trailer .
For what's its worth -- it works for most all the boats /trailer combos at our resort.d

 

[JAL51974]

Re: boat not loading straight!

Try some guide ons. In addition to the keel rollers already mentioned. Those guide ons give me a better visual to line up with when I power onto the trailer. There are some posts here about home made ones, very easy to do.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: boat not loading straight!

Your bunks may not be adjusted properly. With my last boat, I had the same problem. I ended up raising the boat slightly off the bunks, then adjusting them to the point where they were just to the edge of the vee. Set up this way, the boat loaded properly every time. My latest rig is set up similarly, so no problems.