Bow not sitting right on trailer

[FreeBayliner4Us]

I don't think my Bayliner Capri is sitting properly on my trailer. I believe it is the original Escort trailer that the boat came with.

The bow eye is pushing into the bow roller in front of the winch. The boat can't go any farther forward yet, the bow is easy to lift like it hasn't gone far enough forward. Also there is only about 50lbs (est) of tounge weight on the hitch. I think the framework the axle is mounted to has been moved forward for some reason. Can anyone with the same boat give me a measurement for compairison?

Thanks,

Mike M.
Richmond, VA

 

[Bondo]

Re: Bow not sitting right on trailer

Ayuh,.... Got any Pictures,..??..??

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Bow not sitting right on trailer

Axles don't normally move forward without you doing it, they can move backwards if you hit some hard though. The problem is most likely waterlogged foam adding a great deal of weight to the back of the boat.

 

[FreeBayliner4Us]

Re: Bow not sitting right on trailer

Wow, talk about quick responce!

If there is waterlogged foam in the boat what can be done about it?

Thanks!

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Bow not sitting right on trailer

Go over to the boat restoration and building forum and do a search on wet or waterlogged foam, then start crying.

 

[scottrn]

Re: Bow not sitting right on trailer

I believe the escort trailer is adjustable, as in loosen the u bolts and you can(with the boat off) move the whole carriage (the part the boat sits on) forward or, in your case, backward.
Just another idea

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Bow not sitting right on trailer

It seems you have some adjustment issues. The bow eye should not hit directly on the bow stop. It should rest just below it. The winch strap should than pass UNDER the bow stop (not over it), and attach to the bow eye so the boat can be pulled snuggly into the bow stop. You need to raise the winch post or if the portion of the stand that the bow stop is on, raise it if its adjustable. You can certainly look for water soaked foam but unless the boat has been stored outside, uncovered, bow low, and in lots of rain, I don't think wet foam is the issue with tongue weight.

 

[FreeBayliner4Us]

Re: Bow not sitting right on trailer

Thanks Guys,

I don't see any ajustablility in the winch mount. The strap was run on top of the bow roller though and after fixing that the bow is much more snug. The bow eye still hits the roller though.

As for the framework, yes I think someone moved the axle forward for what reason I don't know, but I am going to jack up the trailer and move it back about a foot. I think that should get me back into a better touge weight range. Somewhere between 125-150lbs sounds right to me.

As for the foam, the boat was outside, uncovered for a couple of years however it was bow high so it would have drained quite well.

If anyone has an mid 80's-early 90's 1700 capri with an escort trailer I would love to know how far the axle framework is from the rear of your framerails.

Thanks again!!

Mike M.
Richmond, VA

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Bow not sitting right on trailer

Your bathroom scale goes to 300#. Put a board on it, set the tongue on it and move the axle to get the tongue weight you want. How someone else sets up their trailer is no guarantee those settings are same for your boat even though its the same boat.

 

[FreeBayliner4Us]

Re: Bow not sitting right on trailer

How someone else sets up their trailer is no guarantee those settings are same for your boat even though its the same boat.

This is a very valid point. I mainly was curious as I had planned the very thing you suggested. This problem was made worse today when I cleaned the fuel tank and filled it for the first time. 20gal of gas right at the back of the boat is not good for adding tongue weight!

Thanks.

 

[alamosaddles]

Re: Bow not sitting right on trailer

How someone else sets up their trailer is no guarantee those settings are same for your boat even though its the same boat.

How do you figure that? If two people have the same trailer and the same boat, and one of them has the trailer set up correctly, if the second guy sets his trailer up the same way, why would it not work? Same boat, same trailer, same settings.

It sounds as if either, the boat is sitting too far back on the trailer, or the axle is too far forward, with the winch post not adjusted correctly.

Perhaps you can post a photo of your boat and trailer, so we can see how it's laid out?

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Bow not sitting right on trailer

Someone may have moved the axle forward, but you should easily be able to see the old marks on the frame rails. A Capri that sits outside for a couple of years with no cover even with the bow up has very good chance of having waterlogged foam and since the bow was up, all that water logged foam would be in the back of the boat.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Bow not sitting right on trailer

Hey I'm not sure if I read that right is your winch strap still over the roller?

If it is change it right away that's a real, real important part of securing your boat to the trailer.

 

[steveo32]

Re: Bow not sitting right on trailer

he said he had changed it to underneath bow stop

 

[FreeBayliner4Us]

Re: Bow not sitting right on trailer

A Capri that sits outside for a couple of years with no cover even with the bow up has very good chance of having waterlogged foam and since the bow was up, all that water logged foam would be in the back of the boat.

OK, if the bow was up, and the water was draining, then how would the foam get water logged? I don't understand how that can happen.

As for the axle bring moved, I don't see any marks on the frame but the previous owner only pulled the boat in and out from the ramp on his property and didn't tow it on the highway.

I think next weekend I will move the axle back untill the weight is back in line again.

I would love to post pics, but I am a decade behind everyone on the digital camera thing. It's on the to buy list.

Thanks!

 

[azlakes]

Re: Bow not sitting right on trailer

OK, if the bow was up, and the water was draining, then how would the foam get water logged? I don't understand how that can happen.

... and there in lies the mystery to why boats rot. porous substrate. rain will still hit the open bow and run down. if 99% made it out the bilge drain that 1% will find the foam.

I have a bunk style trailer for my Capri. There was a couple times after trailering I didn't get the bow of the boat snug up enough on the winches rubber stop. This made for a subtle rocking or teetering motion. I just repostioned more of the boat on the bow-stop and my issue resolved. You tried that? To bad we cant get a pic to see.

 

[fossill]

Re: Bow not sitting right on trailer

I had a similar problem. I raised the winch/bow stop stand by shiming it with a 1/4" thick steel plate to where it bolts onto the trailer and getting a bigger diameter bow stop. That raised it enough to clear the bow eye. I could have accomplished the same by adjusting the bunks but they were the non adjustable fixed type.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Bow not sitting right on trailer

I also have an Escort trailer with a 1988 1700 Capri Bowrider. I have exactly 37" from the end of the frame to the back of the rear crossmember of the axle subframe. There is no indication that the subframe has been moved from the factory position, and my tongue weight is right. Hope that helps.

 

[bitterboater]

Re: Bow not sitting right on trailer

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't most if not all trailers non-adjustable as pertains the axle location.

Second, try moving the entire winch stand forward. Towards the tow vehicle, if you have the room. This should give you back more tongue weight without having to get out the torch and welder and relocating the axle itself.

 

[redone4x4]

Re: Bow not sitting right on trailer

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't most if not all trailers non-adjustable as pertains the axle location.

Second, try moving the entire winch stand forward. Towards the tow vehicle, if you have the room. This should give you back more tongue weight without having to get out the torch and welder and relocating the axle itself.

most escort trailers are modular, bolted together with u-bolts. axles can easily be moved/swapped on them. i wish i could help but my trailer is different. sounds like the measurements from NYBo would help quite a bit though.