Bow Stop Bracket

[zippy83]

Hello,

I have a 1995 Lowe boat trailer and I need some advice on the bow stop bracket. Over the years it has slightly bent so I am having issues guiding the boat onto the bow stop. I have attached a picture of the part. I would like to know how can I go about straightening that peace, I would like to get a new one but on one makes them like this anymore, and I?m not sure how I should go about bending this back in place.

Any advice on this is greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Zipp

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Bow Stop Bracket

Any welding or fab shop in town can fix it in about 10 minutes. If you have a bench vice and a MAPP gas torch (Lowes/Home Depot/Etc) you can heat the bracket and bend it back to whatever shape it needs to be in. If not, you won't bend it without heat. Then stop banging into the bow stop so hard.

 

[zippy83]

Re: Bow Stop Bracket

Ok thanks... I have a propane torch will that work as well?
I didn’t bang into the bow stop, the previous owner did I just wanted to fix the rubber peace when I noticed that it was a little off.

If I use the torch and bend it back in place will that lose some of its strength? Welding shops wont do it, they say its a liability issues for them to bend it back in place... I know that the boat does not lay on this peace, 95% of the boats weight is resting on the rollers.

When all this is done should I let is cool off on its own or dump it in a bucket of water?

Thanks
Zipp

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Bow Stop Bracket

Just let it cool slowly.
If you rapidly cool it you will harden it.
If it bent, it is not hardened or else it would have shattered.

 

[TJS]

Re: Bow Stop Bracket

I doubt a propane torch will allow you to bend it.
Hard to tell from the pic how it is actually mounted on the trailer but it looks like on bolt in front and one bolt in back. What that piece needs is some boxing and maybe where is mounts. Also are you strapping the transom down somehow so it prevents the boat from moving forward? I had and issue with my Jet boat always wanting to come forward and ride up the “V” block cause of the angle and super low profile. I made a floater bar (at least that is what they call them out West) and still kept the winch operational. Never had a problem after that.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Bow Stop Bracket

Come on guys. That can be straightened in a vise and a hand hammer. No heat need.

 

[zippy83]

Re: Bow Stop Bracket

Even MAPP Gass wasnt enough to get this heated to the right temperature, luckly it heated enough so that I was able to use a large hammer to get it right.

 

[TJS]

Re: Bow Stop Bracket

That needs some gussets. It will bend again. There is really no strength on that flat bar. It needs some sides. Or maybe a new one made out of
C-channel.

 

[zippy83]

Re: Bow Stop Bracket

I wasnt able to find anything new for this type of setup. I went throught the steps in hardening it so it gives it a litle more strenght. If I dont ram the boat up against it every time I dont think it will bend, from now on I will crank it into place...

 

[Maclin]

Re: Bow Stop Bracket

I know you all you need is one more thing to think about on this but, if the bow eye shown in the pic is the only one on the boat then the winch is mounted too low in my opinion, and I bet it is not much fun getting the boat up those last few inches.

 

[zippy83]

Re: Bow Stop Bracket

You are 100% right it is a little low, but I cant adjust it it is as far as it will go. The last 3 to 4" are the toughest. What I do at that point is go back into my car and back the trailer down slowley and carefully, then go out and crank it up and then get the damn thing out of the water. I suppose I could move the big bracket that holds the winch towards to boat, I supose that would work????