Bow Trolley on Trailer instead of Winch, stock

[Kenmerc]

The boat is a 17 foot open bow trihull. The original owner said this was the stock trailer, and he did not know why it was built with a trolley on tracks instead of just a winch. Does anyone know if there are benefits to this design or if this type has a name. It is self-centering. I have included photos. Thank you.

 

[JimS123]

In my 65+ years of boating, that's the strangest contraption I have ever seen.

Somehow, the bow of the boat needs to be attached securely to the trailer. Also, the "trolley" needs some way to be pulled all the way forward. Based on the pics, I don't see either.

 

[Kenmerc]

In my 65+ years of boating, that's the strangest contraption I have ever seen.

Somehow, the bow of the boat needs to be attached securely to the trailer. Also, the "trolley" needs some way to be pulled all the way forward. Based on the pics, I don't see either.

Sorry. I should have left more description. You roll the trolley to the rear of the trailer. There's a hook on the trolley that fastens to the bow hold down loop (where you would normally attach the winch cable to the boat). Then you drive the boat forward and when the trolley reaches the front of the trailer there's a spring-loaded latch that locks the trolley in place. Then you just slip a pin in the latch and it is locked in.

 

[JimS123]

Sorry. I should have left more description. You roll the trolley to the rear of the trailer. There's a hook on the trolley that fastens to the bow hold down loop (where you would normally attach the winch cable to the boat). Then you drive the boat forward and when the trolley reaches the front of the trailer there's a spring-loaded latch that locks the trolley in place. Then you just slip a pin in the latch and it is locked in.

Interesting concept for sure. I would be interested to hear if anyone else ever saw such a thing.

What country was it built in? Brand? Boat brand?

Since power loading is highly frowned upon in my area because of damages to the ramp, if I liked the boat that trailer would be the first to go.

 

[Kenmerc]

Interesting concept for sure. I would be interested to hear if anyone else ever saw such a thing.

What country was it built in? Brand? Boat brand?

Since power loading is highly frowned upon in my area because of damages to the ramp, if I liked the boat that trailer would be the first to go.

The trailer is labeled NorCal Trailers, San Jose. The boat is a 1974 Marlin with a Mercruiser 140 hp. According to the original owner, he bought it in Chico, California, from a dealer. FYI, if I understand the power loading reference, this is different. The boat is floating right up to the latching point. Just like it's being gently pulled to the front of the trailer. When you drive up the ramp the boat just settles down, centered on the trailer.

 

[matt167]

I bet that trailer has to be deeper than you think to load without power.
Hook a winch to pull the trolley and you have an ingenious self centering/ loading trailer. Does it hook the bow eye automatically somehow? I mean that's easy with a manually positioned caribiner or something like that.

I bet the trailer was manufactured like that.. Nothing screams custom built to me. Being tri hull, means 70's, where power loading wasn't as frowned upon

 

[Scott Danforth]

That contraption was added by someone smoking peyote

 

[Stinnett21]

I've been around boat ramps for 50 years. I have never seen that.

 

[Scott Danforth]

The boat is a 17 foot open bow trihull. The original owner said this was the stock trailer, and he did not know why it was built with a trolley on tracks instead of just a winch. Does anyone know if there are benefits to this design or if this type has a name. It is self-centering. I have included photos. Thank you.

Its not the original trailer, tge prior owner told you any lie he needed to sell the trailer

That contraption was added to a generic trailer.

You can see the grape-crap welds in the back

 

[Kenmerc]

Its not the original trailer, tge prior owner told you any lie he needed to sell the trailer

That contraption was added to a generic trailer.

You can see the grape-crap welds in the back

Thank you for the information. Someone sure went to a lot of effort to not have a winch.

 

[dwco5051]

A first for me too. Like someone posted before it looks like it would be great for power loading. I can think of a few times in over 70 years operating boats I could have used something like that. Probably added too much extra cost, weight, and with many areas having bans on power loading to ever catch on.

 

[Grub54891]

You could add a winch to that, so you don't have to power load, I think. never seen that setup but it is interesting.

 

[GA_Boater]

The boat is a 17 foot open bow trihull. The original owner said this was the stock trailer, and he did not know why it was built with a trolley on tracks instead of just a winch. Does anyone know if there are benefits to this design or if this type has a name. It is self-centering. I have included photos. Thank you.

How does it work for you?

 

[matt167]

It looks too well thought out to not be engineered/ manufactured

Norcal trailers still appears to be in business but not manufacturing trailers anymore. Appears they sell Big Tex. I bet that was some in house manufactured deal. Plenty of trailer manufactures have came and went and at varying levels of quality.

 

[Stinnett21]

So the trolley has to run on non-carpeted rails. So when the boat is out of the water is it resting on the metal rails? Hard tell the geometry from the pics. You said it was a trihull.

 

[Kenmerc]

So the trolley has to run on non-carpeted rails. So when the boat is out of the water is it resting on the metal rails? Hard tell the geometry from the pics. You said it was a trihull.

Sorry, in one picture it shows a pair of white carpeted rails. Each rail falls between the V and an outer tri hull. The metal tracks of the trolley are lower than the hull at rest. One of the responses I received talked about the back of the track welding looking somewhat homemade. But when I look at the construction and position of the tracks and the trolley portion, it seems to be a very specific design. I really figured someone would have seen this before.

 

[Kenmerc]

Trolley portion.

 

[Scott Danforth]

as stated, that contraption came out of the mind of the prior owner.

 

[briangcc]

I gotta agree with Scott....that was added on by some shadetree mechanic. Those welds in the back look like something I would accomplish...and I've never welded. In all the years I've been around boats, I have yet to see something like that.

IF that were mine, I'd be looking to ditch that wonky contraption and get a standard winch post/winch setup. Too many moving parts/points of failure for me as it currently sits.

 

[Kenmerc]

THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to post. Got some great advice, and found out it wasn't stock. Very helpful.