damage from keel roller brackets

[superbenk]

Re: damage from keel roller brackets

By this statement you agreeing that the trailer is set up improperly and that it needs more weight on the bunks.

Please explain how longer bunks will help loading or are you converting a Keel roller trailer to a bunk trailer? Such as in my trailer there is no way to make the bunks any longer forward than they already are w/o a very large expenditure. In which case it would be cheaper to replace the trailer.

Yes I agree bunks have a larger contact area as long as the contact is uniform along the whole length as I tried to explain previously. I will stick with my thinking that with short bunks the bunks are not designed to support the majority of the weight but are meant to provide lateral support.

I have described my trailer and how it is set up too many times here already and believe it to be correct. This is a Keel Roller and loads and unloads effortlessly!

I think I'll concede. I wasn't familiar with this type of trailer exactly. I'm starting wonder if my trailer is a hybrid of a keel roller & bunk trailer because I've suffered the same issues as the OP and have cured it in large part through practice, raising the bunks somewhat & better trailer depth positioning. As long as I'm not too deep I'm able to drive the boat on to the trailer, but the front keel roller is always a nuisance. Given the descriptions you provided, I can see why I might be approaching my own trailer wrongly.

Regardless, I'm not overly fond of my trailer & definitely don't think I'd like a full-on keel-roller trailer either. Unfortunately, as with the OP, it's the trailer I have, so I make the best of it.

 

[tcurtsinger]

Re: damage from keel roller brackets

Guides would help keep it in position though as stated loading the boat with the transom roller just under the water and wenching up will definately prevent it. Remember this is not a drive on trailer and if that is what you are intending to do then I suggest getting a different trailer.

That makes a lot of sense after thinking about it. What experience I do have with boats have been on bunk trailers and we've always backed in deep and driving the boat on trying to avoid winching. I can definately see that I will need to take a different approach with this trailer, thanks.

 

[JimS123]

Re: damage from keel roller brackets

Just like the OP's trailer, there are those older trailers that do use the keel rollers for weight support and very short bunks at the rear soley to keep the hull upright on the rollers. But these type trailers are very much an older style and, granted, are not really seen much these days or used any longer.

But to just dismiss the OP's setup as being wrong and such is just to demonstrate the lack of knowledge the poster of such drivel is displaying.

Sorry about that, but it is fact. Keel rollers being used for supporting the entire weight of the boat isn't strange, odd, or weird or wrong. It was just a way it was done waaaay back in the day.

Not true. I see them around my area all the time. And funny thing, a lot of those "boaters" don't have a clue how to load a boat on a trailer.

And "Back in the day" is now...at least in my garage. My last new trailer I bought (in 2007) came with those silly little bunks, and there were no roller options. But, IBoats sells rollers and bracket mounts so I added them on each crossmember and now the trailer launches and retreives as good as they did back in the day....LOL.

To the OP, if it were me I'd replace the keel rollers with hard Stoltz poly rollers, and upgrade the winch with a new nylon strap. Chose the rolers that have a good V-groove in the middle.

When you retreive the boat, back in the water just far enough that the last roller (the one under the transom) is just barely sticking out of the water. As you winch the boat on the keel will follow the center of the roller and it'll be perfectly centered each time.

(Just by coincidence my wife was playing with her new camera the other day and was snaping pics of me loading the boat. This is just a little tinny but my 19' fiberglass boat is set up the same way and it loads just as easy. See, you don't even have to get your feet wet!)

 

[bonz_d]

Re: damage from keel roller brackets

I will try and go on record as I do not advocate any type of trailer. I have used True Bunk trailers and Keel Roller trailers though I have never used an All Roller Trailer.

I personally do not like using Full Bunk trailers as they do not match well with most of the ramps that I use. They are too shallow for Bunks. I will also state that I believe there are hulls out there that because of their construction should never be used with Keel Roller trailers. To me each has it's place and are better suited to different hull constructions or useage conditions.

I have also made this statement before and will again.

There are major differences between the 3 trailer types. They all have different requirements form each other and each needs to be used the way that they were designed to be used. Keel Roller trailers were not designed to be driven on and launch and retrieve shallower than Bunk trailers. It is just the opposite for Bunk trailers. I also do not see any advantage of one type of trailer over the other as long as the trailer fits properly for Hull design, size and weight.

I still believe neglect or misuse effects trailers and hulls much more than what kind of trailer it is. A glass boat is going to have problems on either trailer if left full of water and out in the elements to were the stringers become compromised.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: damage from keel roller brackets

JimS123,

Nice rig! Those roller bunks are much longer than some of the carpeted bunks I've seen on Keel Roller trailers.

Now it that trailer had a tilt feature to it I'd be lovin it!

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: damage from keel roller brackets

Not true. I see them around my area all the time. And funny thing, a lot of those "boaters" don't have a clue how to load a boat on a trailer.

And "Back in the day" is now...at least in my garage. My last new trailer I bought (in 2007) came with those silly little bunks, and there were no roller options. But, IBoats sells rollers and bracket mounts so I added them on each crossmember and now the trailer launches and retreives as good as they did back in the day....LOL.

To the OP, if it were me I'd replace the keel rollers with hard Stoltz poly rollers, and upgrade the winch with a new nylon strap. Chose the rolers that have a good V-groove in the middle.

When you retreive the boat, back in the water just far enough that the last roller (the one under the transom) is just barely sticking out of the water. As you winch the boat on the keel will follow the center of the roller and it'll be perfectly centered each time.

(Just by coincidence my wife was playing with her new camera the other day and was snaping pics of me loading the boat. This is just a little tinny but my 19' fiberglass boat is set up the same way and it loads just as easy. See, you don't even have to get your feet wet!)

I've loaded my flat keel roller trailer like that before only because there was no ramp and my '67' trailer has tilt, basically dry launched it but I wouldn't do it as standard practice, it puts alot of strain on the bow eye. There is a happy medium between, I like mine deep enough so the bow passes over the first two and just kisses the 3rd, I then wrap the bow line around my wrist and pull the whole rig up to within a foot of the winch by hand.