Do I have to use the middle rollers if I have bunks on the side?

[wpg manitoba]

I have bunks on each side so is it okay to just remove the rollers in the middle? I want to be able to load it easier and I find the rollers in the middle make it harder to load. I actually had them off for the a while but I was looking at the transom of the boat and noticed that most of the reinforcement is in the middle. . I have seen trailers with just bunks on the side so I just assumed I could do the same. But I don't know if it depends on type of boat?

This boat is an 16' 1970 Aroliner (aluminum). I just have a 30hp 2 stroke, and this boat will take up to a 90hp. But I don't want to damage it so I just want to make sure this set up will work. I just have one roller in the front. And seems to be a lot of weight on it because I can see small dent on the roller where the boat sits on it.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Do I have to use the middle rollers if I have bunks on the side?

Either way should work.

Make sure the bunks are long enough to give proper support if that is the way you want to go..
Personally I would keep the keel rollers and keep a bit of weight on them to help spread the load. If those rollers are free turning then it shouldn't make it harder to load. Actually should make it easier unless you are using this trailer as a drive on.

 

[JB]

Re: Do I have to use the middle rollers if I have bunks on the side?

It really depends on what boat you have, bonz. The keel is the spine of many boats and must be supported by keel rollers. Others, mainly flat bottoms, can be safely supported by bunks alone.

That is why most trailers are made with both.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Do I have to use the middle rollers if I have bunks on the side?

Trouble loading a boat on a trailer is almost always due to having the trailer too far into the water, not far enough into the water or trailer bunks and rollers not properly adjusted. It is almost always NOT because you have or don't have keel rollers.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Do I have to use the middle rollers if I have bunks on the side?

It really depends on what boat you have, bonz. The keel is the spine of many boats and must be supported by keel rollers. Others, mainly flat bottoms, can be safely supported by bunks alone.

That is why most trailers are made with both.

My last couple of boats (all modified V's fiberglass) have not had any keel support of any sort. (couple smaller jet boats, and a 18' bowrider) Going back further, my last boat with keel rollers was a 16.5 ft trihull, and that one really didn't need them! I'm fairly sure they were an aftermarket add on, someone had the intent of trying to make it easier to load when it actually made it harder.

Also, the vast majority of wake/ski inboards on the market are sold on trailers without keel support of any kind. (those are ranging in size from 20-26 ft mainly, and are generally fairly heavy boats also, most require tandem axle trailers. Wake/Ski boats often have fins down the center of the keel also, so it would be a little hard to have any support)

Especially for a little aluminum boat, it will be fine without the keel support.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Do I have to use the middle rollers if I have bunks on the side?

It really depends on what boat you have, bonz. The keel is the spine of many boats and must be supported by keel rollers. Others, mainly flat bottoms, can be safely supported by bunks alone.

That is why most trailers are made with both.

JB, Do you know that when I joined this forum 5 years ago I was of the same mindset because that is the way I'd always seen it done. I have sense been enlightened much more by both sides of this arguement. I have sense come to the opinion that it's not the type of support that is being used but rather how much support is being used. Then how well is that support spread out over the length of the hull.

If one were to look at the vast majority of trailers being sold and used today I would guess that more than 50% of them have no rollers at all. Others only have a couple of rollers. One at the stern and one under the bow.

I have been paying much attention to the trailers I see here on the forum and also while at the ramps these past few years and what size and form of boats these trailers are hauling.

I also get a big laugh when I read someone posting that roller trailers are bad for your boat and cause all kinds of damage and hull deformations. That they create stress points. To those I call BS. I say that from experience with 2 all roller trailers that I've recently used that are under boats that are more than 25 years old and neither has any sign of damage or deformation from those trailers..

I truely believe that if someone is having problems with their trailer doing damage to their hull then my guess would be that either they have a very poorly designed trailer, the trailer does not fit the boat, the trailer is poorly maintained or that the boat itself is poorly maintained and the bottom is rotting out of it. A properly sized and fitted trailer is not going to damage a hull. Be it bunk or roller.

Lastly if you read my post I suggested keeping the keel rollers.

 

[JB]

Re: Do I have to use the middle rollers if I have bunks on the side?

Didn't mean to contradict you bonz. Most of my experience has been with Boston Whalers. They insist (in the User Manual) that the boat weight be on keel rollers with other rollers or bunks to keep it stable.

That is why I mentioned many boats, not any particular boat. Not being familiar with the OP's boat I was trying to cover all bases.

I apologize if I stepped on your toes.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Do I have to use the middle rollers if I have bunks on the side?

JB, No offence taken.

This topic keeps popping up like an ingrown toenail, seems like every few months. Sure a search here would turn up pages about this.

Just myself I can say that I personally in the past few years have seen more hull damage done by broken bunk boards than I have by a broken roller.

Now the OP asked about using just bunks on his aluminum boat. I don't see a problem with that assuming that the bunks are long enough to support the full weight of the boat. If not then they will have even more trouble.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Do I have to use the middle rollers if I have bunks on the side?

I have bunks on each side so is it okay to just remove the rollers in the middle? I want to be able to load it easier and I find the rollers in the middle make it harder to load.

The reason for the rollers in the center is to make it launch and load easy. The bunks are what holds up the flow.

Sounds like your is an easy fix....all they need is adjusting.

So, Whaler feels that you can hurt rtheir boat if you don't do it their way. So be it. But one thing for sure, their way won't do damage to any other brand of boat.

 

[bret632]

Re: Do I have to use the middle rollers if I have bunks on the side?

since you have a aluminum boat your safer to remove them than if you had a fiberglass boat. i learned the hard way and one of the hard plastic rollers knocked a hole in my boat

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Do I have to use the middle rollers if I have bunks on the side?

since you have a aluminum boat your safer to remove them than if you had a fiberglass boat. i learned the hard way and one of the hard plastic rollers knocked a hole in my boat

Really! Have had 2 different aluminum boats on rollers, both at least 25 years old. Wonder why yours failed?

 

[reeltime170]

Re: Do I have to use the middle rollers if I have bunks on the side?

Just replaced keel rollers and went totally with bunks on my 22' Seminole mariner. already had 2 stern bunks on the sides, added 2 8' bunks from the bow back that the v hull fits perfectly into, allowing support, as well as centering on the trailer under strong currents. The end result, not having to back as far down the ramp, and able to drive boat all the way onto trailer with very little effort, and no winching at all. since i usually fish without anyone to help me trailer the boat, it worked out great. Best modification ive made thus far.