Help! Its a pain in the A$$ to get my boat on the trailer!!

[Sea_Sprite]

I have a late 1970's Sea Sprite (15 foot) it is a tri-hull design. The trailer has small rollers in the middle, the entire way up, and two small bunks on the back which support the back of the boat.<br /><br />Problem is this. I get the boat onto the rollers and by the time I pull it out the back floats around and NEVER goes on straight. The rollers are only a few inches wide (maybe 6) so I have a narrow window I need to hit as it is. <br /><br />I thought if I would not back the trailer so deep it would help me with the floating issue, but then i am basically winching the boat the entire way up the trailer, which is a real PITA.<br /><br />Any suggestions? I personally like bunks better, and wonder if I couldn't convert this to bunks!<br /><br />Thanks!<br /><br />I will try to post pics of trailer / boat setup<br />MIKE

 

[Pony]

Re: Help! Its a pain in the A$$ to get my boat on the trailer!!

i used to use my dads 15ft 70's trihull all the time before i blew the motor. like your trailer ours was the same design. middle was rollers, side was bunks. we replaced the rollers from the middle back with different rollers. essentially they are two wobble wheels mounted in the shape of a v. it was pretty easy to guide the boat onto those, and it help "self-straighten" the boat if its a little bit off. I also would think maybe backing in at a medium distance...not so little that you winch a heavy boat all the way up a trailer, but not so much that the boat wants to come off the traier and float around. <br /><br />Bunks or rollers can be a debate. personally i'd keep the bunks. I'm not certain but some boat hull types are just better with a certain set-up (ie bunks or rollers). someone else im sure can elaborate on whether or not that is accurate.

 

[gspig]

Re: Help! Its a pain in the A$$ to get my boat on the trailer!!

Are your rollers in good condition? I have a much larger boat 21' that would do as yours does. I could get it on the trailer, but by the time I got to the winch to finish pulling up, the stern would drift. I could not put the trailer shallower, because the boat would only get half-way up the trailer and stop. I replaced all my keel rollers and now I can nearly touch the bow stop and the trailer is in shallower water.

 

[Sea_Sprite]

Re: Help! Its a pain in the A$$ to get my boat on the trailer!!

the boat rolls on the trailer fine, but if i get the trailer out of the water enough where it wont float as much I am winching that damn thing up about the entire trailer... which is okay I gues.. Just annoying.<br /><br />I like the bunk trailers, you set it on there and it basically falls into place (for the most part) My parents 22 foot boat I used to use was 100x's easer to land than this freaking thing!! lol<br /><br />Mike

 

[Sea_Sprite]

Re: Help! Its a pain in the A$$ to get my boat on the trailer!!

Not the best, but may help<br /><br /> http://photos.imageevent.com/missak/thethirdboatof05/websize/DSCF0078.JPG <br /><br /> http://photos.imageevent.com/missak/thethirdboatof05/websize/DSCF0379.JPG

 

[nboater]

Re: Help! Its a pain in the A$$ to get my boat on the trailer!!

They make side-mount bunks that bolt onto the trailer frame that are designed to help keep your boat straight as you load it.

 

[fishingdan]

Re: Help! Its a pain in the A$$ to get my boat on the trailer!!

Get a pair of trailer "guide ons". Many styles to choose from. They are a lifesaver for old tri-hull boats.<br /><br />Make sure the roller roll freely and buy a can of "Liquid Rollers" for your bunks. Spray it on a couple of times per season. <br /> Cabelas trailer accessories

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: Help! Its a pain in the A$$ to get my boat on the trailer!!

Or try a pair of these:<br />

 

[Pony]

Re: Help! Its a pain in the A$$ to get my boat on the trailer!!

If the money is too much for those side bunks you can fabricate your own....i'll post some pics later today.

 

[Pony]

Re: Help! Its a pain in the A$$ to get my boat on the trailer!!

<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />

 

[Sea_Sprite]

Re: Help! Its a pain in the A$$ to get my boat on the trailer!!

Great idea!!<br /><br />Thanks for all the help! I think these would help quite a bit to guide it on the trailer!

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: Help! Its a pain in the A$$ to get my boat on the trailer!!

Pony, nice and simple but how do you keep the pipe from rotating forward and back in the flange ?

 

[Pony]

Re: Help! Its a pain in the A$$ to get my boat on the trailer!!

The pipe along with the flange have some decent threads in them....I think its just turned into the flange so tightly it would take a lot of backward force to push them back. Maybe a little locktite wouldnt hurt, and may actually be used in my set-up. I haven't had a single issue yet with the set-up

 

[JAL51974]

Re: Help! Its a pain in the A$$ to get my boat on the trailer!!

I would try making guide ons like these I made mostly out of scraps. Really easy to do even for me!<br />I don't think I would want to load up my boat without them now.<br />check out this link to previous post for pics-<br /> http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=22;t=001669#000000

 

[Sea_Sprite]

Re: Help! Its a pain in the A$$ to get my boat on the trailer!!

I think im going to try these ideas.<br /><br />What about putting larger (wider) rollers on the trailer too, for a little more forgiveness?<br /><br />other problem is getting it on ALL of the rollers, but i think with the guide this would help. I swear I hate this trailer.

 

[JAL51974]

Re: Help! Its a pain in the A$$ to get my boat on the trailer!!

Wider rollers might help, but try the guides first. it helps me eyeball the line I want to steer to and I get right on the rollers.

 

[fishingdan]

Re: Help! Its a pain in the A$$ to get my boat on the trailer!!

Tri-hull boats have always been a pain in the butt to get on any trailer that wasn't custom built for the hull. Try the guides first. They should help a great deal.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Help! Its a pain in the A$$ to get my boat on the trailer!!

my tri-hull boat has these Deep V Keel Rollers - they push it to the center as it's floating on.

 

[nightstalker]

Re: Help! Its a pain in the A$$ to get my boat on the trailer!!

Go with the trailer guide on's. They will help to keep the craft straight all the way up the trailer. I had a set, and they really helped me out.<br />Stalker