How to position guide-ons?

[lakelover]

These came with my trailer and I'm thinking about putting them back on to use.

What's the best way to get them correctly positioned? By measuring, or do you load the boat on straight then put them on? How far should the rollers be from the sides of the boat when correctly loaded?

 

[Grandad]

Re: How to position guide-ons?

Hi lakelover. I made guides for my 21' Starcraft Holiday from 1 1/2" schedule 40 pipe and covered them with 2" yellow plastic gas pipe. They don't revolve like yours, but they are "slippery" and they've been a great help when loading particularly on windy days or on poorly graded launch ramps. You need to have the boat on the trailer to choose the best location. I put mine as far astern as I could. They are set only about a 1/2" wider than the hard chine on my Holiday. Fortunately the chine runs close to parallel with the centerline such that the boat's beam doesn't change for the last 8' or so. If you set the rollers too wide, they may not center the keel on the keel rollers. I hope your guides are long enough to rise above the water with the trailer submerged to be of much help. Mine extend 55" above the keel (15" above the gunwales). - Grandad

 

[Philster]

Re: How to position guide-ons?

When on trailer, the boat's rubrail should be very close touching them, or just slightly touching them.

 

[lakelover]

Re: How to position guide-ons?

Thanks, I'll have to check this out, I'm not near the trailer now. The guides are 22" high, I'll have to see where that comes on the boat.

 

[louiefl]

Re: How to position guide-ons?

Remember that where these are mounted on the rear of the trailer may not be the widest point of your boat. Put them too close and you Might get hung up trying to unload. Measure the widest point of your boat and then add two inches for one inch gap each side. Also make sure they are the same distance from the side rail of your trailer - if your boat is not loaded exactly in the center now, you might perpetuate the offset by installing them off center.

 

[dlngr]

Re: How to position guide-ons?

First thing I did when I bought my present boat,was took those things off! Then I painted the boat to get rid of all the black marks from them.. Cut the rollers off,and welded some steel horizontally-then mounted a 18" long 'bunk' [2x4 covered with carpet]

 

[lakelover]

Re: How to position guide-ons?

First thing I did when I bought my present boat,was took those things off! Then I painted the boat to get rid of all the black marks from them.. Cut the rollers off,and welded some steel horizontally-then mounted a 18" long 'bunk' [2x4 covered with carpet]

This is good to think about. I was messing with the rollers today and they turn freely "sometimes", small carpeted bunks might be a solution.

 

[BonairII]

Re: How to position guide-ons?

I just installed a set of guide rails nearly identical to yours....this is how mine are set up (I got rid of the pvc rails in the 2nd pic)

I got to try them out earlier today.....they worked like a charm!

 

[lakelover]

Re: How to position guide-ons?

I just installed a set of guide rails nearly identical to yours....this is how mine are set up .....


I got to try them out earlier today.....they worked like a charm!

Those are just about the same. I like the roller idea if I can get them to roll freely, and roll every time. I'm going to remove the roller brackets and tweak the angle, I can see that's one thing that hinders rolling, and do some lubricating. Thanks for the pics.

 

[woosterken]

Re: How to position guide-ons?

here is a picture of mine , (just like yours) mount them on TOP of the trailer it makes them the thickness of the trailer rail that much taller.
I checked the WIDEST part of the boat and set the guides , the thickness of my hand (layed flat against the boat) which is maybe 11/2" wider.
I also put self centering rollers for the keel.
took the axle out of the guide rollers and put never sees (sp) on the then reasembled them

woosterken

 

[lakelover]

Re: How to position guide-ons?

All great thoughts, I never cease to be amazed at the help you can get on this forum. Thanks & keep the suggestions coming if you have more!

 

[BlueDL1000]

Re: How to position guide-ons?

I have a similar set of guide ons from Cabelas. I added a large metal washer between the roller and the lower roller bracket. this allows the roller to rotate freely without marking the boat.