I can lift my Boat off the trailer

[SMF]

While I was replacing my winch I pushed up on the bow of my boat and I could lift it off the bow stop and the other support (don't know what it's called) that is forward of the rollers on the tongue . The trailer was sitting level, boat was all the way forward, back rollers on transom. I only have 2 sets of rollers, they all look like they are supporting the boat.<br />Is this normal? I'm thinking I need a bow strap to add some down force. This could be part of my bouncing trailer problem. I have moved the axle back 3" and it helped but I still have some bounce on bumps that are not that bumpy. Before I moved the axle I could lift the tongue with one hand. I am not huge 5' 8" 200lb now I can still lift it, takes two hands. <br />I need to weigh the whole boat and trailer, and figure out what tongue weight I need and have now. The weighing will be easy, have a scale near by, but I have to find some thing to weigh the tongue with.<br />The trailer has axle adjustment holes every 3". I find it hard to believe that it was set up 6" off. <br /><br />Steve

 

[OBJ]

Re: I can lift my Boat off the trailer

Steve....the winch will hold the boat down. If you need to know the tongue weight, use a bathroom scale...worked for me. What size engine do you have on the rear end? Usually, the bouncing is cause by the weight of the engine on the transom and can be negated by a transom saver.

 

[roscoe]

Re: I can lift my Boat off the trailer

My boat bow lifts and bounces, so I use a strap to hold the bow down. Keeps the keel roller and bow stop from getting smashed up.

 

[Mark42]

Re: I can lift my Boat off the trailer

Same as roscoe, my boat bounce off the winch bow stop roller until I put a strap from the bow eye straight down to the trailer. This is what the owner of the trailer store instructed me to do.

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: I can lift my Boat off the trailer

Add another voice for a bow tie-down strap. I added an eyelet to my trailer directly below the bow eye on the boat and have a tie down strap. The winch strap exerts horizontal force, and didn'e eliminate bouncing. This tie down is straight vertical. It reduced the bouncing of the boat a bunch. Cabelas and other boating supply outfits sell bow tie downs, or you can use a ratchet strap.

 

[snowshoe]

Re: I can lift my Boat off the trailer

Yup go with the tie down strap. Our old glass boat would work loose from the rope winch and bounce away going down the road. This bouncing cracked the frame 1 foot back of the rear spring mount on both sides. $150.00 for welding and double plating later I added the bow tie down strap to prevent the bow from loosing from the bow stop/roller. Now with the Alum boat I make sure the bow is pulled up tight againest the bow roller.<br />Your weight on the hitch seems about right for the boat size. The bounce is from not being tight againest the bow roller. Also, trailering with a too light hitch weight will cause the trailer to sway side to side. If your trailer does not sway, the hitch weight should be. ok.

 

[KaGee]

Re: I can lift my Boat off the trailer

Ditto the tie down. I have an electric winch and the instructions specifically state NOT to use the winch to secure the boat. So, once the winch is tight, I take the slack out of the safety chain and strp down the bow to the trailer.

 

[TELMANMN]

Re: I can lift my Boat off the trailer

Added a new 50hp merc classic to my older sea nymph. The new motor is 40 lbs heavier than my old 40hp. My tie down had broken so I was using a rope on the boat to keep it secured to upright support while towing. While awaiting my spot to launch the boat I untied the secondary rope and undid the tilt on the trailer(not a good idea).<br /> When it was my turn I pulled ahead and sent my son out to grab the landing rope to secure the boat once the boat was in the water. I started to back up and low and behold the trailer started to tilt(never happened with the old 40 on it). <br /> Luckily I saw it start going up and stopped before it came all the way down on the transom(motor was tilted up all the way). <br /> Always secure to the trailer. Do not ever rely on the winch robe only.

 

[Formula1974]

Re: I can lift my Boat off the trailer

everyone talks about hitch weight. After you figuare out what yours is and where you want it to be how do you adjust it?

 

[cp]

Re: I can lift my Boat off the trailer

Move the bow stop/winch post along the tongue, or move the axles along the frame.

 

[ED21]

Re: I can lift my Boat off the trailer

Tie down with the cam type lever keeps the bow snugged down.<br />A safety chain & hook through the bow eye attached to the winch support post for good measure.