Keel roller not centering

[CapRedbeard]

Hey guys, I know this has been asked a thousand times on here but I'm uploading a photo of my boat on the trailer to get some advice. This boat is new to me this year. Four Winns 170 with a matching Four Winns trailer. I'm having a hard time getting the boat stern to center properly on the trailer.

Trailer has two keel rollers - one at the stern and one midship. It appears the midship roller is nearly (not quite) touching when the boat is loaded. The stern roller is about 2" below the keel. After some research, I'm wondering if the stern roller is bent down. It clearly has a "V" shape to it.

Question is - is this "V" shape intentional? Or should I replace the stern roller and rod with a straight roller like the midship one? Brackets are all welded on. Both are 12" rollers with 5/8" rods. Yes, I've tried backing the trailer to different depths in the water at the ramp with minimal success.

Thanks in advance

 

[Horigan]

The V is intentional. The rollers are there to center the boat while loading, not so much when all the weight is on the bunks. This varies by trailer design. Does the aft roller bracket look bent? If you can, you could raise the rollers a bit, or lower the bunks, but I would ensure all the weight is on the bunks when fully loaded.

 

[CapRedbeard]

The V is intentional. The rollers are there to center the boat while loading, not so much when all the weight is on the bunks. This varies by trailer design. Does the aft roller bracket look bent? If you can, you could raise the rollers a bit, or lower the bunks, but I would ensure all the weight is on the bunks when fully loaded.

Aft roller brackets don’t look bent at all so I assume this is the proper design. All bunk and roller brackets are welded so no easy adjustments.

I started having more trouble loading centered when we started boating on the river more, so it might just be a byproduct of the heavy current. I’m thinking I need to have the trailer out of the water even more - like the bunks halfway out of the water. That sound reasonable?

 

[JimS123]

Its a bunk trailer. The bunks should be set up, so the boat's strakes line the hull up centered when loading.

They are not set up that way. Crappy trailer. With no adjustments possible, jut live with what you have. A little crooked won't be all that bad.

 

[CapRedbeard]

Thanks for the input, guys. I’ll just live with it

 

[Bondo]

Aft roller brackets don’t look bent at all so I assume this is the proper design. All bunk and roller brackets are welded so no easy adjustments.

I started having more trouble loading centered when we started boating on the river more, so it might just be a byproduct of the heavy current. I’m thinking I need to have the trailer out of the water even more - like the bunks halfway out of the water. That sound reasonable?

Ayuh,..... I think you'll find that those rollers are just so's the bow don't slam into the cross members,.....

I think if you put side mounted guides on the trailer, loadin' to the center will be easier,.....

 

[alldodge]

Ayuh,..... I think you'll find that those rollers are just so's the bow don't slam into the cross members,.....

^^Agree
My Rinker is setup same way, the keel rollers are there to keep bow from hitting when toading because the bow V is deeper. Once the hull is on the bunks the rollers do not touch

 

[racerone]

When loading I put rear roller so it is submerged.-----That centers the boat every time.-----Then if effort on crank handle increases I back the trailer in more as needed.

 

[ahicks]

First, I think that shaft is bent! Maybe a product of old school, but I've never seen anything V shaped like that. That roller should roll!

Second, even if it were not bent, it's not going to center/hold the back of the boat centered while you pull it out. You're going to need some side guides to do that for you. That, or cut the existing roller brackets off of the cross member and use some new bolt on brackets to raise that roller to a height where it can do some good, maybe even help support the transom.