missing rollers and brackets

[lhummel]

Hi, I am new to iboats, and new to owning a boat. I recently bought a 1992 Bass Tracker Pro 17. The boat is in real good shape, however the trailer is another thing. The boat has been really hard to load, and it not seem to matter what I did to try to load the boat back onto the trailer. It seems that it is missing rollers and brackets. There is only on keel roller, and that is on the last cross member a the way toward the front. There is no roller on the back. There are two bunk rollers on each side in the back. The front cross member on the trailer has a bracket on the right side. like there is supposed to be something there, on the other side it is broken off. I have read sever threads, here, and I felt if anyone could help me, somebody here could. Any help would sure be appreciated. It would be great if there is somebody that has a trail star trailer for a 1992 pro 17, and could post some pictures that I could see. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[SWD]

Re: missing rollers and brackets

Please post a picture so that we can see what you are talking about.

 

[lhummel]

Re: missing rollers and brackets

OK, I will try to post some pictures tomorrow.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: missing rollers and brackets

I'm confused. Are there wood bunks on this trailer or just roller bunks?

Yes a picture would help.

 

[lhummel]

Re: missing rollers and brackets

Here are some pics to help you see my problem. Your help is greatly appreciated, thanks.

 

[Don Hansen]

Re: missing rollers and brackets

You are definitely missing a keel roller in the first picture. You'll have to measure the space between the uprights of that bracket to determine what size you need. You can get those here at iboats. Don't forget to order an axle.

Not sure about your second picture. Looks like maybe something broke off.

As to your forth picture, the one showing 2 holes. Is that the trailer axle? If so, then it would not take a roller. If it's a cross member then you can also buy a complete roller assembly from iboats.

Here's a couple of samples. Seasense Keel Roller - iboats

Tie Down Keel Roller w/Bracket Assembly - iboats


DLH

 

[Don Hansen]

Re: missing rollers and brackets

deleted

 

[Don Hansen]

Re: missing rollers and brackets

I was looking at your pictures again and noticed something. In the picture of the bracket with no roller what is that board at the top of the picture? Is that part of the trailer? Looks like it goes from side to side. Not front to back. Could you post a picture of the whole trailer from the back so we can get an idea of how it's laid out.

DLH

 

[colbyt]

Re: missing rollers and brackets

Here are some pics to help you see my problem. Your help is greatly appreciated, thanks.

As a first time owner and as a new member here it is often tough to know what the people want to see a picture of. May I suggest that you get down on hands and knees a little farther form the boat and take picture of the bottom of the boat and what it is resting upon. From the front, the back and the side would help us help you.

 

[lhummel]

Re: missing rollers and brackets

OK, I will try to post better pictures, but I will not be able to do it until tomorrow. The help that you all have given to this point is greatly appreciated. I am getting an idea as to what I need to do. Hopefully I will get this thing right, so that I can get out on the water.
Thank you all, for your help. I will post Pictures tomorrow.

 

[lhummel]

Re: missing rollers and brackets

Hi Everyone, I have attached some more pictures of my trail star boat trailer. Trying to show you the layout of rollers. There were only two rollers on the trailer, they were the two bunk rollers on each side. There were no other rollers. I added the yellow self centering roller on the back, however I believe I need more rollers. From what has already been said, I need to a keel roller up toward the front. Can you tell me if I need more than these?

 

[bonz_d]

Re: missing rollers and brackets

Are you certain that was the original trailer from Tracker?

Hate to say this but that trailer looks aweful. No way does it look like it fits that hull properly. The roller bunks look as if they just barely fit between the strakes on the bottom. It also does not look like a very sturdy built trailer. Otherwise that bracket wouldn't have broken off the way it did.

How many keel rollers are there supposed to be on it? Is the rest of the frame solid, little rust?

This is what I would do if it were mine.

Remove the boat 1. Remove those roller bunks and cut off brackets. Buy new brackets for bunk boards and possibly the keel rollers depending on what they looked like. Fit new brackets with new wood bunks. 2 nd option would be to start looking for a better trailer.

 

[colbyt]

Re: missing rollers and brackets

Unless there is some detail I am not seeing I think I must agree with bonz_d. It appears that the entire weight of the boat is resting on a few keel (center) rollers. I see no support from the bunk (sides) rollers at all. It might be possible to adjust those upward or it might not. All those rollers should be in contact with the bottom of the boat to spread the weight. Frankly converting to bunks might be the easier job.

 

[Don Hansen]

Re: missing rollers and brackets

What's holding the boat off the bunk rollers? Can't see the keel touching anything.

DLH

 

[lhummel]

Re: missing rollers and brackets

Hi Guys,
First let me thank everyone for your interest and advice for me concerning the trailer for my boat. As I said in my original post, this is all new to me. I am in my mid sixties, and have just got interested in fishing, and so I bought an old used boat. I really appreciate all of your help. You are right bonz_d, the trailer does look pretty bad. Yes it is the original trail star tracker trailer that the boat came on. It probably is not as bad as it looks. The bunk rollers do match well between the strakes, it is just that I have the trailer jacked up on floor jacks, and it creates an allusion that it does not fit. I was trying to get the tailer out from under the boat to work on it, but in the front I have it on a 4 x 4 all the way across, and I do not have it high enough to clear the fenders. That is why the bunk rollers look like they are not touching anything. there were no keel rollers on the trailer except one clear up front, and it was broken, and the rest were missing. Looks like there is supposed to be three all together, one in the back and one on each of the two cross members forward. It looks like there were two other rollers of some type under the hull on each side of the front keel roller, but they are gone, and I do not know what they were supposed to be. The trailer has got some rust on the fenders, but the rest of the trailer does not have much, just some surface rust. If I could have gotten the trailer all the way out, I would sand it an paint it. I guess I must decide what I am going to do from this point. I do not want to buy a new trailer if I don't have to. May be I need to remove everything and start over, but I do not know about that. At any rate, I do thank you all for all of your help and advice, it is all greatly appreciated,

 

[colbyt]

Re: missing rollers and brackets

That makes sense.

There is almost always a way to get the boat off the trailer. In the last 12months I have done it more than I care to remember or repeat. Doing it safely for you and the boat are the most important choices. Some redneck jack stands (concrete blocks) a cradle for the vee part and lumber or steel for the support.

Ask the right questions and someone will have an answer.

 

[Don Hansen]

Re: missing rollers and brackets

With the motor off, of course. I've slid my boat off the trailer onto a bunch of old carpet laid on the ground out in the yard. As the boat comes off the trailer have someone strong lift the tongue of the trailer so the last keel roller is closer to the ground. Using the winch to pull the boat onto the trailer, do just the opposite to load. I have a tilt bed but I've found that the long tongue of the trailer is good for leverage.

DLH

 

[bonz_d]

Re: missing rollers and brackets

Once you have the boat off it will be a piece o cake. Just surface rust is repairable as are the keel rollers.

I think what you need to do is look at something like these to replace the ones on the bed,

GLV PANEL BRACKET 5" - Marpac 86630 - iboats
Seasense Split Panel Brackets 50081017 - iboats

And maybe one of these to go on in front of the bed.

C.E. Smith Adjustable Keel Roller Bracket | Bass Pro Shops

More is always better. So with your roller bunks and 3-4 keel rollers you should be good to go.

I'd cut the keel roller brackets that are on there off. The ones I referenced can then be put on with square U bolts. I would also recommed using these keel rollers on you tinny. My opinion is that they are the best out there for tin boats!

5" Heavy Duty Keel Roller - Black Rubber, 5/8" I.D. #5244-105EC

 

[lhummel]

Re: missing rollers and brackets

Once you have the boat off it will be a piece o cake. Just surface rust is repairable as are the keel rollers.

I think what you need to do is look at something like these to replace the ones on the bed,

GLV PANEL BRACKET 5" - Marpac 86630 - iboats
Seasense Split Panel Brackets 50081017 - iboats

And maybe one of these to go on in front of the bed.

C.E. Smith Adjustable Keel Roller Bracket | Bass Pro Shops

More is always better. So with your roller bunks and 3-4 keel rollers you should be good to go.

I'd cut the keel roller brackets that are on there off. The ones I referenced can then be put on with square U bolts. I would also recommed using these keel rollers on you tinny. My opinion is that they are the best out there for tin boats!

5" Heavy Duty Keel Roller - Black Rubber, 5/8" I.D. #5244-105EC

Ok, I am going to try it with new keel rollers, and see how it works. If this doesn't do it, I am going to take the roller bunks off and install wood bunks. I really appreciate the input. I will let you all know how I make out. Once I get the rollers, I will put them on, and then go try it. Thanks again!