Proper adjustment of bunks and keel rollers.

[DanD34]

I have a relatively new to me 17' bowrider and recently noticed that when on the trailer that the boat doesnt touch the keel rollers. Shouldn't the boat at least touch them on the trailer? There is no means to adjust the rollers or bunks up and down. Rollers attach to brackets welded to frame as do the bunk brackets. What am I missing? It is a Trailmaster trailer.

 

[JimS123]

My first boat trailer was a Holsclaw. Back in the day they sold retail as well as to dealers. Retail they shipped the trailer pieces in several crates and you had to assemble it. The instructions on how to build the trailer and set up a boat on it were very clear.

The keel rollers are aligned straight and then the boat is placed on the trailer. They carry the main weight of the boat. The bunks pivoted and were raised with jack shafts to just touch the hull evenly, and then one more screw turn to tighten them up.

Today, no one knows how to set up a trailer any more because everything is now sold as a package deal. All too often trailers are non adjustable and fitted to that particular boat. In the last 30 years every boat I ever bought had to be readjusted by me to get it to perform correctly.

Sounds to me like you don't have the correct trailer for the boat. Why not post some pics so we can evaluate your dilemma.

 

[DanD34]

Here is a picture that shows both the rollers and bunk brackets. As you can see no means for vertical adjustment on either. This trailer is over 30 years old and they still sell the same one so there must be a bunch of these trailers out there. Heres a link to the trailer site. This is the basic trailer with one pair of bunks.

https://trailmastertrailers.com/custom-boat-trailers/trailmaster-channel/

 

[JimS123]

Here is a picture that shows both the rollers and bunk brackets. As you can see no means for vertical adjustment on either. This trailer is over 30 years old and they still sell the same one so there must be a bunch of these trailers out there. Heres a link to the trailer site. This is the basic trailer with one pair of bunks.

https://trailmastertrailers.com/custom-boat-trailers/trailmaster-channel/

Looks like a well built trailer. I guess they must get away with having a one-size-fits-all, since they have limited their customer base. That trailer would not work with a boat that had a real steep deadrise.

If it were mine I'd remove the keel rollers and cut off the brackets. Then, I'd add Stoltz keel rollers with adjustable brackets. But, that's just me. If you are happy with the way the trailer loads and unloads, then don't worry about it.

 

[roscoe]

On some trailers, the keel rollers are only there to keep the hull from scraping on the frame crossmember.

 

[ahicks]

I agree. Rollers are there to aid in centering/guiding the front of the keel/bow as the boat is retrieved.

Now if the question is "can they be used to help support the keel", my answer would be an enthusiastic sure! That's not their primary function though....

A small boat resting on bunks properly placed under the stringers really doesn't need any additional support.

 

[DanD34]

Thank you all for your input. All I read said much of the weight of the boat should be on the rollers and I was worried I could be hurting the boat. Sounds like it's ok just the way it is. Boat loads fine. I'm just going to use it as is . Thanks.