Rollers, Good Ones and Bad Ones?

[Jacalore]

The trailer for my 17' boat has mostly cracked rollers and in need of replacement. Couple questions: Do I just measure them and buy replacements? Easy to install? And, is one brand (or material) better than another? Mfg: Calkins
Thanks!

 

[dingbat]

Re: Rollers, Good Ones and Bad Ones?

Keel or wobble rollers?

 

[Jacalore]

Re: Rollers, Good Ones and Bad Ones?

Not sure... here's a couple pics

 

[etracer68]

Re: Rollers, Good Ones and Bad Ones?

Your pics show both, Keel and wobble rollers. The keel are the center ones, that support the keel. The wobble rollers support the bottom.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Rollers, Good Ones and Bad Ones?

I have that same trailer. The rollers are relatively easy to replace. Hint: On the keel rollers, replace the center bolts with a 5/8 inch axle and install a third roller. It will balance the weight better between the keel rollers and wobble rollers and extent the life of the keel rollers a bit.

If you can afford it, polyurethane rollers are better than rubber.

 

[Jacalore]

Re: Rollers, Good Ones and Bad Ones?

I have that same trailer. The rollers are relatively easy to replace. Hint: On the keel rollers, replace the center bolts with a 5/8 inch axle and install a third roller. It will balance the weight better between the keel rollers and wobble rollers and extent the life of the keel rollers a bit.

If you can afford it, polyurethane rollers are better than rubber.

Thanks, Frank. There are two keel sets, 2 rollers each. All of them cracked. No wonder the boat doesn't track straight onto the trailer! What do I need to buy replacements? Length, width, center hole dia? And, what's the best way to swap out the old for the new rollers? I'll have to do this while the boat is tied to the launch ramp, so I gotta have everything ready to go for a speedy repair. Thanks again.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Rollers, Good Ones and Bad Ones?

If those are 5' keel rollers then I love these. They do not distort as bad as most because of the steel sleeve and the roller axles last longer.

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

 

[Jacalore]

Re: Rollers, Good Ones and Bad Ones?

The back set of keel rollers is about 9.5" - the front set about 7" ...

 

[Jacalore]

Re: Rollers, Good Ones and Bad Ones?

I have that same trailer.

Frank, do you know the dimensions of the back and forward keel roller sets?

I measure mine at about 9" on the back two and 7" on the front pair. But, all the supply houses only carry 8" and 10"... Also, they're all 5/8" hole and I read where Calkins used 3/4"? Can you direct me to a source?

Thanks!

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Rollers, Good Ones and Bad Ones?

Calkins were very well built trailers with the only problem being that they used a nonstandard size or OEM specific rollers and as I recall the mounts for the keel rollers are all welded on. Yours is the 1st Calkins I've seen that has a pivoting bunk with 2 rollers attached for the keel rollers.

Sad to say but you may have to refab the brackets to conform to what is being made for rollers today. I do know that Shoreland'r uses a pivot like what you have for their keel rollers. Do you know what size the axle shafts are for the wobble rollers? 3/4" also?

 

[Grandad]

Re: Rollers, Good Ones and Bad Ones?

I think that the self centering rollers would be worthwhile at least for the roller that the boat hits first when loading. I don't have one but I think the idea is a good one. - Grandad
Self Centering Roller - Seasense 50080992 - iboats

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Rollers, Good Ones and Bad Ones?

I don't remember, but I did buy standard rollers for the keel. If you are patient, I will go out and measure them tomorrow. I am relatively sure that I bought 10 inch rollers. I do remember fabricating a couple of mounting bars and I did need to use a bunch of large washers as spacers. Will post a couple of photos tomorrow.

Now as far as the boat tracking onto the trailer: originally I had an 18 foot hull and it always went on perfectly. Later on I sold the boat and put a 21 foot cuddy on it and it NEVER goes on straight. The best advice I can give is to step on the rear bunk of the rear bogey to push it all the way down. Then, leave the rear set of rollers just above the water. This means cranking the boat all the way onto the trailer but I have an electric winch so to me it doesn't matter. At any rate, reloading like this may help the boat to track on straighter.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Rollers, Good Ones and Bad Ones?

Word to the wise....Self centering keel rollers ARE the best thing since sliced bread

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Rollers, Good Ones and Bad Ones?



It looks like I won't be too much help. The two sets of rear keel rollers are 11 inches and my front set is 7. I know I bought them at West marine. Perhaps the 11 inchers are really 12 and the 7 inchers are really 8. I had only a single roller in the front so I fabricated a mounting bar and installed three. These roller axles are all 5/8. I can't get to the rear ones to measure but I am certain they are the same because I made them from the same bar of stainless.

As you may be able to see, my hull has a riding pad and self centering rollers would be useless except for the front.

 

[Jacalore]

Re: Rollers, Good Ones and Bad Ones?

Thanks, Frank. That looks like a very beefy setup!
Going to the trailer parts store today, poke around, see what I can come up with. Thanks for your help, 'preciate it!

 

[colbyt]

Re: Rollers, Good Ones and Bad Ones?

Asking a question for the general benefit.

All the lined rollers simply have a metal tube. If a person had a non-standard size why couldn't you cut equal amounts off each side to achieve the necessary clearance?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Rollers, Good Ones and Bad Ones?

you absolutely COULD

 

[Jacalore]

Re: Rollers, Good Ones and Bad Ones?

Ok, had the boat off the trailer today, so I took measurements. The stern keel rollers are 9.5" and there appears to be a little play on the ends. The forward keel rollers are 7.5" ... so I'm thinking 10"s and 8"s ought to work. Btw, the axels look pretty rusty... off to the trailer parts store tomorrow. Below is a shot of the Calkins trailer and setup.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Rollers, Good Ones and Bad Ones?

Ahh! my trailer is bigger. I have a double bogey on the rear and a single in front with no solidly mounted single roller. Your trailer has 13 rollers while mine had 18. Now it has 21.

My trailer has 2 X 6 side frames and a 3 X 6 tongue. Yours appears to be all 3 X 3

 

[Jacalore]

Re: Rollers, Good Ones and Bad Ones?

My Calkins Mirage is about 19' long, good fit for my 17' boat.
Close up inspection today showed keel rollers are cracked, a couple all the way thru. If they are replacements, I wonder if the extra slack was due to the size difference (5/8" vs 3/4"), but they're so deteriorated, it's hard to tell. To the parts store tomorrow.