Trailer modification

[Ward1d]

Hello, I have this 15 foot Thornes aluminum boat, the trailer that came with it was in too rough of shape to salvage but I found another trailer for a bigger boat and changed it from rollers to bunks as seen in the pictures. The problem I’m having it that in order for the bow to sit in the winch stop, the bottom of the bow sits on the metal of the trailer frame and won’t float off at the ramp I have to pull it off and it’s scraping. I tried adding the keel roller but it doesn’t seem to be helping. Can anyone suggest what I should do to fix this?

Thanks!

 

[airshot]

Adjust tour bunks to support the hull for their entire length. It appears only the rear of the bunk is supporting the hull. Once the bow is in the proper position, then adjust the winch stand to get the correct height to the bow eye. Generally the bow eye should come up tight right under the roller on the winch stand. That winch stand should adjust back and forth as well as up and down. From your pics the front of the bunks need to be raised to lift the bow higher up to clear the trailer frame. Good luck...

 

[JimS123]

The keel roller is set too low. The back of the bunks are set too high. The front of the bunks are set too low. The homemade wood bunk support needs to be replaced with a proper adjustable bracket. Fit the boat properly on the trailer and then adjust the winch stand properly.

Can't tell for sure from the pic, but it looks like the winch is mounted / wound wrong. The strap (rope) should come off the top of the spool, not the bottom.

 

[airshot]

The keel roller is set too low. The back of the bunks are set too high. The front of the bunks are set too low. The homemade wood bunk support needs to be replaced with a proper adjustable bracket. Fit the boat properly on the trailer and then adjust the winch stand properly.

Can't tell for sure from the pic, but it looks like the winch is mounted / wound wrong. The strap (rope) should come off the top of the spool, not the bottom.

Curious why the winch needs to come off the top...my Fulton winch says either way is suitable for operation.

 

[JimS123]

Curious why the winch needs to come off the top...my Fulton winch says either way is suitable for operation.

The vast majority of winches are designed for a top unload. Using the bottom will defeat the braking mechanism and probably the ratchet. Cranking counterclockwise for a right handed person is unnatural. Coming off the bottom may cause the strap to rub on places it shouldn't rub when pulling in the boat, particularly with 2-speed winches that have an extra shaft.

Now if you have a universal winch that works both ways, go for it. Regardless, based on the pic above I guess it was set that way because of the (horrible) design of that winch stand. Usually the winch mount is horizontal and the bow roller is above the winch.

Having the strap below the bow roller ain't necessarily gospel. Safety chains are nice, but all they do is catch the boat as it is flying off the trailer when the winch strap / rope breaks. What is really needed is a steel chain / turnbuckle bow tiedown that will keep the boat firmly in place.

 

[airshot]

The vast majority of winches are designed for a top unload. Using the bottom will defeat the braking mechanism and probably the ratchet. Cranking counterclockwise for a right handed person is unnatural. Coming off the bottom may cause the strap to rub on places it shouldn't rub when pulling in the boat, particularly with 2-speed winches that have an extra shaft.

Now if you have a universal winch that works both ways, go for it. Regardless, based on the pic above I guess it was set that way because of the (horrible) design of that winch stand. Usually the winch mount is horizontal and the bow roller is above the winch.

Having the strap below the bow roller ain't necessarily gospel. Safety chains are nice, but all they do is catch the boat as it is flying off the trailer when the winch strap / rope breaks. What is really needed is a steel chain / turnbuckle bow tiedown that will keep the boat firmly in place.

Interesting....all of the winches I have owned have worked in both directions. When buying used, one if the first things I do is go thru or replace the winch as having one fail whole retrieving a boat is not a fun activity. My Fulton two speed is overkill for my boat but makes it so easy to crank, worth every penny.

 

[JimS123]

Interesting....all of the winches I have owned have worked in both directions. When buying used, one if the first things I do is go thru or replace the winch as having one fail whole retrieving a boat is not a fun activity. My Fulton two speed is overkill for my boat but makes it so easy to crank, worth every penny.

You must have experience with only upscale winches. My personal favorite is DL. Certainly the above pic does not show an upscale product.

My last 3 boats came with OEM top loaded winches - a Boston Whaler, a SeaRay and a Yamaha Waverunner. All were replaced with a Powerwinch (brand) that was also top loaded.