Trailering Boat

[smedlen256]

I recently bought an 18.5' Bass Tracker. I've been driving boats on trailers since I was 15, I am now 51, but I'm having a terrible time with the stern of the boat sliding to the left side of the trailer. The trailer has 2 flat boards and only has a roller guide on each side of the back of the trailer. Do I need to buy the bunk style guides to alleviate this problem. I've only had the boat out twice and used the same ramp both times. I did notice yesterday that the ramp had a slope to it from right to left. Is this causing the boat to shift in that direction? I've tried adjusting the depth of the trailer in the water and it seemed to help some if I didn't have the trailer as deep in the water but it's still way more difficult than it should be. I love the boat and it pulls great behind my vehicle. But putting the boat back on the trailer is nothing but a pain so far. Even tried winching it on and the rear of the boat still shifts to the left into the fender and against the roller while there is plenty of room between the boat and right roller. Someone please help!

 

[TyeeMan]

Howdy, and welcome to iboats! :welcome:

I've found over the years that if a particular landing has a slight slope to it, right to left, left to right, my boat will generally load to one side of the trailer. My boat is aluminum and my trailer is a roller trailer so there isn't any strakes on the bottom of the boat to keep it straight, just the keel. I have 6 closely spaced keel rollers farther forward on the trailer that have a grove in which the keel fits into. But if the boat is already crooked there's no straightening it by the time it hits those rollers.

Look at a majority of glass boats, or even aluminum boats that sit on a custom bunk trailer. The trailer maker will usually place the bunks in places that will guide the boat on straight no matter what.

Your Bass Tracker is likely the same as my Lund in that the only thing that can really guide the boat on straight are rollers or bunks that contact the keel.

You could move your roller guides closer to the boat but you don't want them rubbing on the boat while in transit as it will start to wear away at the aluminum.

It's frustrating to be sure and there's nothing I hate more is to pull my boat down the highway sitting all wonky on the trailer.

I've been know to get out the floor jack once I get home and lift the back of the boat to straighten it out.

 

[Bayou Dave]

Try putting guide posts on the trailer and keep the trailer as shallow as you can.

 

[MH Hawker]

put some of the side guides on it and go fishing

 

[Silvertip]

Don't need any of the add on stuff. If the ramp slopes to one side, back the trailer in at an angle so the trailer is level with the surface of the water. Physics dictates that if the trailer and water surface aren't the same the boat will load crooked. You accomplish this leveling process by pointing the tongue to the high side of the slope. This puts the trailer wheel on that side lower on the ramp than the other side. If there isn't room to do this then perhaps it may be necessary to add the assisting devices.

 

[smedlen256]

Thank you all for your replies, advice and welcomes. Before I do anything, I'm gonna try another ramp. From what I'm reading and also seeing on other boats, the ramp is 90% of my problem. The other 10 % I believe is I was putting the trailer too deep into the water. Wish me luck guys. Gonna try to go Monday but the North Alabama weather isn't very inviting to fishermen right now. Thanks again guys! Hope I can help someone sometime.

 

[ahicks]

Yes, I was just thinking that after just a couple of tries, this may be something that becomes much simpler as you get more familiar with it.

Still, another vote for side guides of some sort here. It can't hurt, and may make you're life much less complicated when loading. It's not just the potential for a ramp sloping off the wrong way, loading with a hefty cross wind pretty common as well, which can easily complicate loading as easily as an off level ramp.