Welding a pivoting Bow Stop?

[bcollida]

I'm curious if anyone has been down this road before. My boat came with this stupid roller trailer with a pivoting double roller bow stop. When trailering, the front of this boat bounces up and down against this pivoting bow stop. I'm guessing it does this by design, but sure looks odd to me.

I was thinking about welding this double roller bow stop into a fixed position. Does that sound like a bad idea?

My gut feel is that the entire trailer has flex in it and the bouncing front end of the boat is mostly a result of the trailer flexing as it goes down the road. And my fear is, if I weld the bow stop in place, then the front of the boat will still bounce up and down and will probably hit the welded in place bow stop with more force than the way it works now.

Anyone have any experience with a trailer like this?
Maybe I should just leave it alone.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

 

[Chris1956]

If the winch line is tight, the bow stop should not move very much. If it does, it is likely the trailer flexing. Is the trailer rated for the boat weight?

 

[bcollida]

If the winch line is tight, the bow stop should not move very much. If it does, it is likely the trailer flexing. Is the trailer rated for the boat weight?

Good point. is there typically a tag on the trailer for it's rated capacity? I'll go and look. I believe the trailer was originally sold with the boat back in 1994.

 

[flashback]

I'm thinking the boat needs to be further forward so that the bow eye is between the rollers rather than under the bottom roller.

 

[bcollida]

I'm thinking the boat needs to be further forward so that the bow eye is between the rollers rather than under the bottom roller.

Thanks for your thoughts. I originally had the bow eye between the two rollers and that was really bad. I think the bow eye under the bottom roller provides some leverage on the bow strap to hold the boat down. The guy I bought the boat from never used the trailer and just kept the boat on a lift so no help there.
This trailer is super adjustable. Everything is bolted together., meaning I can raise or lower the winch and switch the pivot arm around, pretty much anything can be adjusted. From looking at trailer brochures that are set up like this, I believe the bow eye is supposed to be below the bottom roller. Anyway,
I also pushed the boat as far forward as possible on the rollers trying to get as much weight between the tires and more more weight on the front of the trailer. All of those adjustments have helped, but the front of the boat still rocks on that bottom roller at the bow.

I've trailered it about 400 miles. I'm nervous when I hit a bumpy patch on the highway. The bow stays connected to the bottom bow roller when going over bumps but the pivot arm allows the boat to rock up and off the top bow roller. I think it is just a goofy trailer

 

[airshot]

Your winch is pulling at a bad angle trying to lift the bow up. Your safety chain is of no help in case of emergency. Is the rear rollers or bunks right at the rear of the boat ? They should be as far rear as possible to support the transom. Once the support is under the transom, then adjust the winch stand. Winch should be pulling the bow downward as should the safety chain. Adjust the safety chain so there is only enough slack to clip the bow eye, no more, some folks even put tensioners on the safety chain to snug it up. Then look at your roller positions, appears you need more support closer to your bow. Whether moving or adding to the existing rollers or adding some keel rollers I can't tell from your pics, but for sure you need some serious adjustments to your trailer and winch stand.

 

[bcollida]

Your winch is pulling at a bad angle trying to lift the bow up. Your safety chain is of no help in case of emergency. Is the rear rollers or bunks right at the rear of the boat ? They should be as far rear as possible to support the transom. Once the support is under the transom, then adjust the winch stand. Winch should be pulling the bow downward as should the safety chain. Adjust the safety chain so there is only enough slack to clip the bow eye, no more, some folks even put tensioners on the safety chain to snug it up. Then look at your roller positions, appears you need more support closer to your bow. Whether moving or adding to the existing rollers or adding some keel rollers I can't tell from your pics, but for sure you need some serious adjustments to your trailer and winch stand.

Thanks for your thoughts. I agree with with the bad angle and I tried to change that angle, however when I slide the winch and the stand around it always ends up pulling upward. ( the angle between the winch and the pivoting bow strap always remains the same - that's assuming the correct way to do this is to have the bow strap go under the bottom roller of the stop). Now, I could wrap the bow strap around the winch in the opposite direction.( ie the strap comes off the bottom of the winch and attaches to the bow eye.) Do you think that is a bad idea?

I don't like the idea of the bow strap going between the two rollers because I think during a hard braking situation on the highway, the boat will roll forward on the trailer. The rollers work really well.

 

[racerone]

Take the bracket on the front off.----Put it back on with long side down-----If you are on really bumpy roads a roller trailer is not a good idea.-----Use some ropes to hold the boat from sliding forward.------Install a second bow eye and switch over while winching boat onto the trailer

 

[airshot]

When traveling on rough roads with a heavy boat you need more rollers for support. However you do it, the winch needs to pull a little below level even if you have to modify the winch stand, the safety chain should drop right down to the frame to keep the bow from lifting upon hard stopping. You could also consider swapping the forward rollers for bunks and move them further forward. Just options for you....

 

[bcollida]

Thanks for your thoughts. I agree with with the bad angle and I tried to change that angle, however when I slide the winch and the stand around it always ends up pulling upward. ( the angle between the winch and the pivoting bow strap always remains the same - that's assuming the correct way to do this is to have the bow strap go under the bottom roller of the stop). Now, I could wrap the bow strap around the winch in the opposite direction.( ie the strap comes off the bottom of the winch and attaches to the bow eye.) Do you think that is a bad idea?

I don't like the idea of the bow strap going between the two rollers because I think during a hard braking situation on the highway, the boat will roll forward on the trailer. The rollers work really well.

I like your suggestion of shortening the safety chain and then putting a tensioning strap on the safety chain and pulling it downward.
Great Idea, thanks for your thoughts.

 

[dingbat]

The entire setup looks out of whack.
How much tongue weight do you have?

Looks like the boat is too far back on the trailer. The center of gravity of the boat should be sitting just forward of the center of the axles.

The bow stop is upside down and not positioned properly. The bow eye goes right below the upper roller. Winch needs to be lowered so it pulls straight from the eye, not at an angle.

ShoreLand'r.com - Boat-To-Trailer Step #4

www.shorelandr.com

Moving up and down in the bow stop when not properly positioned and tensioned is normal due to flex in the trailer. The bow will not move when the stop is properly installed and the cable/strap is properly tensioned.

 

[bcollida]

The entire setup looks out of whack.
How much tongue weight do you have?

Looks like the boat is too far back on the trailer. The center of gravity of the boat should be sitting just forward of the center of the axles.

The bow stop is upside down and not positioned properly. The bow eye goes right below the upper roller. Winch needs to be lowered so it pulls straight from the eye, not at an angle.

ShoreLand'r.com - Boat-To-Trailer Step #4

www.shorelandr.com

Moving up and down in the bow stop when not properly positioned and tensioned is normal due to flex in the trailer. The bow will not move when the stop is properly installed and the cable/strap is properly tensioned.

Awesome, thanks for the link. You know, I looked at this link and picture before, but I mistakenly thought the bow strap was going to the bottom roller.

 

[airshot]

The entire setup looks out of whack.
How much tongue weight do you have?

Looks like the boat is too far back on the trailer. The center of gravity of the boat should be sitting just forward of the center of the axles.

The bow stop is upside down and not positioned properly. The bow eye goes right below the upper roller. Winch needs to be lowered so it pulls straight from the eye, not at an angle.

ShoreLand'r.com - Boat-To-Trailer Step #4

www.shorelandr.com

Moving up and down in the bow stop when not properly positioned and tensioned is normal due to flex in the trailer. The bow will not move when the stop is properly installed and the cable/strap is properly tensioned.

Something did look "out of whack" but couldn't put my finger on it, until I saw your pic that you posted, then it became clear.