CDory rubbing on wheel covers

jacuthbert · Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2010 9:08 am Post subject: CDory rubbing on wheel covers

Hello good folks...Merry Christmas
I am having a problem with my EZLoader trailer. When I load up the C-Dory 25 onto the trailer, it rides slightly to the left, up tight against the wheel-well covers and the trailer side board. The boat is not touching the wheel-well covers or the side board on the starboard side.
A friend is suggesting adding another 1" board to the bunks to give added height so the boat will clear the wheel covers. This seems wrong to me. It will mean I will have to back my truck further to launch and I am concerned it will make the Dory ride too high when trailering and maybe affect stability on the highway.
In the back of my mind, I am thinking that maybe the trailer is bent. The only solution I have so far is to place bunk cover material on the inside of the wheel covers so the Dory is touching that material rather than the plastic of the wheelwell covers. I am also thinking to increase the layer of bunk material on the port side wheel-well to force the boat to center better.
Any suggestions, ideas, thoughts or comments will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Amanda

jennykatz · Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2010 9:39 am Post subject: trailers

Amanda I think you have the same trailer as C-Pearl (25) his boat was hitting the wheelwellsides also . I forget how he resolved it but if the trailers are the same the wheel well rugged over plywood is warping you might have to replace or remove the rugged part that covers the inside of wheel well ( pictures would help get a better understanding for other c-brats to see) or as your friend suggests put a 1by6 under trailer supports and re rug that to bring the boat up another inch or so . Also I would put trailer guides on to center the boat so both sides end up the same distance away from wheel wells .

Take pictures and good luck I'm glad you are keeping your boat it's a keeper.

thataway · Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2010 11:06 am Post subject:

Sometimes boats tend to load to one side or the other. Bring the bunk board on the side (which I assume that you have) in tighter to the boat, and keep the boat away from the wheel cover by centering the boat.

Nunya · Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2010 11:26 am Post subject:

I have the same problem on my King trailer. Even if the boat is centered after retrieving it will eventually ride up against left or right side wheel fender while traveling down the road. I have side loading guides also which I keep about one inch clearance between them and the boat to keep from rubbing while traveling. With the boat up against one of the fenders it is causing rubbing on the gel coat at the chine. If you find a cure to keeping the boat centered while traveling please post.

Morning Star · Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2010 11:28 am Post subject:

I had a similar problem with my EZLoader. The boat would settle to one side or the other and ride against the fender. I tightened the trailer guides (goal post type on the back) and that solved the problem. The boat now settles into the middle of the trailer. It is a little tight when pulling the boat on, but that has not turned out to be an issue.

hardee · Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2010 11:42 am Post subject:

I have some of the same problem, boat wants to ride to starboard an inch or so. Tried pushing it back, and it works, but by the time I'm home it has settled back that way again. Looked under the boat on the trailer, DAH, there is a slightly domed grill, over the freshwater intake for the washdown pump, over laps the medial bunkboard. DUMB, I didn't catch that before I rebuilt the bunkboards. I thought the sideways thing was because the bunkboards were warped. I just let it go it's way now, adjusted the side board a bit, and tie the stern down good. Haven't decided what to do about the grill. don't really feel much need for that washdown pump so it all may go, but for now, the easy way was to let her have her own way. If you don't tell, I doubt anybody will notice or know.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

Matt Gurnsey · Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2010 1:16 pm Post subject:

Because the C-Dory hull is so flat, it easily moves side to side on the trailer when going down the road. I have seen some people cross their stern straps so the strap hooked to the starboard side of the trailer hooks to the port side of the boat, and vice versa.

This could help prvent the boat moving side to side as the tie downs are now pulling with a more lateral angle.

jacuthbert · Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2010 8:09 pm Post subject: riding up on the wheel-wells

Great ideas and info folks!
I will get the goal-post type guide-ons and I will see about crossing the straps at the back. I will wait to see how that works before taking the radical step of adding height to the bunks.
Mucho thanks. It helps just to know it's not just me!
Amanda

A Fishin C · Guest

Hi Amanda, I don't know how well the goal post guides work.

Have a look at the bunk guides on my trailer. These seem to be far more popular with C-Brats...

jacuthbert · Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2010 8:41 pm Post subject: choosing guide-ons

I was just looking at guide-ons at Overtons. (Goal-post type). They had more than one choice. Which ones did you purchase? Did you get them somewhere other than Overtons?
Amanda

thataway · Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2010 9:05 pm Post subject:

The goal post type of guide ons are great for centering the boat--and in some limited fashion keeping the boat centered. However they are easily bent and should not take the place of the side bunks, which will keep the boat in place. Of course neither would take the place of proper straps.

Pat Anderson · Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2010 9:17 pm Post subject:

You are not alone, as you can see. I really don't even want to talk about this, I am still so hot and angry with King...I am thinking I need to get custom fenders fabricated for our King Salt Water Trailer, the plastic ones are crap, the supports broke, and we ended up with a flat tire going down the road when it dropped down and ate the tire...Thanks to Russ for a bit of ingenuity strapping it up with zip ties, which is how it still is sitting out in our driveway. Why oh way did King put those crappy plastic fenders on this trailer anyway? Oh yeah, and King won't talk to customers, only to dealers. No more King Trailers, no way, no how...

Moxieabs · Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2010 9:30 pm Post subject:

My "goal post" guides are very stiff with 1.5" galvanized square tube covered by 2" PVC pipe. Overton"s refers to these as "post guides". Widget can still settle off center since the widest beam occurs amidship and narrows aft at the transom.

A Fishin C · Guest

Amanda,

The bunk guides are available from the boat trailer suppliers. Mine came on my trailer. On my previous boat I put ez loader bunk guides on a road runner trailer. The important things are length of bunk, size of trailer frame member, and whether you are going to mount on top or underside of frame. This will dictate the height of the guide on the hull side.

Stefan

Oh, and Pat, and I love my King trailer, but it came with aluminum checker plate fenders. Much better than locally made trailers.

jennykatz · Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 7:38 am Post subject: trailers

My cc-23 stays where it is when on the trailer I put in 2by6 flat supports and this not only keeps it from going anywhere it also acts as a guide plus I have the guide posts easy launch and retrieve. I also put straps on both front and rear when trailering long distance . maybe someone can put the picture of trailer here.