Boat Trailer Guides

Tug · Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 1:44 pm Post subject: Boat Trailer Guides

I have those roller guides ( approx. 1 foot high ) attached to the rear of the trailer to help guide the boat on. Those roller guides will definitely come in contact with my new bottom paint on the side of the boat. Question is: should i remove them to prevent damage to my bottom paint. Tug

thataway · Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 1:52 pm Post subject:

Most folks leave guide ons, rollers etc in place with bottom paint. If the paint is soft and you hit the roller hard, it can come off....But I have always kep the guides on.

Tug · Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 5:00 pm Post subject:

http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb355/Tug7/C-doryAugust20100003-1.jpg

thataway... this is the rear trailer guide on that will be in contact with the bottom paint,they are really tight against the sides of the boat and would do alot of damage to the bottom paint.I could either remove them... cut them and weld on a 6-10 inch extension rod to raise the roller's contact point above the water line... remove the roller part and insert over the remaining rod a PVC pipe that will reach above the rub rail. I also have bunk guides on my trailer so do i really need the rear guide on's to load my boat. I would like to keep these if they are necessary and if they can be modified . Any suggestions would help. Thanks Tug

thataway · Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 5:28 pm Post subject:

Is it really necessary that these rollers be that tight? Have they worn the gel coat down in the points of contact? Many boats have the guide ons, which are more of a reference. I can see if you launch most of the time with a heavy beam current that these could be very useful. I would guess that as the stern of the boat is still floating as you run onto the trailer, that there is some force straight down when the boat settles on the trailer, as you remove it from the water. Is that where the wearing occurs? The rollers look to be above your "scum" line, but I can understand that you brought the bottom paint and boot stripe up further.

tomherrick · Guest

I had the same type of rollers on the trailer when I got the boat. The ramps here in Kentucky are so steep that I couldn't see the roller guides and the boat floated in over them. After a couple of those experiences they were gone. Hopefully, the ramps in your area are gentler of slope, but it may be something to consider if you trailer elsewhere.

Tug · Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 5:58 pm Post subject:

thataway..no there is no gel-coat wear and only one rear roller is tight against the hull when the boat is centered. Good point, the rollers do not have to be tight against the sides of the boat.I will move them out an inch or so and that may solve the problem and save me extra costs/work.I can always remove or modify them if this doesn't work.I applied the bottom paint above the scum line to the splash line to take into account further loading, like a kicker and extra fuel if i ever get around to adding those side saddle gas tanks.Thanks for the replies and sugestions. Tug