Centering boat on trailer

srbaum · Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2021 1:14 pm Post subject:

DaninPA,
The post DO prevent the boat from drifting over the fenders. Additionally, the wooden boards, that is carpeted, inside of the fenders was replaced with 1/2” King Starboard, which also aids in centering.

daninPA · Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2021 1:55 pm Post subject:

Pat Anderson · Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2021 11:57 am Post subject:

daninPA · Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2021 12:07 pm Post subject:

All these stories about not being perfectly centered is making me feel much, MUCH better.

Thank you!

Smile

ssobol · Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2021 12:40 pm Post subject:

My Magic Tilt trailer has the fenders closed on the inboard side. The inside face of the fender is covered with bunk carpeting. My 22 fits between the two fenders, although when pulling out I have to check that the boat is on the bunks and not sitting on top of one of the fenders. If it is, it just requires backing down until the back end floats and a push or a pull to get the boat back in the middle.

srbaum · Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2021 8:00 pm Post subject:

Pat Anderson,
My trailer is rigged like ssobol's, regarding the boat between the fenders. The plywood was swollen and the carpet on top of that made the fit of the boat too tight. I fixed it, by replacing the plywood with King Starboard, so now it glides between the fenders like butter.
http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_albumName=album3056&id=thumbnail_pC_eS4H4R_ewUwiSmy8Kjg&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

daninPA · Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2021 9:53 pm Post subject:

srbaum · Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2021 6:24 am Post subject:

DaninPA,
My boat is no longer in contact with the King Starboard… it’s just there to aid in centering. It WAS in contact with the old set up, because the plywood was swollen, due to rot.

Pat Anderson · Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2021 10:45 am Post subject:

daninPA and srbaum, I am guessing first that because you both have Ventures with a bit more pronounced vee compared to my standard flat bottom CD 25, centering is at least a bit easier. Also, it appears srbaum has bunks rather than rollers. I have rollers, and even when the boat is centered properly there is barely an inch between the boat and each fender.

I am thinking my solution is going to have to be a second set of goal posts mounted right at the widest spot, which I think is pretty much right abreast of the helm, mounted so the boat just clears them by an inch. I think I alsl need to get a proper socket for my impact wrench and move the goal posts at the stern in so they are the same distance apart as the new goal posts. This will not assure the boat is centered but will give us a better target on approach, and the real centering will be done by forward goal posts. Other than that, I don't know what else I could do.

Does this sound like a reasonable plan?

localboy · Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2021 11:06 am Post subject:

Pat, you'll probably never get those nuts off. Once they are rusted sufficiently, the "fuse" with the bolt; might as well be welded on. You can soak them with PB or Kroil until eternity. They'll never budge.

I just replaced a few brackets & nuts/bolts on our King. After 11+ years, they rusted heavily. I had to cut them all off with a disc on a die grinder. A Sawz-all would work too, assuming you have enough room. I didn't.

Like you, I have about 1" clearance (on each side) between the hull & the fenders. Our King is set up with bunks.

daninPA · Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2021 11:15 am Post subject:

Pat Anderson · Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2021 1:32 pm Post subject:

Pat Anderson · Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2021 1:41 pm Post subject:

thataway · Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2021 3:16 pm Post subject:

Pat, no reason you cannot use side bunks with a roller trailer. The bunks just guide the boat in place. The side bunks can be fairly low, and they can hold the boat in place.

I agree that you cannot put much pressure on the guide poles, even if they have heavy square tubing.