Advice on replacing boat trailer for our C-Dory Cruiser 22

hardee":1t0hxmvn said:
I think side bunks are more effective than those load guides, at least for keeping the boat off the fenders as you are loading or launching.

Curious what others think as to the number of bunks, (support) there. Horizontal bunks at least increase the support by a factor of 3-4.
Click to expand...

The side bunks are helpful especially in the 25's, where the margin may be only an inch in some trailers. But The guide ones (which are not as substantial as those illustrated above) are very robust on the LoadRite trailers, and are very helpful.
I have used both, and if well made, both can be very effective.
 
I would like to have side boards, but never have had them. I have some decent load guides that do ok. I am able to usually get the boat centered close enough. With C-Traveler, if I'm over to one side or the other, that puts me over the fender with 1/4" clearance. Tight! Any higher however means that difference needs to be made up in launch depth. As for bunks, Midnight Flyer came with only 2. I didn't feel that was enough, so I moved those bunks towards the outside, and then placed two more on the inside that were a little bit longer. There was a roller under the bow, but that was only for loading, and did not support the boat at all while out of the water. (It had a few inches of clearance from the hull once the boat was out of the water.) C-Traveler has the two main bunks that run from stern to about the front side windows, then there are two "targeting" bunks. I do have the targeting bunks set up to also support the bow, however they do not have the brunt of the bow's weight on them. I think they share that weight with the bow stop roller. The difference in trailers is that C-Travelers bunks are much heavier 3x9 boards and are up on edge so provide a lot more support than the 2x4's that layed flat under Midnight Flyer. All things considered, I liked Midnight Flyers EZ-Loader trailer better then C-Traveler's Karavan trailer. But that was after I did some mods on it. Not much I can do with the Karavan. Colby
 
So much good info already shared in this post. I'm only in my 2nd month of owning my C-Dory 22, it came with a 2005 Load Rite trailer that was equipped with some kind of disc brakes that are not operational right now. Even towing with my Honda Ridgeline (max tow capacity 5k#) I've been comfortable at highway speeds for two 400 mile road trips so far, the first 400 mile road trip (bringing it home) was a bit dicey with a lower ball hitch, I replaced that ball hitch with one about 5" taller and it made aworld of difference.

Anyway, to my question... my trailer came with rollers. I haven't trailered anything bigger than a lightweight sailing dinghy before this so my experience is very limited. I am also doing all my launching and recovering solo... figured as long as I was learning I may as well do it solo and free my wife to focus on our 4 year old.

I love the rollers, boat slides right off in 3 of 3 ramps I've used so far. Bringing it back on means I get wet to my calf's but it's very controlled, I haul the boat with a bow line till I"m close enough to winch it on.

With bunks I figure I'm missing out on loading by driving the boat up onto the trailer? Or is there something else? Thanks!
 
Bunks are actually easier for centering the boat and I believe provide better support. You can power on or still just walk your boat on and winch the last few inches. Advice is you back in the same distance as it took to float the boat off.
 
vpik01;

I certainly enjoy roller trailers for the reasons you give. You have to realize that those with bunks love bunks, though they haven't tried rollers. I just accept the fact that I'll be on the roller side, not the bunk side.

Don't change. OK, don't change rollers to bunks.

Boris
 
Thanks Boris and Colby, really appreciate the feedback! Hopefully at some point I'll get to try the bunks but I'm not in a rush to replace the trailer I've got.

Tony
 
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