Centering boat on trailer

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.
 
Pat Anderson":3vkwwmx4 said:
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?
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It does, but I'm still not understanding the advantages of posts over guide bunks -- posts will only constrain movement within certain angles -- bunks provide guidance along their entire length.

I can see the advantages of posts for visual alignment, but don't see how they are an improvement to guide bunks which are essentially continuous rails that prevent movement past a certain spot on the trailer.

I am obviously missing something or posts would not be sold and installed so frequently!
 
daninPA":gqrafxr6 said:
It does, but I'm still not understanding the advantages of posts over guide bunks -- posts will only constrain movement within certain angles -- bunks provide guidance along their entire length.

I can see the advantages of posts for visual alignment, but don't see how they are an improvement to guide bunks which are essentially continuous rails that prevent movement past a certain spot on the trailer.

I am obviously missing something or posts would not be sold and installed so frequently!
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I don't think you are missing anything. I just don't see how I can use guide bunks on a roller trailer. If someone could explain that, and maybe provide a link to guide bunks that would work for me, I would order them in a hearbeat.
 
localboy":9oyv8hky said:
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.
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Mark, I am reasonably confident you are right. With a trailer with bunks, aren't some kind of guide bunks an option for you? As far as room goes, I can cut the nuts off the u-bolts with the boat in the water, as we have a slip for the summer at Blaine Marina. But I am at a loss as to what to replace them with for centering guides.

So what is the centering solution for me? Any suggestions?
 
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.
 
thataway":2p8cccpo said:
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.
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Bob, I am thinking of getting these guide bunks with the optional extra long u-bolts to fit my trailer. Do you think they would help solve my centering issue, and if so, where where should I mount them? There are also these longer ones, about five feet long, but they would not clear the fenders on my trailer. I suppose I could get a seven foot board and carpet it myself. also with the optional extra long u-bolts. Would that be a better plan?

Thanks!
 
My trailer is a King with wobble rollers and 2x6 guide bunks mounted on either side.

I replaced the wood (rotten) and carpet and reinstalled them. They keep the boat from pivoting too much in those times when wind and current wrestle the boat off-center.
 
Pat, the short boards are going to be stressed if the full weight of the boat comes on them--especially if too far. You want two attachment points to the trailer frame. Also consider that the aft end of the boat is often still flowing when you get the bow to the pedestal/stop. So you want them a ways up the side of the hull. I think that they are most conveniently located from just forward of the fenders aft. You want them to guide the boat down to its center point, as the boat is pulled out of the water. It is possible to use a roller trailer to winch the boat most of the way up--and not dunk the trailer so deep into the water...
 
Bob, and all, I am leaning toward the longer guide bunks, the ones with two attachment points, but replacing the five foot bunks, which would not clear the fenders, with a seven foot board, with one end forward and one end aft of the fenders. I would leave the ill-placed goal posts, first, because they are sort of a general guide to look at while loading the boat, and second, because short of grinding the nuts off, as Mark has pointed out, there is no other way to removed them. In case you did not look at them, these are the ones I am looking at, with the optional long u-bolts to fit my trailer frame. I would buy two seven foot 2x6s and carpet them. I just want to know what you think about this idea, if perhaps they are too light duty for a CD 25.
 
Hi Pat (Daydream)

My previous boat was the 2005 C-Dory 25 "Sea Skipper" built just after your boat and outfitted at EQ Harbor. I also had centering problems on the trailer. The solution was to install short angled guides on the end of the trailer. See picture #73 in the Sea Skipper album:

http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_ ... _photo.php

These guides were made from pressure treated 4x8 beams, band sawed to shape and carpeted. (wood was selected and laid out to maximize strength of the grain) As the boat and trailer are pulled up the ramp, the aft end of the boat settles down and is gently guided to the correct position. Works perfectly. I use this same system on my present boat "Alpine Mist" a Rosborough 246.

Hank Brooks
 
Sea Skipper":24oe0i4f said:
The solution was to install short angled guides on the end of the trailer. See picture #73 in the Sea Skipper album:

http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_ ... _photo.php

These guides were made from pressure treated 4x8 beams, band sawed to shape and carpeted. (wood was selected and laid out to maximize strength of the grain) As the boat and trailer are pulled up the ramp, the aft end of the boat settles down and is gently guided to the correct position. Works perfectly. I use this same system on my present boat "Alpine Mist" a Rosborough 246.

Hank Brooks
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This looks like an ideal solution -- thanks for sharing!
 
srbaum":2py5rtx5 said:
Pat,
If I were spending your $$$, I would buy the parts from Pacific Trailer. They are heavy gauge steel and hot dipped galvanized coated. I have this product on my trimaran trailer and also had a similar product on my C-Dory 22's Ez-Loader, galvanized roller trailer. Worked like a champ...
https://www.pacifictrailers.com/collect ... unk-boards
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Good advice - but the light duty ones shown in the link would not do the job per Sergio at Pacific Trailers. I called, and Sergio talked me through the info he needs, which I have provided to him. I am waiting for him to respond, but it is the heavy duty load guides, the load guide bases, the long stainless u-bolts, and the trailer frame u-bolt strap that I need I think.
 
Sea Skipper":2n0jios3 said:
Hi Pat (Daydream)

The solution was to install short angled guides on the end of the trailer.

As the boat and trailer are pulled up the ramp, the aft end of the boat settles down and is gently guided to the correct position. Works perfectly.
Hank Brooks
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Thanks, Hank. It looks like you also have the side guide bunks, were they not sufficient by themselves to center the boat? I don't have the skill to build your short guides or to attach them, I suppose I could use the short roller guides, but I will try the side load guides first I think!
 
Pat, the guys at Pacific Trailer are good and know their stuff. I would be confident they would steer you right.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

IMGP6704.thumb.jpg
 
Pat,

Yes I have heavy duty side guides on my boat trailers. They do a good job of roughly centering the boat on the trailer especially if your trying to haul out in side currents or winds. But, they still allow the boat to tilt off slightly to one side or the other. The long side guides also makes sure that the boat doesn't rest on top of one or the other shorter guides.

The shorter closely fit guides at the end of the trailer guarantees that the boat is perfectly centered. The shorter guides need to be fit reasonably tight (1/4" gap) and conform to the lower hull profile to work properly. The closely fit centering guides can also be attached to the side guide posts if these posts are close to the end of the trailer.

Hank Brooks
 
hardee":397o07bp said:
Pat, the guys at Pacific Trailer are good and know their stuff. I would be confident they would steer you right.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

IMGP6704.thumb.jpg
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Harvey, and all, yesterday I pulled the trigger on Pacific Trailers' heavy duty side guides. This is not a kit but assembled from the individual components. Sergio in parts walked me through what I need. Some of the parts were not in stock but I made the purchase and they will ship when they have it all in stock. Really looking forward to getting the side guides installed! There will be photos!
 
Pat Anderson":2tbehlkv said:
There are also these longer ones, about five feet long, but they would not clear the fenders on my trailer. I suppose I could get a seven foot board and carpet it myself. also with the optional extra long u-bolts. Would that be a better plan?

Thanks![/color][/size]
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Pat ours are like those longer ones. I could measure them but the definitely clear the fenders. I replaced the wood and carpet a couple of years ago. Not difficult. If you have a staple gun and the proper sized S/S staples it’s just a matter of good marine bunk carpet and a razor type box cutter.

That kit looks strong. He may have told you, but I’d install them with the boat on the trailer and centered. Best way to fine tune the installation.
 
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