Loading Guide Help?

[DaveJ50]

My fishing buddy purchased a used G3 Eagle 165. This is a modified V type boad but the angle of the hull runs from bow to somewhere about the drivers seat.

We fish at a no power loading ramp and because of the angle of the hull, no part of the boat touches the bunks until the nose is already under the post roller by about a foot.

I took an old post/roller and mounted them behind his post and positioned the roller against the hull to force the boat up toward his post. This would have worked pretty well except I forgot about the hook eye which went over my roller and loaded fine. When we attempted to unload, the eye would not go back over my roller so I walked the plank, raised the nose of the boat and smashed my finger between the boat and roller. Project removed!!

Putting the trailer deeper until his post is low in the water results in the gurgling sound of a Ford running underwater and putting the trailer in shallow enough to force the hull to hit the bunks results in having to crank the entire weight of the boat up most of the trailer.

So, any ideas appreciated. Some kind of rollers that would mount on the trailer frame on both sides to cradle the hull upward?


Thanks
DaveJ

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Loading Guide Help?

Can you offer up a photo of the boat and trailer? It would be great if you had a photo of the trailer with and without the boat on it.

It's really hard to visualize your situation without photos.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Loading Guide Help?

pics of the trailer would help. sounds like a really steep ramp. or else a really high post.

could you lower the post, replace the roller with a bow stop, and add a safety chain to prevent the boat getting launched over the roof of the truck in the event of a sudden stop?

kinda worky, but can you hook up the bow strap before the bow floats under the roller, pull forward until the bunks contact the hull, then winch it on up?

That, or maybe a winch with a lower gear ratio?

how's the finger?

 

[DaveJ50]

Re: Loading Guide Help?

I'm not well traveled enough to know if the ramp is steep. It was part of a government project so I assumed it was built to some sort of spec.

I don't have any pictures and wouldn't be able to get any prior to next weekend so I found a couple of links to pictures of boats much the same.

If it isn't ok to do this, someone let me know.

The first link shows the upswept bow. The bunks don't go much further forward than the crossmember you can see. That is about where the hull starts to angle up.

http://boats.iboats.com/g3_boats/122243.html


The second link is about the same.
http://www.g3boats.com/EagleSeries/Eagle_175Coastal/

We did lower the post and made it match the height with the boat sitting on the trailer. We tried even lower but it started raising the stern.

Our current method is to put the trailer well into the water and put the strap on the boat. Then crank until the bow is close to the roller even though it is still about a foot low. Next pull up a couple of feet until the stern drops which raises the bow above the roller.

By that time there is a third step because the stern has floated over the fenders because the guide boards are now underwater. PVC guide posts have been ordered so step 3 should be handled.

That isn't bad for 2 people but this is his first trailer boat and he will be launching by himself.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Loading Guide Help?

I'm thinking the solution will involve a keel roller somewhere in the vacinity of the arrow:

 

[DaveJ50]

Re: Loading Guide Help?

The keel roller sounds like a really good idea. That was kind of what I was trying to do with the old post but even adjusted down it was about halfway between your arrow and the hook eye.


I'll have to look and see what kind of mounts I can find to try to get a roller at about that location.

Thanks everyone!

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Loading Guide Help?

Is your trailer like that black one with no crossmember up front? The other trailer in the second photo had a nifty crossmember near the front that would be perfect for a roller that would solve your problem.

On the black trailer, it'll be more difficult, since there's no crossmember to work with at all in that area. But a roller at about the position shown in the arrow will do the job. With the boat on the trailer, you can adjust it so it just makes nice contact with the hull, but with no real pressure. That would guide the front for you when loading and force the bow up to meet your bow roller.

 

[DaveJ50]

Re: Loading Guide Help?

Your reply came just as I was thinking about that very thing.


I'm almost sure it is like the one with the small crossmember because I'm almost sure that is where I was standing when I smashed one of my favorite fingers.

He is going to look tonight and I will order the roller tomorrow. I found one here on IBoats that looks like it might do the trick.

http://www.iboats.com/Adjustable_Ke...d.238442--list_time.1178566438--view_id.38308

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Loading Guide Help?

Well, that usually means the trailer is too far in the water. I guess I would not back in so far, idle up to the trailer and winch it the rest of the way.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Loading Guide Help?

probably take some trial & error time on the ramp to get it placed just right - when the keel starts moving up on the roller that'll slow & eventually stop the boat moving forward - it'll still be tricky to do it solo without getting wet or a balancing act on the trailer tongue or some heavy winching. I agree with catrans about not having it bear a lot of weight on the road, might not do any harm, but still...

I really like these self-centering rollers:

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Loading Guide Help?

Your reply came just as I was thinking about that very thing.


I'm almost sure it is like the one with the small crossmember because I'm almost sure that is where I was standing when I smashed one of my favorite fingers.

He is going to look tonight and I will order the roller tomorrow. I found one here on IBoats that looks like it might do the trick.

http://www.iboats.com/Adjustable_Ke...d.238442--list_time.1178566438--view_id.38308

I've used one just like that to fill the gap on my trailer. Once you get it lined up just right, you can mark and cut off the extra length. Mount it so the angle of the sides points toward the front of the trailer. That way, the weight of the boat will be easier to handle. It should work. You can also get another style that attaches to the crossmember and has slots in it to allow for adjustment. Bumps on the side facing the crossmember keep it in position once you tighten the bolts. On either, I suggest stainless steel bolts and nylon insert nuts. They hold their grip better and won't corrode.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Loading Guide Help?

Here's the other style. It's easier to install and adjust, and if you have a crossmember there, I'd go with it:

http://www.iboats.com/Tie_Down_Poly...d.238442--list_time.1178571778--view_id.40447

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Loading Guide Help?

i have 2 of the self center rollers on my big boat, and one on the small ones. makes life much easier. i hate trailers that don't have keel rollers. easy to damage the keel.

 

[DaveJ50]

Re: Loading Guide Help?

I think I will start with the 4" roller and see how that works. Mostly because it is cheaper and I can see how it would mount.

I like the self centering roller but I'm not sure if I could get it to mount high enough to help. If I graduate to the 12" later I can always put the 4" roller with a few other things I have purchased and didn't use.

Thanks for all the great help.

 

[Rob454]

Re: Loading Guide Help?

Either get smaller tires or if the trailer axle has the springs bolted above the axle unbolt them and move them below the axle. that will drop the trailer height by at least 1 inch probably 1 1/2 this way the boat will be in the water sooner or you can get a extended hitch neck which will put the trailer in the water before the truck ever touches water. I did the axle flip on many jet ski trailers because customers complained abotu having to back in the water a long way.
Rob