Filling The Gaps On A Trailer That Wasn't Made for My Boat

[San_Diego_SeaRay]

Happy Sunday Evening! :joyous:

I bought a used 30' galvanized trailer for my 1993 270 Chaparral Cabin Cruiser. After loading the boat onto the trailer, the boat sat mostly on the outer chines and also made nice contact with the bunks on the upper third of the boat. However, the middle rear of the boat is basically free floating. I've been told this is a critical area as the area right underneath the engine needs particular support. There is about an 1" to 2" gap between the hull and the bunks. (The boat sits biased to the port side in the pictures).


So this was my plan to increase the height of the middle bunks:

• Take some leftover composite decking material (Calibamboo to be exact)
• Put an appx 8" long piece between the bunk support and the bunk lumber (the composite decking is 13/16ths thick)
• Run another piece of composite decking directly on top of the bunk lumber (and carpet)
  • Somehow I'd need to countersink the bolts into the decking material so that the hull isn't scratched

I figure that having the hull ride directly on the decking would also make launching the boat easier. The boat would still contact carpeted bunks on the forward and side bunks.

Thoughts? Critiques are welcomed.

 

[GA_Boater]

It looks like the bunk supports are welded and nonadjustable. Can the keel rollers be lowered a little to let the boat settle on the rear bunks?

 

[San_Diego_SeaRay]

It looks like the bunk supports are welded and nonadjustable. Can the keel rollers be lowered a little to let the boat settle on the rear bunks?

Good point. I should have mentioned that everything is welded and not adjustable, including the keel rollers. The boat doesn't even touch the keel rollers as can be barely made out on the attached photo. So that solution isn't viable.

 

[gm280]

First of all, it looks like the boat isn't centered on the trailer. I'd work on that as well. Instead of adding more runner material on the top of the bunks, why not add some spacers underneath between the present bunks and the brackets? If you could put maybe a metal spacer in between the bunk and the support, it would solve your problem and no need to add new wood and carpet. Just an idea...

 

[San_Diego_SeaRay]

First of all, it looks like the boat isn't centered on the trailer. I'd work on that as well. Instead of adding more runner material on the top of the bunks, why not add some spacers underneath between the present bunks and the brackets? If you could put maybe a metal spacer in between the bunk and the support, it would solve your problem and no need to add new wood and carpet. Just an idea...

Yes. My idea was to add a composite decking spacer below the wood and then run a length of it on top of the wood as well. But just adding spacers below is an idea. But I'm curious as to whether the boat will launch more easily if it has some of this decking on top. So I want to include that feature into the final solution.

 

[MTboatguy]

Might sound extreme, but myself, I would build a whole new bunk system on the trailer frame to match that boat. I have tried to piece meal things together in the past and it has never worked out for me, It seems like I am always chasing gremlins when I have decided to do that.

Do you have a way to store the boat off the trailer after you take pictures from every single angle you can possibly think of, if so, I would do an extensive photo diary with the boat on the trailer, then store it and rebuild the support system to match that boat.

I hate welded support systems because it does not give you a easy way to adjust to your boat. No matter what, I would pull that rear keel roller, then get the bunks correct to cradle the boat securely then look at the rear keel roller.

But that is just me, I am retired and have time on my hands to redesign things during the week so I can go out fishing on the weekend.

Just my $0.02

Good luck on which ever direction you go.

 

[JimS123]

That trailer was designed for a boat with a steeper deadrise, that's why it won't fit.

If it were me I'd remove the outer bunks and allow the keel and center of the boat to sit right where it belongs. Then, buy some adjustable bunk brackets and put the outer ones in a position that supports the boat properly.

 

[San_Diego_SeaRay]

Might sound extreme, but myself, I would build a whole new bunk system on the trailer frame to match that boat. I have tried to piece meal things together in the past and it has never worked out for me, It seems like I am always chasing gremlins when I have decided to do that.

Yeah I'm trying to avoid extreme. There's a local boat trailer company that will fit my boat correctly and they will cut and re-weld the bunk supports. They charge like $120 per support. I guess in the grand scheme of things it's not that expensive. But I'd like to try something cheaper first. Plus, this isn't my dream trailer. So I'd hate to do that much work to something I may not have in 2 years.

 

[San_Diego_SeaRay]

That trailer was designed for a boat with a steeper deadrise, that's why it won't fit.

If it were me I'd remove the outer bunks and allow the keel and center of the boat to sit right where it belongs. Then, buy some adjustable bunk brackets and put the outer ones in a position that supports the boat properly.

Hmmm. That's a great idea. Cut the current outside supports off and install adjustable ones...hmmmm...

I'm still gonna try my original idea but this is a great Plan B. Thanks!