Bunk and Roller Adjustment (formerly blood everywhere)

[alittledinghy]

i checked the posts and couldn't find the answer to this question. i have a Gator tilting trailer with bunks and rollers for my recently acquired 1963 16 foot fiberglass boat (75 hp). The boat currently rests on the bunks only, the rollers are 3 inches below the keel. What's the best way to haul/launch this boat ? should i adjust the rollers to take a little of the load off the bunks or should i leave it as is.

 

[TGattis]

Re: Bunk and Roller Adjustment (formerly blood everywhere)

Leave them as they are.The rollers (called keel rollers) are to protect the keel from hitting the trailer as you load/unload the boat from a steep angled ramp.They also help tthe boat roll into position as you try to load up at low tide in low water when you can't get enough trailer in the water to load up.Been there done that got the t-shirt.

 

[wikelam]

Re: Bunk and Roller Adjustment (formerly blood everywhere)

what blood???

 

[werdna]

Re: Bunk and Roller Adjustment (formerly blood everywhere)

TGattis,<br />Im sorry, but if you ask me that is definately not the way to go. any hull (be it GRP or ally), the most crucial element of the trailer is that the keel is totally supported. the keel is the strongest part of the boat and hence should take all of the weight. the bunks should be a couple of milimeters from the hull on either side so that the hull can rock slightly, hence making it much easier to launch and retrieve.<br />Good luck<br />Andrew

 

[Bondo]

Re: Bunk and Roller Adjustment (formerly blood everywhere)

I'm with TGattis ......<br />No Way I'd Ever set-up a trailer like werdna says....

 

[JB]

Re: Bunk and Roller Adjustment (formerly blood everywhere)

Well, I disagree.<br /><br />With most boats, the keel rollers should carry most of the weight, with the bunks stabilizing the boat. The keel is usually the strongest part of the hull.<br /><br />Reset rollers, bunks or both to get your boat resting on the rollers with some weight on the bunks.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[ISkiH2O]

Re: Bunk and Roller Adjustment (formerly blood everywhere)

I'd lower the bunks a little, still leave them holding the weight of the boat.<br />The keel should lift off the rollers (an inch or so is plenty) when the boat is fully on the trailer.<br />The bunks should be flat against the hull and extend to or extend past the transom.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Bunk and Roller Adjustment (formerly blood everywhere)

Thought I would bring this up again. Many new trailers are "Bunk" only. They are built with the large Cypress bunks and have a keen pad at the bow (or a roller). On this setup, the bow kell pad supports the bow of the boat and the Bunks support the remaining boat all the way to the transom. I like this setup as it is easy to load and unload with this set-up. And if you have the guide on uprights, the boat loads center (or nearly center) everytime. With the keel resting on the rollers, you have to be sure that you line the keen up before the boat rests down on the trailer and it is very obvious when it is not loaded straight. Pluss if you are trying to load in low water and happen to get off of the rollers, you will get stratches all along the bottom of the boat along the keel. <br /><br />My boat has plenty of scratches from the original trailer with the previous owners. Fortunatley for me, the guy I bought it from, put an Alunimum Magic Tilt under it with the bunks, and I love it. I will not have another roller trailer!!

 

[Lark40]

Re: Bunk and Roller Adjustment (formerly blood everywhere)

Keep in mind that this is a tilt trailer. I think it makes sense that the rollers are for loading, not for support.

 

[MrBill]

Re: Bunk and Roller Adjustment (formerly blood everywhere)

I'm with Lark on this one...key thought 'tilt trailer' keel rollers protect the keel, not support it.

 

[kenneths]

Re: Bunk and Roller Adjustment (formerly blood everywhere)

I've played with several trailers of guys that have a little more trouble than usuall, and I have found if you place the fwd rollers too close to keel, the boat wants to lay to one side or the other, and will not load correctly side-to-side.<br />You want the bunks to make contact as the hull approches in a level manner and begins to support the hull befor it touches the rollers on the fwd most half.<br />According to Shorelandr, the rollers (in center) are a sliding point until the boat contacts the bunks on loading, or slides off bunks on unloading.<br />As for structure and support, on an aluminum boat the keel is a weak spot-thats where the stringers change direction....The keel to the outside edge of the chine is very well supported, and bunks are more suited to this application, as far as weight support goes, now the nose of the keel is very stout, and yes, very strongly built, but the bow-stop takes the lickin' there.........

 

[boater4life]

Re: Bunk and Roller Adjustment (formerly blood everywhere)

Bunks give a boat much more hull support than rollers. The rollers your speaking about on the keel should be used for guides only. Think of it this way: Look at the tip your little finger, that's the amount of contact you get with rollers. If have a bunk system trailer with 4" x 10' bunks holding a 5000 lb. boat, that equals 5.2 psi. You do the math using rollers.<br /><br /> http://www.greatlakestrailers.com/

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Bunk and Roller Adjustment (formerly blood everywhere)

hello<br /> on a bunk trailer I usually shoot for 2 inches clearence on the keel and adjust the bunks so they rest directly below the stringers. I have a lot of trailer boats in the 24-28 ft range on loadrite aluminium trailers. if you adust the rollers to high, the boat just mashes them and breaks the rollers and axles. but if it works run it<br /> good luck and keep posting

 

[Bondo]

Re: Bunk and Roller Adjustment (formerly blood everywhere)

I Agree with rodbolt 100%.......<br /><br />You Can't Support the weight of a boat on the little 5/8s shafts that go through the center of the Keel Rollers....<br />The Bunks Should carry Most of the Weight......

 

[jtexas]

Re: Bunk and Roller Adjustment (formerly blood everywhere)

I'm with bondo & rodbolt - I have a 15-footer (70 hp) with the same set-up; the boat and motor each weigh around 470 pounds so even if the rollers contacted the hull they wouldn't carry a lot of weight. I couldn't comment on heavier boats, though.<br /><br />jtw