Is my boat properly seated on the trailer?

[omgitzdave]

I just bought a 1987 Thundercraft Regency boat off ebay: Ebay Link <br /><br />It is a great looking boat and it runs great. I am really happy with my purchase, but I am a little concerned about the way the boat is seated on the trailer. <br /><br />One of the rollers seems to be taking most of the weight of the boat, causing the fiberglass to bend about 2 inches. What worries me more, is that there is a fiberglass patch about 5 inches away from the roller. Here are some pictures to better explain:<br /><br />

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<br /><br /><br />The owner is a great guy, and has assured me that he has taken this boat our numerous time with absolutely no leaks. I'm confident the patch will hold up as long as I don't hit anything, or put weight on it. Will the rollers hit the fiberglass patch when I launch or load the boat?<br /><br />Can I adjust the trailer so that the weight is not being held by a single roller? Is this something that I (being a newbie) could do on land, or should I take it to a marina?

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Is my boat properly seated on the trailer?

I am by no means an expert, but to me it just seems like too much weight on one small spot. I would try to figure out how to distribute the load better, by adding more support somewhere.<br /><br />I can see one good bounce putting a hole in your boat.

 

[JB]

Re: Is my boat properly seated on the trailer?

AUGH!! <br /><br />You need to reset that whole rig, Dave. Raise the bunks so that they bear most of the weight. Get that roller even with a straight keel.<br /><br />Hate to say this, but it looks like a broken keel to me. You need to get inside and check it out. The patch is where it broke the keel before, and he just repositioned the boat more forward.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Is my boat properly seated on the trailer?

too much weight on the keel rollers, raise the side bunks, as the should carry the most weight. you may have a rot problem under that patch. it should not flex that much. JB types faster than me.

 

[omgitzdave]

Re: Is my boat properly seated on the trailer?

So should I get this boat to a marina, and have them readjust the trailer, and check the keel as well? How expensive would it be to replace the keel if it is broken? I'm willing to spend a few extra dollars if it means my boat will be as safe as possible.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Is my boat properly seated on the trailer?

In the Ebay pix you can see the front of the bunks don't even touch the hull. Whoever set up that trailer didn't know what they were doing. You need to check out the area that is patched, it is possible that there was rot above that area which caused the fiberglass to give way there. I'd start looking around in the bilge to see what's accessible. Depending on its location, the gas tank may have to be removed to check the keel and stringers. Looks like they did a nice job on the interior though!

 

[omgitzdave]

Re: Is my boat properly seated on the trailer?

Yes, they did a real nice job on the interior. Everything including the motor is in great shape, but again the bottom of the is hull is the only thing that might need work. <br /><br />If there is rot under the boat, how much to repairs normally run? Is the keel normally wooden? Would I have to spend more than $1000 to have the fiberglass professionally repaired, trailer adjusted, and keel fixed? I am trying to budget all these repairs.<br /><br />I'd like to thank everyone that is responding to this thread. Being a newbie, I need to learn as much as possible for a fun and safe boating experience!

 

[Rudy Brown]

Re: Is my boat properly seated on the trailer?

I agree with JB. Is it just me or is the hull flexing on the roller in the top 2 pics? Thats just scary looking. And I think if the keel is rotted, its gonna cost a lot more than $1,000 to get it fixed unless you can do the work yourself.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Is my boat properly seated on the trailer?

It looks like all the weight in the rear is resting on that roller.<br />See if you can unload the boat and raise the rear of the bunks a couple inches..<br />My 19ft rests on the bunks only...no keel rollers on my trailer.<br />I have never seen a hull bend that much..<br />Also in your one pic it looks like the hull is about resting on the axle...thats not good!<br />Better raise it soon before more damage occurs..<br />Listen to JB and Tasha..They know what they are talking about..<br />Welcome to Iboats!!

 

[omgitzdave]

Re: Is my boat properly seated on the trailer?

It will be possible for any marina to properly repair the fiberglass hull, correct? I have a couple hairline cracks that I noticed this morning when I was taking a closer look at the hull near the keel roller. I want to make sure the hull is repairable. Anyone know what a good rate would be?<br /><br />As for adjusting the trailer, I think I will have to buy new bunk holders, because they are already on their highest setting.

 

[craze1cars]

Re: Is my boat properly seated on the trailer?

Yes, it's repairable. But the only way to estimate cost and extent of damage is to determine the extent of possible rot on the keel. I can only guess a repair would be somewhere between $300 (quick pach assuming absolutely no wood rot) and $5,000+ (assuming extensive wood rot). The Ebay auction alludes to past leaks prior to his patch job. Who knows how long it was leaking. I'd ask the marina to check condition of the wood in the keel, stringers, and transom. Hopefully the access holes in the floor will allow enough access for inspection without tearing out a lot of the interior. I agree the trailer clearly needs some major adjustments to properly support this boat.

 

[anyfishlldo]

Re: Is my boat properly seated on the trailer?

I agree, that looks scary the way it's sitting on that roller. Also noticed in the ebay pics that the rearmost roller is not doing anything, it appears the boat may be too far up on the trailer too, that my help.<br /><br />I would definitely get someone to look at that though, the dimple where that roller is does not look good at all.

 

[jlinder]

Re: Is my boat properly seated on the trailer?

Anyone notice in picture 2 what appears to be a crack in the hull? (top left)<br /><br />Also, is that a V roller on the bottom of the boat? if so wouldn't that reduce the contact area a lot?

 

[Rudy Brown]

Re: Is my boat properly seated on the trailer?

Jack, I was hoping that "crack" was a trailer wire. At least I hope it isnt a crack.

 

[omgitzdave]

Re: Is my boat properly seated on the trailer?

That is a trailer wire that is hanging in front of the camera, and not a crack in the hull. However, there is a hairline crack showing about 1 inch from the roller. The trailer is definitely causing all the damage, and I've been told by a couple people that it looks as though the trailer isn't even meant for the boat.<br /><br />I just came back from towing the boat to a marina, and they will look at it first thing tomorrow morning. I'm hoping to hear "good" news that it will cost around 1000 to fix, but I expect the worse. <br /><br />A question I have: Are keels meant to flex? My keel looks as if it is flexing about 2 inches. Does that necessarily mean its broken? Figuring the trailer isn't properly configured, wouldn't any keel bend under that amount of pressure?<br /><br />Thanks again to everyone that has replied to this thread. I will keep everyone posted with the progress. Hopefully someone can learn from my mistake.

 

[omgitzdave]

Re: Is my boat properly seated on the trailer?

That is a trailer wire that is hanging in front of the camera, and not a crack in the hull. However, there is a hairline crack showing about 1 inch from the roller. The trailer is definitely causing all the damage, and I've been told by a couple people that it looks as though the trailer isn't even meant for the boat.<br /><br />I just came back from towing the boat to a marina, and they will look at it first thing tomorrow morning. I'm hoping to hear "good" news that it will cost around 1000 to fix, but I expect the worse. <br /><br />A question I have: Are keels meant to flex? My keel looks as if it is flexing about 2 inches. Does that necessarily mean its broken? Figuring the trailer isn't properly configured, wouldn't any keel bend under that amount of pressure?<br /><br />Thanks again to everyone that has replied to this thread. I will keep everyone posted with the progress. Hopefully someone can learn from my mistake.

 

[Rudy Brown]

Re: Is my boat properly seated on the trailer?

From what I know about boats, keels are NOT supposed to flex. Transom is the strongest part of a boat followed by the keel. If the keel flexes, it changes the hydro-dynamics of the boat making it unsafe and unsteady on the water.(un-predictiable even) I believe part or most of the strength of the keel is in the stringers. If the keel is flexing 2 inches, I'll just about bet the stringers are rotten or have come loose from the keel. I wish you the best of luck. Oh, I almost forgot, It CAN be fixed but I dont know for how much $$$$$.

 

[jlinder]

Re: Is my boat properly seated on the trailer?

Omgitzdave,<br /><br />I know you say that is a wire, but I zoomed in and I swear it looks like a crack.

 

[craze1cars]

Re: Is my boat properly seated on the trailer?

Keels don't bend...a keel is usually much like a floor joist in your house standing up on end, encapsulated by fiberglass.<br /><br />When you hit the keel hard against something like a big rock, the wood and fiberglass will crack or shatter. When the keel just "squishes" as it appears to be doing under the roller in your picture, that's an indicator that your wooden "floor joist" has all the structural integrity of a sponge, and it's just crushing wet or rotted wood fibers.<br /><br />I sincerely hope I'm wrong, but I'm guessing your boat has some structural problems.<br /><br />I've been there myself and wish you the best...I spent an entire winter gutting a boat once with a similar purchase that had some significant rot I didn't detect at the time of purchase. Was definitely a bummer at the time, but a great learning experience in the end.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Is my boat properly seated on the trailer?

Holy Crap! I just saw this post. That is some NASTY FLEX on the keel. You need to post this pic in the Topic of boat restoration and building. Probably some serious rot going on inside. If you really love the boat, then it's probably time to learn some boat hull repair.