Should I do this? Re trailer

[64osby]

I have re-trailered my boat and am looking for advice from you experts out there if you think this is a good option or should I go back to my old trailer.

The reason for the switch is the EZ-Loader has a wider axle and it allows the boat to sit lower. With my Gator I have to back up till I hear the exhaust is in the water then I can offload the boat.

Old trailer is a Gator probably came with the boat 1964ish.

Newer trailer is a 1980?s EZ-Loader 12 roller. I have contacted EZ-loader and will be sending them some information that will allow them to determine the exact trailer I have and its capacity, based on rough information from them the trailer has either a 2500# or 2700# GVWR rating, trailer should be about 500#. The VIN and capacity plate are not readable.

The boat is a 1964 Crosby ? shipped weight was 505#
I have a 1967 Merc 500 estimate 300#
Too much junk and 8 gallons of fuel 350#
Trailer estimate 500#

The questions I have are
1) Should I use a roller trailer on a 45 year old fiberglass boat? I am wondering if there will be too much stress on the boat at the roller locations.

If question 1 is yes, then

2) What is the relationship of keel rollers to the support rollers, should they be carrying equal weight or should one carry more weight than the other?
3) Rear rollers are about 4? in front of the transom should I get them back to 2? or less?
4) Should I add an additional keel roller for the front portion of the keel?



Items I need to fix and adjust if it is the right trailer are;
1) Raise the winch so the eye is below the roller.
2) Add new chain / turn buckle from eye to tongue
3) Maybe add a keel roller at the transom
4) Rewire lights
5) Repaint

Thanks in advance for any input

62iia

 

[64osby]

Re: Should I do this? Re trailer

More Pics


Added some fender guides

Here is the old gator trailer

 

[weareallnuts]

Re: Should I do this? Re trailer

What is your plan as to how you want to launch -- push off or back off? -- and loading -- drive on or winch on??

For a push off/winch on, there are 4 or 5' long "roller bunks" available that support a hull well and make launching / retrieval a breeze.

Alternatively, long 2x4 of 2x6 inch bunks to support from beyond the transom forward the length of the hull provide great support and work well for drive on/drive off. In addition, side guide bunks or poles help guide keep the boat from drifting outside the trailer during the process. I mounted my trailer lights on on the poles using sch 40 pvc 90's, a short length of pipe (for the light to mount to) and end caps.

 

[Bob's Garage]

Re: Should I do this? Re trailer

From what I can see, and I could easily be wrong, it appears the hull and keel are deflecting in the area of the yellow rollers and front keel roller.

Your boat isn't that heavy, would it have been possible to mount the springs under the axle? This might have gained you a few inches. Or possibly added a tongue extension to the trailer to be used when launching.

Personally I do not care for roller trailers, specially on lightly built (or older) boats , as they concentrate the load on too small of an area on the boat's hull. Just my opinion, for what it's worth!!

 

[64osby]

Re: Should I do this? Re trailer

From what I can see, and I could easily be wrong, it appears the hull and keel are deflecting in the area of the yellow rollers and front keel roller.

You are correct, I made it home early today, 5:30, spent a few hours adjusting and adding a keel roller up front. It took care of the deflection.

I'll post some pics tomorrow.

Took it down the road about 10 miles and it rode very nice.

Still have some issues but I'm a lot happier with the set up.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Should I do this? Re trailer

I have that very trailer (E-Z loader) and really like it. I have a few more rollers than yours though I think (keel roller and a couple more hull support rollers) Our trailer is up at the lake right now but I will get some photos this weekend and post them so you can compare.

 

[64osby]

Re: Should I do this? Re trailer

Spent some time last night adding front keel roller and adjusting, the deflection looks a lot better.

Now my issue is on the winch, I can't get the roller high enough or the boat lower so the eye is under the roller.


I can't install as second eye because the eye would be below the glassed in portion of the bow.

Any suggestions?

 

[fibersport]

Re: Should I do this? Re trailer

Just a thought here but EZ-Loader had bunks as an option on many of their trailers. I personally don't like the looks of the front rollers, you have only 4 points supporting all that weight, well 5 if you count the keel roller. You could possibly convert the front rollers to bunks. Also, are there any bulkheads or stringers in your boat in that location? Putting the rollers under some structure that is inside the boat, will help. I have a '66 Century glass inboard that I had on a EZ-Loader, I started noticing some dimples in the hull towards the bow, and I had 8 rollers in front. I switched to a bunk trailer which my boat loves, and the dimples have gone away too.

 

[04fxdwgi]

Re: Should I do this? Re trailer

Spent some time last night adding front keel roller and adjusting, the deflection looks a lot better.

Now my issue is on the winch, I can't get the roller high enough or the boat lower so the eye is under the roller.
View attachment 100778

I can't install as second eye because the eye would be below the glassed in portion of the bow.

Any suggestions?

Should be able to cure that with a new winch post from any one of a number of vendors. That'll allow you raise the winch high enough to get cable under bow stop.

 

[Bob's Garage]

Re: Should I do this? Re trailer

Spent some time last night adding front keel roller and adjusting, the deflection looks a lot better.

Now my issue is on the winch, I can't get the roller high enough or the boat lower so the eye is under the roller.
View attachment 100778


I can't install as second eye because the eye would be below the glassed in portion of the bow.

Any suggestions?

Your trailer was intended to be a "tilt" trailer. I would imagine that the bow eye needs to be above the bow stop or it would have caught during off loading.

So, you have 2 choices; leave it alone as that is the way it was designed, or replace the winch mount and post as was suggested.

And just to be clear - there is no "better" where hull deflection when sitting on a trailer is concerned. It is either none or fix it. Deflection means stress, stress means cracking, cracking means breaking, breaking means sinking.

When the hull is flexing, it indicates all the weight is being focused on that one spot. Every bounce, every movement is being concentrated on that one spot on the boat. It is not designed to take that kind of pressure. Over time it will break.

 

[mla2ofus]

Re: Should I do this? Re trailer

You said you back up until the exhaust is under water. Could that be a little rough on the water pump impeller??
Mike

 

[fibersport]

Re: Should I do this? Re trailer

I think he means the exhaust of the tow vehicle.

Regarding the winch stand, why not just weld on an extension? The bow eye should be at the same centerline as the winch drum or a bit higher, otherwise it tends to pull downward on the boat when winching.

 

[weareallnuts]

Re: Should I do this? Re trailer

Spent some time last night adding front keel roller and adjusting, the deflection looks a lot better.

Now my issue is on the winch, I can't get the roller high enough or the boat lower so the eye is under the roller.
View attachment 100778

I can't install as second eye because the eye would be below the glassed in portion of the bow.

Any suggestions?

New winch stand...And don't forget to rig either a strap type or chain safety chain to the bow hook.