trailer roller adjustment?

jessb_55

Seaman
Joined
Aug 20, 2012
Messages
64
Hello everyone! I’m hoping some of you smart folks can once again steer me in the right direction �� So I picked up a different boat late last summer and have gotten mostly everything figured out but am having trouble when landing the boat as it always wants to hug one side of the trailer a bit more than the other. Originally, I thought one of the back rollers was a different distance from the frame then the other however after measuring tonight they are about the same, within a ¼ inch. The other set of rollers do seem to be about ¾ inch different from the frame then the other. Could this be what’s causing my issue or does anyone have any advice as to why this may be happening and how I can fix it? I’m assuming something needs to be adjusted I’m just not sure which one and which direction.
 
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JimS123

Fleet Admiral
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Jul 27, 2007
Messages
8,317
That's a self loading trailer. Chances are you are backing in the water too far. Next time, back in only until the last roller barely touches the water. Then crank it on.
 

MTboatguy

Fleet Admiral
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Jul 8, 2010
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8,988
Jim is right, that is probably an EZ Loader, it is not designed to be backed into the water like other trailers. I have had a couple of them and they load differently than other trailers that use standard rollers, in fact I just bought another one a couple of weeks ago. Takes a little practice to get it right if you are not used to it.
 

jessb_55

Seaman
Joined
Aug 20, 2012
Messages
64
hello all, thanks much! Yes I do believe it's a version of the ez loader trailer just made by Yacht club. Thanks for the advice about how far we're backing it in but I'm not so sure that's the issue as we had an EZ Loader trailer previously and never had this trouble. The reason I think it's one of the rollers is because the boat will be lined up all nicely, straight and even until it hits the front roller then it starts to come at the bow stop off about an inch as well but then the winch strap pulls it straight at the very end into the bow stop "V". In terms of backing it in until the "last" roller is barely in the water are you referencing to the roller on the very rear of the trailer or another roller in the group?

I'll try whatever you recommend however when taking the boat out today the oil injection warning alarm kept going off and could barely keep the thing running when the alarm was off....Just picked the thing up from the shop on Saturday after a skeg and prop repair, not off to a good start this season :(
 

b.gagnon

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 28, 2001
Messages
835
I agree that you are probably backing it in too far. You need to let the rollers do the work and not have the boat floating.
I would suggest you find a new trailer. Aluminum boats generally use bunk trailers to spread the weight of the boat over a larger area. I had a 17' Sea Nymph that suffered many dents and seeping rivets due to the roller trailer that it was on!
 

MTboatguy

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Jul 8, 2010
Messages
8,988
I agree that you are probably backing it in too far. You need to let the rollers do the work and not have the boat floating.
I would suggest you find a new trailer. Aluminum boats generally use bunk trailers to spread the weight of the boat over a larger area. I had a 17' Sea Nymph that suffered many dents and seeping rivets due to the roller trailer that it was on!

I have never had that type of trouble with my aluminum boats and roller trailers, but if someone was leaning to bunks, the roller trailers are quite easy to changed into a bunk trailer and it won't cost an arm and a leg.
 

JimS123

Fleet Admiral
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Jul 27, 2007
Messages
8,317
. In terms of backing it in until the "last" roller is barely in the water are you referencing to the roller on the very rear of the trailer or another roller in the group?

:(

The very rear of the trailer. In other words, the one that the bow contacts first when you are retreiving.
 

MTboatguy

Fleet Admiral
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Jul 8, 2010
Messages
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Owner's Manual....you've got to be kidding. Who's got time to read such a thing? If the internet can't solve my problem with my cellphone, I'll just plod along and see what happens. It'll be alright.

Yup, "We don't need no education"

:lol:
 

Grub54891

Admiral
Joined
Jun 17, 2012
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6,286
Owner's Manual....you've got to be kidding. Who's got time to read such a thing? If the internet can't solve my problem with my cellphone, I'll just plod along and see what happens. It'll be alright.

Roller A should be inline with roller B, Roller C-D-E-F should be offset from G-H-I-J, 7.5 degrees while measuring from below lying on you back with your head twisted to the right at the stern of the trailer facing forward on a soft surface such as wet grass. Then follow the manual on page 7 starting from the bottom of the page and reading upside down.
 

jessb_55

Seaman
Joined
Aug 20, 2012
Messages
64
Well once I get the boat back from the shop I'll see if the rollers are aligned per Grub54891's recommendations. Unfortunately I won't have the boat back for at least 2 more weeks :(
 

jessb_55

Seaman
Joined
Aug 20, 2012
Messages
64
Click image for larger version  Name:	boattrailersituation.png Views:	1 Size:	8.7 KB ID:	10612035 Alrighty, I finally got our boat back and we were able to take it out briefly. I did try not backing it in as far and that did seem to help somewhat even though the ramp itself wasn't very level. I've attached a diagram showing the slight difference in the distance of the front rollers from the frame as I'm wondering if that's significant enough to maybe cause some of the issues I'm experiencing.

I also noticed that the boat ends up a bit crooked at the bow stop/bumper too, not sure if that is significant either.

So in summary lol...the boat usually ends up hugging the left side and then higher/taller on the right side..or atleast I believe so...I'm starting to second guess myself. I guess the main thing is with symptoms like this could the front rollers need adjustment? Thanks everyone!
 

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