trailering problems

[onehunter]

I have a Procraft 200 combo F/S. When I am launching, the bow wants to drop down under the winch. You would literaly need to completly submerge the trailer to prevent this from happening. I have mounted side bunks on the trailer that enables me to put the trailer deeper thus preventing the boat from drifting off the side, but I still have issues with this. My last step was mounting a keel roller away fron the bow mount roller that allows the transition and will hopefully prevent this from occuring. I saw an older Stratos that had a spring loaded bow roller that would piviot down as the boat was launched but cannot find one anywhere.

 

[JimS123]

Re: trailering problems

That only happens to me when I back in too far. Usually a ramp I have not used before and didn't realize it was very steep.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: trailering problems

The rule of thumb is launch deep,retrieve shallow.
Try not backing in so far when you load and use the winch to pull it up.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: trailering problems

You are backing in too far.... stop when the back of the boat starts to float and pull ahead just a little..... If the boat won't come off the trailer adjust the keel rollers up just a little to take just a little weight off of the bunks in the front...... A good starting point for alot of boats is fenders on trailer about half way in the water

 

[onehunter]

Re: trailering problems

yes i've tried every depth there is. the real issue is that the flotation of the rear of the boat puts so much weight/pressure on the front of the bow that when it rolls off the trailer it has a lot of force. And yes I have tried to put less in to the point where it won't slide off the trailer to the point in which the complete trailer is submerged and at this point it is ok but not feasible to go to that extreme. Hard to explain but I've owned many boats and this is the most difficult with unloading. I have spoken with other boat owners and when i describe what is exactly going on they too have had issues with theirs as well. Of course not everyone but those who experience this can understand better. This is the reason for the keel roller to be added beyond the bow roller to catch it when it come sliding back thus preventing it from going under the winch assembly.

 

[lmannyr]

Re: trailering problems

A picture is worth a thousand words. Post some pictures of your boat on trailer on level ground while hitched. If you can get some pics during launch, add those too.

Good tips have already been said....post those pics.

 

[lmannyr]

Re: trailering problems

Oh....and welcome to iBoats!!!!!

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: trailering problems

well you may indeed need keel roller(s) but that would be to help you get the boat off the trailer.... the bow dropping is from being too far in.... once the stern starts to float off the trailer it will always drop the front... you could add a couple bunks at the front but backing that far in and adding a bow roller to keep the bow up gives you a very real chance of missing the keel roller because the hull is floating above the bunks instead of setting on them.
If you miss the keel roller then you likely will damage the bottom of your boat.... I argued this same topic with a buddy for nearly a year while he tried everything under the sun.... he finally tried launching where he thought the boat would not come off the trailer and with two of us pushing it worked perfect.... after he was finally convinced we soaped his bunks heavily and it launched/loaded very well..... finally we adjusted the existing keel rollers up a little to take some weight off of the bunks and all was well.

You need to look into ways to make the boat slide off the trailer instead of float off.. teflon bunk sliders are great