trailer question

[Bushwacker]

Originally Posted by evknot0127

...is the roll trailer bad for the hull at all? and if you dont mind when i pick up the other trailer from my buddy ill post some pics and maybe you can help me out with it a bit...

Bearing load on the rollers is nowhere enough high enough to hurt a SeaCraft hull due to it's heavy layup (the 20's are about the same as a 25 Bertram; the 23's are about like a Bertram 28) and the stiffness provided by the vertical hull steps and the 4 big beefy f/g stringers, which were installed about halfway thru the layup and tied together on top by the deck/inner liner. I figure my max boat weight fully loaded w/gas for a long cruise with a couple of big coolers full of beer and groceries, and the galley seat water jug full, is about 3800 lbs. With 25 rollers supporting the hull, that works out to an average load of about 150 lbs/roller. I can actually wiggle the rollers near the transom with the boat sitting on them, so I don't think that's too much. Might be a different story on a lightly built boat like a Bayliner or a foam sandwich hull like an Aquasport or a Whaler, but I'd have absolutely no concerns for the SeaCraft hull. One note of caution: there is very little friction in the rollers on my trailer! I could unload it on my front lawn if I had to, so the boat MUST be tied down before towing, BOTH FRONT AND REAR! Depending on the winch brake/clutch to hold it is asking for trouble! I also have to use the friction clutch to control it when unloading or it can roll off the trailer fast enough for the transom to hit the ramp even in a couple feet of water!

If you can post some pics of the trailer, we can figure out what adjustment capabilities it has. As far as adjustment, I like to spread each pair of rollers as far apart as possible, and then locate the bunk holding the rollers so the outer rollers are right up against the outer step. You can easily do all this with boat on trailer with a bottle jack on the frame and some 2x4's between chine and jack. Once the rollers engage that outer step as you winch it up the trailer, they'll do a good job of guiding it on straight. If you click on the following link http://s188.photobucket.com/albums/z...oading%20pics/ it'll take you to my Photobucket folder containing a slideshow of my boat as it's winched up the on the trailer that shows how the rollers lock on to the step to guide it on.

[pelican]

the best advice is,get a good quality roller trailer...i own 4 all roller service trailers - you could not give me a bunk trailer.you're in delaware - big tide swing,bunk trailers are tough to launch and retrieve from,when it's low tide,in our area.a bunk trailer requires the trailer to be backed way into the water - the pictures above show it best,wheels are barley wet - can't do that with a bunk trailer...