Cannot get boat to rest on bow roller of trailer

[jcon12]

Hi all,

I've recently rebuilt my new to me boat's trailer however I continue to run into a new issue where the bow will not stay rested on the bow roller.

If i sink the trailer deep enough into the water I can get the boat onto the roller, however the boat is clearly floating and once I pull the trailer out a few feet the boat slides back a few inches + from the roller and settles onto the bunks.

If i attempt to load the boat with the trailer further out of the water I don't have the winch power (and it feels like too much stress?) to winch the boat far enough along the bunks to reach the roller.

I also don't see anyway of getting the roller closer to the boat.

Any suggestions?

 

[Reel Gone]

Need to stand back and take a couple more pics to show how the boat is sitting on the rest of the trailer. Also be good to see how the bunks are set up on the hull, straight, pointed in or out at the front.

 

[Newf]

I have the same issue but on a smaller boat than yours. (21ft Ranger Tug). The bigger Tugs have a similar issue. With mine, when I get it up on top of the ramp I can winch it to the roller but apparently on the bigger Tugs they can’t so they give it the “Tug Bump”. Snug the winch tight, drive ahead and brake to skid it on the bunk to the roller. Not ideal but apparently that’s what they have to do.

 

[SpringVelocity]

Hi all,

I've recently rebuilt my new to me boat's trailer however I continue to run into a new issue where the bow will not stay rested on the bow roller.

If i sink the trailer deep enough into the water I can get the boat onto the roller, however the boat is clearly floating and once I pull the trailer out a few feet the boat slides back a few inches + from the roller and settles onto the bunks.

If i attempt to load the boat with the trailer further out of the water I don't have the winch power (and it feels like too much stress?) to winch the boat far enough along the bunks to reach the roller.

I also don't see anyway of getting the roller closer to the boat.

Any suggestions?

View attachment 119000

The world of bunk trailers. I have same issue if not back enough.

When you load with a bunk if you sink it so it there is just about 6 inches out on bunk out of water. Not fully buried or it will float trailer. The boat should self align and you should be able to hit that roller.

 

[Rain City]

Lots of boats and trailers were never properly set up together. Might have to move the roller or bunks. Just keep tongue weight in mind when you do. Or seek help from a professional shop.

 

[scott craven]

Try running the strap over top of the roller rather than underneath

 

[Pineapple Express]

Agreed with above comments. Need to see more pics of the boat sitting on the trailer. Also include a pic of the trailer without the boat to show the orientation of all the bunks.

 

[jcon12]

Here are a few more photos. First one shows the boat closer to the roller.. typically depends on the steepness of the launch.

 

[Pineapple Express]

I don't trailer a boat as big as yours, but what I've done with my smaller Whaler is to raise the forward end of the bunks higher than the rear so the boat sits on the trailer with a bow-up attitude. You might have to experiment with fine-tuning the fit to get everything sitting nicely.

 

[RiverBoy]

can you move the reach back?

 

[Topshot]

Im guessing the back end of the boat is still floating when you pull it up to the roller. Once you pull the boat out the back end "sinks" until it's on trailer and in doing that the bow angle changes and gives that gap. Can try not sinking trailer too deep if you're able to winch the boat on with more bunk showing. Hopefully that makes sense

 

[jcon12]

Im guessing the back end of the boat is still floating when you pull it up to the roller. Once you pull the boat out the back end "sinks" until it's on trailer and in doing that the bow angle changes and gives that gap. Can try not sinking trailer too deep if you're able to winch the boat on with more bunk showing. Hopefully that makes sense

Makes sense but I don’t seem to have the winch strength to get the boat any further onto the trailer.

I’ve considered an electric winch but I don’t know if it’s good for the bow eye to apply that much force?

 

[jcon12]

can you move the reach back?

It’s maxed out. I could look for something with more length

 

[Samnjoe]

Once out of the water you close the gap between the bow and the roller by driving forward slowly then hitting the brakes. Works for me as I have plastic bunk slides.

 

[pescador]

An electric winch will help. This one works great, I had one and would recommend.

https://www.partsengine.ca/500621-v...MImb3hh-_ijgMVSgitBh1aChpgEAQYBCABEgI2TvD_BwE

Four bunks would help spread the load better. It looks like you have 2. Also, plastic bunks slide the boat better. I used to put dish soap on bunks before I winched up at Gold river because the ramp angle always created a problem getting the winch eye to the upright winch post stop.

 

[Olde School]

I've seen a pulley mounted in the strap arrangement, which would double your pulling ability.
Perhaps google this, as I (sadly) just deleted the picture recently.

 

[Jegermiester]

I've seen a pulley mounted in the strap arrangement, which would double your pulling ability.
Perhaps google this, as I (sadly) just deleted the picture recently.

You mean something like this setup???

Made a winch strap pulley

I've had trouble pulling the boat onto the bunks on shallow ramps. I've tried the silicone trick which helps a little but not enough. I always dunk the bunks to assist is friction. Anyways, I saw this in the store and thought it would be perfect for those situations. No real modifications...

forums.iboats.com

 

[salmonkiller01]

Add teflon bunk slides and it will make it easier to winch on. I would say you need to lower your winch and have a straight pull. Winch strap should not rub on stopper. Any friction will cause more strain. Not sure how adjustable the winch and bow roller are on yours

 

[brutus]

Need to stand back and take a couple more pics to show how the boat is sitting on the rest of the trailer. Also be good to see how the bunks are set up on the hull, straight, pointed in or out at the front.

You need to lower your winch so your straight with the eye, your winch is too high, so your strap is not sitting in a down angle, straight pull all the way, your eye will snug to your roller, your winch the way its sitting is trying to pull the weight of the boat up, need to pull strait

 

[Squire]

I had difficulty dragging my boat across the bunks trying to lift up the bow with the winch until I installed two forward keel rollers. The angle of the trailer when retrieving the boat means the stern is floating while you’re trying to lift the bow across the forward part of the bunks. Before I added the keel rollers I was actually scraping the bottom paint off on the bunks.
I installed the keel rollers at the correct height by jacking them up tight to the keel without actually lifting the boat then tightened the bolts. This way the rollers support the boat without lifting it off the bunks. I already had a forward crossmember to add a roller to but you may benefit from one installed on your most forward crossmember as well.