Keel rollers on bunk trailer

[the butcher]

I just picked up a tandem axle bunk trailer for a 25ft aluminum boat I am getting in 4 months. I have lots of experience on both bunk and roller trailers but the boats I've owned in past were all 19ft fiberglass boats. All previous trailers didn't have a keel roller or keel support bracket.

My question is this, with a 25ft aluminum boat on a tandem axle bunk trailer, are keel rollers near the front of trailer beneficial or necessary? There are plastic bunk slicks on the bunks so getting on and off should be be easier compared to the friction from carpeted bunks. For those who have keel rollers on a larger boat, do you find it helps to center the boat when loading and does it also prevent keel from hitting cross members on a steeper ramp? Not sure what the benefit of keel rollers are since I've never had them and whether they are necessary.

 

[spring fever]

I just picked up a tandem axle bunk trailer for a 25ft aluminum boat I am getting in 4 months. I have lots of experience on both bunk and roller trailers but the boats I've owned in past were all 19ft fiberglass boats. All previous trailers didn't have a keel roller or keel support bracket.

My question is this, with a 25ft aluminum boat on a tandem axle bunk trailer, are keel rollers near the front of trailer beneficial or necessary? There are plastic bunk slicks on the bunks so getting on and off should be be easier compared to the friction from carpeted bunks. For those who have keel rollers on a larger boat, do you find it helps to center the boat when loading and does it also prevent keel from hitting cross members on a steeper ramp? Not sure what the benefit of keel rollers are since I've never had them and whether they are necessary.

I had them on my 24 ft Orca and were definitely a benefit. Make sure you get really good ones that don't bend. On steep ramps if the boat is heavy it could hit cross members. I will look up the brand I had because I had several that bent until I hit these. The brand that I swear by and won't fail or bend is stoltz

 

[the butcher]

I had them on my 24 ft Orca and were definitely a benefit. Make sure you get really good ones that don't bend. On steep ramps if the boat is heavy it could hit cross members. I will look up the brand I had because I had several that bent until I hit these. The brand that I swear by and won't fail or bend is stoltz

Would be interested if you could find out the brand .thanks

 

[spring fever]

Would be interested if you could find out the brand .thanks

Stoltz was the brand-a little pricey but worth every penny!!

 

[Squire]

I replaced my trailer with a Marlon Karavan aluminum I-beam and I had to add forward keel rollers. The way the boat floats requires lifting the bow eye up to the winch roller when retrieving it. The keel rollers help with that lift as well as reducing the drag on the forward part of the bunks.

I got the boat centered on the trailer then installed the rollers by jacking them up tight to the keel but not enough to lift the boat off the bunks before tightening the bolts. The next retrieval was much easier.