Cozmo Posted February 24, 2019 Share Posted February 24, 2019 Hi All, I have just bought my first boat (second hand) 5.6m half cab glass boat. The first trip out launch and retrieval was a nightmare. I have put it down to the keel rollers as they are completely seized. I would just like to confirm the spindle size as they are quite rusted out and difficult to get a decent measurement on. Based on the photos below do you think its fair to assume they are 16mm? (They center rollers are tandem on some kind of swivel) The plan is to buy replacement rollers and spindles, drop the boat in the water and do the work near the ramp. I will be utilizing red rollers as I understand these made from a softer poly and better suited to a glass hull. Also if anyone can shed some light on the purpose of the last keel roller (Since it is taking no weight?) I would appreciate it. Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickmarlin62 Posted February 24, 2019 Share Posted February 24, 2019 The rear roller doesnt carry load it just helps line up hull when starting to winch up the hull definetly doesnt sit on the centre rollers properly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrxhoon1 Posted February 24, 2019 Share Posted February 24, 2019 Rear roller is there as a guide and also saves the gelcoat, if it wasn't there you could hit the cross member. You are correct to assume the spindle is 16 mm, if the trailer is old it will be 5/8" close enough to 16 mm. I have seen 19 mm as well. If you pull one out you will know for sure . You can jack the boat up to take the load off. Use a solid piece of timber on the keel with a jack under it, put a car stand before you put your hands under it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cozmo Posted February 24, 2019 Author Share Posted February 24, 2019 (edited) 56 minutes ago, rickmarlin62 said: The rear roller doesnt carry load it just helps line up hull when starting to winch up the hull definetly doesnt sit on the centre rollers properly Thanks. I'm hoping that the hull is sitting on the rollers like that because of the way I pulled it out of the water last time. 36 minutes ago, wrxhoon1 said: Rear roller is there as a guide and also saves the gelcoat, if it wasn't there you could hit the cross member. You are correct to assume the spindle is 16 mm, if the trailer is old it will be 5/8" close enough to 16 mm. I have seen 19 mm as well. If you pull one out you will know for sure . You can jack the boat up to take the load off. Use a solid piece of timber on the keel with a jack under it, put a car stand before you put your hands under it. Its a 2005 trailer - ill run with 16mm. I was going to run with standard 8 inch rollers do you think I should be looking at putting a self centering roller on? Thanks for your replies. Edited February 24, 2019 by Cozmo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankS Posted February 24, 2019 Share Posted February 24, 2019 That looks like 18mm to me, take the shaft out and measure the hole of the bracket. That shaft has expanded with rust so might have started as 16mm. Is the boat a Haines Signature ?. Frank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffb5.8 Posted February 24, 2019 Share Posted February 24, 2019 Since the rear roller isn't supporting anything I would remove the roller and pin and take the measurement from the Bracket and the ID of the roller. Self centering roller works well with boat that have a narrow keel, The roller type you need is the flat rollers not with a hump on each end, as you have a wide flat keel and the multi rollers will guide it on flat once engaged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffb5.8 Posted February 24, 2019 Share Posted February 24, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowie1 Posted February 24, 2019 Share Posted February 24, 2019 (edited) Get an angle grinder cut split pins off (bastard to try & pull out). Nock the centre pin in roller through bracket and roller and replace them. Put plenty of marine greese on new spindle before pushing roller through bracket replace split pin ( Stainless steel ) a little messey. Flat roller could work ok .Check the rollers once a year .Looking at picture again the keel is to wide for those rollers, trailer may have been made for an aluminium boat. May need to replace centre rollers & brackets. Cheaper than new trailer. Edited February 24, 2019 by mowie1 up date Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cozmo Posted February 24, 2019 Author Share Posted February 24, 2019 (edited) 3 hours ago, frankS said: Is the boat a Haines Signature ?. Frank Its a 2005 Southern Star - I believe this brand is an offshoot of Southwind and Yamaha. 2 hours ago, jeffb5.8 said: Since the rear roller isn't supporting anything I would remove the roller and pin and take the measurement from the Bracket and the ID of the roller. Self centering roller works well with boat that have a narrow keel, The roller type you need is the flat rollers not with a hump on each end, as you have a wide flat keel and the multi rollers will guide it on flat once engaged. Thanks, probably the best idea to pull off that rear roller and measure it properly. Does this mean I am stuck with using black rollers? I've read that they aren't that crash hot for longevity and quality. *Edit* I have found red flat rollers but they have a 20mm spindle hole - is there some kind of sleeve I can buy to reduce these down to 16 to suit the trailer brackets, or do I need to drill the trailer brackets out? Also I assume that the picture above is the type of roller you are suggesting to use at the rear - the keel doesnt flatten out till about 1/4 of the length of the boat. 1 hour ago, mowie1 said: Get an angle grinder cut split pins off (bastard to try & pull out). Nock the centre pin in roller through bracket and roller and replace them. Put plenty of marine greese on new spindle before pushing roller through bracket replace split pin ( Stainless steel ) a little messey. Flat roller could work ok .Check the rollers once a year .Looking at picture again the keel is to wide for those rollers, trailer may have been made for an aluminium boat. May need to replace centre rollers & brackets. Cheaper than new trailer. Thanks for the tip - I will take a battery 4 inch grinder with me in-case they play the bastard card. Edited February 25, 2019 by Cozmo Response to Jeff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishop Posted February 25, 2019 Share Posted February 25, 2019 Never seen a boat with a square keel. I have all red keel rollers. You need to lube them up otherwise they can get a sticky as the black ones. A spray of inox to each one before launching will do wonders for helping the boat roll off the trailer. As someone else said, it might be better to jack the boat up off the rollers and remove one of the rollers so you have the correct size. You could even replace them one at a time using this method but taking the boat to the ramp will be quicker in the long run. Just make sure you have all the parts ready to go so you dont end up doing it twice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffb5.8 Posted February 25, 2019 Share Posted February 25, 2019 (edited) I have a can of Inox I keep in the tray of the ute, When I remember once I have launched, I park the trailer and give the centre rollers a spray and spin. Then have a look at my bearing seals and away I go for the day. Other than that I have skids (Alloy. Oat) for the sides. Take a day of work mid day, usually in Winter when nobody's around and secure the boat to the wharf and then spend 40mins fixing the trailer or doing yearly maintenance. My centre rollers are blue, not sure what the Red and Black difference are Edited February 25, 2019 by jeffb5.8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antonywardle Posted March 3, 2019 Share Posted March 3, 2019 Also, after you've replaced everything, your boat might move a lot easier on the trailer so make sure that you are in the water before you undo the safety chain as your boat just might go and self launch! cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
campr Posted March 3, 2019 Share Posted March 3, 2019 I wouldn't buy new spindles as they need constant maintenence and just jam and rust again. I have replaced all my spindles with home made ones I made myself out of stainless rod. Just ascertain what diameter they are and buy some stainless rod that size. Cut to length and driill holes for split pins. You won't believe how easier it will be to launch and retrieve. No more rust and will always roll smoothly. Cost is not much more and you will never regret it. I am in my 70s now and handle my 5.6 metre Quinnie with no worries helped by ease of launching. Ron 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cozmo Posted March 3, 2019 Author Share Posted March 3, 2019 Thanks all short update; I should've known as soon as i turned the last corner to the ramp and a bearing shattered that it was going to be the beginning of an afternoon shitstorm. Launched the boat anyway (with the help of a friend) pulled the trailer out and did the rollers. (replaced the rear roller with a red dogbone and the rollers on the keel I changed from dogbone to red bilge/flat roller. Retrieval was a nightmare, as soon as the keel hit the flat rollers it would slip off, after some man handling on the bow we managed to get it back on the trailer but its sitting skewed somehow, I think this is because that the wobble rollers are set up for the boat to be at an angle due to the dogbones on the keel (see pic above) and now they are flat the keel sits about 15mm out of whack... Anyway appreciate the input, if anyone has an idea for the new conundrum I would appreciate it. (The good thing is between my old man on the phone and youtube I learnt how to change a wheel bearing) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shakey55 Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 How far are backing trailer into water Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cozmo Posted March 4, 2019 Author Share Posted March 4, 2019 2 hours ago, shakey55 said: How far are backing trailer into water Tried it with the last wobble rollers just submerged then tried it with the same rollers just out, didn't seem to make much of a difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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