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Trailer roller position


Fishop

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Question about to let setup.    Should I move my rear rollers out to be in line with the other rollers?  Where they are now in green is between stringers and hollow sounding.  The area in red is solid as a rock.

It looks like I will need some packing and longer u bolts to raise the rollers up to follow the shape of the hull.  Would a couple of flat pieces of gal steel be ok?

The reason I am looking at this is to provide more support to the outside of the boat.  I'm developing small cracks in the gel coat in the transom well corners.   The way the boat is currently supported it does not provide much support to the outside of the boat and am wondering if this is causing the cracks to appear.

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Id be looking at why those cracks are appearing first. The weight of the engine bouncing while on the trailer is most likely a big part and can be easily sorted with a support bar from the engine to the trailer. But this needs fixing or at least looking at by an expert before a crack appears that lets water onboard. Looks like the transom has been painted.

As for the trailer my rollers are all inline closer to the keel (the strongest part of the hull). When the boat goes on and off the trailer those front rollers look like they cross over the strake, which can sometimes catch and hold a boat as they slide off the trailer.

Im no expert, just saying how I like mine.

Edited by JonD
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I would have though they were in the correct position as it catches the bow when loading so that it runs straight.

Its maybe wise to invest in the above outboard bracket, what size, make and year is the engine and boat.

Edited by jeffb5.8
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1 hour ago, JonD said:

Id be looking at why those cracks are appearing first. The weight of the engine bouncing while on the trailer is most likely a big part and can be easily sorted with a support bar from the engine to the trailer. But this needs fixing or at least looking at by an expert before a crack appears that lets water onboard. Looks like the transom has been painted.

As for the trailer my rollers are all inline closer to the keel (the strongest part of the hull). When the boat goes on and off the trailer those front rollers look like they cross over the strake, which can sometimes catch and hold a boat as they slide off the trailer.

Im no expert, just saying how I like mine.

Yeah thats my next step but trying to see if trailer setup is the cause of the cracks.  Motor has a transom saver but that just goes from the motor to the transom. Not taking any weigh off the transom.  The design of the trailer makes it hard to have one of those supports installed without a heap or work to the trailer.  

And I'm pretty sure the front rollers come up either side of the strakes.   I wind it on with a winch and keep a close eye on it.

Edited by Fishop
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11 minutes ago, jeffb5.8 said:

I would have though they were in the correct position as it catches the bow when loading so that it runs straight.

Its maybe wise to invest in the above outboard bracket, what size, make and year is the engine and boat.

5.6m fibreglass cab. 90hp Merc.

Its a spitfire trailer and if you look at their website most of their trailers the rollers all line up in a row which has got me thinking it was put together incorrectly. 

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Maybe talk to a boat trailer supplier and get wider rollers. 
this is what is my setup looks like. 
But definitely get the cracks checked and possibly before repairs grind back the cracks to get a good look at the fibreglass underneath to confirm if the cracks are superficial. 
 

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This is how my trailer rollers are set up ....

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They don't span past the first chine .... as per view below:

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The hull is positioned to sit back - with rollers almost directly under the stern (this would be the strongest so minimizing any flex to the underside of the hull).

Based on where you are seeing the cracking - in the rear corners - it suggests to me that either:

a) the stern is flexing. Tilt the motor, then try and lift or push down on the skeg and have someone sight along the stern to see if there is any flex.

or

b) the sides of the hull are flexing. Where and how tight are you fitting the trailer strap? When you tighten the strap can you see any inward flex on the sides of the hull?

or

c) the hull is flexing - probably longitudinally along the keel - like a torsion flex. It could be due to stringer failure or as its being winched up on the trailer. Someone else commented that there is nothing to catch the bow, so does it come up leaning on one side and then eventually straighten up? 

Cheers Zoran

PS - if its the weight of the motor causing stern flex, then as Jon advised a  motor bracket can help. Just make sure to get the one with the shock absorbing spring to provide some separation from direct shocks on trailer being transmitted to the motor/stern mounts.

 

Edited by zmk1962
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I've tried all the transom flex tests and to me it seems fine.  The whole boat moves up and down. I even stood on the hydrofoil with my body weight 85kgs and practically jumped up and down and didn't see any flex just the whole boat rocking.

I suggested strapping down too tight to my local mechanic and he said he once saw a trailer bend before the boat cracked or flexed.

So many different opinions it could be anything.  Might take it to a couple boat builders in the area and see what they say. 

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Your trailer rollers are fine where they are, as long as majority of the boats weight is on the keel rollers, the wobble rollers are only a cradle to stop the boat from wobbling. And a guide when loading the boat.

The tie down straps should only be as tight as is needed so the boat won't bounce off any of the rollers, two straps at the rear of the boat is far better than one strap across the rear of the boat.

A shocked engine support could be made to suit your trailer.

Frank

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Those support brackets are adjustable in length, I would of thought with the engine trimmed down so the bottom of the engine was about 1.5ft off the road it should reach that round hole at the bottom of the roller.

How do the engine mounting bolts look on the inside of the boat, are they pulled into the fibreglass ? 

 

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21 hours ago, JonD said:

Those support brackets are adjustable in length, I would of thought with the engine trimmed down so the bottom of the engine was about 1.5ft off the road it should reach that round hole at the bottom of the roller.

How do the engine mounting bolts look on the inside of the boat, are they pulled into the fibreglass ? 

 

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Yeah might have to have a custom one made up to split the weight to each side, or just buy two and have one going each side, lol.   I just assumed those were tie down spots.

Havnt looked particularly close to the bolts, Ill check them tonight.

Edited by Fishop
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