roller trailer tips

[treeguy]

I just purchased a used Crestliner 16' with a 30 hp Yamaha. I took it out for the first time yesterday. When loading the boat, I had trouble centering the boat on the trailer. My previous boat was a 14' Lund with a bunk trailer, so the roller is new to me. Should I be driving the boat up the trailer or pulling it up with the crank on the trailer? Any tips would be appreciated.

[SVaerst]

Hello!!

Congratulations on the new rig!! Last year, I ran into the same problem as you. I had a heck of a time getting the boat on straight.

The first thing I would look into is buying a set of bunk or roller guide ons. The help out tremendously because you can be off a little bit, and they will help to line you up. The other thing that I have found is to NOT back the trailer in as far. I back in far enough so that the rear rollers are submerged, but will hit the hull when the boat is about 1/2 way on. I have to throttle up a little to get on the front keel rollers and If I am off, I can still use reverse to pull me back and realign.

Once I am up a ways, and can attatch the winch rope, I shut down and crank it the last foot or two. If I am off too much, I can push it back out and crank it up...one of the nice things about roller trailers. (only thing I have to keep in mind is that if I am too far out of the water with the trailer and crank it up I can void my warranty somehow..)

Steve

[Wile E.]

What more can I say as it sounded like it was comming out of my mouth. the guides are great and the depth of your trailer in the water is the secret. good luck, good fishing Wile E.

[Hans]

Power loading your boat (driving it onto the trailer under
power) is generally cosidered an undesirable practice, for
a couple of reasons.

Reason #1) It scours the bottom of lake at the end of the concrete ramp, gouging out a big hole which eventually extends up under the concrete and destroys the ramp.

Reason #2) In the case of an aluminum boat and a roller trailer (bad combination to start with) the stress of only one or two ranks of rollers initially supporting a significant part of the boats weight, coupled with the forces of the motor "bearing down" on the boat to move it forward, you will eventually deform the bottom of your boat, loosening rivets or busting welds.

Hans

[szopster]

My new roller trailer, custom built by Clark Boats of Bellvue-Iowa, has four strips of 10 roller bunks (40 total). Combined with the keel rollers front & rear I've got three times the support of my old EZ Loader. My 17 foot Sylvan launches and loads easier than ever.

I do agree that too much prop blast from those with drive on trailers can damage some ramps. With a well set up roller bunk trailer, the required motor thrust for loading is a heck of a lot less than a 200 HP glass boat with carpet bunks.