roller bunks-how close to transom?

[swool]

Messing with my trailer today to get boat to load a little more level. Looking at the rear most roller it is about 8 inches or so from the transom. This too much? I would think you would want them right at the stern. Am I good or do I gotta tweak some more? The boat is a 17 foot open bow with 3L mercruiser. Not very heavy I guess, what do you guys think?

[lil buggy]

swool,
i dont think so. on all my trailers the backmost roller only touched the boat while loading and unloading.
if u want to make loading unloading easier i suggest you add another set of bunks and maybe some side guides i did this to my last runabout trailer and it made loading a breeze i think i spent about $20 on the parts at home depot
that gave me a center set of rollers and two sets of 8 foot bunks as well as the side bunks.
i angled the second set to hug the hull so when all the way on the trailer da boat would drop into place(boat had a step down deep v hull)and hold the boat
and it made it foolproof to load in current, wind or dock conditions. drove right on and attatched the cable.
when the dock is busy u will be the fastest on and off ,not having to deal with the winch or being outa shape getting back on the trailer
dont do away with the hand winch i just hate using it.
the only drawback is when putting it into the water you gotta put it a little deeper cause the bunks are dry and not slick
i hope this helps. let me know how it ends up

[swool]

Thanks for the input buggy. I was having a problem, boat always seemed to load like 2 inches to the port side, and one of the strakes on the hull would end up on the roller, instead of the roller being on the flat in between the strakes. Put on some guide posts and it helped much, but I wanted to get the rollers right anyway. Went out this morn and and adjusted the front rollers(they form a 'V' toward bow of boat) they were a little crooked, also moved winch post forward about 5 inches so those rollers in back are closer to the stern now. Maybe head out later, hope I'm all fixed up. Thanks again for your reply

[JZelt]

Are you in the boat when it pulls out? If so, make sure you squat in the middle. That may account for the being off center.

[gsent]

A roller trailer, if adjusted properly, needs to be out of the water more than a conventional trailer when loading. Let the wheels self center the boat while winching up. If you try to drive all the way on, the boat will go crooked. Make sure all your wheels are in good shape, and lubricated.

[lil buggy]

also moved winch post forward about 5 inches so those rollers in back are closer to the stern now.

swool,
be careful, moving the winch changes the weight distrabution on the trailer .
the weight being further back will make the tounge lighter.
take the time to make sure your coupler is tight.
although easier to lift and put on the ball it will make the trailer behave a little different.

and (from experience) when playing around on the boat in the driveway when you get to the back of the boat the boat will dive down in the back hitting the outdrive.
the first time this happened to me was scarry i thought i busted the lower unit.

let me understand you have a roller trailer? all rollers? n side guides.
i was talking last time about a bunk trailer with a center set of rollers.
sorry i misunderstood

my only concern in adjusting raising or lowering the last roller (first the boat hits when loading)is that first roller is very important so your boat doesnt scrape the trailer
it puts your boat into position to hit the rest correctly once that happens it does nothing till you unload.(on my boats)
just watch closely when u load and unload the first couple of times

glad your hull has strakes
what i was talking about last post was if you can put a set of bunks right at one set of the strakes it will make your boat unable to be crooked
typically the straker are a little wider at the front than the stern by cradeling them with bunks you create a semi v and once the boat gets to the sweet spot it drops in and the strakes hold the boat

happy to help and sorry if its toooo much info

cant wait for the fireworks (bridgewaters anyway)
smooth sailing,

[lil buggy]

ohh n thanks gsent you are correct dont sink that traier so deep let those rollers do the job.

[swool]

Hey guys, little update. Put in today at the braddock ramp(not the most level around!) Loading the boat was a breeze, even with the wind and chop. Was it supposed to be windy today? Anyway, moving that front starboard roller up a hair musta done the trick, I was on and level in one go. First time for that! Also I'm a little more comfortable with the boat forward those few inches, all that weight not hanging way over the back rollers.have fun, and be safe! BTW slow action today, couple smallies and one rock bass

[lil buggy]

great to hear swool,
glad that worked out. sometimes a little tweak makes all the difference.
a little extra tounge weight makes the boat trailer much easier( i was thinking you moved it the other way)
i just got back from below dashields dam.
you are right this cold front had me thinking it was september.
i had to goto plan b tonite the wife looked like an eskimo lol.
fished a little up the beaver only got a few channelcat.
i was getting in tune 2 days ago but the weather changed ,old reliable helped out again.