OK, now I’ve got another trailer, I’m wondering if anyone knows the proper set-up for the bunk spacing, winch placement etc.
In other words, how do I form fit my boat now?
I have a 17’ Seapro and all I know is an 18’ boat was on it.
Any suggestions or a web site to check?
Thanks
Mike
If it ain’t broke…let me try!
I’ll take a shot…
The location of the winch stand, front to rear, is how you locate/position the boat over the axle. To far forward, to much tongue weight. To far back, to little tongue weight. There is a formula for how heavy to make the tongue. I think I remember 8-10% of total load. Google it and find the right number. Getting your tongue weight close to right is important. If it is too heavy, it causes trailer sway at speed. This is danderous. On a smaller tow vehicle, it can be very dangerous.
Bunks. Move them in/out and up/down to match underside of the boat. They should be high enough and positioned so that as the boat approaches the winch stand bumper it slides up onto the bunks and off of the rollers (if you have rollers). Bunks should be positioned fairly wide so to make the boat more stable. Again, positioning should take advantage of the location of chines and curves in the hull. If you don’t have center rollers, then you must make sure you hull hits the bunks before the structural cross members of the trailer (bye-bye gel coat) as the boat goes on and off the trailer. In this case, the bunks will obviously have to be higher and/or closer together.
The bunks should also extend backward all the way under the transom. You want to directly support the weight of the motor. If the bunks end short of the transom, you put a lot of shear load in the hull between the transom and the end of the bunks.
Winch height should line up the hook with the eye on the hull.
You may have a movable axle. If so, if you can’t make the above work to get a good tongue weight, you can move the axle. Be careful. A small move will make a big difference.
What have I missed?
17’ Henry O Hornet
26’ Palmer Scott
Sounds about right. I would try just lining the transom up with tail end of boards and slide winch post back to the boat. If you can lift the trailer and it takes a little effort then you may be close. You should be able to pick up the trailer with a little strain but if you can’t it probably has too much weight on it. Think I read somewhere it is 10% on the hitch. I know mine is off cause it take 2 healthy men to lift it and it is a 1720cc kw with a 110 johnson on it.