Trailer guide poles or bunks ?

[glacierbaze]

Why not both? The poles hold the bow in a wind or cross current, and help you make that pivot, and the side bunks keep you aligned as you pull onto the trailer.

 

[Holokai]

Why not both? The poles hold the bow in a wind or cross current, and help you make that pivot, and the side bunks keep you aligned as you pull onto the trailer.
I can count the times I have entered or exited a boat at the ramp from the rear of all the boats I have owned on my thumbs.

You could buy two sets of guide poles, cut the front ones to height, and buy brackets for the bunks (or drill/countersink the bunks directly to the uprights). I’ve seen a few trailers set up that way.

 

[Holokai]

I like this! Is the rear section a ladder? I have been trying to think of a way to make it easier to get in and out.

Yes, it’s a cheap/ghetto ladder I threw together. Just bought an extra set of uprights (u-bolted to the trailer I-beam) and bolted aluminum angle across and put grip tape on tope of the angle to help with traction while washing down. It also helps to stiffen the rear side guides in case I come in at a bad angle or get hit by a gust of wind or surge.

 

[Lt.Mike]

Amen for the addition of a ladder on my bunks too

I had to use the fender on my old trailer, but that got old fast.

View attachment 18871

I used the fender on my old trailer to till it got so rusty I about ripped it off.
The new trailers fenders clearly aren’t meant for that.
You can get something like this tossed in the bed of your truck.

 

[leeccoll]

Sure that could work too! I just need to justify my built in on my expensive west coast trailer .

 

[Mark DV]

I'm thinking of adding poles to my roller trailer. Thoughts?

 

[leeccoll]

I had them on my old roller trailer. They were useful as "guides" as I would drive the boat onto the trailer. They were not strong enough to keep the vessel from sliding sideways on very windy days they would bend and I would straighten them upright again once I was onshore. They bent maybe 6" max at worst.
I see in this thread that many others like them very much.
My take is they are a addition worth having, and in my case not a perfect addition all the time.
The good news is they are not expensive and a breeze to install.

 

[Mark DV]

I had them on my old roller trailer. They were useful as "guides" as I would drive the boat onto the trailer. They were not strong enough to keep the vessel from sliding sideways on very windy days they would bend and I would straighten them upright again once I was onshore. They bent maybe 6" max at worst.
I see in this thread that many others like them very much.
My take is they are a addition worth having, and in my case not a perfect addition all the time.
The good news is they are not expensive and a breeze to install.View attachment 18925

I'm curious. Did you power load with the roller trailer?

 

[efx]

Power loading is the way to go. Put the trailer in fully to wet all bunks, then pull it out part way. Then power load it on to the guide bunks

I have a strong aft wind at my ramps and if you don’t stick the load the first time, get ready to spin. Make sure your trailerbunks are high enough that no keel damage can occur. I spray cooking oil on them to make them easier on the hull.

Good point made here about the ramp steepness. Another factor is how high your trailer bunks/rollers are above the frame/axle centerline. Some trailers have the hull sitting lower and allow for easy floating on/off whereas others require engine power. You’ll get more depth range from poles but the bunks offer more support instead of a potential pivot point (in heavy wind/current).

Our local ramps have wind and/or surge and aren’t well designed (shallow angle and don’t extend far enough into the water) so my trailer is set up mainly for power loading. I also have target/keel bunks and a custom bow catch to allow for driving on/centering.

Best to check out the ramps you’ll most often use and see what the normal setup is there and learn from others mistakes/time/effort.

View attachment 18860

 

[leeccoll]

I'm curious. Did you power load with the roller trailer?

Yes I power loaded, slowly at first to let the rollers do their thing and center the boat, and then enough throttle to drive it until it almost hit the stop at the winch, then I would crank her in the last foot or two. I could never replicate the process every time because of variables like the wind and current. But it was the best way I could manage to do it all myself.

 

[Mark DV]

Yes I power loaded, slowly at first to let the rollers do their thing and center the boat, and then enough throttle to drive it until it almost hit the stop at the winch, then I would crank her in the last foot or two. I could never replicate the process every time because of variables like the wind and current. But it was the best way I could manage to do it all myself.

Were you able to grab the winch cable and hook to bow eye from the bow?

 

[DennisG01]

As conditions allow, I try to power load as often as possible. Thunk! Right up to the bow stop. If you're by yourself, leave the engine in gear and either reach over the bow or climb down over the bow to attach the hook.

Question for those of you with the side ladder - which looks very nice, by the way! Whenever I need to hop into the boat from the pavement, I just use the swim ladder. Is there another reason for the side ladder?

 

[leeccoll]

Were you able to grab the winch cable and hook to bow eye from the bow?

Never even tried. I leave the engine in gear like Dennis said, and stepped on my truck bumper from the dock, and then walked on the trailer frame and hooked it up from underneath. Never got wet .

If you do not have a dock, that might be possible, but much tougher from above I would think?

 

[leeccoll]

As conditions allow, I try to power load as often as possible. Thunk! Right up to the bow stop. If you're by yourself, leave the engine in gear and either reach over the bow or climb down over the bow to attach the hook.

Question for those of you with the side ladder - which looks very nice, by the way! Whenever I need to hop into the boat from the pavement, I just use the swim ladder. Is there another reason for the side ladder?

Hey Dennis!
On my 228, if I had to use the swim ladder, the first step would be on my rear jump seat cushions, which is not ideal.
I think the side is much more convenient to board, especially for guests. They are always nervous getting over the gunwale without falling.
Except kids. They are like monkeys.

 

[glacierbaze]

I think I misunderstood the purpose of the ladder, in my earlier comment. I was thinking you were climbing off into the water, at a ramp without a dock. On the pavement makes a lot of sense, I use a 6 foot stepladder in my driveway. and 20 times a day is not unusual when working on a project.
At some age, you appreciate a handhold where you are reaching up instead of down, which is where a combo ladder/guide pole would be handy, I always grab the hard top upright.
For me, the problem with using the swim ladder, especially on land, is that it tends to swing under the platform, which requires some arm strength to overcome the position.

 

[Mark DV]

Never even tried. I leave the engine in gear like Dennis said, and stepped on my truck bumper from the dock, and then walked on the trailer frame and hooked it up from underneath. Never got wet .

If you do not have a dock, that might be possible, but much tougher from above I would think?

Ok gotcha. Yes I have a dock and this is how I usually load up my boat but dont powerload.....yet. Do you leave the boat in gear at idle? Like trolling speed? Or with a little more rpms?

 

[DennisG01]

Ok gotcha. Yes I have a dock and this is how I usually load up my boat but dont powerload.....yet. Do you leave the boat in gear at idle? Like trolling speed? Or with a little more rpms?

Amount of throttle depends on conditions such as how deep you are or how easy the rollers roll. It's not rocket science, you'll figure it out. But, the answer is... enough to throttle to keep it from rolling backwards. And... you know how far down you can trim your engine without the skeg hitting the ground, right?

You do have to make sure that power loading is allowed - some places it is not - especially soft ramps.

 

[glacierbaze]

Personally, I would never get off a boat that is in gear, but if you do, make dam sure that your engine is straight ahead, and that you are centered in the bow stop, and a passing boat is not sending you a wake that is going to hit your transom when you are halfway down the dock.
If you are just trying to keep the boat from sliding back, you can easily toss a line over the winch stand, and secure it to a bow cleat.

 

[efx]

I would never leave the boat alone when it’s in gear. I’ve seen some real good panic events when people leave the boat when it’s in gear. 79th st, black point, dinner key....

 

[leeccoll]

I think I misunderstood the purpose of the ladder, in my earlier comment. I was thinking you were climbing off into the water, at a ramp without a dock. On the pavement makes a lot of sense, I use a 6 foot stepladder in my driveway. and 20 times a day is not unusual when working on a project.
At some age, you appreciate a handhold where you are reaching up instead of down, which is where a combo ladder/guide pole would be handy, I always grab the hard top upright.
For me, the problem with using the swim ladder, especially on land, is that it tends to swing under the platform, which requires some arm strength to overcome the position.

As an older hull owner, not climbing on the swim ladder keeps additional stress off the transom too. Might not make a long term difference, but then again....
I am still using the original transom from 1987.