Before Posting, Please Read Our Posting Guidelines Below.
1. Use the full 4 digit year for everything you are asking your question about. Example: 1962, 1988, 2000, 2011 2. Include the correct name of your Whaler model. Example: Montauk 17, Montauk 170, Outrage 26, Outrage 260 3. Include the length when necessary. Example: 16, 17, 18, 20, 22 4. Do not post your email address anywhere on this site as it is already in your user profile.
Plan to replace the keel rollers on trailer for 1993 17 Outrage. Presently only the (1) existing transom roller is 8" wide. The remaining (4) keel rollers are 5" wide. What are thoughts on replacing existing 5" wide keel rollers with 8" or wider? Any recommendations/thoughts? Thanks in advance.
Phil's suggestion is right on, but even with a 17 Montauk I use the 12" size. The closer you can get to your trailer looking like this, the better you will be. With a 17 Outrage, you might consider 2 rollers on the back crossmember because of engine weight. For the very forward roller under the bow, an 8" roller will suffice. If you can, always try to use four 1/2" bolts for each roller frame, resting two across the top of the crossmember and at the top of the roller bracket slot. That eliminates any drop completely, but usually requires two rollers per crossmember.
With the 12" wide rollers, there is much less chance of missing a roller with the boat's keel when bringing it on, and damaging the surrounding gelcoat. The sides of the roller bracket and/or roller shaft can do some serious scratching on a hull bottom if the rollers are missed.
For the greatest ease in handling a boat on a trailer, for any boat 18' or longer, I recommend two rollers on each crossmember.
Took advice from both of you gentlemen, bought 12" poly rollers to replace the existing 5" poly rollers presently installed. So the remaining question I have a after looking at pics of Mr. Finnegan's trailer, is that it appears his bunks sit level from stern to bow, unlike mine which slope up a couple of inches from stern to bow following contour of hull. My existing rollers follow the same pattern, while your rollers appear to be consistently same height from stern to bow. Am I correct in what I see in the pics? Thanks in advance.
