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I currently have a 1991 17' Outrage with a 120hp Johnson on the back...I purchased a new LoadRite trailer for her when I bought the boat last year...it's a bunk type trailer...I'm having some difficulty launching during low(er) tides...with the fixed bunks and a shallow ramp...there's just no moving her sometimes and I have to go deeper at the ramp to the point where the rear tires of my truck are in the water...I don't like this for obvious reasons so this year I'm looking to modify the trailer a bit...I have three different ideas I'm thinking about and am hoping for some feedback...first...I thought about using the plastic slide pads...this is probably the easiest of the three (and cheapest)...but with the fixed bunks...it's not going to assist when I try to put the boat on the trailer...I'll still have to hoist it up onto the trailer and that's too much pressure on the bow eye...
My next idea is to replace my current bunk system with split bunks that would pivot and the plastic slides..this way, when I go to launch, I just lift up on the bow, the back bunks would pivot up, allowing the boat to slide into the water...retrieval would be the same way...
My last idea is to replace the bunks with rollers or a combination of rollers/front bunks...I'm not concerned with the roller issue, I've heard of plenty of whalers being sold from the dealers with roller trailers...besides, that's how my current whaler was sent home from the dealer...
I don't have any problems during high(er) tides...I just want to make things a little easier on my when I launch and retrieve...
Thanks again for your input...it's always appreciated...
I'm sure you will get plenty of opinions but here is mine.
Just add keel rollers on the cross members and leave the bunks alone that you have.
You can adjust the keel rollers up to support approximately 40% to 50% of the weight of the boat.
This way it will make it much easier to load and unload from the trailer.
All of my trailers have been set up with 4 bunks and keel rollers on each cross member.
I even had double keel rollers on each cross member on my Outrage 22'.....
The boat just glides on and off the trailer much easier with keel rollers for me.
Dave, I have to agree with Joe. I have seen first hand what a roller trailer can do to a Whaler hull. Not pretty. I have also used the bunk slicks and while they do work, I think they are a bit too slippery. Just my .02.
Keep a can of silicone spray in your tow vehicle. Typically, a can costs about $1.50 or less.
When you return to your tow vehicle to retrieve your boat, take a moment to spray down your bunks with this spray. This will help the boat slide up easier (reducing stress on the bow eye).
Also keep in mind that your Whaler was designed to be hoisted by the inside end of that bow eye. It can take quite a bit of weight and abuse - so I would not be overly concerned in that department.
Still, making your rig easy to launch and retrieve is a critically important part of enjoying the trailer boating experience, and literally can save you thousands of dollars in marina fees every year. $10 in silicone spray per season, or even $200 in modifications to to your trailer really pale in comparison to the potential costs of NOT trailering your Whaler.
(of course, there are convenience factors at play too...but since you already trailer your boat, we'll focus on making that experience more positive, eh!)
Given that every whaler owner's manual stresses the importance of using bunk vs rollers I would not think it a good idea to do otherwise - regardless of what a few others may have done, including a dealer.
The owners manual even goes further in that it specifies that the whaler is to be primarily supported with keel rollers and that the bunks are intended only for lateral support. I think the suggestion to add keel rollers is the best option.
Bunk trailers are intended to allow you to "float" the boat into the water so if you are only short a small distance from being able to launch your boat you might consider also adding a swing away extension to the trailer. The extra distance might be just enough to get the transom into deeper water - plus you can still get the boat into your garage.
Sounds like a plan...I'll pick up those plastic strips and see if that makes any difference at all during the launch...I'm hoping it does, they are a heck of a lot cheaper the starting to work on the trailer...Thanks for all the assistance...I'll keep you posted once we get through this winter!
