Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos

Posted by dreamboat on 06/10/09 - 10:42 AM

I want to add 4-5 ' guide posts to my trailer to line up when I am trailering the boat. Any suggestions on a self install? PVC seems like an obvious choice but i am open to whatever you all have experience with.

Posted by CES on 06/10/09 - 10:48 AM

I'm only running a 13' boat so your needs may be a little different than mine are. However, I'm using the PVC guide posts and they work wonderfully. As I'm sure you already know, the posts make it easier to back your trailer down the ramp and easier to load the boat if there's a cross current or cross wind.

Posted by Randy Bruckman on 06/10/09 - 1:44 PM

Guide posts do assist with backing a trailer down a ramp when there is no boat on the trailer (with guide posts you can see how the empty trailer is maneuvering down the ramp) and when removing the boat if there is a cross current as mentioned in the other reply.
As to the self install, all of the PVC guide posts I've seen actually have a galvanized piece of metal that bolts to the trailer frame and then a piece of PVC pipe slips over the piece of metal so your boat does not get scratched or so there is no damage to the gel coat. The metal framework provides needed support/rigidity that PVC alone will not provide. You also need to be able to bolt the guide post to the trailer securely, so PVC alone may not be feasible. I just installed a PVC guide post that I picked up at Westmarine for $89 and it was a simple install on a trailer for a 17 foot Newport. I wouldn't bother trying to fabricate it completely out of PVC for the meager savings one might expect as the PVC will likely break/fail at the point where you bolt it to the trailer.

Posted by Binkie on 06/10/09 - 5:09 PM

Here is a picture of the guide posts I built for my 13 footer. The white pipe is PVC the grey pipe at the corners are electrical conduit long 90`s. The material came from Home Depot for under $15. There is no metal in this setup, and is perfectly adequate for a 13 Ft. Whaler.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c19...HALER3.jpg

If you have a larger boat, visit the electrical section of Home Depot, and browse the conduit isle. You can find galvanized pipe for the bottom horizontal piece, and galvanized long 90's for the upturn. Use 1 1/2" White PVC with a cap for the vertical pieces. If you need more stiffness in the side pieces, just buy some wood closet poles and drop the piece down the side tube before you seal it. They fit perfetly. A really simple kind of fun job.