roller placement

Posted By: John
Date: 4/9/09 8:20a.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: I've looked at those pictures before.... (link) (Sumner -- Mac 26S -- Blanding, UT)

I might place the roller a touch higher.(I used what I had laying around, maybe an adjustable height would be easier) For some reason, my boats sits low on the bunks. The bunks were in good condition....replaced by PO. The keel(not swing keel) would rub on the crossmember at the aft end of the extension(forward end of bunks). You can't see it in the pics, but I placed a roller (10" wide) in the middle of that crossmember. Fore/aft placement I'm pretty happy with. I used clamps for a couple tests. I was afraid of making it too much higher for fear that it would put too much stress there. I jacked up the boat, placed the roller so when the boat was lowered it would "preload" the rubber roller. It does a nice job of placing the bow eye in line with the winch. I use to have to get under the bow and push while cranking....ugh. The extension was VERY simple to make/install, and I can't tell you how much NICER that is. I have the standard bolt to the frame goalposts (60" tall). They end up about a foot above the rub rail on the hard. I haven't buzzed them to the frame yet, because I experimenting with fore/aft placement. I have them at the widest point of the boat right now. They have the PVC over steel square tube, and have some "spring", so I might move them toward rear of trailer closer together. It seems there they might work better on a windy day. Will let you all know......amazing what a gallon of catalized enamel will do for looks. This was always a freshwater boat. Hardly any rust.