I've been considering selling the rib for a while but keep coming back to why - and it's partly that getting the rib on and off the trailer simply isn't that easy. So thought process number one goes something like - Make it easier to launch and recover.
To that end I want to add more rollers under the boat to make it move more easily. Currently I have 16 rollers in pairs under the aft end and 8 under the pointy end. They are fitted to swinging bars on a roller coaster.
I'd like to significantly increase this but am struggling to source a supply of suitable galvanised mounting brackets. Specifically I'm looking for a Bar that will take 6 x 2 rollers, one for each side that'll give me 24 at the back, I can then move the existing 16 to the front to increase the total from 24 to 40.
I've tried RM trailers and Indespension and neither can help me, Hayling Island Trailers suggested buying a new trailer but that's a bit out of my price range right now.
There are a couple of pictures I've tried to upload to show what I'm looking for, all help appreciated.
ItB
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Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former --- Albert Einstein
Erin, Not sure and I guess if others have experience than i'd appreciate their views. My plan is based on experience in warehousing, more rollers, lower load per roller = easier to push off. I think the load on the existing rollers is too high and is deforming them to the point of lock up.
When unloaded they spin freely.
Itb
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Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former --- Albert Einstein
Can you post a pic of your boat on trailer please Steve. With a multi roller swing arm type setup like you've said you've got it should be a piece of cake unless there is something fundamentally wrong.
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Andy
Looks Slow but is Fast
Member of the ebay Blue RIB cover club.
My plan is based on experience in warehousing, more rollers, lower load per roller = easier to push off. I think the load on the existing rollers is too high and is deforming them to the point of lock up.
When unloaded they spin freely.
Itb
I have the same observation with the keel rollers on my trailer. Because the boat only sits on 3 of them the load per roller squishes the roller right down and means you need loads of power to back off the trailer, to the extent it's nearly as hard to "unstick" the boat as my old all-bunk trailer used to be.
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A Boat is a hole in the water, surrounded by fibreglass, into which you throw money...
Would you think that more rollers might solve it?
SBS have quoted £40 per side for the roller supports which sounds reasonable but I could do with more views as to others that have had the same reluctance for the rib to roll off the trailer.
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Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former --- Albert Einstein
Don't know - maybe. The keel roller brackets are welded on mine - not sure you could easily add more without putting a spine down the middle of the trailer and that would bugger up my galvanising.
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A Boat is a hole in the water, surrounded by fibreglass, into which you throw money...
I have one keel roller on mine (basically to afford some protection where the drawbar ends), which as described, squashed nicely & made it a pain to move. All I did was jack up the entire bow roller assemblies by abouit 1/8" so the keel roller didn't squash. Suffce to say I fitted an emergency "catch" wire to the winch post soon after!
What are your rollers made of? My Keel roller was squashy rubber, my beam rollers have a soft plastic "skin" so they hold their shape better.
The main rollers are soft enough to deform when the boat's on them but it also has a hard nylon keel roller that has previously damaged the keel of the boat. Reading you post has made me wonder if there is simply too much weight on the keel roller and the main rollers are acting as guides and not allowing it to move properly.
Think I'll see if I can replace the U bolts to allow lifthing the boat off the keel roller and see if it moves. Thanks all - might just have a solution
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Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former --- Albert Einstein
The main rollers are soft enough to deform when the boat's on them but it also has a hard nylon keel roller that has previously damaged the keel of the boat. Reading you post has made me wonder if there is simply too much weight on the keel roller and the main rollers are acting as guides and not allowing it to move properly.
Think I'll see if I can replace the U bolts to allow lifthing the boat off the keel roller and see if it moves. Thanks all - might just have a solution
When I first got my 38ft Cigarette, it was a PITA to get off the multi roller trailer. Replacing a broken roller improved it but the real gain was made when I adjusted the rollers.
The way I adjusted it was to get a car jack under each group of rollers, loosen the nuts and then jack it up till I got some resistance. Some of the rollers had to be adjusted over an inch.
Not sure if this is the right way, but now my 38footer is now a one man launch and recover boat.
I am about to go through it all again with the Ribtec 890SX as I have just purchased a new trailer.
I've placed an order for a full set of U bolts so I can cut off the badly corrodded ones that are holding the Roller assemblies in place. Once replaced it'll be a car jack and some gentle re-positioning so that the centre roller is only lightly loaded and the rest run on flat surfaces not getting cut up by the chines.
Thanks for al the good ideas, it'll be a couple of weeks but I'll post again when completed.
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Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former --- Albert Einstein
