keel roller options

Xk59D · 27 March 2015, 23:23

hey all,

had a problem with the boat today.

first time bringing it in at my normal slip and the bow hit the swing beam....grrrrr

obviously don't want to happen again, the rollers are in between the chines so i can't really move them to get height too much. i can move them a little so i'll do that, but i also want to put something on the swing beam just incase.

has anyone ever seen something similar in UK?

most keel rollers in UK are designed to be bolted on from the top, i need something on the side, this will allow me to use U bolts as i don't want to drill into the beam to fit a normal style keel roller.

cheers

Nos4r2 · 27 March 2015, 23:38

Not seen anything like that in the UK, but the bracket doesn't look hard to fabricate.

You could always wrap some carpet round the swing beam as a temporary stopgap.

Xk59D · 28 March 2015, 00:01

hey bud,

no matter what carpet is going round it just now.

luckily, or unluckily depending on your viewpoint, my keelguard isn't on it yet. would have wrecked it. damage isn't too bad, will fix it tomorrow and see about making something.

i can't find anywhere outside USA with the brackets.

cheers

Nos4r2 · 28 March 2015, 08:32

Thinking about it , can you post a pic of the stern of the boat on the trailer from astern and one side? I'm thinking there might be an alternative to an extra roller. It shouldn't be sat that far down on the trailer that it can hit at all on recovery.

Pikey Dave · 28 March 2015, 09:12

Can you raise the rollers on the swing beam? There's usually some adjustment.

Xk59D · 28 March 2015, 09:49

They are on the highest setting already. The only way I can get height is to slide them further down the V as I have a little room left between the chines.

Cheers

Nos4r2 · 28 March 2015, 10:47

How high is she on the trailer? After a quick google I found this pic, which has one very high on the rollers.

http://img.nauticexpo.com/images_ne/...69-3807373.jpg

What I'm getting at is the trailer may not have been set up properly from new. Maximus might be able to help here.

Xk59D · 28 March 2015, 11:15

I know it wasn't setup correctly as I've had to adjust everything myself. I.e move axle, move rollers etc.

I'll get some pics today of how she sits for you and I'll measure the keel to bottom of swing arm so I can tell what adjustments I'm making and clearance I have.

At a guess, my boat is a good 5" lower than then one in piccy.

After sleeping on it I'm going to wrap some silicon hose round the beam just in case and until I know I've cured this.

Cheers

Xk59D · 28 March 2015, 22:04

spent a few hours lying under boat tonight....it was great...NOT.

will go back tomorrow and sand it down and should be all good.

i tried to move the rollers but PITA, will just dump the boat in loch lomond and move the rollers in a couple of inches each.

so, the only way i can get height as you can see is to move the rollers in, not convinced it will be enough.

cheers

Nos4r2 · 28 March 2015, 22:14

Looking at those pics, I think I'd be putting the stern rollers a lot closer together then adjusting the rest of the trailer to suit. That's a hell of a gap.

Xk59D · 28 March 2015, 22:16

yup, that is the plan. question is how far can i go before the chine is a problem. i can maybe move them in 3-4" each end at the back and still have the chine go between the rollers.

i'll take it to loch lomond and pop it in for an hour and do the work.

hopefully that will get me the room i need.

cheers

mick · 28 March 2015, 22:17

I have one similar to this on mine but at the front so prob not much use
Will it be better if you get trailer in deeper or won't it make much difference

mick · 28 March 2015, 22:26

Xk59D · 28 March 2015, 22:28

Mick, how would that work buddy?

I need something for the rear swing beam...am i missing something?

cheers

Nos4r2 · 28 March 2015, 22:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xk59D

Mick, how would that work buddy?

I need something for the rear swing beam...am i missing something?

cheers

Put a couple of 90 degree bits of angle on the swing beam and it'd work.

mick · 28 March 2015, 22:50

Xk59D · 29 March 2015, 09:12

Bought keel roller, will work out how to get it on with some angle iron.

Will also move the rollers in a few inches.

Cheers

Ian M · 29 March 2015, 11:52

Just took a look at mine, the rollers under the stern are a lot closer together than yours. Whilst mine sits high on the trailer, I have had no issues launching and recovering (single handed, as always!). Just have to be careful when lining up for recovery. Looked at getting mine lower on the trailer, but concluded that the forefoot would suffer as you have encountered, so left well alone.

Jeff · 29 March 2015, 12:17

I also had the same issue when initially setting up my SBS trailer - I set the rollers to keep the keel as low as possible to reduce overall height on the road as well as making it easier to launch (?)
When recovering, the first thing to contact was the keel on the centre of the swing beam
I moved the rollers closer together and all's fine now

Cheers
Jeff

Last Tango · 29 March 2015, 19:21

I drive mine onto the trailer and I've always found a centre roller on the back edge of the trailer causes more problems than it solves. 3" out either way and the bracket of the roller runs a gouge along the side of the bottom edge of the bow and pushes the boat out of alignment. If you're going to do it then I'd go for a "combination" roller to give you a bit more scope for error.