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Quick Trailer Question - New Owner
dougt	#1  Posted on 07/11/14 - 10:13 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 179 Comments: 0 Joined: 06/29/14	Hi Guys, 1996 GLS 13' Sport Single axle galvanized trailer with keel roller at front and rear. Two side bunks. Just finishing up some small gel coat repairs and detailing my boat. I wanted to get under the bunk areas, especially in the rear. I noticed a small rust spot and maybe some fine hairline cracks. The rear of the boat is pulled up so that the transom is even with the end of the bunks. I noticed the keel is not touching the rear roller. Just missing enough that I can turn the roller. Questions: 1. Can I loosen rear bracket of bunk support and lower it so I can expose that portion of the hull 1 side at a time to inspect and repair as needed? 2. When repositioning the bunks, should I lower them slightly so that the keel is supported on the roller? I have searched and read a few trailer set-ups. Seems like the keel should be supported by roller and balanced with bunks? Kind regards, Doug 1996 Sport GLS 13' - 1996 Johnson 40hp, 2 Stroke
dougt	#2  Posted on 07/11/14 - 10:31 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 179 Comments: 0 Joined: 06/29/14	After further inspection, the roller is on a bracket that is slotted. Would it be best to loosen that bracket and jack the boat up slightly and inspect, then adjust the roller slightly higher as to bear the full weight? I also noticed the gap between port side bunk and roller is greater than starboard side. I guess I need to adjust so it's even by lowering onto roller, than adjusting each side bunk to just touch hull? here is a link to photo's. http://s1372.photobucket.com/user/dou...amp;page=1 Best regards, Doug Edited by dougt on 07/11/14 - 10:32 AM 1996 Sport GLS 13' - 1996 Johnson 40hp, 2 Stroke
Phil T	#3  Posted on 07/11/14 - 12:54 PM
Administrator Personal Page Personal Album Project Albums Posts: 6986 Comments: 6 Joined: 03/26/05	Sorry to say those are the wrong rollers and brackets for this hull. That type of roller is used for the bow. You will want an 8" roller like: http://www.easternmarine.com/8-stoltz...5-8-id-rp8 A bracket: http://www.easternmarine.com/galvaniz...ller-86152 Add the shaft, pal nuts and two U brackets. Once you have the right hardware... Set the rollers, then set the bunk boards. The rollers take all the weight and the boards just keep the boat steady.
dougt	#4  Posted on 07/11/14 - 2:01 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 179 Comments: 0 Joined: 06/29/14	I was afraid of that. Didn't quite look right to me. The same roller is on the bow and does not roll. It;s been cut to fit the bracket. That just didn't seem right to me, but I've never had a boat. Here's a picture of the front. http://s1372.photobucket.com/user/dou...=3&o=0 This guy was a Coast Guard Aux. which I trusted too much :-) In changing these while on the trailer, can I just let the boat rest on the bunks and remove these rollers? Should I rely on the strap to support the front while changing that one? Any advice is much appreciated as always. I assume I need 2 sets of the rollers you recommended? Thanks for the input. Best regards, Doug Edited by dougt on 07/11/14 - 2:04 PM 1996 Sport GLS 13' - 1996 Johnson 40hp, 2 Stroke
Joe Kriz	#5  Posted on 07/11/14 - 2:17 PM
Site Owner Personal Page Personal Album Photo Albums Project Albums Posts: 11431 Comments: 452 Joined: 03/18/05	Keel rollers come in 8", 10", and 12" I believe. 12" keel rollers would be ideal but not sure if they are overkill for a 13' Whaler or not. I don't remember what I had on my 13' but all the rest of my boats had 12" keel rollers. See our article here: http://www.whalercentral.com/articles...cle_id=117
dougt	#6  Posted on 07/11/14 - 2:33 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 179 Comments: 0 Joined: 06/29/14	Should I replace that front bow roller? The ends of that polyurethane roller extends beyond bracket so I think that is why he cut slots in it. It should roll if the bracket and roller are correctly matched? I am looking for that bracket and matching roller on their website. If I don't find it, I'll call them tomorrow. They are closed now. Best regards, Doug 1996 Sport GLS 13' - 1996 Johnson 40hp, 2 Stroke
dougt	#7  Posted on 07/11/14 - 3:00 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 179 Comments: 0 Joined: 06/29/14	Ok, So he has the same roller for the stern in the middle of the boat. I am going to order 2 ea 8" Stoltz Keel rollers, shafts, brackets, end caps and and Pal nuts. Then I was going to order a Stoltz 5" roller to replace front roller at the bow, with shaft, and pal nuts. Hopefully that will do it. The middle and stern rollers are not carrying much if any weight so I have some adjusting to do. Thanks for the input and if this is not the right approach let me know. I really appreciate the quick responses. Probably saved me cracking this hull transporting it to Florida this fall. Luckily I haven't moved this boat since I bought it. Been going through everything I can find that needs attention. Best regards, Doug 1996 Sport GLS 13' - 1996 Johnson 40hp, 2 Stroke
gary0319	#8  Posted on 07/11/14 - 6:12 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 218 Comments: 0 Joined: 08/25/12	You might consider wider than an 8" for the stern roller. I have a 12" on my Dauntless 15 and am happy to have a wider "landing pad" when pulling the boat onto the trailer. The extra cost for the wider version is minimal. Gary 1998 Dauntless 15 - 1998 Mercury 60
dougt	#9  Posted on 07/11/14 - 8:09 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 179 Comments: 0 Joined: 06/29/14	Gary, Thanks for the heads up. I've already placed my order, but if I am not happy with the setup I'll switch out to the 12". Maybe I'll try to call them tomorrow and see if I can intercept the order. Best regards, Doug 1996 Sport GLS 13' - 1996 Johnson 40hp, 2 Stroke
dougt	#10  Posted on 07/20/14 - 6:51 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 179 Comments: 0 Joined: 06/29/14	Ok, I got my 8" Stoltz rollers installed on the stern and center positions. Looks much better and good contact with full width at stern Since most of the weight was resting on the bunks, I was able to take the rear roller off, install the Stoltz, snug it up and used a bottle jack on the bottom of the roller bracket to slowly lift the stern until I could slide a piece of paper between bunks and hull. Then lowered slightly to gain contact and tighten. http://s1372.photobucket.com/user/dou...0.jpg.html Then I repeated with center. http://s1372.photobucket.com/user/dou...7.jpg.html I bought a 4" roller to replece the fixed roller on the bow. http://s1372.photobucket.com/user/dou...9.jpg.html Since this is a tilt trailer, the balance seems correct. It lays down nicely on the bow roller and with a good strong lift with one arm on the bow I can get the tilt to start upward. Once I get new springs, wheels and rims installed this week, I hope to splash next weekend. Thanks for the help Gentlemen. Best regards, Doug Edited by dougt on 07/20/14 - 7:07 AM 1996 Sport GLS 13' - 1996 Johnson 40hp, 2 Stroke
Phil T	#11  Posted on 07/20/14 - 3:16 PM
Administrator Personal Page Personal Album Project Albums Posts: 6986 Comments: 6 Joined: 03/26/05	Doug - One important point to remember. When at the ramp. watch how the hull slides off and on to the trailer, vis-a-vis, staying centered. The concern is if the hull goes off center, will any part of the hull impact the frame? Most occasions I describe occur when retrieving and the bow misses the forward roller. If that is the case, I would replace the 4" with an 8". Go nice and easy at the ramp the first few occasions. Edited by Phil T on 07/20/14 - 3:16 PM
dougt	#12  Posted on 07/20/14 - 3:22 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 179 Comments: 0 Joined: 06/29/14	Thanks for the heads up Phil. I'll have an experienced boater friend with me, so the two of us should be able to watch things closely. It will be interesting to see how this launches and retrieves. Best regards, Doug 1996 Sport GLS 13' - 1996 Johnson 40hp, 2 Stroke
dougt	#13  Posted on 07/23/14 - 3:38 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 179 Comments: 0 Joined: 06/29/14	Ok, Next step on the trailer is new springs, rims and tires. Got the parts today. Springs measure up good, slipper style. The hangers are welded and take 1/2 bolts. The new springs take 9/16 bolts. Have to drill out the hangers. Also, the hole that received the center bolt of the spring pack is too small on the axle. I'll have to drill that out too and/or grind the tops of the hex bolt to fit the hole in the axle and set the spring flat against axle. Few things go as smoothly as the videos lol Scheduled to Splash this boat for the 1st time Sunday, weather cooperating. Doug 1996 Sport GLS 13' - 1996 Johnson 40hp, 2 Stroke
dougt	#14  Posted on 07/29/14 - 1:05 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 179 Comments: 0 Joined: 06/29/14	Changed out springs with same 4 leaf pack. They were too stiff and seemed to be over kill. I removed 2 smaller leafs and it rides much better. Weight the boat and trailer today at 1,120lbs, 80 lbs tongue weight. May add another 1" drop to the hitch, but tracks and pulls well currently at 60mph. Doug 1996 Sport GLS 13' - 1996 Johnson 40hp, 2 Stroke