Keel Rollers

[Kernow Buoy]

Hi all,
I'm in the process of buying a new trailer and thought I had settled on a multi roller swingbeam design ( 24 rollers on 2 swing beams). I have noticed that the trailer has no keel rollers at all and my question is quite simply is it OK to carry a rib with no support on the keel?

[Roy Smith]

We have what sounds like the same set up, no probleams with the keel but i would have a third swing beam in the centre , it helps spread the weight and it realy makes it easy to drive the boat stright on, as if you only have two swing beams (like me) the bow can miss the front rollers and catch the hull
Roy.

[Kernow Buoy]

Thanks for that Roy, however if I'd filled my profile in properly you'd have seen I only have a 5.35 rib, knowing that would you think 2 beams sufficent?
Jeff

[simmons0]

We only have 2 swing beams. Works fine for us.

[Jelly]

If you have got two beams it might be worth putting a keel roller on top of the axle, as I have noticed a few times that on recovery some times the bow dips down and makes contact with the axle.
Not for support just avoiding any damage.
Jelly

[DGR]

A daft trailer question - but how have you set up your rollers? Are they quite stiff, or are they loose and 'flop' around?

I've tried both variations, and they have both caught the hull and scraped the gel-coat. If tight, the rollers don't move with the hull profile, and the ends of the front set of rollers hit the hull and scrape the gel-coat. If loose, the rear rollers can easily 'tip' as they are in the water so the hull settles on the steel end of the roller as you pull the trailer out of the water - damaging the gel-coat again.

Is it a black art, or am I just a muppet?

D...

[Scary Des]

Originally Posted by DGR

...........but how have you set up your rollers? Are they quite stiff, or are they loose and 'flop' around?
...........

Just right not too tight or loose, silly answer I know but there is a point when they do work ok.

I find with my rollers that if I do the bolts up until I can just move the rollers up and down by hand that this works best.

I have seen people using shock cord to pre-position the swing beam to avoid the problems you are having of running in to the end of the rollers but I have no first hand experience of this.

Des

[Bilge Rat]

Originally Posted by Scary Des

I have seen people using shock cord to pre-position the swing beam to avoid the problems you are having of running in to the end of the rollers but I have no first hand experience of this.
Des

Yep try using shock cord to position the rollers, i've seen this used on a few trailers and it is pretty effective, the shock cord allows them to move around and give slightly under load but keeps them where you want them whilst trying to re trailer the boat.

[DGR]

Thanks for that - I'll try the shock cord approach with floppy rollers......

[WaterMerlin]

The best thing we did was to throw away the rubber rollers and put pneumatic wheels and tyres in place of the rollers. The boat rolls on and off an absolute dream. The wheels are slightly larger diameter so the hull does not contact the beam or trailer adn lastly when on the road the hull is actually sitting on soft air filled tyres and no damage from pressure points.

[DGR]

"The best thing we did was to throw away the rubber rollers and put pneumatic wheels and tyres in place of the rollers"

Where did you get them from?!? How much messing about with the trailer did you need to do, or was it a straight swap?

Cheers,

Dylan...

[WaterMerlin]

Hi Dylan

We got them from a local ball bearing supplier. I have seen them under race boats with pretty little covers on them so they do not mark the hull.

[WaterMerlin]

Sorry

Second part of your question. We did have to modify the carriers by shaving (with a grinder) a small part of the roller carrier away. You must remeber that these are not big diameter wheels anyway !