BigBendFishing.Net

Y'all, I've own my boat since 06 and have load and unload my boat without any problems. But, I seem to be hitting the keel of my boat on the trailer crossbars a lot lately and there're a few missing chunks of gelcoat to prove it. I seem to be hitting the same spot on the trailer but cant figure out what I have done differently; have not done any work on the trailer except having the bunks carpet replaced. Am I backing the trailer in too deep? Has anyone experience this before? Also, would installing a keel guard solve my problem? Thank you in advance for your help.

peng

My guess would be you're not backing it up enough. I have done it a few times myself, I would hit the 1st cross-member on the back of the trailer.

Move the trailer up or down the ramp until you don't hit it. Make a mental note or mark on the trailer of the water level where you didn't hit it.
But it ain't a piano, it's not supposed to be pristine.

Many times trailers are put together with U bolts. They can shift over time with travel and loading and unloading of the boat. The bunk carriers might have dropped. A roller may have shifted it's angle. Or it might be as simple as your perception of water depth has changed. You might want to take a close look at all the components after you launch the boat to see if anything has shifted.
FF

You've already received several good suggestions, BB.

The stem on my custom boat is very sharp and I have had a similar problem. I mounted Starboard pieces to the forward V-guide, but that didn't solve the problem. Neither did bow rollers or a KeelGuard (it stuck on the guide and wouldn't slide at all).

I finally solved mine by installing dual cypress guide bunks mounted in a narrowing wedge pattern with guide slicks on top. The boat now centers perfectly and I'll have to be careful launching that it doesn't take off on its own due to the slicks.

Coastal Trailer in Medart can custom cut the slick boards for you, plus they are well-versed in setting up a trailer right. Their number is 850-984-0728.

Reel Cowboy wrote: But it ain't a piano, it's not supposed to be pristine.

Ha, speak for yourself, RC!

silverking wrote:

Reel Cowboy wrote: But it ain't a piano, it's not supposed to be pristine.

Ha, speak for yourself, RC!

I guess I spoke out of turn a little, sorry.

How about this, "It ain't the Finesse, it's not supposed to be pristine".

I'll have to admit, I'm just a tad anal about the Bayshore.

silverking wrote:I'll have to admit, I'm just a tad anal about the Bayshore.

as well you should be. but you really need to drill some holes in her and mount that power pole or talon.

When whoever re-carpeted did they have to remove the bunks and could they have been put back on at different levels to cause a problem?

Leo if they removed the bunks and re-carpeted the bunks, the levels should not change. The existing holes in the bunk should stay the same. The trailer functions should not change with just a simple re-carting of the bunks, but if you go into changing the mounts and the ubolts and so forth then the levels can change.

Bunks aren't the only thing sagging on BreamBuster and SilverKing.
They just won't admit it.

Jumptrout51 wrote:Bunks aren't the only thing sagging on BreamBuster and SilverKing.
They just won't admit it.

I'm not the one with the lifetime prescription for Viagra. Or the one running off Net Men, either.

silverking wrote:

Jumptrout51 wrote:Bunks aren't the only thing sagging on BreamBuster and SilverKing.
They just won't admit it.

I'm not the one with the lifetime prescription for Viagra. Or the one running off Net Men, either.

Guys, thanks for the suggestions. BigBend Marina did the re-carpeting last spring and I didnt notice any difference in the height of the bunks. I've mostly been fishing for crappie this entire winter (hence been absence here) and exclusively on lake Blackshear, putting in at Smoke bridge. The lake has been in full pool, which may have change the angle in which the trailer sits even though I'm backing it down to the same depth as always. I'm now afraid to use the ramp fearing that I wont have any gelcoat left on the keel. Do you think installing keel rollers would help. The only problems is that there's only a few inches clearance between the cross bar and the hull, so dont think there's enough room to mount it. Ugh... its frustrating.