"Steve B" wrote in message
...

"Rob" wrote

That would depend on the ramps in your area. I have bunk trailers on
both of my boats and would never have rollers. The ramps here are level
and in very good condition. Then there is the sal****er problem with
rollers...

Rob

I can see where that is a difference. In the south, we had tilt trailers,
as the ramps went down, and then the concrete or asphalt ended, and there
was usually a dropoff. And salt water does make a difference in
everything it touches. Our ramps here are gradual on the small lakes we
have here in Utah. I'm looking at a protractor, and I'd say 30 degrees
plus or minus. Hardly enough that I have seen anyone spin the tires on
launching, or really have a hard time pulling out.

My main thing is that I bought this used, and I really just don't like the
looks of it. The other advice that the keel can support almost all the
weight helped head me in one direction.

FWIW, I don't like to pull in very deep to launch or recover. So, I have
the taillights on top the gunnell guides. I like to back up until the
motor is in the water, and the rear end floats a bit. What I do next
depends on whether I launch by myself, or another person is in the truck.
When I have an assistant, I disconnect the winch, take the bowline, and
walk along the dock, have them back up until the boat fully floats, and
pull the boat back clear of the trailer.

My problem seems to be on retrieval, as it is hard to estimate how deep to
pull in the trailer so that it isn't floating too freely and I have a hard
time hooking up the bow eye because it is floating too high. I need to
have it so I can come in to something that centers the boat on the keel
rollers, then power the boat up a little. Then hook the winch snap on the
eye, and continue to pull out. (I have seen two boats dropped on ramps
with the strap disconnected from the bow eye, one launching, one
retrieving.)

Hope that this description helps to explain what I'm trying to do.
Currently, the trailer only has two long skids under the rear, a couple of
12"misaligned rollers towards the front that just touch at the end of the
rollers, and the Y that receives the bow keel. Looks narly just looking
at it, and I don't know that much about trailers, other than it doesn't
look too good to me.

I'm a welder, so have no problem cutting out the old and fitting new
rollers or hardware. And I have enough rigging experience to jack the
boat up a little to cut out the old and fit the new so it is a glove fit.
Just not sure what types or how many.

It's a Lund 16' Aluminum with 40 Merc, but it has flooring and console and
bench which adds just a few pounds more than a bare aluminum boat of the
same length.

Steve

The conventional wisdom...
bunks if you store your boat on the trailer for long periods
rollers if you launch and recover a lot