I have a H26 and normally trailer my boat long distances (300 - 500) miles one way. I don't remember this being a problem when I first started trailering, but lately, every time I go out, the bow roller on the trailer seems to get chewed up and the bow of the boat ends up with a hole (indentation) in it. This is a result of the bow roller and the bow rubbing against each other as I'm driving along. I try to snug the boat up tight to the bow roller but that doesn't seem to help. Maybe I shouldn't have the bow tight to the bow roller??? Do any of you have the same problem? Have you found a solution? Jim Schaff s/v Morning Glory
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Replace it.
I replaced the bow roller on my H26 trailer with one that has an angled or cupped shape – fitting the bow properly.
I replaced the bow roller on my H26 trailer with one that has an angled or cupped shape – fitting the bow properly.
Strap it down
Jim, You may already be doing this, but I run a large ratchet strap across the cockpit to the trailer to keep the aft end from bouncing and also put a smaller ratchet strap from the bow eye to the trailer and snug everything down. Jim Covey s/v Wampeter
Jim, You may already be doing this, but I run a large ratchet strap across the cockpit to the trailer to keep the aft end from bouncing and also put a smaller ratchet strap from the bow eye to the trailer and snug everything down. Jim Covey s/v Wampeter
Changed the bow roller
I just finished changing the single bow roller to a double "V" style. Give me a couple of days and I'll place a picture on the photo fourm. As in your case I didn't like the way the bow eye was rubbing the bow roller. Jim S/V Java
I just finished changing the single bow roller to a double "V" style. Give me a couple of days and I'll place a picture on the photo fourm. As in your case I didn't like the way the bow eye was rubbing the bow roller. Jim S/V Java
Thanks For The Solution
Jim Seamans -- Wow! What an elaborate setup you've created there. That bow won't go anyplace except where you put it! I see too, that you use cable on your winch instead of a strap. Jim Covey -- Bingo! Now I know why I never used to have this problem but now I do. At first I used to strap my boat down, then the strap started vibrating in the wind and digging into the gelcoat on a long haul. I since have learned to put a couple of twists in the flat strap to keep it from vibrating (or flopping) so bad. But then I figured, what the heck -- the boat is heavy enough to stay in place on the trailer so I no longer strapped it down across the cockpit, just snugged it up good to the bow roller and added a safety chain from the bow eye to the trailer. When I think back, I probably started having this problem when I stopped strapping the boat down. Now I'm going to get two ratchet straps -- one for across the cockpit and one from the bow eye down to the trailer frame. I'm also going to replace my winch strap with a cable. Thanks guys, for all your help. Jim Schaff s/v Morning Glory
Jim Seamans -- Wow! What an elaborate setup you've created there. That bow won't go anyplace except where you put it! I see too, that you use cable on your winch instead of a strap. Jim Covey -- Bingo! Now I know why I never used to have this problem but now I do. At first I used to strap my boat down, then the strap started vibrating in the wind and digging into the gelcoat on a long haul. I since have learned to put a couple of twists in the flat strap to keep it from vibrating (or flopping) so bad. But then I figured, what the heck -- the boat is heavy enough to stay in place on the trailer so I no longer strapped it down across the cockpit, just snugged it up good to the bow roller and added a safety chain from the bow eye to the trailer. When I think back, I probably started having this problem when I stopped strapping the boat down. Now I'm going to get two ratchet straps -- one for across the cockpit and one from the bow eye down to the trailer frame. I'm also going to replace my winch strap with a cable. Thanks guys, for all your help. Jim Schaff s/v Morning Glory
Can I see the picture?
I saw your exchange about the bow roller, but couldn't see the picture of the solution. Could somebody e-mail it to me? mcr@att.com Thanks.
I saw your exchange about the bow roller, but couldn't see the picture of the solution. Could somebody e-mail it to me? mcr@att.com Thanks.
Jim's Solution and Other Thoughts
Thanks for the pictures, Jim. Good idea, but I've experienced some other problems that needs a little different solution. I thought I'd post my ideas in case others had similar problems. This year we took the boat to Martha's Vineyard for a week over 4th of July (excellent trip). We launched at a very steep public ramp in Falmouth, MA, and had some trouble recovering. With the trailer on such a steep incline, the bow scraped along the central beam of the trailer, right where the extendable tongue sheath is. I had a piece of wood strapped there, but it fell off promptly and gouged a chunk out of the bow as I cranked it up. The winch support is great, but as you crank it in, it can't quite hold the weight of the forward half of the boat until you pull it out. I had to crank a little, move a little, crank a little, etc. I also wound up breaking the strap, and have since replaced with cable. To help on steep ramps, I have added a bow roller to the trailer. It clamped around the central box-beam of the trailer, about 5' back from the winch. This allows the bow to roll on something as I crank the boat up to the bow roller, keeping the bow aligned and undamaged. The reason Jim's solution won't help me is that when you launch on these steep ramps, and start letting the winch out, the bow wants to go vertically down toward the water. Jim's twin v-chocks would not allow it to slide too well, and would also stop the bow a bit higher, making it tougher to float free. Hope that helps.
Thanks for the pictures, Jim. Good idea, but I've experienced some other problems that needs a little different solution. I thought I'd post my ideas in case others had similar problems. This year we took the boat to Martha's Vineyard for a week over 4th of July (excellent trip). We launched at a very steep public ramp in Falmouth, MA, and had some trouble recovering. With the trailer on such a steep incline, the bow scraped along the central beam of the trailer, right where the extendable tongue sheath is. I had a piece of wood strapped there, but it fell off promptly and gouged a chunk out of the bow as I cranked it up. The winch support is great, but as you crank it in, it can't quite hold the weight of the forward half of the boat until you pull it out. I had to crank a little, move a little, crank a little, etc. I also wound up breaking the strap, and have since replaced with cable. To help on steep ramps, I have added a bow roller to the trailer. It clamped around the central box-beam of the trailer, about 5' back from the winch. This allows the bow to roll on something as I crank the boat up to the bow roller, keeping the bow aligned and undamaged. The reason Jim's solution won't help me is that when you launch on these steep ramps, and start letting the winch out, the bow wants to go vertically down toward the water. Jim's twin v-chocks would not allow it to slide too well, and would also stop the bow a bit higher, making it tougher to float free. Hope that helps.
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