Modification to trailer for shoal draft keel

[davidmhull]

Good morning. My 22' Oday is tied up in the Potomac river and as some of you may know there was a very bad storm there this past weekend. I knew pulling the boat was going to be kind of dicey so I made a modification to my trailer that worked out really well and I thought I would share it with whoever may be interested. The problem I have had in loading the boat on the trailer has been hitting the slot in even a moderate breeze or tide. The back of the trailer is waaay underwater and you can't see what you are doing. I added a "chute" to guide the shoal draft keel into the slot and it makes a world of difference. I was even able to power the boat more then half way onto the trailer and then attach the winch cable and I didn't have to wade out to the bow eye. This was kind of an emergency modification and I haven't gotten around to carpeting the chute yet but it worked very well.

 

[flynhi4u]

I did something very similar to our trailer as our keel extends down below the hull and there is a 4" wide slot you have to hit with a 2" wide keel. I extended the outboard bunk boards back to make the V a tighter angle then fit 2x4 guide boards between the inner and out bunk boards on each side. Now if Cindy is a little off the guide boards help line the keel up with slot. Works very well.

Sam in IN

 

[Brian S]

Yup. I've seen it done with PVC pipes, too. My trailer has roller pods and a square frame well aft of where the keel guides are, making attachment points for guides a big more problematic. I have thought about building up the boards taller either side of the keel rollers, but one reason I haven't is that it makes it difficult to get to the keel for painting. Hmmm, I'd better get thinking on easily removable boards, haul out is just a few weeks away...

 

[dscribner]

Nice idea. Simple and effective. Better combination that rootbeer and ice.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

it is called a keel guide. you will find them very handy. One word of caution though, if you go off the end of the ramp or the ramp tends to angle upward to include ground under water, it will be difficult to get the boat on. Very rarely that happens but I have seen it. Kermit can explain at an old ramp he used to launch his H260

 

[davidmhull]

Thanks guys. I don't intend to use this on strange ramps. There are really only two places I launch. One is at Dutch Gap on the James near Richmond and the other is at Lewisetta Marina in the Potomac near Smith point in the Chesapeake bay. I intend to leave her down at Lewisetta until December. The only reason I considered hauling was because of that hurricane that didn't happen. We did have a North Easter with 40 K winds but I didn't haul. I did make the modification for both places however because it has been a crap shoot hitting that slot when the trailer is four feet under water. Yes I have seen folks back off the end of a ramp where there is at least a foot of drop at the end of the concrete. Makes the day very interesting to say the least. Going down Sunday to mount some cam cleats for my jib sheets. I'm really getting tired of uncleating the sheets, hauling them in and recleating with one hand in a stiff breeze. Going to be a nice day for a sail too. Thanks again.

 

[Kermit]

Kermit can explain at an old ramp he used to launch his H260

That ramp defies explanation.

 

[Daveinet]

I did nearly the same thing for my first monohull. It was kind of funny as the guys at Lowes were trying to help me find warped treated lumber. Normally their customers are looking for straight boards. I was able to find two boards with a substantial bend toward the end. Worked great for a nice V entrance. The only problem I had to watch out for was to not back the trailer in too far. I found it very easy to land on top of the V, rather than in between it.

 

[Skipper SSS 76]

David M Hull, is your O'Day a 222? My Sea Scout ship just received one as a donation and I need to pick it up ASAP. However, I have borrowed a trailer for an O'Day 23 which has a slightly greater draft. Theoretically the 222 should fit on the bunks and simply need a bit of a shim or cribbing...does that make sense? The 222 draft is 20" and the 23-2 (non pop-up) is 27". Thanks, gentlemen...

 

[davidmhull]

Hi Skipper. I'm going to let someone else answer this with more knowledge of the 222. Mine is the 22. I will say however that I was overcautious about lifting this boat off the beat up trailer that came with her. They seem to be really strong and don't weigh that much. Lifting with two straps on a gantry did not cause any hull deflection that I could detect. If you can get something full length under the keel, that should take all the weight of the boat. The keel is designed to be able to take the full weight with no other support. The bunkers are just to keep it from tipping over. Yes what you are saying does make sense and some cribbing under the keel should work just fine. I think you could even get away with putting some dock bumpers between the hull and the bunks to keep her from rocking side to side. I would also add a couple of ratchet straps over the boat (one located just aft of the cabin and leading a bit forward on the trailer). I don't use straps on my boat but some people do. I think in your case this would help to stabilize things since it isn't going to be a perfect fit.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

If ever loaning a trailer to someone else, be careful if any modifications are made to the trailer. As for going off the back end ot the ramp because the wash of props have probably created a drop off, carry two 2X6 about 5 foot long and place one end of the board jammed against the tire and on the edge of the ramp and pull out of course with no boat on it. I did this at Ft. Belvoir one time and the marina manager learned a new trick or two. As for launching in DC, what about the marina next to Reagan as I believe you could launch from there and their ramp is a good one. Just remember high/low tide capability.