Just sailed my H23 for the first time. Had a wonderful sail, however had quite the experience trying to retrailer the boat. Actually failed to do so successfully and bent the left side keel guide on the trailer.I had the wing keel sitting on the keel guides as I exited the water the boat nearly toppled into the water as one side of the trailer keel guide failed. I have launched power boats previosly without fail, however the wing keel is much more tricky. Luckily the boat is OK and is in a guest slip until the trailer gets fixed. Is there any trick to getting the wing keel under the guide. Should the trailer be modified? I believe it is the original trailer which came with a 1990 H23. Should one just partially submerge the trailer and engage the bow and the wing keel. And then, back the trailer in further and winch the boat onto the trailer. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, since I was unable to do this correctly on my first attempt. Thanks ALex H23
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Rick G.
Keel Guides and Wing Keels
I've seen this happen so many times. The key is not to back the trailer in to far. Also, when you get the trailer repaired have them adjust the keel guides. When the boat is on the trailer the back end of the keel guides should be just below the the hull. Ideally, the guides would be level when the trailer is on the ramp not when the trailer is on level ground.
I've seen this happen so many times. The key is not to back the trailer in to far. Also, when you get the trailer repaired have them adjust the keel guides. When the boat is on the trailer the back end of the keel guides should be just below the the hull. Ideally, the guides would be level when the trailer is on the ramp not when the trailer is on level ground.
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John
no keel guide
Actually, I would get rid of the keel guides. For many years I had a very difficult time getting the my 87 h23 on the trailer. About 1 year ago, I bought a new trailer that was set up without keel guides. Instead, the trailer shop installed two aluminum guides that align the hull above the water line. Man, what an improvement!! Get rid of the keel guides. They are just too much of a problem!
Actually, I would get rid of the keel guides. For many years I had a very difficult time getting the my 87 h23 on the trailer. About 1 year ago, I bought a new trailer that was set up without keel guides. Instead, the trailer shop installed two aluminum guides that align the hull above the water line. Man, what an improvement!! Get rid of the keel guides. They are just too much of a problem!
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Alex
LATERAL POSTS INSTEAD OF KEEL GUIDE
Do the keel guides support the boat at all? Now that the boat is in the water I don't remember if they do or not. Is the boat as stable trailering without the guides.I assume the lateral supports and the base below the keel support most of the wiegth of the boat. Getting rid of the guides sounds like a great idea. Have you had any problems without the guides? Has anyone else removed thier keel guides on the trailer? I have a set off lateral posts which centered the keel onto top of the guides when they failed.
Do the keel guides support the boat at all? Now that the boat is in the water I don't remember if they do or not. Is the boat as stable trailering without the guides.I assume the lateral supports and the base below the keel support most of the wiegth of the boat. Getting rid of the guides sounds like a great idea. Have you had any problems without the guides? Has anyone else removed thier keel guides on the trailer? I have a set off lateral posts which centered the keel onto top of the guides when they failed.
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Kevin Keen
Alex: what is your make of trailer?
Alex: What is your make of trailer? Do you really mean keel guides or bunks? - Kevin.
Alex: What is your make of trailer? Do you really mean keel guides or bunks? - Kevin.
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mike
keel guides?
I'm with the last poster. I think you must be talking about the bunks that support the hull. The stock trailer doesn't come with "keel guides" to my knowledge, only a plywood base on which the keel rests. Many people, myself included, have installed guides from the rear uprights to the front center to guide the keel in, but I've never had a problem with the keel resting on top of them. I also use lateral upright "trailer guides" on the outside edges of the trailer to help me find the center.
I'm with the last poster. I think you must be talking about the bunks that support the hull. The stock trailer doesn't come with "keel guides" to my knowledge, only a plywood base on which the keel rests. Many people, myself included, have installed guides from the rear uprights to the front center to guide the keel in, but I've never had a problem with the keel resting on top of them. I also use lateral upright "trailer guides" on the outside edges of the trailer to help me find the center.
keel guides
I am confused , certainly it would not seem possible to have the keel on the bunks ? it is late and I need sleep but I can not picture that, he must have some sort of keel guides, I know several people how have these and like them and am going to install some one day , actually the last few years it seems like the boat goes back on lots easier than it used to , everyone have a great weekend, Mike if all goes well I should see you at the lake soon, ran into a small problem so I am running late , take care Mike
I am confused , certainly it would not seem possible to have the keel on the bunks ? it is late and I need sleep but I can not picture that, he must have some sort of keel guides, I know several people how have these and like them and am going to install some one day , actually the last few years it seems like the boat goes back on lots easier than it used to , everyone have a great weekend, Mike if all goes well I should see you at the lake soon, ran into a small problem so I am running late , take care Mike
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alex
keel guides
Boat was not sitting on lateral bunks. Trailer has a pair of keel guides which guide keel into trailer. The gap between them is wider than the fin portion of the keel but narrower than the wing section of the keel. The ramp in santa barbara is fairly steep. The boat was centered by the lateral guides above the waterline. Did not realize that the wing had not engaged below the keel guides. As I pulled out of the water the boat listed to port. Backed the boat back into the water and when I pulled the trailer out from under the boat the port keel guide failed under the weigth of the boat. Had the keel guides removed yesterday. Hope I'll be able to trailer the boat now with out them. Lateral bunks and flat platform at axel level were not damaged during my first re-trailering experience. Boat is in a guest slip for sevearl days. Feeling mildly anxious about getting the boat on the trailer next week. Any insight would really be appreciated. Do many of you NOT have keel guides? Thanks Alex
Boat was not sitting on lateral bunks. Trailer has a pair of keel guides which guide keel into trailer. The gap between them is wider than the fin portion of the keel but narrower than the wing section of the keel. The ramp in santa barbara is fairly steep. The boat was centered by the lateral guides above the waterline. Did not realize that the wing had not engaged below the keel guides. As I pulled out of the water the boat listed to port. Backed the boat back into the water and when I pulled the trailer out from under the boat the port keel guide failed under the weigth of the boat. Had the keel guides removed yesterday. Hope I'll be able to trailer the boat now with out them. Lateral bunks and flat platform at axel level were not damaged during my first re-trailering experience. Boat is in a guest slip for sevearl days. Feeling mildly anxious about getting the boat on the trailer next week. Any insight would really be appreciated. Do many of you NOT have keel guides? Thanks Alex
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John
guide posts only
Alex, I do not have keel guides. My trailer is set up with 2 boat guide posts - one on each side at the aft end of the trailer. They are available at most trailer or boating store. West Marine part number is 27640 and they list for $89.99. I can tell you that these babies are will give you joy in trailering your boat. Go on west marine's web site, to trailer, to boat guide post for a picture. They have 2 sizes. I would suggest the taller one. Good luck.
Alex, I do not have keel guides. My trailer is set up with 2 boat guide posts - one on each side at the aft end of the trailer. They are available at most trailer or boating store. West Marine part number is 27640 and they list for $89.99. I can tell you that these babies are will give you joy in trailering your boat. Go on west marine's web site, to trailer, to boat guide post for a picture. They have 2 sizes. I would suggest the taller one. Good luck.
No keel guides here
I have a MagicTilt trailer which has just a narrow 2x6 timber down the middle to support the keel. I built some guides once to help center the keel on the trailer but they didn't work, because the trailer was too deep in the water. The wings were too high and jammed under the guide before the bow was all the way on. When I tried to force the boat the rest of the way on, I ripped off one of the guides. OK, I'll admit the guides I made were pretty flimsy. They were just a couple of 10-foot long 2x4's bolted to the aft bunk posts and the central 2x6 to form a V, which was supposed to guide the keel in. After that embarrasing fiasco (don't you hate having problems on the ramp with a bunch of impatient powerboaters watching?) I developed a slightly different method for getting the H23 onto the trailer. It works, the boat is centered every time, very little effort is required and you don't even get your feet wet. I posted it in the forum and it's now in the Archives. The link is below. In case the link doesn't work, search the Forum Archives under "H23 trailer getting on trailer". Check the box to search "Message" and click the button to "match all words". Good luck. Peter H23 "Raven"
I have a MagicTilt trailer which has just a narrow 2x6 timber down the middle to support the keel. I built some guides once to help center the keel on the trailer but they didn't work, because the trailer was too deep in the water. The wings were too high and jammed under the guide before the bow was all the way on. When I tried to force the boat the rest of the way on, I ripped off one of the guides. OK, I'll admit the guides I made were pretty flimsy. They were just a couple of 10-foot long 2x4's bolted to the aft bunk posts and the central 2x6 to form a V, which was supposed to guide the keel in. After that embarrasing fiasco (don't you hate having problems on the ramp with a bunch of impatient powerboaters watching?) I developed a slightly different method for getting the H23 onto the trailer. It works, the boat is centered every time, very little effort is required and you don't even get your feet wet. I posted it in the forum and it's now in the Archives. The link is below. In case the link doesn't work, search the Forum Archives under "H23 trailer getting on trailer". Check the box to search "Message" and click the button to "match all words". Good luck. Peter H23 "Raven"
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