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Author Topic:   Rigging Trailer for Montauk

weekendwarrior posted 12-10-2002 07:02 PM ET (US)
I've got a '96 17' montauk and I have a trailer question. On my current trailer 100% of the boat weight is not on the bunks. There are 3 rollers on the trailer, the back and center rollers do not touch the hull but the bunks only go as far forward as the back of the console which leaves some weight on the front roller. I've been told that 100% of the boat weight should be on the bunks. Is it bad for the hull to have the front part of the V resting on a roller?

Tom W Clark posted 12-10-2002 07:06 PM ET (US)
Actually you have it backwards. The weight should be on the keel roller with the bunks just holding the boat in place. But you should probably have more than three rollers along the keel. What kind of trailer?
lhg posted 12-10-2002 07:07 PM ET (US)
Your informant has it 100% backwards! All the weight should be on the rollers, with the bunks only keeping the boat from rocking side to side. this will provide the proper keel support to the hull, and facitlitate launching and retrival. See the trailer reference articles on this site.
triblet posted 12-10-2002 07:46 PM ET (US)
lhg, you are wrong. What's important is to
avoid rollers off the keel and, if you have
keel rollers, to have enough that the weight
is distributed.
There are a lot of us here with 16' 7" hulls on
all bunk trailers, and not one has reported
a problem because of this. And the manual
for my '96ish Montauk says all bunk is OK.
I've actually considered converting to a
setup like weekend warrior has, with the
rollers guiding the boat in (along with the
easy guiders), but not really supporting it
once its all the way in.
The key question is how much weight is on
that one roller. If just a little, no
problem. If a lot, it will be bad for the
boat.
Chuck
keltonkrew posted 12-10-2002 08:02 PM ET (US)
Everything I have read about Boston Whalers (granted I'm new at this), the majority of the weight should be on the keel rollers with the bunk supporting minimal weight (mainly to keep the boat from rocking side to side).
My trailer is set up this way. Approx 75% weight on keel rollers, 25% on bunks. Launches and loads easily, rides great, etc.
lhg posted 12-10-2002 08:24 PM ET (US)
I swear that Tom Clark and I were not on the phone while we were similtaneously typing our posts!
To explain, my reasoning was that this sounds like a trailer set up to be a keel roller trailer, with side balancing bunks. So the roller support seems reasonable. I realize that many here use all bunk trailers, as recommended for the new generations of Whalers.
Barry posted 12-10-2002 08:43 PM ET (US)
Here is a link to Boston Whaler's Maintenance Topics/General FAQ page.
http://www.whaler.com/Rec/maintenancefaqs.shtm
Scroll down and look for the "What kind of trailer should I use for my boat?" question.
lhg posted 12-10-2002 09:17 PM ET (US)
Wow, thanks Barry. It looks like they've now come around full circle, and are now back peddling on the float-on bunk trailers as as less desireable option. I wonder what prompted this change. Maybe warranty claims?
Tom W Clark posted 12-10-2002 09:49 PM ET (US)
Whoa! people. I sometimes think we like to take divergent subjects and force together to draw irrational conclusions.
Is there only one right way to do something? Why are we always drawn to black and white distinctions? Could it be that both Larry and Chuck have valid points?
For the record here is part of what Whaler has to say about trailers:
Whaler recommends a straight frame trailer with center keel rollers and padded bunks for lateral stability. The trailer should be adjusted so that the entire weight of the boat rests on the keel rollers.
This is their long time suggestion about trailers. Note that it has [n]never[/b] been a requirement for the purpose of sustaining the hull warranty.
Whaler also says:
Float-on trailers are of the all-bunk style. These are suitable for use as long as the bunks conform to the shape of the hull, give support near the center keel, and provide good fore and aft support to spread the total weight.
This is not news. As Chuck notes above, they have held this position at least as far back as 1996 if not even earlier. Warranty issues have nothing to do with it. It is simply recognition that the Whaler hull is very strong and as long as it is well supported, a trailer will not damage it.
It may also be a business decision having a lot to do with selling less expensive trailers.
I have used both keel roller and bunk trailers and all-roller trailers under my Whalers. Though all-roller trailers are not recommended, they do work and work well, especially if much of the hull’s weight is, in fact, borne by keel rollers in the cradles, as they are on Calkins (Carnai) trailers.
weekendwarrior,
The reason I ask what brand of trailer you have is because if it is a keel roller trailer then you DO NOT want the weight on the two outside bunks. If, on the other hand, your trailer has four bunks and they all support the hull equally, then you have no worries (apart from getting the boat on and off of it.)
weekendwarrior posted 12-11-2002 08:38 AM ET (US)
Thanks for all the information, and for the excellent link! I do have a keel roller trailer (Performance brand, old trailer), 3 rollers total plus 2 side bunks. Currently most of the weight is on the bunks and the boat only touches the front roller when it's fully on. Looks like I need to make some adjustements. :( I never would have thought they wanted the entire weight of the hull on 3 tiny points, but they would know better than anyone. The bunks are padded 2x4's and they look like they flex pretty good to match the hull so hopefully I didn't kill anything yet.
I can adjust easy enough, but I'm going to start a new topic about how to keep the boat ON the rollers when winching it up. Look for the new topic. :)
Thanks everyone!
jimh posted 12-11-2002 09:10 AM ET (US)
The set up of a trailer for a Boston Whaler has been discussed over and over in the FORUM. There is a lengthy, five-part article on trailering which provides many suggestions that are in compliance with the factory recommendation of using a keel roller trailer with lateral bunks.
See continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/trailering/
If you think we've left something out of that article, please let me know and I can add additional information.
lhg posted 12-11-2002 03:46 PM ET (US)
One more little point. I like the idea of using TWO rollers on each side of a cross memeber. It costs a little extra, but really adds additional weight distribution points under the hull, making the rollers deform less and roll easier. Even for a Montauk I would do this.
jimh posted 12-11-2002 07:17 PM ET (US)
Changed TOPIC; was "How should it sit on the trailer (17' Montauk)".--jimh

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Author	Topic: Rigging Trailer for Montauk
weekendwarrior	posted 12-10-2002 07:02 PM ET (US) I've got a '96 17' montauk and I have a trailer question. On my current trailer 100% of the boat weight is not on the bunks. There are 3 rollers on the trailer, the back and center rollers do not touch the hull but the bunks only go as far forward as the back of the console which leaves some weight on the front roller. I've been told that 100% of the boat weight should be on the bunks. Is it bad for the hull to have the front part of the V resting on a roller?
Tom W Clark	posted 12-10-2002 07:06 PM ET (US) Actually you have it backwards. The weight should be on the keel roller with the bunks just holding the boat in place. But you should probably have more than three rollers along the keel. What kind of trailer?
lhg	posted 12-10-2002 07:07 PM ET (US) Your informant has it 100% backwards! All the weight should be on the rollers, with the bunks only keeping the boat from rocking side to side. this will provide the proper keel support to the hull, and facitlitate launching and retrival. See the trailer reference articles on this site.
triblet	posted 12-10-2002 07:46 PM ET (US) lhg, you are wrong. What's important is to avoid rollers off the keel and, if you have keel rollers, to have enough that the weight is distributed. There are a lot of us here with 16' 7" hulls on all bunk trailers, and not one has reported a problem because of this. And the manual for my '96ish Montauk says all bunk is OK. I've actually considered converting to a setup like weekend warrior has, with the rollers guiding the boat in (along with the easy guiders), but not really supporting it once its all the way in. The key question is how much weight is on that one roller. If just a little, no problem. If a lot, it will be bad for the boat. Chuck
keltonkrew	posted 12-10-2002 08:02 PM ET (US) Everything I have read about Boston Whalers (granted I'm new at this), the majority of the weight should be on the keel rollers with the bunk supporting minimal weight (mainly to keep the boat from rocking side to side). My trailer is set up this way. Approx 75% weight on keel rollers, 25% on bunks. Launches and loads easily, rides great, etc.
lhg	posted 12-10-2002 08:24 PM ET (US) I swear that Tom Clark and I were not on the phone while we were similtaneously typing our posts! To explain, my reasoning was that this sounds like a trailer set up to be a keel roller trailer, with side balancing bunks. So the roller support seems reasonable. I realize that many here use all bunk trailers, as recommended for the new generations of Whalers.
Barry	posted 12-10-2002 08:43 PM ET (US) Here is a link to Boston Whaler's Maintenance Topics/General FAQ page. http://www.whaler.com/Rec/maintenancefaqs.shtm Scroll down and look for the "What kind of trailer should I use for my boat?" question.
lhg	posted 12-10-2002 09:17 PM ET (US) Wow, thanks Barry. It looks like they've now come around full circle, and are now back peddling on the float-on bunk trailers as as less desireable option. I wonder what prompted this change. Maybe warranty claims?
Tom W Clark	posted 12-10-2002 09:49 PM ET (US) Whoa! people. I sometimes think we like to take divergent subjects and force together to draw irrational conclusions. Is there only one right way to do something? Why are we always drawn to black and white distinctions? Could it be that both Larry and Chuck have valid points? For the record here is part of what Whaler has to say about trailers: Whaler recommends a straight frame trailer with center keel rollers and padded bunks for lateral stability. The trailer should be adjusted so that the entire weight of the boat rests on the keel rollers. This is their long time suggestion about trailers. Note that it has [n]never[/b] been a requirement for the purpose of sustaining the hull warranty. Whaler also says: Float-on trailers are of the all-bunk style. These are suitable for use as long as the bunks conform to the shape of the hull, give support near the center keel, and provide good fore and aft support to spread the total weight. This is not news. As Chuck notes above, they have held this position at least as far back as 1996 if not even earlier. Warranty issues have nothing to do with it. It is simply recognition that the Whaler hull is very strong and as long as it is well supported, a trailer will not damage it. It may also be a business decision having a lot to do with selling less expensive trailers. I have used both keel roller and bunk trailers and all-roller trailers under my Whalers. Though all-roller trailers are not recommended, they do work and work well, especially if much of the hull’s weight is, in fact, borne by keel rollers in the cradles, as they are on Calkins (Carnai) trailers. weekendwarrior, The reason I ask what brand of trailer you have is because if it is a keel roller trailer then you DO NOT want the weight on the two outside bunks. If, on the other hand, your trailer has four bunks and they all support the hull equally, then you have no worries (apart from getting the boat on and off of it.)
weekendwarrior	posted 12-11-2002 08:38 AM ET (US) Thanks for all the information, and for the excellent link! I do have a keel roller trailer (Performance brand, old trailer), 3 rollers total plus 2 side bunks. Currently most of the weight is on the bunks and the boat only touches the front roller when it's fully on. Looks like I need to make some adjustements. :( I never would have thought they wanted the entire weight of the hull on 3 tiny points, but they would know better than anyone. The bunks are padded 2x4's and they look like they flex pretty good to match the hull so hopefully I didn't kill anything yet. I can adjust easy enough, but I'm going to start a new topic about how to keep the boat ON the rollers when winching it up. Look for the new topic. :) Thanks everyone!
jimh	posted 12-11-2002 09:10 AM ET (US) The set up of a trailer for a Boston Whaler has been discussed over and over in the FORUM. There is a lengthy, five-part article on trailering which provides many suggestions that are in compliance with the factory recommendation of using a keel roller trailer with lateral bunks. See continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/trailering/ If you think we've left something out of that article, please let me know and I can add additional information.
lhg	posted 12-11-2002 03:46 PM ET (US) One more little point. I like the idea of using TWO rollers on each side of a cross memeber. It costs a little extra, but really adds additional weight distribution points under the hull, making the rollers deform less and roll easier. Even for a Montauk I would do this.
jimh	posted 12-11-2002 07:17 PM ET (US) Changed TOPIC; was "How should it sit on the trailer (17' Montauk)".--jimh