CONTINUOUSWAVE

Q1: can a trailer with four bunks and no keel rollers be used to transport a 1969 SAKONNET 16?

BACKSTORY
I wish to purchase a new trailer of my 1969 SAKONNET 16. I understand that a SAKONNET 16 needs most of its weight support on its keel. I contacted several trailer dealers, and they indicate that roller trailers are no longer being offered. The dealers indicate that four bunks, with two bunks on port of the keel and two bunk on starboard of keel will be adequate for trailering. I [am] not so sure.

Q2: what trailer dealer can help me find a trailer with keel rollers and bunks?

[Deleted a survey question that sought to discover if ANYONE has ever loaded a SAKONNET 16 on a trailer without keel rollers. Survey questions are not particularly useful because the number of respondents will not be sufficiently large to get an accurate answer--Moderator]

Look for a bunk trailer with keel rollers--not wobble rollers on arms.

The setup on my LOADRITE trailer is shown in Figure 1.



Trailer dealers are like car dealers. You should shop multiple dealers of the same brand, and get their price for the same model.

I believe PHIL T added those keel rollers to the trailer, or persuaded the manufacturer or dealer to add them at the time of purchase.

I had a similar experience: the trailer under my REVENGE 22 W-T Whaler Drive boat was originally an all-bunk trailer. I added four keel rollers in pairs of two at two crossmembers.

In 1969 Boston Whaler was recommending keel roller trailers because there were many floppy-roller trailers on the market. The era of bunk float-on trailer had not yet occurred in 1969.

Thank you Jim, I forgot to mention the keel rollers.

Loadrite does not offer keel rollers as an option, most trailer manufactureres do not either.

I used a local boat dealer to order the trailer. Since they are not familiar with Boston Whalers and did not have experience with keel rollers I purchased the rollers, brackets and hardware myself (http://www.sturdybuiltonline.com). I installed them immediately before I had the boat moved over. I adjusted the bunks/rollers at my local lake ramp at a later time.

I installed twin 12" keel rollers in the stern and twin 10" amidships. I followed the setup Larry (aka Finnegan) has, given his lengthy trailering experience.

For a 16' hull you could go with a single 12" and 10".

Thank you Jim and Phil for your helpful responses and picture! I contacted a Load Rite dealer and am going to order a trailer and add the rollers per your advice. Again many thanks.

Make sure when you contact the LOAD-RITE trailer dealer you specify you want a trailer that uses brackets to attach the cross members to the main frame. I bought a 5-STAR trailer manufactured by LOAD-RITE, and the trailer cross members were welded to the side rails. After less than two years with not much use the welds at the intersection of cross members and side rails started failing.