Loading Problems..

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Dragonfly

New member
Hello All :D ,
Larry and I had a wee problem (again) loading our boat. We have a Magic Tilt Trailer . It doesn't always load straight(looks straight while loading ) so we go to pull it out and twice now it's gotten onto the fender ! So both fenders now have dents in them ! :roll: We were wondering if anyone else has had this problem. Donna told me they have had that problem as well. I didn't think to ask what kinda trailer they have. If you did have that problem HOW DID YOU FIX IT ?! We are thinking of adding more bunks..? It doesn't happen all the time just sometimes.. weird eh ? Any help would be great as always thanks ! :D
 
Tracy, do you guys have "guides" on the sides? I have the same problem, although my fenders are plastic, so they give a bit and don't harm the hull.
I'm going to make some guides for ours, but the contour of the hull has the boat wider up in the cabin area, so I'm not sure how well the guides will keep the boat centered on the trailer, but they should at least keep the hull away from the fenders.
I'm also thinking about adding 2 bunks, in the center, with just enough room for the keel rib to fit between them (+ a couple of inches) but I have no idea if that will help or not.
 
Dragonfly,
Most folks have sideboards on their trailers which effectively keeps the boat off of the fenders. Browse through some of the photo albums on the site and you'll see pix of vessels on trailers and their sideboards. These also help tremendously in loading where there is a cross current or wave action.

(Hope this helps).
 
I can see how the guide posts would allow the boat to contact the fenders, they have to be wide enough the let the max beam area pass thru. Sounds like "guide bunks" would cure the problem
 
Some stray thoughts from having had difficulties with our trailer immediately after its acquisition. I've looked at your trailer both in photos and then again, quite closeley at the Chesapeake gathering.

The suggestion of "guide on bunks" is great and I'd do in if I was in your shoes if there is enough clearance to install them. However, I don't know how effectively they would cope with a problem we have had, a boat ramp which has one side a couple of inches higher than the other. And I don't know if they would be equally effective on steeply sloped and gradually sloped ramps.

Another (possibly not-applicable) thought is risers for the bunks to get the widest part of the boat above the fenders. This means losing what I thought was the nicest feature of your trailer, how low it is. My aluminum Load-Rite roller trailer is higher than yours making retrieval, in some ways more cumbersome, although the rollers make up for that in some ways.

You might also check with your C-Dory dealer. They may have some experience relative to the way your boat and trailer relate to one another and their opinion could be quite useful. You might also want to reflect back to them what the trailer guy recommends after he assesses the situation and before you commit to a fix.

Bill
Edgewater, MD
 
Dragonfly,
Cathy & I have the same trailer and had the same problems. The side guides were the fix for us. I launch and retrieve alone and I'm glad they're there when pulling the boat on the trailer with bow lines. Marc, at Wefings also advised me to not put too much trailer in the water. Keep at least the front half to one third of the fenders out. I always wet all the bunks and then pull up.
No more crushed fenders :wink:
 
Besides the side bunks, a couple 25 owners have put additional "guides" near the back of the trailer (see Hank's Sea Skipper photos and I think Dora Jean has aft guides) to keep the boat centered. That's on my list of "one of these days" tasks. In the meantime, the side bunks do a pretty decent job with our King trailer with bunks (and plastic fenders).

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Yes, I had to add additional 'stiffer' supports to the rear of the side bunks in order to ensure the boat settles precisely between the fenders (1/2" clearance each side). With a bit of side wind though, you have to pull out very slowly to let it settle down at the stern. I believe B~C had a better idea to make them vertical, thus helping guide the stern better into position. There are many other solutions from others as well.

For mine, see under Forums/Trailers and Towing/Photos, starts with this one

PICT0029.sized.jpg
 
Guide bunks is the answer! I put guide bunks on our trailer for the 25 C-Dory . I also bought another set but cut the 2x4 into and put them in front so that they fit the v-shape hull in order to guide the boat into the front center stop on the trailer..All bunks are snug and i have no trouble loading the 25 C-dory ..It guides itself onto the trailer>>>Keep your life jacket on ! tucker
 
snal":10stihgk said:
I'm also thinking about adding 2 bunks, in the center, with just enough room for the keel rib to fit between them (+ a couple of inches) but I have no idea if that will help or not.
Click to expand...

I had the same trouble on my King bunk trailer. in fact I bent one set of side guides just winching the boat on.
I did what Snal is suggesting and put the two center bunks closer together so they guide the center rib and I havn't had any more trouble.
 
My trailer set-up isn't real pretty but the boat hits the front trailer stop dead on and it settles in exactly the same place on the trailer each time.
I had the side bunks custom made on the trailer with the boat on it so it fits tight. Including material and labor $700 for the bunks. Worth every nickle.
Take a look at my album and the new Roadrunner trailer picture.
We beach launch/load in fairly rough water with wind and tides and my trailer works perfectly if it isn't put in too deep in the water.
I hoe this helps and good luck.
 
Heres something I did to get the boat exactly centered. I took two
pieces of foam about 3" by 15" and perhaps 1.5" thick and wired them
on the bunk boards with copper house wire (or anything including duct tape)
After the boat is on the trailer and centered I take the foam off and now
the boat is in the center of the trailer and not rubbing the paint off on
one side. I tried several things first but this worked the best and has
give in it. If not tied in they will float away. Simple, easy and cheap.
Bob Heselberg Eatonville Wa
 
We deal with this problem alot, but it almost always is because the trailer is too far in the water . Human nature makes us assume you have to submerge the trailer till it disappears [ bigger hammer theory]or, deeper is better theory. If you have 1/2 the fender showing above water you will find that loading the boat is much easier . If the ramp is steep one person powers the boat while the other winches . If the boat is floating above the trailer [which it will if your trailer is too deep] , when you pull the trailer out it [the boat] will come down wherever it wants too . If it is already resting on the trailer [ trailer not too deep] it will stay centered where you want it.
Hope this helps
Marc
 
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