Seeking input on trailer side guides

maybe this will help some:
http://www.bassmaster.com/tips/niggemey ... ering-tips

I've done everything wrong that you can at the dock and through it all, I got to where I really dont feel rushed or embarrassed at all anymore. between myself, or those I've been boating with I've seen:

  • plugs forgotten
    straps forgotten
    Props left down (drag........)
    trailers miss launches
    bumpers left on for the road home
    30 minute recover sessions for standard ski boats (the poor girl was trying her best as her husband barked orders)
    and currents that made the recovery almost impossible (trailer was too deep and the boat kept listfully floating right over the wheels missing the bunks every time, it was actually funny.


now I'm not going to tell you which of those was me (haha) and which of those I witnessed... but through trial and error and practice I developed a good check list and honestly launching and recovering became a part of the fun. with the aluminum open bows I became quite adept at just driving the boat on, climbing out directly onto the trailer to hook it, and never getting wet. I'm looking forward (kinda) to learning how to do it on a dory, lol.



Sunbeam":k4ki09fu said:
Thanks for your comments, Martin ('specially since your Nomad was "featured" in my first post :)).

bridma":k4ki09fu said:
...I drift on to the trailer during recovery...so there is one inch clearance each side and then tell the admiral driving the truck to "floor it". Seems to work for me.
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One thing I didn't mention is that I'll be launching/retrieving solo much of the time. I wonder if that will make a difference in whether or not I need stouter guides. Seems like it might mean I need to put the boat up onto a "dryer" trailer vs. having it floating as another person in the tow vehicle simultaneously pulls the the trailer out? Whew, this is making me a bit nervous about the launching retrieving. I know there can be a "tough crowd" at the launch ramp (because I've heard what they say about "other" idiots :mrgreen:)
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I have the heavy duty guides on my Pacific Trailer, as shown in the first picture. This is my first boat, so I have nothing to compare them to, but it is super easy to launch and retrieve the boat with these guides. The lumber that is used on each is warped slightly and follows the exact same curve of the boat.

I have no problem climbing in and out of the boat while it is on the trailer.

Good Luck
Tim
C-Pelican
 
trpsurf":j1bdtzea said:
I have the heavy duty guides on my Pacific Trailer, as shown in the first picture. This is my first boat, so I have nothing to compare them to, but it is super easy to launch and retrieve the boat with these guides....

I have no problem climbing in and out of the boat while it is on the trailer.
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Thanks for the input. Although it sounds like there are numerous guide systems that will work, I was hoping to get specific feedback on the Pacific ones as well. If you get a chance would you be able to check on a couple of things?

1) I'm wondering how wide your trailer frame is compared to your boat and the fenders. In other words, I'm thinking maybe something about this ratio is why some of them seem to be way at the outside of the fenders (which looks like it would make getting in and out a pain) and some aren't? I believe I've read that some trailers are more "wide body" than others.

I just measured my trailer, and the frame rails are 75", outside to outside. The fenders project 10" from the rail on each side. So around 8' wide in total.

2) Maybe a photo would be worth 1,000 words, if you have one.

Thanks again,
Sunbeam
 
My boat is in a slip and the trailer is in storage, so it would be hard to measure. Here is a photo that might help. I do know that my trailer is 8' wide. My driveway is 9' wide, which makes parking it ont he side of my house a total pain.

http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_ ... _photo.php

The guide rail sits below one of the chines, so it is kind of tucked under and does not stick out too far. Notice how the rails are mounted under the trailer frame in the image? On the Sea3PO imagine in your original post, there is a different mounting mechanism that raises the height of the guide rail.

I hope that helps
Tim
 
trpsurf":ssd6rfwd said:
The guide rail sits below one of the chines, so it is kind of tucked under and does not stick out too far. Notice how the rails are mounted under the trailer frame in the image? On the Sea3PO imagine in your original post, there is a different mounting mechanism that raises the height of the guide rail.

I hope that helps
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Very helpful, thanks for posting the photo :thup
I think that your guides look like 23" "light duty" Pacific ones though, right? I'm thinking that because of how they angle out, and how they attach to the trailer. Not saying they are too light, but just that that's what Pacific calls them. (It looks like SEA3PO has the "heavy duty" straight guides that plug in to special bases that are then fastened to the frame, also from Pacific). I was thinking the slant of yours might avoid the "hard to hop in and out problem" - sounds like it does and also that you find them plenty sturdy (?)

So just to clarify, these are the two guide systems. (If I've misidentified yours, let me know.)

Pacific "light duty" 23" guides, that fasten with U-bolts and square plates that function as large washers:

st_243.jpg


st_uboltkit_ss.jpg


Pacific "heavy duty" guides that plug into square base mounts. The uprights come in several different lengths. However the bases are all the same size, so the uprights can only be adjusted inwards so far before the two meet each other. The square base mount is then U-bolted to the trailer, vs. the upright being bolted to the trailer as in the "light duty" ones.

st_234.jpg


st_238.jpg



Sunbeam
 
My 2 cents-

The stronger and larger the guide-ons, the more useful and longer lasting they will be.

Getting the boat on and off in heavy cross winds and climbing all over the guide ons to get into the boat when its on the trailer will tax them.

Flimsy ones won't do as good a job, and will break down sooner.

Get the heavy mounts below, and build a set of rails high up and 8 feet or so long.

These can be important, like an anchoring system on the boat itself.

Not something to skimp on.

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
One comment is that earlier in your posts you said you don't want the high guides because you use the fenders to get in and off the boat. Do you have single engine or twins? If a single, do you have a swim step?

We have a single & a swim step. The reason I bring this up is that when we first got the boat we gained access via the fenders and I still use that for a quick entry. However, my wife's legs are shorter than mine and it is very difficult for her to get her legs over the sides. So, any time the boat is parked we have a short step ladder and go from it to the swim step. Then I built a platform/ step or bridge to cross the engine well, and an RV step to the inside of the boat. When trailering around the east coast last summer we spent 38 nights in the boat in campgrounds/ RV parks, rest areas & etc and always used the ladder - swim step - route to gain access. We have done it frequently with both arms full of groceries & gear. The point I making is that the side boards used to be in the way of access and now that we have learned a better access the side boards don't have any relevance to access.

We learned to access via the swim step in lakes without tide where we can drop anchor, back toward shore, kill & raise motor & step ashore with stern line. That bridge I mentioned really comes in handy in that situation, especially when your feet are wet.

Chuck
 
Sea Wolf":tvgzlk2a said:
My 2 cents-

The stronger and larger the guide-ons, the more useful and longer lasting they will be.

Get the heavy mounts below, and build a set of rails high up and 8 feet or so long.

These can be important, like an anchoring system on the boat itself.

Not something to skimp on.

Joe. :teeth :thup
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Hi Joe,

I probably posted too much detail and photos in the initial post, and thus obscured my message. Not trying to skimp at all. In a nutshell:

1) I want sturdy guide-ons that will do the job. If that means buying the "big kahunas," great, bring them on. But I'm not going to spend that kind of money without at least checking in here. Bigger isn't always better, after all. If it were, I'd be using my 33# Bruce on the 22 :wink

2) I would like to retain the ability to easily get on and off the boat via the trailer fenders after installation of the guide-ons, if the two are not mutually exclusive.

3) I wanted to at least ask the opinions of those here who had used them (any of them). Just because... hey, I'm just looking at photos. People here have used them in real life!

4) In this, as in most things, I would prefer to do it right the first time. I'm prepared to spend the money to do it, if it's necessary and/or desirable. I'm just not sure it is. I'm not even sure that the "lesser" guides wouldn't be better - seems folks here have used them successfully and they may allow for better hop-on/hop-off the boat. I'm still keeping an open mind (if one of the folks with the heavy duty ones didn't pop in soon, I was going to PM them to ask their thoughts - because maybe they haven't noticed the thread). They heavy duty ones do look appealing. Edited to add: PM sent.

Two Bears":tvgzlk2a said:
One comment is that earlier in your posts you said you don't want the high guides because you use the fenders to get in and off the boat. Do you have single engine or twins? If a single, do you have a swim step?
Click to expand...

I have two engines, but since they are "fraternal twins" :wink I also have a swim step to port. I considered using it, but I think I really prefer the fenders, at least so far. The high grab handle on the back of the cabin, makes it so easy/secure to hop on and off. I also don't need to deploy a stool then (to get up to the platform). ( I don't have any problem getting over the gunwale though).

I have used a swim step when stern to a beach - there it does work really well.

I do appreciate you replying with your thoughts. I will keep it in mind if there is no side-guide/fender match up that allows me to go that way.

Sunbeam
 
Having been an owner of C Pelican back a few years ago, I was of the impression that these guides came with the trailer and have been there almost 20 years--with lots of use--so I would say that they are more than adequate for a 22...
 
Thanks for that info. Given that it's a Pacific trailer, it would stand to reason that they are the "light duty" guides on the Pacific Trailer parts page. Good to know they are up to the task long term (since they have obviously been on the boat and in use for a relatively long time).

Sunbeam
 
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