I had rollers and I hated them....
Plus, in 2 years I've lost three of the roller wheels (all replaced) and one of the metal arms broke off.
The result is 3 places where there are gouges in the gel coat that I'll need to repair.
It was winter and below 32, so I didn't want to launch my boat into the water... in case the ramp was icy, that wouldn't be good!
... plus, I'm half done with adding brakes to my trailer... so I really don't want to pull it anywhere until the brakes are done!
Here's what I did instead.
I went to a tire place and got some old steel rims, and several old tires. I tied off the back of the boat to a huge RV parked behind me, (Old, ratty... hasn't moved in over a decade) and gently lowered the boat onto my goods.
(Trailer w/ rollers still on. Wood is just laying there... Note the Mag wheels! I added those @ $103 a rim... I'm hoping to clean everything up when I'm done).
Found it through a listing on craig's list. The seller does wood work in his walk-out basement, and I guess he was willing to liquidate some of the massive amounts of lumber he had collected over the years.
Used an angle grinder to cut off all of the rollers and related hardware.
Left on the angle brackets that attach to the cross members... They will work perfectly to hold secure the wood.
Here's a test-fit of the wood... after the cut off all of the rollers and related parts that I didn't want.
An angle grinder is your friend!
In photo I put bolts through the wood and brackets at the rear cross member.
The front cross members are free to move, but I shimmed them 3" higher using pieces of metal that I got when I cut all the roller stuff off.
It was 25 degrees outside and snowing... I guess you could say I had gotten cabin fever!
Here I am loading the boat onto the bunks for a test fit.
I put on a electric winch last year ($100 off craig's list... 20+ years old, but NEVER used... still in a the original box... but the box was in sorry shape).
I used a "snatch block" that came with the winch. It's a hook and pulley. Connected the hook to the boat, and ran the steel cable from the winch, through the pulley, and anchored back on the trailer near the winch.
The result is that the boat moves forward at 1/2 the speed, but the winch can apply twice the force.
Steady as she goes... It went on, but I nicked up some of the gel coat at the very tip of the bow. The boards started to push apart some... I had to use some 4x4's to keep them from separating any more, and the bow-eye started to pull out some... I guess I compressed the fiberglass or whatever is backing it.
So, I've got some additional work that needs doin'. I think I'll pay someone to fix that part, when I'm done with the other work.
Note the tower... It's from Atlantic towers! I put it on. It was another craig's list find... about 10 yrs old... brand new, never installed, but a 2 hr drive away. I got about a 1/3 discount compared to buying brand new from Atlantic towers at today's prices. I love the tower! It's MUCH, MUCH better than than the $200 thinner tower that I tried.
What's next?
I got a raymarine 24" color HD Radar. I have a raymarine 7" MFD, and just bought a 2nd one used from ebay.
AND... I have at least 3 more "surprises"... but I'll wait until I have photos to share them.
More to come... I'll work on it some more Saturday morning and then on Sunday.
-Philip