Guides for bunk trailer

Where the guide poles really help is a windy day. They're sort of like goal posts - go slow and get "somewhere in the middle", and it "catches" you.

Yes, you can add the bunks while the boat is still on the trailer. Snug them up tight to the hull. Then, when the boat is off, slide them in an inch or so and you should be good. But, you need to check that there is a suitable mounting spot for them and that the mounting spot can handle sharing the load of the boat. This doesn't work out on all trailers.
 
As soon as the bow of the boat hits the front target bunks it straightens up and the back end doesn't drift out of place at all. The front target bunks do all the alignment for you. I do have the guide poles but they do very little when actually loading the boat. I've loaded and unloaded the boat many times solo and never have an issue.
Sounds like your setup loads as easy as mine. Sure the stern swings sometimes, but only until the boat bottom contacts the side bunks. In the meantime the forward motion lines it right back up as more boat is making contact with the trailer. The trailer would have to be really deep for the keel to actually swing over the fenders.
trailer.JPG
 
Sounds like your setup loads as easy as mine. Sure the stern swings sometimes, but only until the boat bottom contacts the side bunks. In the meantime the forward motion lines it right back up as more boat is making contact with the trailer. The trailer would have to be really deep for the keel to actually swing over the fenders.
View attachment 49013

Nice photo. I do not have the keel bunk that far back to catch and hold like this pic does.

MM
 
For those with the guide poles, how much space is between the guide pole and the boat when it's on the trailer out of the water?
 
Mine are only about 1" clearance to the rub rail. Boat is already 8'6" wide, if the stick out very far you are over width. They flex a bit when you bump them loading. Never worried about breaking one, they are just 5' sticks of 2" PVS from the hardware store, so they are cheap.
 
For those with the guide poles, how much space is between the guide pole and the boat when it's on the trailer out of the water?

I set the guide poles to be tight against the rub rail....they are somewhat flexible so they will bend some...that helped center the boat over the bunks when retrieving the boat out of the water.....

cliff
 
Mine are only about 1" clearance to the rub rail. Boat is already 8'6" wide, if the stick out very far you are over width. They flex a bit when you bump them loading. Never worried about breaking one, they are just 5' sticks of 2" PVS from the hardware store, so they are cheap.

Perfect, thanks! I wasn't planning on using them and told the trailer manufacturer to leave them off - even gave me a discount for not getting them. Had my trailer delivered and they were strapped to it, so I installed them this weekend. We'll have to see if I like them, first trailer with them and this is the 4th boat I've trailered.
 
For those with the guide poles, how much space is between the guide pole and the boat when it's on the trailer out of the water?

I set the guide poles to be tight against the rub rail....they are somewhat flexible so they will bend some...that helped center the boat over the bunks when retrieving the boat out of the water.....

cliff

Mine are similar to Cliff's. Mine will flex 6-8 inches at the rub rail height.

MM
 
Mine are only about 1" clearance to the rub rail. Boat is already 8'6" wide, if the stick out very far you are over width. They flex a bit when you bump them loading. Never worried about breaking one, they are just 5' sticks of 2" PVS from the hardware store, so they are cheap.

Funny - after 5 years without guides, I put mine on last weekend. They came with the trailer but I never installed them. Now I am thinking of taking them off for the reason you stated. My beam is 8'6" and my trailer is 96 wide. Two aluminum poles come out the side of the trailer and the PVC tube slides over the poles. I am now more than 8' 6" wide with the poles and they extend out wider than the wheel wells on the trailer - I don't like it much....
 
Meaning, just learning your rig a little better will be all that's needed - and that's a "zero-cost" mod. Make sure the trailer is setup properly for the hull, and you really should be good to go. Not that you can't add more "stuff", but from experience, I really think you should be fine with it the way it is.
My excuse for having the guides on the trailer is that I back the trailer down, my wife drives the boat onto the trailer. Usually. Nuff said. :smt043
 
My excuse for having the guides on the trailer is that I back the trailer down, my wife drives the boat onto the trailer. Usually. Nuff said. :smt043

It's the "usually" part of your statement that brings back my own memories and gave me a chuckle! :smt001

I have to give my wife credit, though. When we met, she was brand new to boating and I was doing the truck side and the boat side. She slowly got her feet wet in the sport and eventually elected to do the boat side of launching/retrieving, leaving the truck side for me. I gotta admit - even with our 260DA, we are usually one of the fastest loaders (unloading is a no-brainer) at the ramp. But, there have been some windy days were the guide poles would have taken a little of the stress away.
 

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