Boat Keel Is Cutting Keel Roller When Launching Boat

Updated 08/21/2019 | Published 08/20/2019

Products Featured in This Question

Dutton-Lainson Boat Trailer Deluxe Roller Bunk - 5' Long Sections - 12 Sets of 3 Rollers

(407)

$285.33

CE Smith Keel Roller for Boat Trailers - PVC - 5" Long - 5/8" Shaft - Amber

(427)

$11.57

Question:

I’m trying to improve the way my trailer is setup. I bought the setup used. The boat is a 2007 Lowe L1648M and trailer is 2007 Carnai TFS 16-1000. I’m on my second forward keel roller since it keeps getting beat up as the keel digs into it. The rubber keel roller would get an indentation where the keel sits, which ultimately prevents it from rolling, so the keel just continues to ‘slice’ its way through the roller. Also, when I launch the boat I always have to physically push the boat off since it’s dragging on the roller indentation. Would a PVC roller run into the same problems? Is there a completely different setup I should do altogether that would work with my trailer? Aside from the roller, is the bunk setup appropriate for this boat? There are times when the boat rear is slightly off to one side or the other because the bunks don’t hug the bottom strakes. It’s frustrating. I want to have it load consistently every time. Thanks in advance for your support.

asked by: Tyler R

Expert Reply:

It does look like the weight of the boat may be too much for the keel rollers that you are using from the photo which is why the keel is digging into the roller. You could replace the rubber keel rollers with plastic like CE Smith Keel Roller for Boat Trailers part # CE29516 if your bracket is 5" wide with a 5/8" diameter shaft. The plastic construction will do a better job at supporting the keel. Ideally the trailer would have another cross member to add another keel bracket assembly and roller too to support the weight but your trailer does not have that but that would eliminate the issue of weight.

expert reply by: Heather A