Why Are 5" Wide Keel Rollers Less Than 5" Wide

Question

Question:

Why is this roller called 5inch when it measures only 4.5inch long? My current keel roller is 5inch and is on a CE Smith style adjustable roller bracket for use on keel roller and mounts on a 3inch tongue.

asked by: Dave

0

Keel Roller on Boat Trailer
(click to enlarge)

Expert Reply:

Great question, Dave!

The boating industry rounds up when it comes to identifying boat trailer rollers. Since the CE Smith Keel Roller for Boat Trailers # CE29516 measures 4-1/2" wide it gets placed in the 5" wide category.

This also has to do with bracket sizing and what it fits. This is a little less wide than your standard 5" roller but it fits the brackets for a 5" wide roller.

expert reply by: Jon G

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Dave

8/26/2024

Jon, Thanks! Does this roller come with an insert the roller shaft goes through like some rollers? If not does that increase friction between the shaft and inside of the roller? Is some type of grease required or suggested on the roller shaft during installation?

Jon G.

8/26/2024

@Dave This roller does not have an insert. Grease can be used, but isn't necessary for the roller to properly operate.

Dave

8/27/2024

@JonG CE29516 Jon, I apologize for asking this again but I couldn't locate the response fro you in regards to a roller, I was thinking PVC and amber perhaps that was listed as 5" but I understood it was actually closer to 4.5" in length and could still be used in a 5" CE Smith type adjustable mounting bracket. Any chance you recall if it was the CE29516 roller. I believed it may have been referred to as PVC If it was this roller I believe it was a 5/8" shaft roller. I assume the 5/8" steel shaft fits pretty close with the opening in the roller for the shaft. Are you familiar with that? Thanks Dave

Jon G.

8/28/2024

@Dave Yes, the roller # CE29516 is the one I said has a 4-1/2" width but works with 5" brackets (further up on this page). And yes, the 5/8" Shaft # CE10722A will work just fine with it.

See All (4) Replies to Dave ∨

Answer 1

On the CE Smith Deep V Keel Roller Assembly, #CE10453G, on the larger section of the roller to the mounting plate measures 4 inches tall. At the center of the roller to the mounting plate the measurement is 3-1/16 inches tall.

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Answer 2

The center to center distance between the mounting slots of the CE Smith Deep V Keel Roller Assembly #CE10401G is 3 inches.

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Answer 3

A TPR roller like the #YR500YW-6P is going to be better than PVC. PVC is a cheaper product. TPR has the properties and performance of both PVC and rubber while having a higher tensile strength so it is going to be the most durable. I don't have a…

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Answer 4

My contact at Yates Rubber advises that a nominal 8-inch keel roller does not measure exactly 8 inches; typically they are slightly smaller than the specified size, much the way a piece of 2 x 4 lumber is not exactly 2-inches by 4-inches. I took…

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Answer 5

Hey Dave, good to hear from you again! To replace your 5-3/8" wide keel roller, shaft, pal nuts, and bracket you'll need the following: - Yates Keel Roller #YR5244-105EC - Roller Shaft with Pal Nuts #CE10722A - CE Smith Adjustable Mounting…

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Answer 6

The CE Smith Deep V Keel Roller Assembly #CE10453G would work great to help center the boat as you load it onto the trailer as well as provide some additional support. I'd go with the wider version part #CE10455G which has a 12 inch roller on it.…

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Answer 7

Hello Darrin, thanks for reaching out. For our rollers that fit a 5/8" shaft I am not seeing that we have anything with exactly a 3" or 3.5" diameter in the center. I do have a potential option for you though. Take a look at the Yates…

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Answer 8

Yes, we do have stainless steel and galvanized square u-bolts available. The CE Smith U-Bolt - Stainless Steel #CE15501A has the same 4" Long x 2-1/8" Wide x 7/16" Diameter measurements as the Trailer Square U-Bolts #7162184UB you were…

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Answer 9

I took the measurements of the Multipurpose U-bolt, part #CE15504A, which you can see on the enclosed diagram. You'll note that the length of the U-bolt is 3 inches, which may be too short for your application. The closest sized U-bolt we are…

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Answer 10

Keel rollers for boat trailers such as #CE32005G don't have a weight capacity or size rating because they aren't really supporting all that much weight. The bracket is designed to fit around a 2 inch trailer tongue. On your trailer it looks…

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Answer 11

Hello Dave. In regards to the CE Smith Bunk Roller #CE27700 about half of the diameter of the roller sits above the metal rail, there is 1" (maybe 1-1/16") of clearance between the metal rail and the boat bottom when the boat is sitting on…

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Answer 12

I went out to the warehouse and pulled a Offset Spool Roller Assembly, #CE32150G. Measuring from the bottom of the base to the top of the roller in the center section it is 3-3/8 inches. From the bottom of the base to the taller part at either end is…

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Why Are 5" Wide Keel Rollers Less Than 5" Wide

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