New Trailer for the Venture 23..keep the rollers?

[81venture]

I got rid of the Buccaneer Hoopty finally

Here is the trailer I was after for my mac



Unfortunately this roller got mangled while "unloading" the boat




So my question is you think I should fix the roller, and keep them, or remove the rollers in the rear (and front?) and install Bunks?

Either way looks like I got a lot of work to do to get it to work right with the Venture

dave

[Sumner]

Personally I'd take the time to put bunks on like the factory did as they designed their location to work with how the hull is structural wise. I've seen one case where a water ballast D or S owner had put on longitudinal bunks and the hull cracked as I feel these boats (water ballast) need transverse bunks to support the boat properly. The earlier boats like yours didn't have transverse bunks. There is probably a reason.

The rollers might work and I'm sure someone has them, but they are going to "spot load" the hull and since our hulls aren't real thick to begin with I'd worry about that myself.

Good luck,

Sum

===================================
Our MacGregor 26-S

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[81venture]

Thanks Sumner

I think I will stick to the original Design and build bunks...how hard can a couple of pieces of wood be

I don't really like these Rollers anyway...they make the trailer huge, the boat would sit too high, and a lot of extra weight

So bunks it is

[Tomfoolery]

What're those handles on the ends of the cross bar at the mid-point between the axles? Is that a moveable axle setup?

[81venture]

What're those handles on the ends of the cross bar at the mid-point between the axles? Is that a moveable axle setup?

I think this trailer is a "universal" type...

Yes the Axles are able to move forward or back...there are 4 U-bolts (each side) that can be loosened and the entire axle assembly will go forward or back...

The Cross bar with the Handles I believe have to do with Keel Support...if both handles are pushed down, the crossbar drops a few inches, and you can slide it forward or back as well...then pull up the handles and it snugs up against the keel

I think I scored big for $400

Dave

[81venture]

Still in the middle of pulling all the rollers

I took the whole assemblies off and patted myself on the back....then I realized I would need those lateral pieces to attach the bunks to

So now I am removing individual roller assemblies


Anyone want to chime in on how a good and safe way to swap the trailers will be? I am thinking that unlike the powerboats i am used to I won't be able to do it at the lake, as I will have to make a LOT of adjustments to the new trailer...I need to figure out a way to get the venture in the air so I can pull the old trailer out and put the new trailer on

I wish I owned a crane

[81venture]

So I removed all the rollers

Kept the tilting mounts and laid a 2x6 on top

I am unsure if I am going to have to weld the brackets flat so they don't tilt??

The original mac trailer the bunks are flat

[Bob McLellan]

Be sure to have support for your keel to rest when the boat is on the trailer

[81venture]

Be sure to have support for your keel to rest when the boat is on the trailer

10-4 That is what that little metal bar with the two handles is for

We are in the process of dry fitting and measuring...

this is harder than I thought

[81venture]

Well the Bunks are in

Question for Sumner

About the bunks, the whole unit "pivots" and in the pic the below gravity has pulled the bunks to that angle you see...

Should I leave it like that and try a "fitting" at the lake (after carpet of course) Or should I weld them flat?

How much "angle" is to much?

As we all know, the "angle of the dangle is perpetual to the heat of the beat" (Beavis and Butthead )


Thanks
Dave

[81venture]

Bugger....I forgot the pic

[81venture]

oh one more thing...I'm also going to cut off the extra metal on the bunks...I used 2x8's
I didn't think I would get enough flex using anything wider....the rollers were huge...but if I cut the extra off I'll have "straight bunks" and they are wider than the 2x6 currently on the mac stock trailer

[raycarlson]

to bad your hull isn't straight and flat like your bunks

[81venture]

to bad your hull isn't straight and flat like your bunks

So are you suggesting I need to change something?

[RobertB]

Your straight bunks will yield only one point of contact with the hull on each side. They would work for a pontoon boat but I cannot see how you are going to support and hold in place a rounded hull. If you are not goint to use the rollers, then I suggest you copy the cradle arrangement of the stock trailer.

BTW, I talked with Mike I at Macgregor yesterday about hull thickness. He stated that these boats (at least my ) have a hull thickness below the stripe of around 1/2 inch of solid fiberglass. This keeps the hull from developing flat spots when they sit on hard spots on the trailers.