Bad Bad Day.

[Gravity08]

Im not saying that the wind was the sole cause of the incident. I was just off center just a little. When I throttled up to push it onto the buddy the bow was a little to the right. The bow then pushed the buddy apart and exposed the metal. Ive loaded that boat probably 3-400 times over the last few years. Trailer was in the correct depth. I watch the water level on the bungs. I LOVED my boat buddy. I think the concept is great. But it isnt worth having holes in the boat. From now on Ill just get out and hook it myself.

[jzelt]

I don't use the Boat Buddy as it is designed (pin is slightly bent).
I have learned where the water line/bunks need to be.

Not sure that a roller would have made any difference (without being there) seeing that being off line and powering on did the damage.

Although, they do have half rollers to protect the boat from the bolts from the side, they also split and allow the boat to smack the bolt. (friend had one split while trailering and the bolt made a nice flat spot in the fiberglass).

I attach the winch cable after wife has the boat on the trailer before she powers up the last bit to keep it straight and crank to assist getting it on straight.

Saw this weekend with the same friend. I attached the cable, and he started powering his on. (has Baja with roller). Wheel wasn't straight and it was going to slide to the side of the roller, but I cranked and it pulled the bow down right.

[KY Steve]

Why don't more manufactures use a set up like this? Seems to make sense.

[rludtke]

My trailer wasn't originally designed for my boat, and it has a cross bar about 1/4 of the way back from the front end of the bunks. My boat has dings in the hull where it has obviously struck that bar in its past. When I purchased the boat/trailer, i quickly learned that if I am on a steep launch, the boat will float over the bunks, and can strike that cross bar. My fix was to mount a 14" wide roller with a steep "V". This protected the hull from striking, and bigins lifting the bow as the boat enters the trailer. The unexpected benefit was the automatic centering of the bow. I have never had problems since with the bow running to the left or right of the fwd stop.

I wonder if such a roller would help the Boat Buddy alignment problem?

[warek1814]

If your boat is not straight a roller will do damge to. The pic does not show the damage to the rubrail just the gel coat. This is from the nut and bolt that holds the roller. If the nose gets off center with my boat that far up. The trailer is in to deep. My boat straightens out half way on the trailer.

[rludtke]

In my case, I mounted the roller on the cross bar located between where the left and right angled and straight frame rails intersect. The fwd keel rolls across it as the boat is loading. The deep V of the roller brings the boat to center while it rolls across. The keel enters the roller about the same time the midship portion of the hull is begginning to settle on the bunks, and it centers the boat well before it engages the forward centerline V bunk keel support. I used to have trouble hitting this V bunk and could end up on one side of it or or the other.

At the fully loaded postion, this roller is supporting some boat weight, right at the deepest portion of the Comps deep vee bow section.

[jet]

Heres my boat buddy. Works pretty good, looks good getting out of the boat too and doesn't scratch anything. I have been thinking about getting a new one but apparently I sign some LONG contract. I think she was shaking some coconuts at me at the time a signing, I was hypnotized and didnt know what I was doing. : ) Jet

[dusty2221]

Jet, I'd be intrested in trying your model for a weekend if time permits.

[jet]

Well, mine wont scratch your boat but it might scratch your eyes out if it gets mad. Better leave it to me. Lol

[dusty2221]

Hmm, dont wanna pay for Lasik again. Good call.

I suppose I could wear goggles!