Those Dirty Trailer Rollers

[bluewater81]

Change to skids and never look back.

So this is a 100% common issue with all rollers and fibreglass hulls ?
If so my next trailer definitely will be a skid trailer.
Between dirty rollers, uneven rollers and all the extra bits that need corrosion upkeep, what a bunch of malarkey.
One good feature is the self centering action of the rollers.
How do the skid trailers go when launching ?
Do you have to dunk the trailer further to get the boat off ?

Hi Yota,

I have a 7m fibreglass boat, I had rollers but too annoying and maintenance issues. A lot of people are going to skids now. Skids help brace the boat on the trailer better IMO and helps with weight distribution. At the start you may find them a bit sticky but for the first couple of times spray the skids with silicon spray, mostly after you launch. The more you use the boat the better. Much easier to drive up onto imo. I would never ever go back to rollers, its worth the change.

[bluewater81]

Change to skids and never look back.

So this is a 100% common issue with all rollers and fibreglass hulls ?
If so my next trailer definitely will be a skid trailer.
Between dirty rollers, uneven rollers and all the extra bits that need corrosion upkeep, what a bunch of malarkey.
One good feature is the self centering action of the rollers.
How do the skid trailers go when launching ?
Do you have to dunk the trailer further to get the boat off ?

Hi Yota,

I have a 7m fibreglass boat, I had rollers but too annoying and maintenance issues. A lot of people are going to skids now. Skids help brace the boat on the trailer better IMO and helps with weight distribution. At the start you may find them a bit sticky but for the first couple of times spray the skids with silicon spray, mostly after you launch. The more you use the boat the better and you'll still find that if you drive up slow it'll self centre anyway so just drive straight up. Much easier to drive up onto imo. I would never ever go back to rollers, its worth the change.

[Yota]

Thanks bluewater81, might be a while before I’m up for a new trailer. A nice alloy one.

[frozenpod]

Had rollers, skids and carpet bunks.

Rollers are by far the best. More expensive but well worth it.

[Yota]

Had rollers, skids and carpet bunks.

Rollers are by far the best. More expensive but well worth it.

Have you got a glass or ally boat ?

[frozenpod]

Glass.

[Sinsemilla]

Had rollers, skids and carpet bunks.

Rollers are by far the best. More expensive but well worth it.

Whats the reason for you liking rollers over skids?

Anth.

[frozenpod]

All trailers flex.

Skids and bunks don't have much give to deal with the flex and puts load on the hull. Also the for in ng equals rubbing with skids and bunks which wears away gel coat.

Rollers are better for the hull (if you have enough rollers) as the rollers have shock absorption. Rollers easier launching and retrieving. Can launch in shallower water ie with a shallower ramp you don't need to get the car wet compared with bunks or skids.

As per above carpet bunks wear away the gel coat as do skids. Cost $1500 to have the hull re gel coated after 6 years of carpet bunks. Roughly the same extra cost of getting rollers up front without the damage and raider launching.

Skids and bunks make the trailer cheaper to build and cheaper to buy initially.

[bluewater81]

All trailers flex.

Skids and bunks don't have much give to deal with the flex and puts load on the hull. Also the for in ng equals rubbing with skids and bunks which wears away gel coat.

Rollers are better for the hull (if you have enough rollers) as the rollers have shock absorption. Rollers easier launching and retrieving. Can launch in shallower water ie with a shallower ramp you don't need to get the car wet compared with bunks or skids.

As per above carpet bunks wear away the gel coat as do skids. Cost $1500 to have the hull re gel coated after 6 years of carpet bunks. Roughly the same extra cost of getting rollers up front without the damage and raider launching.

Skids and bunks make the trailer cheaper to build and cheaper to buy initially.

What a load of rubbish.

[frozenpod]

Just a tip go for a walk about the car park at your local ramp and look at the gel coat on carpet bunks and skids.