Moderator: GreenLake
As it now sits on the trailer, the aft end of my boat's CB extends about 4" proud of the hull.
I may be able to add a keel roller forward of the rear keel roller, to support the aft end of the CB. Any good ideas on how to add a keel roller bracket to the open side of the trailer's cross-member C-beam? The existing bracket is bolted to the face of the C-beam.
If you do extend a wide-face supporting 2x4 bunk 2.5' aft of the trailer, there may be progressively less support as you go aft of the trailer, due to deflection of the 2x4.
The issue with the centerboard is support, rather than position or compression. Without some trailer support points, the CB is only held in place by the pivot bolt and the control lines - not enough for a bumpy road trip. You might consider adding a keel roller to the trailer's rear cross member, if it happens to support the CB, or otherwise be at a good support point. You may also be able to add a keel roller to the tongue using U-bolts.
What did you choose for bunk material? Trailer stores seem willing to sell carpeted bunks, but at a great premium over dimensional construction lumber. Cedar is naturally rot resistant, so may be a good choice for something that frequently gets wet.
Did you paint the whole bunk, or just the ends to prevent splitting?
Do the bunks, when oriented with their wide face against the hull, conform to the hull shape as a result of being wet and put under the stress of the hull's weight?
My plan is actually to bring the bunks to the back age of the boat, but not past it.
If you do extend a wide-face supporting 2x4 bunk 2.5' aft of the trailer, there may be progressively less support as you go aft of the trailer, due to deflection of the 2x4. To stiffen the cantilever, you may want to glue a tapered section of 2x4, on-edge, to the trailer-side face of the 2x4 to form a T-beam, with the tallest end of the taper at the transom. I would certainly need to do this since my boat's transom is 4'7" aft of the trailer.
It seems like your boat wants to be just a little further up on the trailer than is possible...
So, you do not think that much extra support would be provided by extending the bunks aft?
The front-most part of the winch hardware, at the point where it is mounted on the tongue box-beam, is 8.5" aft of the rear-most part of the hitch coupler hardware.
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