PVC Boat Guide

[pigbike]

I see many trailers with PVC pipe V guides for the bow.  Is there something inside the PVC to support the PVC, like galvanized pipe?

[seabob4]

Yep.  I've seen re-bar used...

[GoneFission]

Skip the V and go with front bunks - works much mo' bedda!

[John Jones]

Skip the V and go with front bunks - works much mo' bedda!

yup

[Capt. Bob]

I never had them before but here's mine.



Hard to see but the square pipe  is covered by the PVC.
This trailer, maybe due to blind luck, is so much easier to launch and retrieve. It's rare that I drive the WAC on so pulling it on needs to work with a minimum of effort for me. I'm thinking the V posts help a lot but probably more so the relation of the whole trailer ie bunks, roller and PVC V work to make it so.

[pigbike]

Nice shine on your boat Capt. Bob

[Capt. Bob]

Nice shine on your boat Capt. Bob

Thanks. It's all in the wrist.  

That stated, the real credit goes to our Public Relations Director.  
I just did what I was told, still....

For a 21 year old hull, it does clean up well.  8)

[Bergertime]

I have the same piece on my trailer with v-bar covered by PVC pipe and pvc plate in the middle.  Has this caused any damage to the keel of your vessel?  

I was concerned that it was damaging the gel-coat on the bottom of the keel of mine since there was some gel-coat damage (round chuncks missing)  that appeared to be repetitive in nature present when I purchased the boat.  Not sure of the cause since the PO had the boat in a high and dry and trailered very infrequently.  

However, In the prior configuration or its new one my boat does not contact the plate when fully loaded on the trailer.  I just recently had the keel repaired and I lowered the whole unit down to the lowest position so that it would protect / prevent the boat from hitting the trailer cross member but would not come in contact otherwise.  It’s worthy to note I have 3 large bow rollers approx 3 feet back.

1)   Is this plate supposed to support the weight of the boat when fully loaded onto the trailer or used just a guide for launching or loading?

2)   Do I have it set up properly?

3)   Am I at risk  for the way I have it set up?

4)   Do you have any damage to the gel-coat from contact?





-Bruce

[Capt. Bob]

1)   Is this plate supposed to support the weight of the boat when fully loaded onto the trailer or used just a guide for launching or loading?

2)   Do I have it set up properly?

3)   Am I at risk  for the way I have it set up?

4)   Do you have any damage to the gel-coat from contact?
Bruce

On my boat, the bow is supported by a Stoltz roller. It is not supported by the PVC guide (I can fit my finger under it) but.....

There is visible scraping on the guide pad and I do have damage to my keel (gelcoat gone). I first thought is was from the PO's activity of beaching on a sandbar for family outings (Gulf boat). Now I can see that maybe this was caused or enhanced by pad contact. I usually have this pad with a fair amount of water between the the hull and the boat retrieves very easily. Still...

I'd think you'll be OK, just something one lives with trailering. Probably more so on launch than retrieve and increased with lousy ramps.

Good luck.

[Circle Hooked]

I did away with mine years ago and built this, couldn't be happier and no scrapes
 

[Bergertime]

Well I started to tackle my PVC guide issue and I found an easy fix thanks to the good guys at TA Mahoney's.  Stoltz makes a poly cap that covers the PVC plate at the bottom of the guide thus protecting your gel coat.  It is made to screw in via four mounting slats but since my PVC cap was too thick to mount that way I affixed it with some sturdy zip ties.   Here is a link to what I purchased.  Hope it helps..

http://www.easternmarine.com/4-x-12-sto ... d-pad-4112

-B

[BStrailer]

Most of the time there is a galvanized pipe going threw the center of the Pvc
A lot of people go to front loading bunks instead of the pvc brackets
it makes it easier to load and protect the bottom of the boat better
but here is a link to the pvc bow guides
Cliff@ B&S Trailer




http://www.bstrailer.net/assets/images/ ... -Parts.pdf

[Bergertime]

Thanks!  It was the keel pad that resolved the issue for me.  

B

[captianrich0418]

I had the same issue with my bow guide. The plastic plates wore out and damage to the gelcoat on my keel was the result. I tried to replace the pad with one like yours but I could not drill new holes in the metal and zip ties will not last. So I took the whole thing off and replaced it with a 8" keel roller.

http://www.trailerpartsdepot.com/itemde ... E54OPB&Tp=

I plan to fix the bow guid and sell it on craigslist.