Floppy Roller Trailer or Keel Roller Trailer

[JoeNorm]

I may purchase a 1988 OUTRAGE 22 CUDDY that is sitting on a roller trailer. I have read that is not the ideal type of trailer for a Boston Whaler boat.

Q1: is having a roller trailer in the boat-engine-trailer package a deal breaker?

Q2: what are the concern for using a roller trailer with a Boston Whaler boat?

[Separated from another discussion on a different topic.]

[jimh]

Q1: is having a roller trailer in the boat-engine-trailer package a deal breaker?

If by "roller trailer" you mean the old-style floppy roller trailer in which a dozen or more moveable rollers support the weight of the boat, then the general answer is that style trailer is should be avoided with Boston Whaler boats.

For more information on trailering a Boston Whaler boat, visit the REFERENCE section and read the several articles in the TRAILERING section. See

https://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/trailering/

Q2: what are the concern for using a [floppy-]roller trailer with a Boston Whaler boat?

The principal concern is the hull of a Boston Whaler is constructed with a unique method--the Unibond Hull method--and the hull laminate layup is relatively thin, except at the keel. Most of the weight of a Boston Whaler boat kept on a trailer should be supported by keel rollers, or a combination of keel rollers and bunks. Boston Whaler used to be quite emphatic about this approach, but at some point they seem to have stopped insisting trailers must have keel rollers carrying most of the weight. The floppy-roller trailer design has never really been used or blessed by Boston Whaler. The concern is that too much force could be concentrated on a small area and possibly cause a deflection of the hull laminate.

This topic is discussed at

https://continuouswave.com/whaler/refer ... ailer.html

Fig. 1. A Unibond Hull being carried on a floppy-roller trailer. Note how hull damaged areas seem to align with the position of the floppy rollers. Trailers of this type are not suggested for use with Unibond hulls.

floppyRollerTrailerHullDamage.jpeg (106.07 KiB) Viewed 25 times

[jimh]

If you end up buying a Boston Whaler that is carried on a floppy roller trailer, you may be able to convert the trailer to a keel roller and bunk trailer. All the floppy roller gear would be removed. Keel rollers would be added to the trailer crossmembers. Bunks would be added to support the hull, typically adjusted allow the weight to be carried on the keel rollers and the bunks to just stabilize side to side movement.

My own 22-foot hull has lived on a trailer with keel rollers supporting for forward half of the hull on the keel, and two sets of twin-bunks that self adjust to the hull supporting the stern half of the boat, with one of the bunks near the keel and the other bunk in the set about three feet outward.

Fig. 2. Trailer for REVENGE 22 W-T Whaler Drive with adjusting twin bunks supporting stern of the hull.

trailerKeelRollerBunkCombo.JPG (80.11 KiB) Viewed 24 times

Fig. 3. Tandem keel rollers straddle a trailer crossmember. Note the stainless steel axle rod with drilled holes for cotter pin retainers. The roller material is polyethelyne with a steel center tube.

tandemKeelRollers.jpeg (182.9 KiB) Viewed 24 times