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Post by pbguy420 on Feb 1, 2018 16:15:22 GMT -6
Hey guys, bit of a weird issue here. My dual axle trailer for my 2000 sv2100cc is just a touch positively buoyant without the boat. This causes no issue unloading, but when loading, even the slightest current can shift the trailer and mess up my alignment as I am trying to load. I have even had two instances where I had to wade in waist deep to pull my trailer back onto the ramp when it essentially floated one set of tires off the ramp.
My brain says the easiest fix is to add weight, but before I start welding my garage gym to my trailer I would like to know if anyone else has encountered this problem or if there are any other ideas besides adding weight that may work to resolve this issue.
I cant help but wonder if maybe the bunk angles could cause the trailer to need to be submerged more than designed to allow the boat to pull free. For reference, (and without pictures because I'm deployed and cant snag any), the forward edge of the fender needs to be submerged about an inch for the boat to float off freely. This would likely put the front tires (which Im guessing to be my buoyancy culprit) about 4 inches under water for the boat to float free.
Any ideas appreciated, Its a bit frustrating when your trailer floats away from you when you are already trying to load in a cross current situation, not to mention the major loss of cool points
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Post by gnrphil on Feb 1, 2018 16:29:13 GMT -6
I've read about this before and probably made a fool of myself cause I didn't believe it possible, the consensus seemed to be to add weight too the trailer. Most attractive idea I saw was to get some pvc pipe and fill with cement then cap off the open ends, the pipe would then be mounted to the trailer. sounds like it would look clean.
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Post by Juan on Feb 1, 2018 16:31:38 GMT -6
Mine is also tandem axle under my 2100 and although the boat's hull is slightly different, I'd guess the trailers are the same or similar. I have to submerge mine exactly as you described to float my boat off.. well actually, I still have to motor in reverse to get it off even with the front fender edge submerged. The trailer or tires have never moved at all and I have 4 bunks when some have only two. Do you have over sized tires? How many bunks? What make of trailer? Do the cross braces on your trailer have plugs in the ends? If so they hold air and may contribute to floating..
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mosquito13
Lieutenant
Posts: 788
Location: the other West Coast
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Post by mosquito13 on Feb 1, 2018 21:24:58 GMT -6
I had looked at a dual axle with I beam bunks with a plastic rail on top . Was too big for my boat but cool design. Higher density plastics such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), and PS (polystyrene solid), do sink. www.ultimatebunkboards.com/ Wonder what the plastic wood decking sold at homedepot is made of? Extruded aluminum is inexpensive...
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Post by freezerfiller on Feb 1, 2018 22:06:31 GMT -6
Mine does the same thing. Most times it's not an issue, but if there is a steep angle and with current, I've had to time my dunk with the arrival of the boat to keep it lined up and avoid the loss of "cool points". I just assumed it was a tandem axle thing. FWIW, concrete is about the worst for weighing stuff down if it's underwater. It's heavy in air, but pretty light under water compared to metals.
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Post by Juan on Feb 2, 2018 4:32:35 GMT -6
Wonder what the plastic wood decking sold at homedepot is made of? Garbage (recycled plastics) My front deck is made of that stuff. I can only tell you it's heavier than wood.
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mosquito13
Lieutenant
Posts: 788
Location: the other West Coast
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Post by mosquito13 on Feb 2, 2018 7:01:39 GMT -6
Juan. Got any chunks of that decking left over that you could drop in some salt water to see if it floats?
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Post by gnrphil on Feb 2, 2018 7:39:54 GMT -6
FWIW, concrete is about the worst for weighing stuff down if it's underwater. It's heavy in air, but pretty light under water compared to metals. Interesting, didn't know that emthup
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Post by Simple Man on Feb 2, 2018 8:19:28 GMT -6
Mine floats too but only when I launch and the boat floats off. When loading mine, I don't back it as deep as you and don't have any floating problems. I leave about an inch or so of fender out of the water and drive it on bass boat style. I have centering boards up front to help with that.
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yolo
Ensign
Posts: 626
Location: Back to Manasquan Inlet, NJ
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Post by yolo on Feb 2, 2018 8:27:06 GMT -6
Im assuming its an aluminum I beam? Is it the same ramp every time your having the problem? And how steep is the angle? And how much of the entire trailer do you have under the water?
I would put the trailer in to where you know its not going to float. Get the winch on the boat and pull it up on the bunks a bit then bank in a little more and get it set into the block. Just always make sure you have some of the weight of the boat on the bunks. Sliding it up the bunks when the bunks are out of the water is not going to hurt the boat.
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Post by Juan on Feb 2, 2018 9:04:01 GMT -6
Juan. Got any chunks of that decking left over that you could drop in some salt water to see if it floats? I do. As heavy and dense as that stuff is, I don't think it floats but I'll check it out today and see.
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catchersrock
Ensign
Posts: 548
Location: Maiden NC
Sea Pro model and year: 2020 Sea Pro 228
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Post by catchersrock on Feb 2, 2018 9:44:10 GMT -6
Check the air pressure in your trailer tires. If your running at the top of the scale, or, over it, you could stand to let a little air out of the tires. This will help a good deal and doesnt require adding weight.
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Post by freezerfiller on Feb 2, 2018 10:29:17 GMT -6
Check the air pressure in your trailer tires. If your running at the top of the scale, or, over it, you could stand to let a little air out of the tires. This will help a good deal and doesnt require adding weight. Actually once the air is under pressure, it weighs more as it's taking up the same volume therefore displacing the same amount of water.
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catchersrock
Ensign
Posts: 548
Location: Maiden NC
Sea Pro model and year: 2020 Sea Pro 228
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Post by catchersrock on Feb 2, 2018 10:38:36 GMT -6
Check the air pressure in your trailer tires. If your running at the top of the scale, or, over it, you could stand to let a little air out of the tires. This will help a good deal and doesnt require adding weight. Actually once the air is under pressure, it weighs more as it's taking up the same volume therefore displacing the same amount of water. The tires, though minimally, are flexible. The higher the air pressure, the more water they displace and are more buoyant. Right?
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Post by Juan on Feb 2, 2018 11:47:48 GMT -6
Juan. Got any chunks of that decking left over that you could drop in some salt water to see if it floats? I do. As heavy and dense as that stuff is, I don't think it floats but I'll check it out today and see. I guessed right. It sinks.
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mosquito13
Lieutenant
Posts: 788
Location: the other West Coast
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Post by mosquito13 on Feb 2, 2018 17:14:37 GMT -6
Cool! helping a bud with his trailer when I get back form holiday. Will insist he go with the decking and some extruded underneath for rigidness.
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Post by Juan on Feb 2, 2018 17:41:14 GMT -6
You obviously know what you're talking about and have seen the stuff. notworthy I was going to say that anything over 10 or 12 ft long would be a bit flexible and would need some sort of support imo.
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Post by Juan on Feb 2, 2018 18:32:26 GMT -6
(and without pictures because I'm deployed ) Are you in the service? Where you be?
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Post by pbguy420 on Feb 3, 2018 3:43:28 GMT -6
Tons of great ideas here, and Im glad to see that there are others with the same problem and I am not crazy. I think my first step when I get back(following the replacing of the wood on my bow support) will be to attempt this powerloading thing a few times, it may be the easy button to this issue. It may also solve the issue I sometimes have of missing the bow support(guide) by just a fraction of an inch and having to back up. I have just preferred not to scrape by hull even over the carpeted bunks to avoid any gelcoat damage in the past, but if I find the sweetspot it could fix my problem... This is probably just a "Ive done it like this my whole life with other boats" thing (I have never done any powerloading as I have seen some major screwups)
If that doesnt work I will try to add some weight, and I appreciate the input about concrete so that I dont take that route!
Awesome help guys I really appreciate it. This forum has been super helpful for fixing a myriad of issues since the purchase of this boat.... If only it would also pay for my repower! haha.
Yes, in the service, only a month or so from seeing the family again! (and fishing)
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Post by Juan on Feb 3, 2018 6:38:05 GMT -6
Thanks for your service. I feel your pain. Been there, done that and got the tee shirt.
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