Boat occasionally hitting spare tire when launching

[JEH in La]

Sometimes my boat will drop when launching and the front hook hits the spare tire and rim.  I’m sure this happens on a steep launch only once in a while.  In the past I recall threads that showed some owners installing a “roller assembly” on the cross member of the trailer up front to prevent the boat from falling that far. The search function is not friendly to me at all and I can’t find any information on it.  I’m wondering if this really worked to solve the issue before I give it a try.  I have a 2017 P2 Trailer.  If you have done this or know someone that did, I would appreciate a comment on whether it worked or not. Thanks

[Bass Cat Boats]

One of the moderators posted this on another forum. We feel this is your issue and you can also try launching faster with the winch strap attached, or a little shallower to prevent bow drop.

BCB

The factory does drop back tongues to shorten trailers under the bow areas. With todays trolling motors you also may need the removable trolling motor plates, as the trolling motor extends out further than the bow area.

You also can go to the shorter 3” manual jack plates, or the hydraulic in a 4-5” variation and save length. This does not sacrifice performance and can improve some handling.

If anyone watched Ken Smith’s videos there is mention of shorter plates (Mercury) to improve performance. They confirmed our opinion that water is cleaner closer to the hull.

We also do a custom order narrow frame, which can drop the frame overall down to the width of the boat itself. Those may require a spring axle for clearances and availability reasons.

The last little known trailer mention is the Pivot Bow Stop, for areas where ramps are angled and trucks are level. The increased ball height changes the angle, while the ramp is relatively flatter. The issue flatter is that allows the bow to fall as the boat releases from the trailer and thus impacting trolling motors off the front, or spare tires with the bow eye. It also makes them difficult to load as the bow is too tall and it can require two people.

The Pivot Bow takes a little understanding though it is a great feature and locks the bow eye in place well, as it triangulates (two rollers) into the hull. This was made generally for Ross Barnett Reservoir where the flatter vehicle areas are common.

BCB

[glen11]

I guess I do not exactly understand. I have launched on flat and steep ramps and never had that issue. Just go in very slow until it easily floats off. I find that loading sometimes is difficult to find the correct trailer depth to get the bow above the roller though. Trial and error!

[JEH in La]

Thank you BCB and glen11 for the comments.

I did see that post on BBC yesterday.  I have had this to happen only a couple of times and only when launching by myself. Years ago there was a thread where someone added a roller to the cross member of their trailer.  After looking closely at my trailer I can see that this would not work on a P2 trailer but would work on others that have a cross member behind the spare.
Anyway, it’s not a big issue for me and I’ll try the winch strap attached idea that BCB and Cajunhunter mentioned. Thanks all.

[Cajunhunter67]

Hey bud.

Another option is to power off the trailer on those steep ramps. I will back the trailer down until the boat floats off the trailer (boat still strapped to winch), then pull back up until it settles back on the bunks. Remove the strap. Trim your motor up and give her the fuel. It will lift the rear lip of the hull off the trailer and get it sliding off. Once it’s moving use the throttle to keep her coming off.
This has always kept my TM from hitting the winch and the bow from hitting the spare tire.

Don

[Bass Cat Boats]

he’s got a good method.

Cajunhunter67:

Hey bud.

Another option is to power off the trailer on those steep ramps. I will back the trailer down until the boat floats off the trailer (boat still strapped to winch), then pull back up until it settles back on the bunks. Remove the strap. Trim your motor up and give her the fuel. It will lift the rear lip of the hull off the trailer and get it sliding off. Once it’s moving use the throttle to keep her coming off.
This has always kept my TM from hitting the winch and the bow from hitting the spare tire.

Don

 

[JEH in La]

Thanks Don. I saw your post on BBC and will give it a try.  I measured from the tip of the boat to the bow hook = 19″.  Then I measured from the bow hook to the rim =19″. Result is why it drops right onto the tire where it meets the rim.  It only happens occasionally and when I’m by myself so I will try your method to prevent that.

Cajunhunter67:

Hey bud.

Another option is to power off the trailer on those steep ramps. I will back the trailer down until the boat floats off the trailer (boat still strapped to winch), then pull back up until it settles back on the bunks. Remove the strap. Trim your motor up and give her the fuel. It will lift the rear lip of the hull off the trailer and get it sliding off. Once it’s moving use the throttle to keep her coming off.
This has always kept my TM from hitting the winch and the bow from hitting the spare tire.

Don

 

[Ricochet15]

Here’s a pic of someone’s setup on a Sabre trailer.

[JEH in La]

Ricochet15 that was my first choice of options but on this trailer his bunks look a lot shorter than mine so in this case that roller might work.  My bunks come out at least another foot or so and I think when the boat “drops” it will hit my bunks well before coming in contact with that roller. That’s why I ruled that out.

Ricochet15:

Here’s a pic of someone’s setup on a Sabre trailer.

 

[Bass Cat Boats]

JEH, those bunks appear to have been replaced by someone, and they are NOT PULLED IN at the front. This is critical as that front being bowed inwards prevents bow fall, as the Vee is more drastic at the front. It takes a lot of force and many just don’t think it needs the bend.

BCB

JEH in La:

Ricochet15 that was my first choice of options but on this trailer his bunks look a lot shorter than mine so in this case that roller might work.  My bunks come out at least another foot or so and I think when the boat “drops” it will hit my bunks well before coming in contact with that roller. That’s why I ruled that out.

Ricochet15:

Here’s a pic of someone’s setup on a Sabre trailer.

 

 

[JEH in La]

Bass Cat Boats:JEH, those bunks appear to have been replaced by someone, and they are NOT PULLED IN at the front. This is critical as that front being bowed inwards prevents bow fall, as the Vee is more drastic at the front. It takes a lot of force and many just don’t think it needs the bend.

BCB

Thanks for the comments BCB.  It validates my thoughts that a roller on that cross member would not prevent the bow drop that I sometimes experience.  If only my spare tire was a few inches closer to the front, the bow hook would miss hitting the rim when it drops. Right now, it’s as far forward as it can go.
I’m wondering if I could adjust the angle of the mount to get the front of the tire to lower enough that it would not be hit. The flat bar that the front of the tire rests on has an angle on it between the tire and the front of the trailer. If this could be bent downward it might successfully lower the front of the tire to prevent the hit.
What do you think BCB.  If that works then might result in a design change going forward on the builds. Just a thought at this point.

 

 

.

[Ricochet15]

Makes sense if your bunks go further forward. Hope you get it lined out

[Cajunhunter67]

[Cajunhunter67]

My tire is adjusted  aft about 2 inches. It doesn’t seem like much but it helps open the gap between the hull and tire.

I placed the tire where I thought it needed to be and drilled an additional hole in the support to run a bolt and nut.

 

Don

[Wheelman]

Curious what size wheel/tire you have?

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