PVC guides slightly too far apart. Any suggestion for filler rather than readjusting?

taymag

I need to redo my new trailer eventually anyway, but in the mean time does anyone have suggestions for "filler" for the guides to make up for the 4-5" I need to move them in?

Tarponator

I'm not sure quite what you're asking, but if you're trying to move in the vertical PVC guides on the left and right side of your boat (and the L shaped metal that sits inside the PVC), why not simply loosen the 4 nuts and move them in the required distance. It'd take 5 minutes tops.

duckmanJR

Just a guess....but cheap galvy fasteners are rusted tight.....

When he redoes this...if he is smart ( I bet he is ) ...He'll use a sawz-all to cut everything apart...and use a little touch of waterproof grease..ON STAINLESS STEEL FASTENERS

Did a lot of trailer repair in my day...and know some tricks and shortcuts that work.

Split Shot

taymag

Hah they are indeed rusted tight. I wish I could just loosen them. I plan on redoing it but I have to do all the work at the dock when the boat is off which is such a pain

linesider 159

You could probably use a pool noodle

taymag

linesider 159 wrote: »

You could probably use a pool noodle

Actually bought one today to try.. I need like 2+" of room though. Temporary fix but it looks like ***** now hah

duckmanJR

taymag wrote: »

Actually bought one today to try.. I need like 2+" of room though. Temporary fix but it looks like ***** now hah

Put larger size PVC over pool noodle...makes it a "roller"..and looks better.

Tarponator

FWIW, I can bend the poles on my trailer. Have you tried that?

taymag

Tarponator wrote: »

FWIW, I can bend the poles on my trailer. Have you tried that?

Ya I tried. Theyre pretty tough I dont think they will budge

Tarponator

Why not just fix the issue? Even grinding off the nut and U bolt and replacing them is an easy job.

Don't get the wrong idea, I love a good quick fix, but if the underlying problem is almost as easy to solve, I think you're better off just fixing it and being done with it. That way you'd have one less item on your todo list.

You could also, of course, completely ignore the issue of the poles. I don't know about you, but they really don't do much as it's the bunks that tend to center the boat once I get the bow in -- I rarely if ever miss by so much that the poles are extraneous when it comes to loading the boat. Sure, they probably make your boat a bit wider going down the road, but it is really a big deal?

But really, I'd just fix it and be done with it....and incidentally, I just replaced both of my old galvanized poles (six of 8 nuts had sized and one pole had completely rusted through) with aluminum poles & stainless hardware.

BryanC

My poles both rusted through at the elbows years ago, so I just removed them and did not replace them. I don't have any need for them. As you said, the bunks center the boat.

Cyclist

The poles are merely unneeded accessories.

Tarponator

They do make a good spot to put your tail lights though.

Love my pipe-lights!



Not my stuff, but you get the idea....

Split Shot

Cyclist wrote: »

The poles are merely unneeded accessories.

It is if you have pole lights. :wink

Split Shot

HEY! :grin

duckmanJR

Split Shot wrote: »

It is if you have pole lights. :wink

Or " Flip flops" like Float on uses...

Split Shot

WAT? This is my first Float On but it was also their first they built of this nature for me!

taymag

Hah my trailer is terrible and my lights break everytime I drop it in :hairraiser

Butttttt other than that I love the boat and love retiring my skiff having to go through the life threatening Boynton Inlet

taymag

If I don't do the work myself, what am I looking to pay to redo these rails and add center/front bunks?