If you go boating alone, you may be fine once under way but occasionally wish you had someone to lend a hand at the launch ramp, especially when there’s unsettled weather. Several of our boats draw only a few inches of water and while they’re good for gunkholing skinny Florida waters, at the launch ramp even a little wind and chop can push them around and it can be a struggle moving them on or off the trailer. For power boats that carry their maximum beam well aft, the guide posts are best placed at the back of the trailer. All of our boats tuck in at the stern, so we attach guide posts closer to the middle of the trailer to center the boat as the bow comes home at the winch. The lights added to these posts supplement rather than replace the tail lights that are built into the trailer and, as required by law, illuminate the license plate.
Photographs by the authors
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I’ve done this for years using 4×4’s and 2×4 for cross bars as needed for double decking. I’ve found some X braces needed for heavier loads. I’ll need to check out the metal ones. I also add a 2 x 6 or such so I can walk aft on the trailer to hook up.
Hi Ben,
Our trailer guru recommended the steel posts over aluminum, but aluminum cross tubes were fine for our Sunfish (130 pounds).
We have added the walk ramp to several of our trailers as well, it is a good way to keep centerboards from deploying, or put a roller or cross beam under the centerboard. We keep an eye to make sure there is adequate drainage and the keel can dry out.
Cheers
Skipper and Clark