How to Rig a Boat Trailer for a Keelboat

Keelboats require special, purpose built trailers in order to be hauled across land. The keel, which is fixed to the bottom of the boat and can be several feet long, makes using generic boat trailers for hauling impossible. Keelboat trailers have a channel or a series of rollers mounted in the middle to support the keel. Additional structures known as side-supports are bolted or welded to the trailer to support some of the weight of the boat and help stabilize it for towing. The side-supports have individual height adjustments and may be tuned slightly to fit the boat's contours and hold it securely. They are spaced out about eight feet apart to distribute the load. The side-supports are topped with plywood pads mounted on a swivel that allow it to conform to the boat and support it without damaging the boat's finish.

Things You'll Need

• Boat trailer
• Boat rollers
• Drill motor
• Drill bit set
• Mounting hardware (stainless or galvanized)
• Adjustable wrenches
• Side-support kit

Instructions

1. Locate the center of the trailer. Lay the boat rollers out on each trailer crossmember that the keel will cross.

2. Mark the center of the roller mounting holes on the trailer with the drill and a small pilot bit. Remove the rollers and drill clearance holes through the trailer for the roller mounting bolts.

3. Install the roller mounting bolts from the top. Install lock washers and nuts from the bottom and tighten them firmly with a wrench.

4. Install the side-supports according to the manufacturer's instructions. Refer to the installation guide for any important information about setting up for your particular make and model of boat.

5. Hitch the trailer to a tow vehicle and back the trailer down a boat ramp until the rollers are deep enough to accept the keel.

6. Pull the boat up the rollers and ensure that the boat is centered on the trailer. Adjust each of the side-support pads until they contact the boat. Adjust each pad until the pressure on each one is roughly equal.

References

• Capt. TJ Hinton; Commercial Fishing Vessel Captain; Gulf Coast, Mississippi