Date: Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:09:52 -0800 (PST)
Hey guys,
A little post holiday sharing......
After
spending a fair amount of time this late summer trying to get my boat
back on it's trailer (somewhat unsuccessfully) I opted to eliminate
that future source of post boating frustration and install a guides. I
want to be able to load and unload by myself without assistance......or
the agony.
At first I tried 3" PVC guide posts but that didn't
work too well as they were too easily broken off so I decided to go
with the full length side type. I came up with an idea for the support
arms and drafted out a set of plans after measuring about 20 times. A
buddy works for a metal fabrication plant so I contracted with them to
do the work. I could have taken the boat somewhere and had a set
permanently welded on but I wanted to be able to remove them so my idea
was to bolt them in place over the frame. The metal company fabricated
a sample piece for fitting and after finding that it fit perfectly, I
authorized them to go ahead.
I'm pretty impressed with them. At 16lbs each, they're a bit heftier than expected but at least they
won't be flexing around while running down the road and I can't break
them off like I did my PVC version.
They're
designed to sandwich the I-beam and bolt tight at the bottom. That way
they can be removed if desired. I still have to paint them and add the
2x6 carpeted side guides but
thought I'd share some pics of one of the support arms. Hopefully the
pics aren't too big to download.
Each support arm has two
holes at the
top for the 2x6 guide and one at the bottom to slide a bolt through so
it can be tighted down over the frame. They also have a threaded hole
on each side of the upper part where it slips over the I-beam so that
it could
be snugged down inside the upper I-beam. It's likely I might have to
install a set of upright post guides at the rear so that they can keep
the boat centered on first approach but we'll see about that later.
I'll send some more pics later after I get the sides mounted.
I'm looking forward to my first try out with them! ;-)
-Bill
Dallas, TX
1970 Evinrude Explorer - 155 Buick V6 - OMC Sterndrive
http://www.photobucket.com/evinrude_explorer
