I have a 1998 Ranger R-91 Intracoastal (19’ 6”) boat with a 200 EFI mercury. The original trailer was galvanized steel (Intracoastal package). The original trailer has severe corrosion on all of the secondary structure, main structure is fine, still rust free and solid. I may rebuild it one day, but too much work for now., I want to fish.
I purchased a newer used Ranger Trail aluminum trailer that is in good corrosion free condition, and it has a heavier weight rating compared to the original trailer, so I really like it. They are both single axle trailers. The new trailer was under a 2004 Ranger Cayman 191 originally. I was hoping the bunks would fit the shape of the hull bottom better, since both boats have similar looking Ranger hulls, but that is not the case.
The bunks aren’t quite arranged at the proper height to support the hull correctly. The center long bunks need to come up about an inch toward the front of the trailer. The short outer bunks are the opposite, they seem to be too high at the front ends of both sides. I’m planning on making the required adjustments by using longer or shorter vertical c-channel sections where required, and bolting the new parts using stainless steel hardware.
My plan is; (with boat on the trailer) to remove one outer side bunk, and raise that side of the boat a few inches with a floor jack or a bottle jack, or both by lifting under that unattached bunk. With one side raised I will install the required extensions on the center long bunk, trying to match the bunk to the hull bottom at each support location. Then, put the outer bunk back on where it was removed, so I can reverse sides, and jack and support the other side, focusing on getting the other long center bunk adjusted to fitting the hull. My plan is to realign and fix the two center bunks first, getting the boat to rest on them properly with no gaps between the hull and the bunks, with the front eye just below the V roller inline with the hand winch. After I have the two center long bunks adjusted properly, I’ll focus on the two outer short bunks. In the end I want all four bunks to have the hull sitting on them with no gaps. It sounds easy but I have never done it before.
Has as anyone ever successfully adjusted trailer bunks to fit a different hull with the boat sitting on the trailer? Or, does anyone have any suggestions to do this different, Maybe someone has a better idea? Or method. Thanks in advance!
Ax