Check that boat before you leave the dealer!

[ThomasL]

Well i got my boat last week and was giving it the once over and boy at the things i found

when i got home!So far nothing boat related but the trailer! ,the middle guide roller was

flopping around and the bolts were not even tight!This morning i was cleaning it and noticed

one of the three bolts that hold the winch down was loose enough to unscrew with your fingers.

I also noticed that the boat seemed to lean to one side on the trailer,sure enough when the

dealer must have set it up for my boat he had one rail at a sharper angle than the other.Called

over brotherinlaw and nephew to lift the side up,loosen the bracket angle it more and tighten

her down.Boys just make sure everything is right before you leave at boat purchasing time!

[Way2slow]

Wow, was that a dealer supplied trailer or boat manufactor supplied trailer?  Normally the manufactor fits the trailer to the hull.  Believe it or not, that is a very critical deal.  If the trailer is not properly fitted so all rollers and bunk boards are properly positioned they will create all kinds of problems in the hull.  Too much pressure in an area will create hooks and not enough will create rockers.  I've seen hulls that look like tidal waves when a straight edge was placed on them because of improperly adjusted trailers.

[ThomasL]

It is a wesco trailer, weld-craft boat.Should the middle roller touch the hull or just be slightly off it.The

sides of the boat are roughly 2" off the side rails on each side,the bunks are between the ribs on the bottom of the boat,does this seem right? :-[

[Way2slow]

The boat should sit evenly on all rollers and bunks so the hull is fully support but with no one are exerting more pressure than the others.

Is this a glass or aluminum hull? aluminum the bunk will sit between the ribs on the bottom. If it's a glass, the bunks normally are adjusted so there is about 1/2 or so between the inner edge of the bunk and the strakes. This is so it will drive on easily. Both hulls should be resting evenly on the bunks with some weight on the center rollers. Just be carefull with the weight on the center rollers, The bunks support most of the weight and the center roller just privides some support for the pad. Too much weight on one roller and it will put a hook in the hull in short time.

Dumb me, I don't think WeldCraft makes a glass hull.  Drop the rollers, get is sitting evenly on the bunks and adjust the center rollers to the hull with just a small amount of hand pressure holding them while you tighten them.  

If you have to load in current, add some side guides and if in current on steep ramps like some of the rivers I use, you will want side guides and those four foot tall guide bars on each side at the rear and your tail lights mounted up on them.

[ThomasL]

Its aluminum welded,the hull is angled not flat at the bunks so the bunks

themselves are at angles.The front roller is not touching the boat,should i

loosen the mounting bolts and adjust it to touch the boat.

[IneedAnewScreenName9886691]

I agree Thomas.  My buddy has refused delivery on 2 skeeter I-class boats becasue of cracks in the gel coat around the back of the boat.  The dang thing had never been in the water!  I don't think it was stuctural but you buying an 07 the thing better be mint for what they are charging!  

[Jig Man]

Any dealer worth buying a boat from should give you a delivery tour.  It should start on the ground at the front of the trailer and go all the way around the trailer and back to the front.  Then it should go from the front of the boat (tmotor) all the way around (including the motor, prop and stuff under the cowling).  The last part should be a tour inside the boat showing the use of all electronics, switches, livewells, storage boxes, etc.  There should then be a sign off sheet which should be signed by the rigger, the sales person making the delivery and the new owner.  That is the only way you can be sure everything has been looked at.

If they don't do that much, DON'T BUY FROM THEM!!!

[Hot Rod]

I bought a new boat last year.

The dealer did the pre-sale tour and everything looked great.   Then the tech fitted me for the hot foot and screwed the throttle to the floor. While the tech finished up the installation, I went into the sales office and signed the papers then hooked up and drug the boat 150 miles home.

When I got home I decied to wash the road grime off of the boat.  I about fainted when I found a perfect 1/8" hole in the hull.    

The tech had drilled right through the hull when he was drilling the pilot holes for the hot foot.  The dealer made good on it.  He had a driver come and pick it up at my house, fixed it and then paid my gas money for me to pick it up a week later.  But he kind of made me feel like he was doing me a big favor after it was his tech's mistake.

[ThomasL]

After i got home yesterday i started mowing grass and drove behind the boat several times and noticed that the boat looked like it was to one side on the trailer.After i finished mowing i got a tape measure out and measured from the welded strap hook,one side to hull 7 1/2",other side 9".I'll have to get the boat off the trailer,center the bunks and check distance on the side rails also,MAN! :-?