bow stop roller and bob stay

[DanaDCole]

There is something I don't understand about the bob stay--maybe it will become clear when I rig the boat. The trailer's bow stop roller is above the bow eye, so it and it's support stand are in the way of the bob stay. Do you have to remove the bob stay when you trailer the boat, or am I missing something?

[craig]

The way Pocketship #1's trailer is set up, yes. John has commented on that before (somewhere). I don't know why the bow roller is so high.

[DanaDCole]

It just occurred to me to take a look at the picture that I shot of Charlie Huie's boat sitting on the trailer. I can see that he has lowered the stop roller down below the bow eye. So that's the answer. I was afraid to try that, thinking ithe roller might need to be high to help hold the boat upright, but obviously I was wrong.

[chaertl]

The one advantage to having the bow roller higher is safety. When it's down low like it would be under the pad eye the boat can run over it in an accident and wind up on top of you. with it up higher it will either stop it from coming forward or deflect it the side instead of on top of the car. Unpleasant thing to think of but around the Twin Cities we have several accidents with boats being towed every year. My worst fear is being rear ended while towing, already rolled the previous trailer.

Chris

[DanaDCole]

So how do you install the bob stay--after the boat is in the water?

[chaertl]

Hi Dana,

Just a shackle on the bob stay. The West Marine part number is 116301. As long as there's no tension on the jib halyard it's just a matter of attaching it to the bow eye with a half turn of the pin. You can attach it ounce the boat is pushed back about two feet on the trailer. Here's a link to the West Marine page.

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/wichard-- ... 60_004_504

Take care,

Chris

[DanaDCole]

Thanks Chris. Just more evidence my mind is going I guess. I knew about the shackle and may already have one, but somehow I didn't make the connection. I plan to modify my trailer by removing the bottom of the keel trough and replacing it with rollers, so that will make it even easier I think.