Re: Hogging, was Trailer Modifications

SolarFry@aol.com
Wed, 26 Aug 1998 18:47:47 EDT


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Hogging (rocker) happens in large ( 18'++)motorboats that do not have the
stern supported. According to OMC It happens because the weight of the motor,
batteries and fuel plus heat, gravity and vibration force stern behind the
bunks down deforming fiberglass if the bunks do not reach and support the
stern. So if the bunks reach only to within 12" of stern The 500 lb outboard
on the stern, plus the 40lb battery, oil container and fuel tanks will force
the rear 12" to bend down behind the bunks. It is not something that will
happen to a Potter because the Potter comes with built in rocker... the Potter
does not have a straight bottom required by powerboats to plane... the Potter
does not have a 500lb outboard hanging off the stern full time...

My personal experience with rollers is --> The rollers' metal insert rusts
against the pins and lock tight. After 6 months they stop rolling completely
and start scratching... Bunks properly used are a hell of a lot better. Plus
they don't lock and scrape the bottom as bad as locked rollers.... The bunks
should be wet and above water from the trailer wheels forward (dip it and pull
it). That way they automatically center boat as you winch it up...
I power my motorboat onto the trailer. I winch the Potter onto the same
trailer..
I dip stern and slam brakes on to launch both. They slide right off...

Best
SF

In a message dated 98-08-25 12:36:13 EDT, you write:

<< Subj: Hogging, was Trailer Modifications
Date: 98-08-25 12:36:13 EDT
From: Sam.Finlay@ey.com (Sam Finlay)
To: wwpotter@tscnet.com
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Bill,
I haven't seen your trailer set up but from what I've read on the subject
hogging is unlikely. Hogging or the sagging of a vessel's ends only occurs in
wooden
boats and only traditionally constructed ones at that. Your boat might
develop cracks
or even break in two ( not a good thing! ) but it can't hog.
Your concern about support is a good one but maybe you can get by w/ longer
bunks?
I've always wondered about the roller versions as they seem to me to
concentrate the
loads on the hull in several points ( where each roller contacts the hull )
rather than spread
over a wide area as with conventional bunks. Rollers are quite tempting
though as they should
make loading a lot easier. I'm sure someone in the Potter group has
more detailed information about this and I'd like to know more...
Sam
Indomitable, P-15
Luray VA

I apparently have the original trailer that you get when you
order it with the Potter 19. It seems a little short, and I'm
somewhat worried about it hogging on me. Unfortunately, I may
not be able to afford a replacement trailer yet. (I've not yet
checked the prices, I'm afraid to! ;-)

However, I am thinking about modifying my existing trailer. It
is the one with the long carpet covered rails and the two short
rails on either side of the keel at the end of the trailer. One
keel roller up forward and that's it. What I'm thinking of doing
is replacing all these flat rails with rollers instead. West
Marine, for example, has some roller rails the same length as
the current carpet covered ones. I'd like to replace the two
small (<=1') at the end of the trailer with a double roller set-up
as well (two rollers on each side of the keel, in line to replace
the small rails there).

Comments? Recommendations? (I'm not asking for opinions, I know
I'll get those! ;-)

Bill B.
P-19 #454 Dream Catcher
Nampa, ID
>>