What diameter of pipe should I be using to make verticle boat trailer guides?-gctid818391

[dockofthebay]

I don't want to afford the cost of a trailer guides kit. I can make it. The uprights need to be about 6 or 7 feet high. Its for a 29 ft boat. What diameter pipe should I use? Then I plan to cover that with PVC.

Thank You

[HueyCrew]

Good luck dock... I favorited your thread since I too plan on going the same route. With the exception of "fun time" I'm a one man crew LOL!

[builderdude]

My guide poles are 2" PVC pipe slid over the top of 1 1/2 galvinized square stock with one bolt to secure it. The top 2/3 or so of the PVC has no square stock inside. Pipes are 5' in length and I've screwed large pet tennis balls to the top to keep the pipes from scratching the hull while loading.

[yachtman]

Mine are 2 inch square tube. Attached like a trailer receiver hitch so I can remove them quickly. If you run into them with any power anything less that 2 inch will bend over. I understand the idea is to not hit them but you know. Stuff happens.

[builderdude]

"yachtman" post=818420 wrote:
Mine are 2 inch square tube. Attached like a trailer receiver hitch so I can remove them quickly. If you run into them with any power anything less that 2 inch will bend over. I understand the idea is to not hit them but you know. Stuff happens.

Yep, it's why I walk the boat onto the trailer.

[Guest]

I went to a muffler place and bought some 1 1/4" o/s diameter exhaust pipe. I made a pattern with my boat on the trailer, brought it with me and had them bend it to the shape I needed. Welded a plate to the bottom end that bolted to my trailer frame. 1 1/2" abs pipe slides right over top to protect the boats haul and glued an orange 1 1/2" test cap on the top end. Wrapped a strip of DOT reflective white tape at the top for viibility at night when backing up to the boat launch to load the boat when there isn't any lighting at the ramp.

[dockofthebay]

Gentlemen, that is exactly the information I needed. Thank you so much.

[Neo]

Had an Electrician buddy bend some galvanized 1-1/4 Rigid conduit and covered with 1-1/2 and 2" with a cap for a floating post/roller...

[Dadrock33]

"builderdude" post=818410 wrote:
My guide poles are 2" PVC pipe slid over the top of 1 1/2 galvinized square stock with one bolt to secure it. The top 2/3 or so of the PVC has no square stock inside. Pipes are 5' in length and I've screwed large pet tennis balls to the top to keep the pipes from scratching the hull while loading.

+1 . . . almost exactly what mine are (were - boat sold) . . . . the PVC can spin on the square stock so that it doesn't rub, per se . . .

[RPrather]

I built mine out of schedule 80 2" square tube. I had our boiler welders weld the 90 deg. angles and I used axle U bolts a attach them to the trailer one at each end of the fenders. I used treated 2X6 carpeted lumber for the side bunks.

[dockofthebay]

That all sounds excellent. Hopefully what I bought works as well.

We took our old pool down cuz the liner had a hole. So I used the white powder coated vertical pool supports and put two together for 84' over all height on each trailer upright.

I decided to make 4 guides for my boat. Yesterday I went to Lowes and bought 4 sets of 3/8" thick 10" on a side steel L brackets, 4"X7" steel U Joints, and 10ft long sched 40, 1 1/2" PVC to go over the pool pipes, and finally a set of lock washers. Ill post pictures when it is all done. For a set of 4 of each I paid total of $68 and change. I was thrilled because to buy a set up like that would comparatively have easily been $150 or more.

I also have a can of clear coat spray laying around that I will paint the raw steel brackets and U joints with.

Neo and Dadrock, I may add 2" PVC over the ones I bought for the floating roller idea. I like that.

Again guys thank you so much for the information you shared. This website is priceless.