Installing Trailer Guideposts

Launching your boat and then pulling it out of the water at the end of the day can be two of the more challenging aspects of the boating experience.

by Steve Noury

April 1, 2006

A number of different factors can cause you to have problems with lining up your boat squarely on the trailer. To make your job easier, install guideposts on your trailer - they'll basically do the job of lining up the boat for you. In this article, guideposts manufactured by Shipshape Trailer Parts and supplied by West Marine (www.westmarine.com) are installed.

Step 1
The first step when you're installing a trailer guidepost is to attach U-bolt brackets to both sides of the frame near the rear of the trailer. These brackets will hold the guideposts upright and in place. The best position for these brackets is located just behind the wheel well, approximately a foot or so from the rear end of the
trailer frame on each side. This placement will maximize your guidance when pulling the boat onto the trailer. The Shipshape Trailer Parts test kit provides brackets that can be installed on either of two standard-size trailer frames - a 2-inch-wide frame, or a 3-inch-wide frame. Once they're in place, begin tightening the lock nuts on the U-bolt brackets to secure them to the trailer frame, but don't over-tighten them, as you'll need enough room to allow for the guidepost to slide into the bracket.

Step 2
The next step is to insert the L-shaped aluminum guideposts into the brackets on both sides of the trailer. Don't install the guideposts unless the boat is on the trailer. It would be easier in terms of getting to and attaching the brackets, but once you get to this step, if the boat isn't on the trailer, you won't know how wide apart to set the posts. If they aren't wide enough, you won't be able to get the boat on the trailer. If they're too wide, then they won't be much help in guiding you onto the trailer. With that said, slide the guidepost into the bracket so that the upright portion is about 2 to 3 inches from the side of the boat. Continue tightening the lock nuts on the U-bolts so that the bracket sits flush and tightly on the frame. The guidepost will move slightly inward as you begin to tighten the bracket, so adjust accordingly to keep the uprights 2 to 3 inches from the sides of the boat.

Step 3
Next, slide the white PVC-type covering over the top and down onto the upright. This covering will give the posts a clean look, and will also help to protect your hull from scratches when driving it onto the trailer. Also supplied with the test product is a cap that fits nicely on the top of the PVC covering and finishes off its look. To keep the trailer lights on the guideposts (discussed in step 4) from swiveling around in the wind while riding down the road, you'll need to drill a hole at the bottom of the covering just above the bend in the L-shaped post. Drill the hole all the way through the covering, into the post, and out the other side. Once the hole is drilled, you'll be able to insert a bolt or pin through the hole to keep the covering from moving. It's a good idea to use a pin rather than a bolt, as it will be easier to remove if you need to do so.

Step 4
Installing trailer lights on the tops of your guideposts is a good idea because it'll improve your lights' durability and trailer's visibility. Hold the light bracket in place near the top of the PVC covering and mark the holes for drilling. Remove the bracket, drill two 5/16-inch holes, then attach the brackets to each post. Next, attach each light to the respective bracket on each post with the lock nuts provided. Drill a hole in the PVC covering just below each bracket and feed the wires from the light down through the covering, out the bottom, and over to the inside frame of the trailer. You can use standard plastic lock-ties to secure the wiring to the frame. The wires can now be connected to the existing trailer light wiring by using a butt terminal connector. Match the color-coded wires appropriately when attaching the butt-connector.