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Here'e the description of the problem from the original post:
I am posting a few pictures of what I consider to be a major design flaw that other Venture trailer owners should be aware about.
The front "V" bunk is made as two separate pieces, with a joint in the middle where all of the vertical pressure of the keel sits while the boat is loaded. It also has all of the horizontal pressure of the keel when loading or launching the boat. If this were not bad enough, they are each attached with only two 5/16" hex head coarse threaded "zip" screws. The bunks taper to a half inch where they butt together and are the exact same width as the cross-member that they are attached to. If there is any wear here, your keel will be guided by a SHARP 90 degree piece of aluminum. If one of the tiny screws pull out or fail like mine did, the results will be significant keel damage.
My boat is brand new with 16 hours on it. The trailer is also brand new. It has eight launches and loads on it and the screw closest to the "V" on the port side broke while I was loading the boat yesterday. By the time I felt something was wrong, it was too late. I pulled the boat leaving it about 2' short of the winch roller. This prevented further damage to the keel. I was able to knock the "V" bunk back into place and secure the boat for the ride home.
The pictures show the damage, and the port side bunk starting to rotate forward. This was just from the ride home. When I pulled the boat, it was nearly parallel to the keel.. I also am posting a picture of the tiny bolt that is supposed to withstand all of that pressure. I noticed some minor gel-coat damage the last time I loaded the boat. I even posted a question last week about it. I thought it was from hitting a cross-member on a steep ramp, but now I am convinced that the "V" bunk had already started to give way enough to do some damage
Before I get some bashers here, the boat is new; however, this is my fourth boat. I am an experienced boater of 18 years. All of which have been trailered boats. I fish around 30 days a year, so that would equate to more than 500 trips to the ramp. I've gotten pretty good at it, and I have seen a lot, but never a failure from such a poorly thought out design.
Thanks My Turn! That is EXACTLY what I had in mind for the modification.
Venture is what my boat dealer sold. I honestly didn't really shop the trailer. It does tow well, but they certainly could have done better with the front bunk!
I've talked to quite a few people and that seems to be the consensus. I will be contacting Venture soon. I also found out they offer an "optional" front bunk like the one in "My Turns" picture. Wish I knew sooner. It still doesn't make this failure OK.
I really need to find out if it needs to go back to Scout for the repair to avoid voiding the hull warranty. I'm waiting to hear back from the dealer. Does anyone know a good repair facility in NJ to take a look at it?
I went back and read to make sure you got the trailer WITH the Scout - FROM the dealer!
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, the DEALER decided which trailer was best-suited for the boat - therefore, the DEALER should take responsibility for the failure, and subsequent damage to the hull!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The DEALER should NEVER have put that (or ANY boat!) boat on THAT trailer - THEY are to blame!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Crappy design by VENTURE, but the DEALER shouldn't be using a trailer with that "bunk" design - for obvious reasons! If there IS an "optional" bunk that would have worked better, and prevented the damage, then the dealer should NOT have sold you that particular trialer withOUT it! Let the dealer fight it out with VENTURE on the repair bill!
I see you live in NJ, and assume the boat is located there? If that is true, it'll cost a LOT to have the boat sent back to Scout for repairs. Given that, I'd find a GOOD "local" FG shop (of YOUR choice!) that specializes in BOATS, have them do an estimate, take the estimate to the DEALER, and make THEM pay for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would ALSO send pics to Scout to make sure this won't void any future warranty claims, as well as have the DEALER state - IN WRITING - that it WON'T! I don't think Scout will have any problems with it, but they may ask you (via the FG shop you pick) to furnish a detailed description of the damage.
1) Talk to the dealer - nicely(?), but STERN, about how upset you are with the trailer damage that HE should pay for, and tell him you plan on having it fixed, at HIS expense! That's only FAIR!
2) Call Scout and discuss the matter and see what they may/may not need, info wise (pics, description of damage by FG shop, etc.), and whether or not it may affect any future hull warranty claims.
3) Get the estimate and present to the dealer - with the full disclosure that HE will get the bill!
4) Get EVERYTHING IN WRITING from the dealer, as well as anything Scout may want or offer to provide in the way of warranty confirmation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4) KEEP US POSTED - I would imagine that Scout wouldn't like their boats being sold on a trailer that tears up the hull!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry for the rant - I'd be MAD, too - probably more than you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'll be honest with you. I think that not only was that the wrong trailer set up, but I don't even think that that type of trailer is designed to have the boat resting on that area while on the trailer, no matter what boat is on it. So it was adjusted wrong too.
Even if those trailers are "Budget" or "Price" trailers, there is no way the manufacturer entended for a boat hull to be constantly resting on those bunks which such small screws holding them in place.
It looks like those pads are just there much like the rubber pads you see on the other trailer pictured. Their just in place to protect the hull if it happens to make contact while it is being loaded on the trailer. Those rubber pads on My Turn's trailer are not meant to have the boat resting on them either, just there to protect the boat keel while loading the boat. I think your pads you have pictured are just a different way to pad the cross beams. The manufacturer just makes them instead of buying the rubber ones from an outside source.
My trailer looks exactly like the one pictured in My Turn's post.
Hate to see that kind of damage on any boat, but especially a new one. Hope it works out for you.
__________________ My boat
Clearwater 2400 Baystar
200 HP Yamaha 4 stroke
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Bruce W, Doorkicker and others that have offered advise and input- Thanks you for for your posts. My thoughts have basically parallelled many of your thoughts.
At this point I just want it fixed the RIGHT way with respect to both the trailer and boat. I have the flexibility to take the boat back to Scout myself if that's the BEST way to keep warranty in tact. I am fortunate enough to maintain my stuff with an open checkbook, so I am OK with the expenses I will incur if it needs to go back to Scout. The boat is also fully insured if it gets to an insane amount of money, which I don't think it will.
I also want to reiterate that this post is to inform other boaters of the possible damage that can occur with this bunk design. Hopefully this can help owners like NJ208 who have a similar set up.
I have spoke to my dealer who was helpful with facilitating a contact with both Venture and Scout to reassure the repairs are done correctly and by authorized facilities. I will post the results as I know more.
242, i have the same trailer, except mine is a roller. I think doorkicker is correct, it looks like the trailer was set up wrong.
My boat hull doesn't rest on the padded v, there is about a 3 inch gap between the hull on my boat and the padded v when loaded on the trailer. I'm not 100% sure, but i don't think the hull even touches it much when loading or unloading, if it does it is ever so slightly. I'm pretty sure the hull isn't supposed to be resting on the padded v bunk.
On the other hand, it is a bad design, and after seeing this i think it would be worthwhile to either get the optional front bunk, or in my case get some front rollers just to make sure the hull doesn't get beat up by the padded v.
Really sorry to see the damage done, that's enough to make anyone sick, especially on a new boat.
Keep us posted on what the dealer and Venture say, and how they handle it. I am very curious.
Hope all turns out ok!
I haven't heard back from Venture yet about the bunk design, or if the setup of the bunks/keel resting on the V bunks is normal. I have requested that they send me the parts or make arrangements for the optional guide bunks to be installed by a Venture dealer. I don't think that is too much to ask for and I hope they oblige.
My Scout dealer has seen this problem before. I didn't even have to describe how it happened. My only complaint would be that I wish I was told about the optional bunk setup, but I can not fault the dealer for the design of the trailer. My dealer has also been helpful with facilitating getting it resolved. I have to take the responsibility as the consumer not doing enough research on the trailer's construction and specifications prior to purchasing it. Again, this still doesn't excuse the design.
I did talk to Alan Lang (National sales manager for Scout) and he has been a great help with advise on getting the boat repaired. He even offered to send me the gel coat. He and Scout have always been quick to answer all of my questions before, during and after my new boat purchase. They have truly been top notch.
I agree with Bruce,the dealer is the one who sets up the trailer.It's not the trailer quality that's at fault at all. Venture make a pretty good trailer. Car dealers or boat dealers sometimes hate to see me in their yard,with over 30 years of Quality Control on my plate I go over things most consumers overlook. It's a good example of why I prefer roller trailers over bunk trailers for most boats over 19' .
the dealer is the one who sets up the trailer.It's not the trailer quality that's at fault at all. Venture make a pretty good trailer.
The dealer didn't come up with that poor bunk design and then decide to use 2 small screws when they should have used some 3/8 lag bolts
[img][/img]
Quote:
Car dealers or boat dealers sometimes hate to see me in their yard,with over 30 years of Quality Control on my plate I go over things most consumers overlook.
Yet you still missed the inadequate screws?
Quote:
It's a good example of why I prefer roller trailers over bunk trailers for most boats over 19' .
Trailer design has NOTHING to do with trailer quality.
__________________
That is crap.
Which idiot told you that CO2 only makes up 0.039% of the atmosphere?
QUOTE] Trailer design has NOTHING to do with trailer quality.[/quote]
Bingo! But it was the dealer who chose the trailer and set it up for your boat! A bunk trailer should have adjustable mounting brackets for the bunks. Hull shapes vary to a wide degree,from your pic of the trailer I don't see multiple mtg holes on the bunk brackets. If that's the case,the trailer is a one shot deal.The only adjustments that can be made is the winch bracket locationadjusting how far up or back the boat sits on the trailer. With a roller trailer the rollers are onpivoting bogiesand self adjust to the contour of the hull. Bottom line....It never should have happened, I hope you can get it resolved without going through anymore headaches.
Hi Jay. It's actually my trailer- not A Few Dollars, but I do agree with his statement that the dealer is not responsible for the quality or design of the trailer.
Right now the jury is still out on the setup. Apparently, the front V guide bunk is never adjustable. The main bunks on my trailer; however, are adjustable. The question is: Is the boat's keel supposed to rest on the V bunks when loaded? If it's not then the rear bunks are set too low. I don't know if the dealer or Venture determined the bunk height. The trailer was ordered at the time I ordered the boat. It was not on the dealer's lot, so my guess would be the trailer was ordered with a predetermined bunk spec. Why would the dealer want to make adjustments if they knew what boat was going to sit on it?
I've attached another picture showing the whole boat and trailer. If the boat is not supposed to rest on the front V bunk, it would seem that the main bunks could be short. They start at the transom and go a little past midship leaving a fair amount of the hull weight cantelievered up front. As you will see it is a walkaround, so there is some weight up there.
I'm really looking forward to hearing from Venture.
242AB - 6/17/2008 6:34 PM I haven't heard back from Venture yet.............................. My Scout dealer has seen this problem before. I didn't even have to describe how it happened. My only complaint would be that I wish I was told about the optional bunk setup, but I can not fault the dealer for the design of the trailer. My dealer has also been helpful with facilitating getting it resolved. I have to take the responsibility as the consumer not doing enough research on the trailer's construction and specifications prior to purchasing it. ......
Venture is going to blame set-up at the dealer, and I agree 100%.... Sorry 242, I agree with Jay A 100%... The dealer selected and set up the trailer. He sold you a package that was not set up properly... Whether it is substandard quality compared to another brand or not has nothing to do with it. The trailer should have been set up so it is impossible to hit the crossmember with the keel.
What Jay A. and Afishinado (and others) have said is the bottom line - even if the dealer ordered the trailer specifically set up for YOUR boat, it's still set up WRONG!
It's the responsibility of the DEALER to ultimately place the boat on the trailer and make SURE their are NO issues with overall boat/motor weight, proper clearances, tongue weight, overall weight distribution, etc. - as you have stated, there may be too MUCH weight "forward", and the V-bunk (if you could CALL it that!) is certainly not adequate for ANY boat!
Bad "design" - YEAH! Bad "setup" by the dealer - YEAH!
I'm SURE you're looking at $1K or so for a proper repair - keep ON the dealer to take care of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you guys for the input. I am still waiting to hear from Venture. I agree it is a combination of bad design and bad setup. Like I mentioned before, my dealer has seen this before, so that does bother me that they would keep delivering boat/trailer setups that can potentially cause damage. I'm going to wait to hear Venture's input before I get back with the dealer.
Ironically, the boat's weight distribution on the trailer is perfect. It tows great with no bucking caused by too heavy or light tongue weight. It all comes down to the bunk setup.
You are right on with the $1000.00 repair. I have gotten a couple guesstimates based on the pictures and they are $800-$1,400.
ATT: Venture trailer owners- pictures 
Crappy design by VENTURE, but the DEALER shouldn't be using a trailer with that "bunk" design - for obvious reasons! 
If there IS an "optional" bunk that would have worked better, and prevented the damage, then the dealer should NOT have sold you that particular trialer withOUT it! Let the dealer fight it out with VENTURE on the repair bill! 
