Recommendations on trailer guides?

[Theryan]

I'm looking at getting trailer guides for my 2012 190 (shorelander trailer), and was wondering what you guys recommend.

In doing some searches on here it looks like either CE Smith or VE, but curious what all of you think? Pros/cons? I've never had guides before, but figure that they're probably helpful to have.

I don't want anything that I have to drill or weld, so only bolt on options. And then, are pads for them universal usually?

Thanks!

 

[HangOutdoors]

I use the CE Smith 60" and I absolutely love them. Had actually one bend down good when the Admiral was pulling the trailer out from the dock after launching and I was bummed. I bent it back and it is as sturdy as the other one without issue.

Makes loading, at least for me, much easier. I also have the lighted led tops on mine. Great when conditions suck or low light, I can look through my side mirror and see them backing up and they look cool as well.

 

[biffdotorg]

Aside from all the comments that you don't need them, I have had both CE Smith and Vee Vee guides on my last two trailers. I purchased the Vee Vee guides and my new boat already had the CE Smith guides.

Biggest benefit of the CE is that they are less expensive and can be rigged with LED lights on top. Biggest benefit of the Vee Vee's is they are the strongest guide post on the market, spin on their post for less rubs, and probably the best you can get for the money.

I don't trailer as much as I used to, as we own lake property now. So the CE Smiths don't bother me. They do the job just fine. So there is no wrong choice. Other than buying a set without the pads and covers. Do that, it does help.

And don't worry about going too long. You want the guide to be on your rub rail no matter how deep the landing. And all landings are not created equal. As my avatar states, MN, Land of 10,000 landings and sandbars. And unlike the Corp of Engineer landings, they are all different.

Good luck!

 

[Theryan]

Very helpful, thanks guys!

And, always nice to see another MN person on here!

 

[zipper]

X2 on VeeVee guides for strength, love mine. Having padded vertical rollers guiding your boat is a big benifit when launching and retrieving. I dont care about having lights on top of the posts.

 

[Babin Farms]

I went with the CE 60" guides and some padded covers, very happy with them. Helps put the boat onto the trailer perfectly every time.

 

[biffdotorg]

X2 on VeeVee guides for strength, love mine. Having padded vertical rollers guiding your boat is a big benifit when launching and retrieving. I dont care about having lights on top of the posts.

On our previous SeaDoo X20, we realized how strong the VeeVee guides were as the hull was fatter in the middle. I had centered the boat perfectly on the trailer and pushed the guides up against the rub rail on install. Only to find I could not get the boat off the trailer!! We had to move them out a couple inches.

No worry with that on the Yamaha, as the hulls are not bulging in the middle.

 

[AZMark]

I also have the Veves. Fit great and very strong.
Whatever you get, get longer and if you really need to you can cut them down. Not much $ difference.
I bought mad dog products covers off amazon and very happy with them too. Veve wanted to charge me for shipping the little covers but not the giant heavy guides so I went elsewhere.

 

[mjs5128]

I went with the Veve guides. They're pretty damn strong (believe me, I certainly gave them a run for their money the 1st time I loaded my 195S). Covers also came from VeVe and the lights are from CE Smith.

 

[anmut]

I went with VE VE. Painted them black to match the trailer, added Hyperlite pads from Amazon. We've loaded in some wind and current this summer and haven't bent them at all, still as straight as the day they were put on. They only came with galvanized hardware though and, even though I painted all the plates, I wasn't able to find stainless carriage bolts that were long enough to replace the galvanized with. NBD

 

[biffdotorg]

I went with VE VE. Painted them black to match the trailer, added Hyperlite pads from Amazon. We've loaded in some wind and current this summer and haven't bent them at all, still as straight as the day they were put on. They only came with galvanized hardware though and, even though I painted all the plates, I wasn't able to find stainless carriage bolts that were long enough to replace the galvanized with. NBD

I painted mine as well. Hardware and all.

 

[Ken Sherlaw]

Just installed my Ve-Ve's. Love how well they are built! I didn't think I wanted the really tall ones but realize there are times when taller is better. So I modified mine slightly. Drilled holes 16" up from PVC support, sprayed with Rustoleum zinc to keep from rusting and added pins from Lowe's so I can have longer guides when needed at a steep ramp but have shorter more aesthetically pleasing guides most of the time. Just my personal preference but it works for me.

 

[zipper]

Just installed my Ve-Ve's. Love how well they are built! I didn't think I wanted the really tall ones but realize there are times when taller is better. So I modified mine slightly. Drilled holes 16" up from PVC support, sprayed with Rustoleum zinc to keep from rusting and added pins from Lowe's so I can have longer guides when needed at a steep ramp but have shorter more aesthetically pleasing guides most of the time. Just my personal preference but it works for me.

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Good idea and you retain the vertical roller capability of the VeVe's. I have the long ones, love'em.

 

[throttlebc]

We have the 60" CE posts with the LEDs on top and so far so good. Last night in a moderate current we bent one a few degrees, but they are a great way to position the boat on the first or second try. My wife and I are new to this and the posts make it easy for us to get it loaded. She's in the boat and I'm backing up the trailer and getting it attached to the trailer. It was a PITA to run the wire down the posts, so I'm hoping they don't bend too much. Steel is generally pretty flexible so I figure we can get it out of sorts several times before it weakens.

 

[GTBRMC]

60" VeeVee guides. Flawless performance for many years. Saved my bacon more than once.

I had Screamin' Sacs covers (or something like that). They faded in the sun a bit, but were otherwise also flawless. Note: Unfortunately, Screamin' Sacs went out of business years ago.

Edit: I believe I actually had 65" Ve-Ve guides. Great product.

 

[Yamahaul]

i just today put on the veve 65" mounted underneath. was pretty simple with someone holding the pole. also got the black cover as well. fits real nice over the pipe. they seem to roll super easy also when i will slam the boat into them for the first time this weekend.

 

[Ronnie]

I’ve had these for around 10 years now, liked them so much that I moved them from my previous trailer to my current trailer. O prefer these because of the single piece design where the guide itself is concerned. These are also a little less expensive than most competing brands. The bend in the middle of the guides seems to to a better job Of centering the boat on the trailer.

I added lights for another $20 or so. Pads seem to be universal width and ID wise but they come in different lengths, I’ve just accepted they will probably need to replaced every three or four years as long as I store the boat outside.

 

[VADER332]

I was on the Ve-Ve website and looking at the trailer guide post. Which length did you choose? Thanks.

 

[zipper]

I was on the Ve-Ve website and looking at the trailer guide post. Which length did you choose? Thanks.

65" on our AR230. With covers.

 

[VADER332]

65" on our AR230. With covers.

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Thank you.