Stoltz Bow Roller Definitive Answer

[Sotally Tober]

I've seen so many different variations of the Stoltz Bow Roller for my boat... can someone tell me DEFINITIVELY the ideal set up for a 2019 242SE?

Stoltz 336 Bow Stop - 3"W bracket: Stoltz Ultimate 336 Bow Stop, fits 3"W bracket

Stoltz RP-446 Roller - 4 inch Roller: 25430-K-4 Inch Stoltz Semi-V Bow Roller Kit

Stoltz 3.5 inch for Yamaha Shorelander Trailer: 3.5 inch Stoltz Bow Roller with Bells for Yamaha Jet Boat- S

 

[WildCatFan54]

I can tell you definitively because I made the mistake of buying the 4" RP446 roller & bells first. It will fit in the trailer fork BUT is so tight the roller will not turn without extreme pressure. Not the ideal situation. I then purchased the 3.5" advertised specifically for the Yamaha / Shorelander trailer combo and it is perfect. Roller and Bells turn easily by hand. I guess "ideal" is in the eyes of the beholder BUT the 3.5" is by far the better of the two for me. I think the 3" would be way too small for the 24' trailers.

 

[BigAbe75]

3.5” for sure. But, if I was doing it again, I’d get the knobby ends instead of the bells. The bells still get all bent up when you suck up tight.

 

[Sotally Tober]

3.5” for sure. But, if I was doing it again, I’d get the knobby ends instead of the bells. The bells still get all bent up when you suck up tight.

That was my concern and one of the reasons why I posted this thread. I'm having trouble finding the knobby end version. They all seem to be on back order...

 

[Dixie Highway]

RP-446 and
RP-325 end bells. The contour fits a 21’ hull perfectly. I don’t care if the roller spins, once the boat is tight it will no longer spin, seems like a moot point. No deformation of the bells either.

 

[Markk]

I have 2018 24’ 242. RP-446 fits perfect and spins easily. Fits hull better than my previous Rollers. Boat loads on trailer much easier. Roller material is strong enough to hold shape even under great force.

 

[Sotally Tober]

Just ordered the RP-446 knobby roller. Can these be installed with the boat still on the trailer?

 

[JDRacing]

Just ordered the RP-446 knobby roller. Can these be installed with the boat still on the trailer?

Yes, I was able to do so. When you release the tension on the winch, the bow rises a few inches off the roller, leaving plenty of room to swap them.

Jeff

 

[BigAbe75]

Just ordered the RP-446 knobby roller. Can these be installed with the boat still on the trailer?

On my 210, yes. On my 242, no. I had to do it at the ramp.

 

[JDRacing]

On my 210, yes. On my 242, no. I had to do it at the ramp.

Interesting. I wonder if simply putting the trailer on an incline would help unweight the bow enough on the 24 foot boats?

 

[BigAbe75]

Interesting. I wonder if simply putting the trailer on an incline would help unweight the bow enough on the 24 foot boats?

Probably would have helped, actually.

 

[Dixie Highway]

I think it depends how your boat is seated on the trailer. I was unable to even with the winch loose, so I ended up raising the front of the boat with a block of wood and floor jack. Once complete, Lowered it back down and strap in.

 

[Markk]

Just ordered the RP-446 knobby roller. Can these be installed with the boat still on the trailer?

I replaced on (2)24’, a 2014 and 2018. Both boats were pushing down on the roller to the point I could use a single socket wrench to take off the lock nut. typically for this bolt/nut combo you’d have to put a wrench on both sides. After lock but is loose I pushed boat back a foot into the water to swap rollers. On my trailers I could not have swapped without access to water.

However, I have been thinking that both of my bow stops are adjusted too high from factory. My boat bow has to climb when loading. I’m thinking of adjusting the bow roller arm lower for easier loading.

 

[WildCatFan54]

Bells or Knobby Ends can be a matter of personal preference. No right or wrong answer. Pretty sure the name "Bow Roller" implies that it was designed to spin as the nose rides up ?? Granted none of them are going to spin once the full weight of boat is applied. I bring the bow eye up to within a couple inches below roller. My reason for trashing the OE plastic roller was to prevent gelcoat scuffing and scratching. Something that does not spin is far more likely to scuff.

 

[Rammrodd]

I used the 4 inch kit with bell ends. Mine is on a 19 foot so the nose isn't as wide as a 24 but, the big thing is the depth of the 4 inch roller compared to the 3.5 inch roller. The 3.5 is too deep for these boats and therefore the hull will contact the bell rollers. For the boat to be secure, you don't need to have it against the bells, the nose into the center roller is plenty. The bells are there for a guide/guard purpose. I trimmed off the ends of the 4 inch roller for a better fit. Works perfectly.

 

[AZMark]

I posted this elsewhere but I’m not super happy with the small end bells. I feel like they don’t have enough material to keep the hull away from the metal brackets if you don’t hit the middle roller perfectly square.
That said I’m not sure if the flimsy bells would have helped either but I was going to try the mid sized ones (RP-435) but haven’t gotten around to it.
I may end up just grinding the metal down a bit but that’s a bitch with the boat on the trailer.

 

[AZMark]

Based on the big scratch in my gelcoat mine obviously has to climb up the roller quite a bit too like @Markk mentioned.

 

[212s]

Anyone know of a Canadian location to order the 3.5" Stoltz?

 

[Liftr]

My stock roller busted out in fantastic fashion last week.
i replaced with the Stoltz 446 and small outer bells. The outer bells don’t appear to make any contact with the boat pulled up snugly to the hasp.

edit to add: the stock roller is not shown against the boat hull, that is post removal, laying on the lid of my garbage can!

 

[Canuckjetboater]

I've seen so many different variations of the Stoltz Bow Roller for my boat... can someone tell me DEFINITIVELY the ideal set up for a 2019 242SE?

Stoltz 336 Bow Stop - 3"W bracket: Stoltz Ultimate 336 Bow Stop, fits 3"W bracket

Stoltz RP-446 Roller - 4 inch Roller: 25430-K-4 Inch Stoltz Semi-V Bow Roller Kit

Stoltz 3.5 inch for Yamaha Shorelander Trailer: 3.5 inch Stoltz Bow Roller with Bells for Yamaha Jet Boat- S

@Sotally Tober .....just purchased the Stoltz roller specifically made for the 19 foot Yamahas that c/w a Shorelandr Trailer. Stoltz told me to get the 3.5" Stoltz RP355 Model as that is what was meant for the Yamaha SX195. We'll see, it should arrive within a week or so. BTW a friend puts a soft covered fender cover over his rollers and has never even had a scuff.