How to Install
Installation Guide
Before you install
Installation process
Installation resources
Installation FAQ's
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Installation process
Congratulations! You’ve made the awesome decision to install the L & R Boat Latch system. Here’s everything you need to get the process started!
- Note: Fibreglass vs. Aluminium boat installation
The main difference between installing on a fibreglass or aluminium boat is the snare type that you’ll use. Otherwise installation follows exactly the same process below.
Step 1: Align your trailer rollers
Your boat may need to be aligned to the centreline of the trailer. Your boat will move more easily on the trailer, and requires less force to move it, when it’s properly aligned.
To check your alignment, release the winch. The bow of the boat needs to be in line with the base plate of the latch. If it’s not – then you’ll need to align the trailer rollers/slides.
Rule is:-
- L equals R
- H1 equals H2
Release the winch. The bow of the boat then should be lined up with tow point:
- middle of winch post
- middle of the winch drum
- middle of the roller/v-block
- middle of bow of the boat
If not check with the tape measure and follow the procedure shown here.
Step 2: Move the winch post
You will need to move the winch post on the trailer in order to replace the U-bolt with a snare, either fibreglass or aluminium depending on your boat type. This is generally easy to do by simply loosening the bolts securing the winch post and sliding it out of the way.
Step 3: Install the snare
On fibreglass boats
Choose your snare. Your snare needs to be fitted, and you need to choose the right snare for your boat. Typically the Fibreglass Snare is used for fibreglass, wood, poly, steel, Jet Ski boats, or where a U-bolt is used in place of an aluminium towing eye.
Fit your snare to your trailer. Snare fitting may require you to ream out the holes by ½” (12.5mm) to increase their size and use spacer washers or sleeves (for aluminium towing eyes).
Clean and lubricate. Be sure to clean the threads and use a lubricant as stainless steel has a bad habit of seizing up.
Select the right-sized spacer washer. Place the polished washer on the snare and apply silicone to seal the hull when mounted.
Finalise placement. Place the other space on the threads that penetrate inside the boat. Then tighten the nylon locking nuts onto each thread. You may need to cut off excess thread.
Place the other spacer on the threads that penetrate inside the boat.
Note that the short section is ‘UP’. You will be attaching the winch coupling to this ‘top hole’.
On aluminium boats
- Choose your snare. Your snare needs to be fitted, and you need to choose the right snare for your boat. Towing Eye Snares are typically used for aluminium boats.
- Fit your snare to your trailer. Snare fitting may require you to ream out the holes by ½” (12.5mm) to increase their size and use spacer washers or sleeves (for aluminium towing eyes).
- Clean and lubricate. Be sure to clean the threads and use a lubricant as stainless steel has a bad habit of seizing up. To overcome the reaction between the stainless steel and the aluminium, smear a coating of Duralac as corrosion protection between dissimilar metals.
- Select the right-sized spacer washer. Place the polished washer on the snare and apply silicone to seal the hull when mounted. A spacer can ‘sleeve’ the towing eye holes if needed. The washers are to pack the gap between the aluminium towing eye and the snare. Please note, you don’t have to use these sleeves, they’re here to help take up the slack and minimise the potential movement under the load.
- Finalise placement. Place the other space on the threads that penetrate inside the boat. Then tighten the nylon locking nuts onto each thread. You may need to cut off excess thread. There are, in most cases, two potential positions – high and low. This allows a different position in relation to the rubber roller. Low is usually best. Depending on your trailer set-up you may need to use the Roller Extender option.
Image Key: (a) Hole for shackle for the winch hook. (b) Best Roller position for ‘wedging’ the boat. (c) The ‘Latched’ boat should be held about here. The point the Latch first hits should be about here. Allow for ‘kick-up’ as it approaches if you ‘gun’ it too hard. (d) Safety chain attaches here.
Step 4: Mounting the latch on the trailer
Image Key: (a) Lever to set Launch or Retrieve.
Image Key: (b) Without the bolt you could void the warranty.
There’s a wide range of trailer setups, but typically the latch should be bolted underneath the winch platform. It is important that the latch is fully supported – not just hanging out in space. Any impact (for example, as commonly happens with the wharf) can bend the latch base plate.
Where there is no support we have an extra latch support available which is part of the Wedge Kit.
The front of the latch must be properly held by the latch bolt. Secure the front latch bolt to a sturdy support, such as a winch post or latch support, by drilling a hole for it through the support.
Without this bolt in the proper position you will void any warranties. If necessary, you should trim the bolt end so there is clearance for the shift lever to move freely. Remember to always use spring washers on nuts (and/or nylon locking nuts) so the bolts don’t work loose.
Some winch types will need more than two bolts, and high tensile varieties.
Step 5: Adjust latch position relative to snare
For optimal use, the goal is to ensure that there is a gap of approximately one finger width (thumb width max) between the rollers and the bow.
To achieve this, adjust [a], [b] and [c] so that the gap [f] between the snare and the bar on the latch equals 1 finger width (20mm or ¾”). The latch should move aside to give a finger spacing.
It’s important that the snare on the boat is central. If it’s not, the boat may not be properly aligned on the trailer. See step (1).
Roller Extender – Option
Used where the roller needs to be able to project out further to the bow. More commonly required on Towing Eye (Aluminium) boats. Endless variation of boats and trailers results in the inability to get the roller in the best position sometimes.
To use the Roller Extender, you will need 6 x M12 (1/2”) galvanised bolts 25mm (1”) long with washers and nylon locking nuts.
Step 6: Adjusting the winch support post & tightening the nuts
The winch support post can be adjusted both in its base position and height. Once you have determined that the winch support post is in the correct position by the finger test, tighten all the nuts and bolts on the system.
Image Key: (a) Adjust height. (b) Adjust base position.
Step 7: Affix the trailer label
A special weatherproof sticker is included with all latch kits. This sticker shows which side the lever needs to be to ‘Launch’ or to ‘Retrieve’ your boat and it should be affixed to your system once installation is completed.
There are three possible locations to affix the label (as shown in the attached image). Always remove salt, dirt and grease prior to fixing the sticker.
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