I have had a few smaller lake type boats and have always had the guide bars on the back of the trailer to keep the boat straight when loading it on the trailer. These bars are very common on the smaller boats but I have never seen them on any performance boat trailer. WHY? I would think they would be even more helpful on the big boats. Is is an ego thing? Is that if you own a big performance boat you should be able to keep it straight while loading with out help from these bars? What about loading at a ramp with currents? Just wondering.

The longer the boat, the less the need for them because the boat will center itself. Truth be told, even on smaller boats, if you don’t back the trailer in too deep, you generally don’t need them either.

Yup, what Too Stroked said! I find it funny I can do my 33 alone with no issues yet the 4 guys next to me with the 20 struggle. LOL

Or the six guys with one jet ski.

alot of these performance boats also have custom made trailers which guides the boat on center itself, like said above has to do with how deep your trailer is in, any boat on any trailer will not be centered if its too deep

Have been trailering boats for over 40 yrs, never had a guide on any of my trailers.They' were all bunk types.I'd go in deep to get all the bunks wet first, then pull it up so the front part of the bunks stick out.This gives me the aim to drive or pull the boat up [ by hand if it's silty and don't want to suck up sand ] as far as I can. Hook up the winch strap and pull it up further without too much force. If it still needs to be pulled to the bunkstop , lower the trailer little more.I can do launch/retrieve any boat by myself this way.When I had my jetboat ,I just drove it right up to the stop and out under two minutes.

Big boats also stay put, little boats move around a lot.

I load exactly like you and never powerload.

I grew up boating in bassboats....we would hit the trailer nearly on plane, never had guides. Bought my own first boat, a 26ft cruiser. Simply drove it on and that was a roller trailer. Throughout the years I've had 14 boats from 21 to 38 ft and only ever bought 2 trailers with guides....took them off after 2-3 attempts as it was easier without them.


FYI: I call them "idiot poles"

I don't think I'm an idiot and yes it's weird to see guide poles on a cat trailer but since I have to sink the trailer pretty deep to float it off they really help. Wife and I have a system and it goes really smooth at the ramp. So idiot poles or now we can unload or load in a few minutes. She's on the dock lines while I back down float it off and she floats it back and ties it off while I park the rig. Loading I back down. She floats it between the poles. I throw the bow hook on and pull out, eazy peazy.