Collection: Guide-Ons

Loading a boat solo or in low light gets much easier when the trailer is fitted with guide-ons that funnel the hull into position. C.E. Smith makes the full range stocked here, covering the two main styles: post guide-ons, which use upright poles on either side of the trailer, and bunk guide-ons, which use carpeted boards to cradle and direct the hull. Post guide-ons come in several widths from 40 inches to 75 inches, so matching the spread to your beam matters. If you launch at dawn or after dark, the LED lighted post versions are worth considering. Pontoon owners should look at the dedicated pontoon post and roller guide-on options, which are shaped for the wider, flat-sided profile of a pontoon tube rather than a V-hull.

Before buying, check how your trailer frame is built. Some C.E. Smith guide-ons mount via U-bolt hardware, while others require an I-beam mounting kit, and the listings call this out clearly. The angled post style suits trailers where a straight vertical post would interfere with the hull during loading. Bunk guide-ons, available in 2-foot short pairs or a 5-foot board, work well on bunk-style trailers where you want continuous contact along the keel. Measure your trailer width and confirm the mounting style before ordering.