Pontoon boat trailer guide

1. A pontoon boat trailer guide for use with a pontoon boat trailer having parallel longitudinal V-shaped bunks or receivers for the pontoons, the trailer guide comprising:

a. a guide structure that extends upwardly from the general plane of and between the bunks or receivers on the trailer and is positioned between front and back ends of the bunks or receivers;

b. the guide structure having opposite lateral sides comprising

1. lower ends proximate the bunks or receivers;

2. top ends wherein the opposite lateral sides converge towards each other as they extend upwardly;

3. so that the lateral distance between top ends of the opposite lateral sides is substantially smaller than the lateral distance between the insides of the pontoons, but the lateral distance between the lower ends of the opposite lateral sides is closer to the lateral distance between the pontoons.

2. The guide of claim 1 wherein the opposite outer lateral sides are configured to provide initial gross alignment of the pontoons relative the bunks or receivers of the trailer, but increasing fine and automatic alignment as the pontoons are brought closer to their bunks or receivers on the trailer.

3. The guide of claim 1 wherein the sloped opposite lateral sides of the trailer guide automatically force the pontoons to come into increasingly closer vertical alignment with their bunks or receivers the closer the pontoons come to the bunks or receivers.

4. The guide of claim 1 in combination with the trailer.

5. The guide of claim 4 in combination with a pontoon boat.

6. The guide of claim 5 wherein at least one pontoon of the pontoon boat comprises an external feature.

7. The guide of claim 6 wherein the external feature comprises at least one of a strake, a rib, or other structure extending from the surface of the pontoon.

8. The guide of claim 1 wherein the guide structure comprises a single integrated structure.

9. The guide of claim 1 wherein the guide structure comprises a pair of independent structures.

10. The guide of claim 9 wherein the independent structure comprises a generally A-frame shape.

11. The guide of claim 10 wherein the A-frame shape is adjustable in width and placement on a trailer.

12. The guide of claim 9 further comprising a second pair of generally A-frame shapes.

13. A method of trailering a pontoon boat from the water comprising:

a. placing a guide structure between pontoon receivers on a trailer, the guide structure extending vertically from the horizontal plane of the receivers and having opposite lateral sides that converge from bottom to top;

b. submerging the back of a trailer into the water but keeping a top of the guide structure emerged from the water;

c. using the top of the guide structure to bring the pontoon boat over the trailer with the guide structure between pontoons of the pontoon boat;

d. attaching a bow of the pontoon boat to a front of the trailer;

e. moving the trailer out of the water;

f. so that the guide structure initially maintains gross alignment of pontoons and receivers, but then provides fine alignment of pontoons with receivers.

14. An apparatus oriented with respect to a boat trailer for positioning into a proper loading position relative to said boat trailer a pontoon boat having at least two pontoons, said apparatus comprising:

a. a pair of A-frame guides, said guides having two pivotally connected members adjustably secured to said trailer;

b. said A-frame guides each having a surface for sliding engagement with each pontoon, so that when the boat is floating and is positioned for loading, the guides contact and move the pontoons into a final resting position.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the surface is a low-friction surface.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the low-friction surface consists of Teflon, high density plastic, or wood.

17. A pontoon boat trailer guide detachably secured to a pontoon boat trailer for assisting an operator of the boat in retrieving the boat and reducing the effects of drift, said trailer guide comprising:

a. a pair of A-frames detachably secured to said pontoon boat trailer, each A-frame having two rigid members pivotally connected;

b. said A-frame being pivotally adjustable to vary the acute angle between the members;

c. said A-frame being longitudinally adjustable relative to the pontoon boat and pontoon boat trailer;

d. said A-frames having a member with a surface for sliding engagement with a pontoon;

e. said A-frames retrievably engaging an interior surface of the pontoon.

18. The guide of claim 17 wherein the surface is a low-friction surface.

19. The guide of claim 18 wherein the low-friction surface consists of Teflon, high density plastic, or wood.

20. A method for loading a pontoon boat onto a trailer in receiving position, comprising the steps of:

a. providing the apparatus of claim 17 ;

b. steering the boat over said trailer in receiving position, wherein the pontoons are proximate to a sliding surface of the apparatus;

c. pulling the trailer in receiving position out of a body of water;

d. guiding the pontoon boat into a resting position, wherein the pontoon boat contacts the sliding surface of the apparatus when the trailer is pulled out of the water;

e. settling the pontoon boat into a final resting position.