just wondering,can the tongue be cut off and then made into a swing away tongue?if you box in the tonue with the roller winch assembly taken off you will have to cut off the assembly post to compensate for the steel thickness you add and if it is in an angle be sure to allow for it so the roller will be located at the same place..install a ratcheting bow strap from trailer to bow eye when towing so the boat won't jump up and down stressing this point that is probably what happened the bow will jump alot if the boat wasn't loaded all the way forward.
good luck
where are you located?