First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

[achris]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

...Makes no sense at all to unhook the winch or safety chain ANYWHERE OTHER than when the boat is in the water.

Never done a 'beach launch' then?

You unhook EVERYTHING while the boat and trailer are a couple of trailer lengths from the water. If you reverse into the water, and THEN unhook tie-downs, safety chain and winch.....You ain't coming out!

Chris.........

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

Nope, never done a launch off the beach.....infact I've never even heard of that being done

 

[ftl900]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

I can't tell you how many people I have seen with a dead boat in the water and floating in the middle of the marina. Even worse is then, how do you get back to the trailer?

That was me, yesterday. Couldn't get the boat to go in gear, and we floated about 100 feet and got towed back by a guy on a jetski. We waited until the ramp cleared to finish the recovery effort.

I watched most of the people there unhook everything at the top of the ramp. I've always been a firm believer in floating the boat before unhooking the winch.

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

I un hook the safty chains before dipping. If I dont when the transom floats the geometry changes at the front of the boat and its a devil to get the safety chain un hooked fron the towing eye whlie the winch is connected. I cant unhook the winch first or the boat will slip back and all the weight is on the safety chain.

 

[eli_lilly]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

I boat in the Chesapeake Bay, with a bunk trailer, and no way am I going to unhook. If that's what you choose to do, be prepared to pick your boat up off the ground eventually.

I can't push mine off the bunks either, that's why I back up till the stern floats, then get out, unhook my safety chain, then back up, tap the brakes and she floats right off.
My boats 5000 lbs or so too.

That sounds good and it's what I'll be doing from now on.

-E

 

[skargo]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

That sounds good and it's what I'll be doing from now on.

-E

Works for me, and I'm an idiot!

 

[QC]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

I'll admit it . . . I unhook everything before I back down. I've had three bunk trailers and none of those boats would budge regardless of whether the bunks were wet etc. I have never used any slickener because I don't understand why you need it.

I understand that there is a slight risk of the boat jumping off the trailer, but we back down slowly. I get the transom wet, start the engine (blower is already on). I then motion with my hand for the trailer to go further down. As soon as I feel her start to float I clench my fist, so she/he can see it in the truck. That's the signal to tap the brakes. She floats off, then the trailer heads up the ramp. We are on and off the ramp in less than two minutes. Nobody's feet are wet and we can usually retrieve in similar fashion.

Not risk free, but has worked well for 25 years.

I had a retrieval problem at a particularly troublesome ramp this weekend. Ended up with the boat about 3 inches short of the bow stop. I tried to get her to move forward once off the ramp over and over again. Wet bunks, good truck brakes, and I have four wheel disc brakes on the trailer and nada, nuttin' zippo . . .

 

[cribber]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

I keep the winch strap connected until we've backed into the water. I doubt it would ever fall off the bunks backing down the ramp... just doing it as I was taught.

 

[skargo]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

I had an issue retrieving solo this past weekend, the wind blew all the water out of the bay and the water was LOW. I couldn't get my trailer and boat in the water at the same time, I had to muscle the boat around the pier, then back my truck and trailer down enough. Then I swung the bow around and walked her up. Good think my bunks almost always center my boat perfectly, I spent some time last year adjusting them to be just right.
Still only took me a few minutes.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

We had crazy low tides here, too

 

[achris]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

Nope, never done a launch off the beach.....infact I've never even heard of that being done

Plenty of places we have to do it here. In fact, some of the best fishing is out from places that don't have concrete ramps, just a beach. I guess the lack of a ramp keeps the 'Sunday sailors' away, hence the better fishing grounds. Next time I do a beach launch I'll get someone to video it and post it up. Don't hold your breath though, the weather's crap and we're heading into winter.

Chris...........

Hey, when are you going to put Yucko back? It took me minutes to re-size it for you.

 

[Stachi]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

Never done a 'beach launch' then?

You unhook EVERYTHING while the boat and trailer are a couple of trailer lengths from the water. If you reverse into the water, and THEN unhook tie-downs, safety chain and winch.....You ain't coming out!

Chris.........

how steep is the beach ???

 

[wgaboy]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

take it easy. act like you are launching your boat by yourself. NOTE at all times except back and forward trailering vehicle engine should be OFF. basic prep such as life jacket unstowed, key in ignition, long bow mooring line ready. drain plug, trail vehicle and trailer remain properly connected. then back to ramp. Brke. chock trail vehicle wheel; RECheck drain plug , keys, tie long mooring line out to adjoining (i hope) pier. undo straps/transom straps at ramp, unclip front hook. unchock wheel. back then a little extra reverse kick to float off trailer. brake tow vehicle and rechock wheel. be sure boat is floating and bow mooring line free; does not wrap on drive on roller or rear lighting or license plate. bring mooring line and boat about and properly moor. assure all lines clear.
unchock trail vehicle, drive to pull thru spot. return to boat. don life jackets. enjoy. oh and dont forget proper registration and your passengers.
btw this is for float on/off trailers which make sense for most.
If you have an experienced crew member let them assist you but go over just what s/he and your are to do FIRST!
btw I am not totally innocent once let the long mooring line wrap around taillight mast and started to pull up ramp. . just a little in-water scraping of bottom. lots of :redface:

 

[tschamp20]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

take it easy. act like you are launching your boat by yourself. NOTE at all times except back and forward trailering vehicle engine should be OFF. basic prep such as life jacket unstowed, key in ignition, long bow mooring line ready. drain plug, trail vehicle and trailer remain properly connected. then back to ramp. Brke. chock trail vehicle wheel; RECheck drain plug , keys, tie long mooring line out to adjoining (i hope) pier. undo straps/transom straps at ramp, unclip front hook. unchock wheel. back then a little extra reverse kick to float off trailer. brake tow vehicle and rechock wheel. be sure boat is floating and bow mooring line free; does not wrap on drive on roller or rear lighting or license plate. bring mooring line and boat about and properly moor. assure all lines clear.
unchock trail vehicle, drive to pull thru spot. return to boat. don life jackets. enjoy. oh and dont forget proper registration and your passengers.
btw this is for float on/off trailers which make sense for most.
If you have an experienced crew member let them assist you but go over just what s/he and your are to do FIRST!
btw I am not totally innocent once let the long mooring line wrap around taillight mast and started to pull up ramp. . just a little in-water scraping of bottom. lots of :redface:

wow!
seems extreme,but whatever floats your boat.

 

[Bucks45]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

take it easy. act like you are launching your boat by yourself. NOTE at all times except back and forward trailering vehicle engine should be OFF. basic prep such as life jacket unstowed, key in ignition, long bow mooring line ready. drain plug, trail vehicle and trailer remain properly connected. then back to ramp. Brke. chock trail vehicle wheel; RECheck drain plug , keys, tie long mooring line out to adjoining (i hope) pier. undo straps/transom straps at ramp, unclip front hook. unchock wheel. back then a little extra reverse kick to float off trailer. brake tow vehicle and rechock wheel. be sure boat is floating and bow mooring line free; does not wrap on drive on roller or rear lighting or license plate. bring mooring line and boat about and properly moor. assure all lines clear.
unchock trail vehicle, drive to pull thru spot. return to boat. don life jackets. enjoy. oh and dont forget proper registration and your passengers.
btw this is for float on/off trailers which make sense for most.
If you have an experienced crew member let them assist you but go over just what s/he and your are to do FIRST!
btw I am not totally innocent once let the long mooring line wrap around taillight mast and started to pull up ramp. . just a little in-water scraping of bottom. lots of :redface:

I'm definitely nobody to judge, but is it dark by the time you launch?

 

[achris]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

take it easy. act like you are launching your boat by yourself. NOTE at all times except back and forward trailering vehicle engine should be OFF. basic prep such as life jacket unstowed, key in ignition, long bow mooring line ready. drain plug, trail vehicle and trailer remain properly connected. then back to ramp. Brke. chock trail vehicle wheel; RECheck drain plug , keys, tie long mooring line out to adjoining (i hope) pier. undo straps/transom straps at ramp, unclip front hook. unchock wheel. back then a little extra reverse kick to float off trailer. brake tow vehicle and rechock wheel. be sure boat is floating and bow mooring line free; does not wrap on drive on roller or rear lighting or license plate. bring mooring line and boat about and properly moor. assure all lines clear.
unchock trail vehicle, drive to pull thru spot. return to boat. don life jackets. enjoy. oh and dont forget proper registration and your passengers.
btw this is for float on/off trailers which make sense for most.
If you have an experienced crew member let them assist you but go over just what s/he and your are to do FIRST!
btw I am not totally innocent once let the long mooring line wrap around taillight mast and started to pull up ramp. . just a little in-water scraping of bottom. lots of :redface:

Do all that lot at my local club and the bosun will be out to ask you what's taking so long. That's if the crowd behind hasn't lynched you first.

Do it on a beach and the only way you'll get the car and trailer out is with a tractor! When beach-launching, if your trailer is not in and out of the water in under 30 seconds, it ain't coming out on it's own!

how steep is the beach ???

Beach angle is about the same as an average concrete ramp.

Chris.......

 

[wicked]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

i some times dont even unhook just back the boat out and try to take off!

 

[Titanium48]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

When beach-launching, if your trailer is not in and out of the water in under 30 seconds, it ain't coming out on it's own!



Beach angle is about the same as an average concrete ramp.

Chris.......

So how do you get your boat back out of the water without getting stuck?

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

Not everyone has a bass boat or a bowrider so reaching over to unhook the strap while in the boat is not necessarily a safe option. And not everyone has a shallow enough boat to lower the outdrive all the way to start the engine while still on the trailer.

I back mine in with the outdrive all the way up. When the back bumper of the truck is about a foot from the water, I unhook the strap. Then back down the extra foot and hit the brakes and the boat either rolls off or is easy to pull off. Since somone has hold of the bow and stern lines, pull the boat down to the end of the dock to get out of the way. Nobody has to get wet, crawl out over the bow, or start the engine at the end of the ramp, and it only takes about a minute or two to offload.

Straps and trailering bracket off, blower on, outdrive tilted up, plug checked, chain unhooked, and boat loaded in the prep area before pulling into the launch lane.

Point is that there is no exact way to get it done every time. You have to be flexible enough to figure out the best way for your boat and launch area.

 

[achris]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

So how do you get your boat back out of the water without getting stuck?

Lower the tyre pressures down to about 10psi (trailer as well as car) and recover the boat QUICKLY! Another option I've used is a couple of sheets of conveyor belt rubber under the trailer wheels. But you still have to act quickly or the rubber sheets start to sink.

Once the boat's on, you don't just drive straight out, you can't. You need to back up a couple of inches to break the suction on the tyres, then drive forward.

Chris............