Launching a boat

[nightvision]

Hi all,<br />A couple questions regarding launching a boat. <br /><br />a. I trim my stern drive all the way up when trailering my boat. When I get ready to launch I remove the ram plugs and the stern half way down and lanch the boat. Is this a safe practice? Our lake water level changes with evey visit. Or should one keep the trim all the way up until one is floating on the water?<br /><br />b. I unplug the light harness connection to the trailer prior to launching. If the open end of the harness on the trailer get wet is that a problem? <br /><br />c. Before launching does one need to let the tire/axle/hub assembly cool down before one enter the water? I just heard that from someone. I have a 2005 shorlander one axle trailer.

 

[NYMINUTE]

Re: Launching a boat

a. Keep it up until you are ready to start it up.<br />b. shouldn't be, no current is passing through.<br />c. Yes, I prefer to wait, great time to prepare for the trip, storing covers, cooler, vests, checking that the PLUG is in, removing transom straps etc. Be sure to do all these prep items away from the ramp to allow those already to go to launch. <br />Have fun.

 

[mattttt25]

Re: Launching a boat

can't think of a reason to not keep your engine tilted up full until you're in the water.<br /><br />plug will be fine. good practice to unplug it.<br /><br />never heard of letting the hub cool down before launching. can see what they are getting at, but just don't think it would make a big deal. i think using bearing buddies is more important than worrying about the temp.

 

[fishingdan]

Re: Launching a boat

With regard to letting the hubs cool, it is well documented that hot hubs that are rapidly cooled could create an internal vacuum and suck water in. <br /><br />That said, I have never found warm hubs on my trailer (on short trips or long trips). If they are poorly lubed or the bearings are shot, I am sure they can and will get very hot. <br /><br />Feel them the next time you are at the ramp. If they are hot, it would be advisable to wait. <br /><br />Bearing buddies work well if they are properly filled with grease. Once filled (and it takes a suprising amount of grease to truly fill the hub), they will keep a positive pressure in the hub and, in theory, keep water from entering.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Launching a boat

It can be a problem if you get the trailer wiring plug get wet, it will start to corrode. Find a way to hold it up out of the water when not in use.

 

[milkyway]

Re: Launching a boat

I always unplug my harness prior to launching. I always think what when you back down the ramp and dunk the trailer, the lites go in first and since you have to step on the brakes, there's current on the wires. Same thing when you retrieve. If your lites are not sealed, it will burn your vehicles fuses (as it relates to your harness).<br /><br />Imagine washing with cold water a hot frying pan right off from the stove. What happens? Sizzle...<br />I always prepare the boat off the ramp line for about 20 minutes. What's the rush? Arrive earlier.<br /><br />How do bearing buddies keep water off the brakes system? There is a gap between the hub and the brake cluster's housing when you mount the hub. This gap is 10 inches in diameter, 360 degrees, and about 1/4" wide. Is this not the main source of water entering the brakes? And there are no seals protecting the outer and inner bearings from the inside. There is a seal on the inner bearing facing out, but not facing in. If you have fresh water hose tapped in your brake cluster and you have rinsed your brakes, you will see what I mean. Unless the hub and brakes cluster are made as one piece, you will never stop water from invading the brakes.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Launching a boat

Will not save you any time to put the motor half way down so why not leave it up. Just remember to put it down before starting.<br /><br />If your lights are waterproof like mine no reason to unplug. If they are not waterproof then you must unplug or when the hot light hits the cold water the bulbs will break.<br /><br />I do not know if you have brakes on your hubs or not. Without brakes the hubs should not be more than warm to the touch. If one or both are hot then you have a problem. Most common problem is hubs adjusted too tight. Should only be finger tight and then if the key does not fit back off to the first place it does fit. With brakes can get a little hot if you had to do a lot of heavy braking. When I get to the launch area we unstrap the boat, put the fenders on, raise the antennas and prepair the dock line. Then we move over to the launch to wait our turn and launch. You could wait all day and the hub would never reach 60 or 70 degrees tempature of the water. Put on a set of bearing buddies and keep them pumped up to the proper level and no water will get in. My 1980 trailer for our 21 foot boat has never had water in any bearing or any bearing rust or pit even in salt water of the Pacific Ocean. Just keep the Bearing Buddy pump up until the plate moves out and you have spring pressure inside the hub to keep the water forced out.