Repositioning boat on trailer

[travism]

Re: Repositioning boat on trailer

Yeah, using the brakes sounds a little suspect to me too, but if it gets to be too much while on the road I might try that to see if I can help it out the rest of the way. For now I'm going with the weight distribution and lots of straps idea. Hopefully it will be taken care of this weekend and I'll report back to you.<br /><br />BPG - I grew up in Richmond, VA and had an uncle in Hampton that belonged to some yacht club there. Wish I could remember the name of it to see if you were familiar with it. Spent many a weekend on the bay and at VA Beach.

 

[salty87]

Re: Repositioning boat on trailer

i wouldn't advocate 'slamming' the brakes. you seem to be aware of the load you're working with and are taking care to protect yourself, it, and others. that boat will slide when you come to a stop if the transom straps aren't tight, we all know that much. it's just a matter of how much braking pressure you need to apply.<br /><br />i bet if you drove to the ramp and after each time coming to a stop at lights or signs, if you got out and tightened your winch strap you would probably have it tightened up by the time you got to the water. 6500 lbs on carpet won't stay put without some help.

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: Repositioning boat on trailer

Apologies guys.<br /><br />I guess 'slamming' was the wrong word. <br />'Firmly Applying' would be better. Notice that it was from a low speed.<br /><br />It worked for me a treat.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Repositioning boat on trailer

Whenever you take your rig out onto the road you risk ending up in a situation where you would need to "slam on" the brakes. Driving with the boat six inches from the winch post is a little dangerous. With that much head start, there's not telling what will happen when the boat hits the winch post. Having said that, there are only two options, jacking the boat and moving the trailer or very carefully driving it to the nearest ramp to refloat it. Oh - one other (expensive) option; lift it with a crane and a sling.

 

[gss036]

Re: Repositioning boat on trailer

I read this and laugh, you guys should see the way some of our locals launch thier 26-28 ft gilnet boats, they hang 2-4 feet over the last bunk/roller w/as much gap in bow. <br />If you just firmly tie/strap the bow down to the trailer, it is now going anywhere. Drive slow and smile as the other vehicles pass you and give you an intellegence sign on the way by.

 

[BigPoppaG]

Re: Repositioning boat on trailer

Originally posted by travism:<br /> Yeah, using the brakes sounds a little suspect to me too, but if it gets to be too much while on the road I might try that to see if I can help it out the rest of the way. For now I'm going with the weight distribution and lots of straps idea. Hopefully it will be taken care of this weekend and I'll report back to you.<br /><br />BPG - I grew up in Richmond, VA and had an uncle in Hampton that belonged to some yacht club there. Wish I could remember the name of it to see if you were familiar with it. Spent many a weekend on the bay and at VA Beach.

Lots of yacht clubs around here. Maybe this one?<br /> Hampton Yacht Club <br /><br />The and the beach.......excellent places to spend time. In my younger and head full of hair days, I was the beach bum. <br /><br />Livin on a peninsula............water on three sides............life don't get much better. <br /><br />Let us know what you come up with and how it works out.<br />BPG

 

[travism]

Re: Repositioning boat on trailer

Okay, the mission was successful this past weekend. I loaded up the front cabin and strapped her down the best I could and drove slowly to the ramp without incident. Thanks for all the advice.<br /><br />My only problem was that since I broke the last winch post by putting too much tension with the winch, I'm a little leary of how much force I should be exerting on it. I usually float the boat on and then winch up the last foot or so. Now with the winch post slightly more forward on the trailer than the last one, I could only winch it to within about an inch or two of the bow stop and then it felt like there was a lot of tension and I had to back off. Again, maybe I'm too worried about it after my last experience. Any advice on how to deal with this?<br /><br />BPG - the pictures of Hampton Yacht Club lead me to believe that's the right one.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Repositioning boat on trailer

Why is the winch post "slightly more forward" than the last one? Get the boat properly positioned on the trailer with the transom fully supported by the bunks. The bunks should not extend past the transom more than an inch or so. Then move the winch post to where the bow stop is contacting the boat.<br /><br />As for the tension, you can buy products to spray on the bunks to make them more slippery. You can also buy replacement bunks with plastic strips or rollers to make loading easier.

 

[travism]

Re: Repositioning boat on trailer

The old winch post was on the tongue as far back as it would go where the other trailer frame members connect to the tongue. I've put the new one on in the same place. The new post is at a slightly different angle, so at the top of the post the bow stop is a little farther forward than the last one. <br /><br />There used to be about 1.5 inches of bunk behind the transom, now about 2.5 inches. I'll see how easily I can move the bunks forward a little. I've always been afraid to spray the bunks for fear of launching the boat onto the ramp but I'll give that a try if moving the bunks forward is a bigger job than I want to tackle. Thanks.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Repositioning boat on trailer

I vote for the come-a-long. Secure it at the base of the winch post, and loop the cable around the transom. You will need some bracing to prevent the cable from cutting into the boat, some pieces of plywood and/or 2x4. Maybe even have to buy extra cable or heavy rope to tie it all up right. Pour a mix of dish detergent and water, 1:4 so its really slippery on the bunks and crank away. A few buddies to push on the transom would help.<br /><br />Another option is to back the trailer up against something solid, like a tree, with padding against the trainsome (old tires?) and back up to press the boat forward. Again, lubing up the bunks can't hurt and having someone man the winch to put a bit more force into it might help. A 4x4 truck would be a plus.

 

[BigPoppaG]

Re: Repositioning boat on trailer

You gonna have to go through this everytime you go out?<br />Doesn't seem right. Moving the bunks sounds like it might help but is that the correct way to go?<br /><br />If it was me I would try the suggestion rwidman has.<br />Seems easy.

 

[travism]

Re: Repositioning boat on trailer

No, I surely will not go through this every time. I need to get the boat/trailer weighed to see if I've got the correct tongue weight, which I should have done a long time ago. That will tell me which direction I need to adjust things, if any. If the weight works out right as is, then I'll just slick up the bunks so it gets to the bow stop a little easier. Thanks for all the help guys.

 

[jlinder]

Re: Repositioning boat on trailer

I have not seen anyone mention wetting the bunks. It was mentioned that they are carpet, and if you want to move on them you should wet them down first real well.<br /><br />Someone else mentioned putting a tire between the winch and bow. Maybe I would not use a tire, but it sounds like a good idea.<br /><br />Have you looked at what it would take to replace the bow roller with some thing else? What about getting a bow V-block and see if you can reduce the gap. Even rig up a spacer out of wood that would replace the roller for the trip to the water. Cut the wood so it is flush against the frame where the roller goes, and flush against the bow, add a piece of carpet and bolt it in place. It could provide support to get to the water. Once launched go back to the original roller.<br /><br />One thing that has caught me is that with my trailer if I back up too far so it is in the water too deep I have problems. I pull the boat on and it is tight against the bow roller, but the back end is still floating. When I pull out it drops and the bow pulls away from the roller.<br /><br />I need to keep it higher than I would like and drive it on the last foot or so.

 

[chuckz]

Re: Repositioning boat on trailer

Strengthen the winch post. Put a member from the post to the tongue. If winching the boat can break the post so can a good jolt going down the road.

 

[travism]

Re: Repositioning boat on trailer

LIC- are there prefab members made for this? Or would I need to take it to a weld shop for them to fabricate something for me?<br /><br />Jack - I have the same problem. I can get the boat to the bow stop if I back in a little farther, but it just comes off when I pull the trailer out. I was hoping to not have to drive it on as I would like to have it set up so I could launch/retrieve solo. It's a closed bow and I can't reach the bow eye without getting out of the boat.

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: Repositioning boat on trailer

Thoughts that have come to my mind, some repeating what others have said:<br /><br />If you're damaging the winch post by winching your boat, it's too weak! Get a stronger one! If a commercial one isn't available, have a good fabrication/welding shop put it together for you.<br /><br />Reduce friction - easiest - simply back bunks all the way in to wet, then pull forward to correct position for loading. Wet carpeted bunks are definitely a little slipperier. Others use a silicone spray treatment. I've used two versions of plastic - one a commercial product called, I think, Glyde Slicks, the other I purchased UHMW plastic, and mounted it myself. Both greatly improved loading and unloading of my boat, and I recommend- it's easy DIY, and requires no modification of existing bunks - you just screw the material on.

 

[gss036]

Re: Repositioning boat on trailer

These are from Cabela's, don't know if they will URL for your or not. Had to try the URL, they do work. Sounds like the answer to yuor problem. Just be careful when you launch.<br /><br />http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jhtml?id=0001904014427a&navAction=jump&navCount=1&indexId=cat21382&podId=0001904&catalogCode=IF&parentId=cat21382& parentType=index&rid=&cmCat=MainCatcat21276&hasJS=true<br />http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jhtml?id=0001904014427a&navAction=jump&navCount=1&indexId=cat21382&podId=0001904&catalogCode=IF&parentId=cat21382& parentType=index&rid=&cmCat=MainCatcat21276&hasJS=true

 

[jlinder]

Re: Repositioning boat on trailer

travism - I hate driving it on also. Always worried about too much power and hitting the end hard.<br /><br />I might try the slippery bunks to see if that helps.

 

[travism]

Re: Repositioning boat on trailer

Thanks again.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Repositioning boat on trailer

I've always been afraid to spray the bunks for fear of launching the boat onto the ramp but I'll give that a try if moving the bunks forward is a bigger job than I want to tackle. Thanks

As a roller trailer owner, I can tell you that that's not a problem with the correct procedure. Don't unhook the bow tiedown, safety chain, or winch strap/cable untill the boat is in the water. Connect them back up before you pull the trailer out of the water.