Stuck at boat dock

[reddogg]

Re: Stuck at boat dock

There are several ramps here with that problem, what I did was to covertly place a mark on the dock where the ramp ends, that way I know when I'm getting close to the end. Lol, or you could get an aluminum trailer that floats

Red

 

[fat fanny]

Re: Stuck at boat dock

Keep a come a long in the truck and un hook the trailer (without boat of course) and rig one end to the back of the truck and the other to the trailer hitch and crank away! Just an idea !!

 

[roscoe]

Re: Stuck at boat dock

Some... of your ideas might/will work, but most of them require 2 people, and if you do them with the trailer empty, you still have to get the boat onto the trailer, which may require you back into deeper water -- and off the ramp again.

Also. If you have ever seen this happen, especially off the end of concrete, you will find that you often can't just pull forward, no matter how much power you have, as the trailer is sitting on the frame rails, and the tires have hooked behind the edge of the concrete. This is when you damage tires/spindles/axles.

Around here, I don't have problems at the small lakes, or the really big waters, as they have good long ramps.

The ramps that cause problems are the ones on medium to large lakes with older ramps made when everyone had smaller boats.

Now bring in the 18'-22' boats with long trailers, and owners that don't want to get their tires or feet wet, and insist on power loading at high revs.

My current trailer is 20'9", and the axle is set pretty far back to get the tongue weight up where it should be. I know its only a matter of time before it happens again.

 

[marcoalza]

Re: Stuck at boat dock

I have never seen this or had it happen to me.......I'll bet it does now!! LOL Some pretty good ideas!

Damn you're right! I never thought that this could happen.
No problem though, my days spent in the engineers corp will come in handy....

Trailer goes down hole, Use the anchor rope and some grease. lift the hood of the truck, take off the alternator belt and attach the rope to the front pulley.
Feed the rope over the top of the freshly greased roof of the vehicle.
Attach it to the side of the trailer that is down the hole.
Start the engine, into gear straight away (very important)........wooosh.......trailer lifts up and out of the hole as it goes forward.
Grease and a rope. (Grease optional)
Job done.



Can you tell I'm bored at work......

 

[JBEB57]

Re: Stuck at boat dock

Damn you're right! I never thought that this could happen.
No problem though, my days spent in the engineers corp will come in handy....

Trailer goes down hole, Use the anchor rope and some grease. lift the hood of the truck, take off the alternator belt and attach the rope to the front pulley.
Feed the rope over the top of the freshly greased roof of the vehicle.
Attach it to the side of the trailer that is down the hole.
Start the engine, into gear straight away (very important)........wooosh.......trailer lifts up and out of the hole as it goes forward.
Grease and a rope. (Grease optional)
Job done.



Can you tell I'm bored at work......

hmmmmm, that sounds too easy.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Stuck at boat dock

Damn you're right! I never thought that this could happen.
No problem though, my days spent in the engineers corp will come in handy....

Trailer goes down hole, Use the anchor rope and some grease. lift the hood of the truck, take off the alternator belt and attach the rope to the front pulley.
Feed the rope over the top of the freshly greased roof of the vehicle.
Attach it to the side of the trailer that is down the hole.
Start the engine, into gear straight away (very important)........wooosh.......trailer lifts up and out of the hole as it goes forward.
Grease and a rope. (Grease optional)
Job done.
Can you tell I'm bored at work......

Well MacGyver, you forgot to somehow use a paperclip and a piece of chewing gum in your contraption. Back to the drawing board.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Stuck at boat dock

The ramps that cause problems are the ones on medium to large lakes with older ramps made when everyone had smaller boats.

Now bring in the 18'-22' boats with long trailers, and owners that don't want to get their tires or feet wet, and insist on power loading at high revs.
.

People had big boats back then also, but when the ramp was built it most likely was poured, cured, and then slide into the lake in sections. The end of the ramp was buried in the mud.

Now fast forward some years, and lots of lazy people who powerload, and you have a problem.

I visited a ramp this weekend that was almost unusable at both ends from powerloading! The water end was badly washed out and the ramp is actually cracking and tilting down, but the other problem was that for whatever reason people are leaving this ramp with pickups in 2x4 and spinning. You have to back over about a 4-6 inch ledge to get ONTO the ramp. (probably from having trailers fall off the other side, and then just spinning on the gravel instead of figuring out how to fix it)

 

[DavenLC]

Re: Stuck at boat dock

Well. with all the good ideas floating arund. I think the cheapest and easyist is to use the anchor caught on the end of the trailer, tying it to the front of the boat, then back away a little as to not catch the edge of the "end of the ramp" and to raise the trailer like a crane and then using your vehicle, pull the trailer out pulling the boat forward but maintaining the lift. I have a pontoon, with a squared front, so it might handle better doing this. Not sure of other boats.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Stuck at boat dock

First prize: a come-along hooked to the dock/piling and the trailer. Easy, adaptable, cheap and has other uses.

Second prize: jack up that side of the trailer. requires dunking a jack and getting wet. Alternative: lever it up.

On 1 & 2--slide boards under there if you can.

Third prize: lift with boat (if you have a pulley and are next to the dock, fix the pulley on the dock to get vertical lift.
Alternative method, used to free stuck anchors and to free mooring blocks: tie line to sunken trailer. Put bow of boat over the trailer so line is vertical. Get everyone to stand on the bow of the boat to lower it. Tie line TIGHT to bow cleat. Send everyone to stern. Bow lifts; boat acts as a lever and lifts trailer. Pull forward.

Fourth prize: stuff a tube under there and inflate.

Fifth prize: come back at high tide if your trailer floats; tie boat to it and come back at high tide if it doesn't. Viable only if you can block the ramp that long.

Booby prize 1: installing off-the-ramp guards--how often do you do it? Do you need a permanent modification for the one in a thousand chance you will screw up? It's like installing pontoons on your boat in case the hull springs a leak.
Booby prize 2: installing a deflated truck tube and air tube inflator system on your trailer rear cross beanm "just in case."

Grand Prize: Grease on roof and rope on the alternator. Also, it will be so damn funny, the line of people at the ramp won't be able to get mad at you.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Stuck at boat dock

First prize: a come-along hooked to the dock/piling and the trailer. Easy, adaptable, cheap and has other uses.

Second prize: jack up that side of the trailer. requires dunking a jack and getting wet. Alternative: lever it up.

On 1 & 2--slide boards under there if you can.

Third prize: lift with boat (if you have a pulley and are next to the dock, fix the pulley on the dock to get vertical lift.
Alternative method, used to free stuck anchors and to free mooring blocks: tie line to sunken trailer. Put bow of boat over the trailer so line is vertical. Get everyone to stand on the bow of the boat to lower it. Tie line TIGHT to bow cleat. Send everyone to stern. Bow lifts; boat acts as a lever and lifts trailer. Pull forward.

Fourth prize: stuff a tube under there and inflate.

Fifth prize: come back at high tide if your trailer floats; tie boat to it and come back at high tide if it doesn't. Viable only if you can block the ramp that long.

Booby prize 1: installing off-the-ramp guards--how often do you do it? Do you need a permanent modification for the one in a thousand chance you will screw up? It's like installing pontoons on your boat in case the hull springs a leak.
Booby prize 2: installing a deflated truck tube and air tube inflator system on your trailer rear cross beanm "just in case."

Grand Prize: Grease on roof and rope on the alternator. Also, it will be so damn funny, the line of people at the ramp won't be able to get mad at you.

Give me the booby prize if you want, but I personally 4 people that it has happened to in the last 16 months.
Happened to me twice in the last 8 or 9 years.
Have seen it happen to a few more.

Most of the ideas above all require several people.
If you boat by yourself, or just your spouse, or a child, you will never get it done.

Plus, placing boards under a trailer, in 3 feet of water; or going under to secure ropes; or getting a jack under and finding something solid to set it on; all seem unlikely.

Have you ever jumped in the river current and tried to work under water? Have you jumped in Wisconsin waters in April or may? Do you carry extra planks, pry bars, or sacrificial floor jacks when you go boating?

Are you willing to stand straddling the trailer frame while holding onto a pry bar - while you wife guns the engine to pull the trailer out.

Why do people have guide bunks on the sides of their trailers? To make launching and loading easier and more efficient, right?
For those days when the boat just doesn't load right in the current?

So why not be proactive about the bad/short/washed-out/shallow ramps?

It would be permanently bolted to the frame rail. Ready when you need it. Fully functional without and fumbling, wading, diving, or extra helpers. AStill don't see any downside to having them on the trailer.

And I bet there wouldn't be any "laughers" at the ramp after they see you pull out with ease.

i should have mine in a few weeks, as soon as I can get the B-I-L to weld them up for me.

 

[flycaster]

Re: Stuck at boat dock

The easiest way to get your trailer up and over the edge of the end of the ramp is to use your wench and strap/cable.
FIRST: back the tow vehicle so the tires/ spring shackles are not against the end of the ramp.
SECOND: play out ALL of the strap/cable. Pull strap/cable to the end of the trailer and loop under the axle and bring up to the surface of the water. If strap/cable is not long enough, use some docking line.
THIRD: Tie the end of the dock line to the bow eye, or if you looped the bow line thru the clip of the strap/cable tie each end to the cleats on the front of boat.
FOURTH: Slowly crank the wench to retrieve the strap/cable. If the strap/cable is under the axle, this method will rise the trailer slowly, then the tow vehicle can pull the raised trailer beyond the edge of the ramp.
This can be accomplished with only one person.
I have personally experienced this method.

 

[toy4x4]

Re: Stuck at boat dock

Flycaster, I 2nd that.
Like you said might need to add rope to your winch but this is definitely do-able by yourself and should work quite well.

 

[gtochris]

Re: Stuck at boat dock

This doesnt seem to happen around here much anymore, maybe the ramps are improved or the mas amounts of 4x4 tow vehicles....

I heard one idea someone used the winch cable, pulled it towards the rear of the trailer, doubled it under a bar/ roller and attached it to the bow-eye. by winching against the floating boat, he was able to "lift" the trailer.

I'm just very conscious of how far I back up and if the water is low, I know I need to winch more. I once saw someone pull the axle off a trailer of a small fishing boat, TV was a V8 Jeep GC and when it was stuck he used 4LO and just gunned it...

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Stuck at boat dock

First prize: a come-along hooked to the dock/piling and the trailer. Easy, adaptable, cheap and has other uses.

I won't complain about my position in the ranking - but I will take issue with the first one. If the tires drop off below the centerline of the tire, or if the trailer hooks a spring/shackle/other part besides the tire, then no amount of pulling will free it. Saw a few trailers ripped in two because people thought they could apply more power and get-r-done. There's a good chance the come along will only suffice to pull the trailer apart slower. How ever it's done, the trailer's rear end needs to be lifted up.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Stuck at boat dock

This sounds like a very good method--but don't you have to have the boat tied off, stern anchored or in reverse, so you won't just pull the boat forward onto the trailer? Or is this like mine of using the bow eye and lever action?
Anyway, all of these will vary by conditions, and will require some McGuyvering.

The easiest way to get your trailer up and over the edge of the end of the ramp is to use your wench and strap/cable.
FIRST: back the tow vehicle so the tires/ spring shackles are not against the end of the ramp.
SECOND: play out ALL of the strap/cable. Pull strap/cable to the end of the trailer and loop under the axle and bring up to the surface of the water. If strap/cable is not long enough, use some docking line.
THIRD: Tie the end of the dock line to the bow eye, or if you looped the bow line thru the clip of the strap/cable tie each end to the cleats on the front of boat.
FOURTH: Slowly crank the wench to retrieve the strap/cable. If the strap/cable is under the axle, this method will rise the trailer slowly, then the tow vehicle can pull the raised trailer beyond the edge of the ramp.
This can be accomplished with only one person.
I have personally experienced this method.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Stuck at boat dock

this will only work if there is a dock/piling beside the ramp adjacent to the hole/axle, and high enough to hook the come-along to and lift the axle straight up. In other words, the come-along is to lift vertically, not to pull horizontally. With a small trailer, you can just stand on the dock and lift it up. If both tires are over the edge, though, this won't be easy!

As I said, various circumstances could change whether some or any of the suggestions will work.

I won't complain about my position in the ranking - but I will take issue with the first one. If the tires drop off below the centerline of the tire, or if the trailer hooks a spring/shackle/other part besides the tire, then no amount of pulling will free it. Saw a few trailers ripped in two because people thought they could apply more power and get-r-done. There's a good chance the come along will only suffice to pull the trailer apart slower. How ever it's done, the trailer's rear end needs to be lifted up.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Stuck at boat dock

Roscoe, my next question is: are you going to test it, on purpose, at the ramp? I suppose you could, against a tall curb, storm drain, etc.

I would think, too, that the piece that's on the angle--the skid--would have to be right substantial so it doesn't bend against the drop-off, especially if it's a 90* straight drop. Maybe a piece of leaf spring, or something else flat?

If it's a frequent problem that can't be avoided by other means, it's a viable device.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Stuck at boat dock

Remember this thread when you see someone power loading their boat and blowing that big hole open at lower water. :facepalm:

Get the hint..... I am anti power loading!

 

[retiarius]

Re: Stuck at boat dock

I like the idea of the bracket in front of the trailer wheel, how about putting a small wheel on the bracket so when it hits the concrete ramp it rolls up the edge?

This happened to me on a tidal river here in Aus, I had to get people on the dock to lift with ropes while I pulled the trailer.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Stuck at boat dock

I like the idea of the bracket in front of the trailer wheel, how about putting a small wheel on the bracket so when it hits the concrete ramp it rolls up the edge?

This happened to me on a tidal river here in Aus, I had to get people on the dock to lift with ropes while I pulled the trailer.

Better yet, replace the trailer wheels with the triangular tread set-up like you have on a snow cat, so that when the rear-most wheel drops, you still have treaded surface to pull out. Because with your method of using ropes, you are at grave risk of forgetting the ropes.