The "Boat Buddy" Trailer Accessory?

L

LuvBoating

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 16, 2009
Messages
718
Since we are getting up there in age now (early 60's), can't be crawling from trailer tongue-to-bow now (new boat is a cuddy cabin (higher hull) we are really considering buying one of the Boat Buddy from Bass Pro. From what is shown of it, it would make retrieving the boat much easier (and less physical) for us. Our last boat was a 16 foot Bowrider and wife and I were able to use two dock lines and pull the boat up onto the trailer pretty easily. Not only that, the old dock we used before had cleats on it and was right next to the ramp. But, question is: How does a person launch a boat with Boat Buddy? Is the thing that visable from the drivers seat of the boat that you can aim your boat right at it and hook up? Does it replace the winch (does the winch have to come off)?
So, anyone out there in BoatUS land have/use one of these or ever had one?
Please help us with this. We really love boating/fishing, but I have some physical limitations now due to a hip replacement and rotor cup (shoulder) surgery I had a few years ago.
Thanks
 
tashasdaddy

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
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Messages
51,019
Re: The "Boat Buddy" Trailer Accessory?

both are snake oil, bad reviews, just put a broom stick attached to the winch stand.
 
L

LuvBoating

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 16, 2009
Messages
718
Re: The "Boat Buddy" Trailer Accessory?

The "Boat Buddy" comes from Bass Pro and, in another boat forum that I also posted in, I got some pretty great replies about the thing......"easy to use and load with" was just one comment. Still giving it some thought though. I don't really want to spend out almost $100 on this thing (w/shipping) and have it not work for us! But, then again, if it did work, it sure would be a "time saver" for wife and I!!
 
Expidia

Expidia

Commander
Joined
Aug 26, 2006
Messages
2,368
Re: The "Boat Buddy" Trailer Accessory?

I gave some thought of buying one too! But check this cabelas site many weak reviews for a product that is not that complicated. Seems to be made too cheaply for the materials.

A lot of stuff looks good but the metal is so cheap when you tighten the bolts the metal starts to bend. I had to return two different name brand bunk guide-on sets. Shipping back those heavy large items gets expensive.

And my more expensive 3rd wheel (was $89, not the $29 cheapies) on my trailer keeps loosening because the brackets are of a cheap metal and bend. Now I have to spend dollars making better brackets up for it.

I'd pass on that Boat Buddy personally.

Check some of these poor reviews, this many can't be that wrong:

http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0001975011046a.shtml#customer-product-reviews
 
L

LuvBoating

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 16, 2009
Messages
718
Re: The "Boat Buddy" Trailer Accessory?

I have read the good and bad about the BB also. We also understand that the larger one is much more stronger than the smaller one. We also think that, like anything else, it just depends on just how "rough" a person can be using the BB......"jam" a boat into it, most likely it will break or bend. A lot of times, it's isn't how an item is made, it's how the item is used/taken care of. I'm just wondering if the boat has to be off of the trailer in order to install the Boat Buddy (BB)? If it does, we could be in trouble because the only place we have to put our boat is into the water, tie it up and go to the trailer and install this thing in the parking lot. Also read that a guy installed a longer "U-bolt" on the hull to make it easier to latch onto the BB. Hummm???
 
L

LuvBoating

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 16, 2009
Messages
718
Re: The "Boat Buddy" Trailer Accessory?

Does anyone here in the Forum use the Boat Buddy or know someone that does right now? If it works like advertised, this thing would be a GREAT help to us!! It is just a matter of installing the thing that could present a problem.:confused:
 
L

LuvBoating

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 16, 2009
Messages
718
Re: The "Boat Buddy" Trailer Accessory?

We are still thinking about buying this thing. From what I have read, some years ago, a trailer manufacturer use to put the Boat Buddy on their new trailers instead of the Roller. Also, from doing some research, it looks like the maker of the Boat Buddy is no longer in business!?? If I could install this thing correctly and it worked right, it would be a definite PLUS for the wife and I. I can't crawl on-off of the Bow of our new boat, like I could our old 16' Bowrider. The Bow on the new boat is higher because it is a cuddy cabin. Not only that, if I was in the boat, taking it up to the winch, I don't think my wife would have enough muscle to crank the winch strap up tight. Anyway, we are still thinking about it.
Any other suggestions/recommendations would be appreciated......thanks!
Cody
 
F

fondafj

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jan 3, 2004
Messages
132
Re: The "Boat Buddy" Trailer Accessory?

I used a Boat Buddy for a few years on a Searay 19' Pachanga on a EZ-Loader roller trailer. For my application, it was prefect .. the latching mechanism allowed for both launching and retrieval single handed and still allowed for the use of the winch as it only replaces the support roller/pad in front of the winch. For boat alignment driving on to the trailer I was able to use the third light on my truck cap as an alignment "drive to" mark but the same can be done with a simple pole of some sort strapped to the winch post and ending just above and in front of the "point" of the bow. After a while I would back down the ramp close enough to step from the launch ramp dock onto the boat which even made the process easier. The problem as I see it is, if you have a bunk type trailer it will be more difficult to control the approach speed and it may lead to damage from impact. On a roller trailer, the throttle can be altered to maintain a slow approach to the Boat Buddy and then engagement. Although, at times I did drive on quite hard (the spectators covered their faces in a reflex) but it still latched and worked fine afterwords.
I say go for it ... Bass Pro has an excellent return program if you don't like the way it works.
 
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