Boat sliding off trailer?

[drknute3]

My boat is a Cobalt 206 (3100 pounds) on a padded bunk trailer. Every boat I have owned has had a bunk trailer. When launching, my wife is in the boat and prior to backing it down, I have always unhooked the winch strap so I dont have to get out of the truck. I just back it in, wife fires it up and off she goes to the dock while I park the truck.

The other day I got an earfull from a guy on the ramp telling me how dangerous that is and I should NEVER do it that way again.

How many of you with bunk trailers unhook the strap before backing it down? Its an obvious thing not to do with a roller trailer, but is there any real danger of the boat sliding back off the trailer when backing it down the ramp?

 

[Al Kungel]

Re: Boat sliding off trailer?

I never undo the strap or safety chain while backing down the ramp. I stop and undo the strap and safety chain when the back wheels of the truck are about six feet from the waters edge. Otherwise there is the possibility of the boat sliding of the bunks and landing on the ramp and damageing the boat and motor or even worse someone gets hurt.

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: Boat sliding off trailer?

I never undo the strap or safety chain while backing down the ramp. I stop and undo the strap and safety chain when the back wheels of the truck are about six feet from the waters edge. Otherwise there is the possibility of the boat sliding of the bunks and landing on the ramp and damageing the boat and motor or even worse someone gets hurt.

I'm in agreement here. Part of the reason for the strap and chain is to secure the boat to the trailer. Just imagine if you were to unload into an unknown launch, etc and it dropped off on one side, etc or even hit a large pothole, etc.

Wouldn't take that risk with my boat.

 

[modernrocketry]

Re: Boat sliding off trailer?

Although my boat is only a 14' Inflatable that weights 850lbs, I never unstrap it until the stern is in the water.

I've seen the result of one sliding off the bunks and I don't ever want to be that guy.

However, I see people do what you are talking about all the time.

 

[109jb]

Re: Boat sliding off trailer?

This is my current procedure:

I give the winch strap a few inches of slack in the prep area, but leave it hooked up until the stern is in the water (Not floating yet). If my wife is with me at that point, she gets in truck and I unhook winch strap and climb in, lower motor, start up, wife backs up a few more feet to float boat and I motor off.

If alone, still do the same in the prep area, but then back boat in until boat is floating. Climb in, lower motor, start up, go to bow and reach over and unhook winch strap, then motor to dock (Dock not right next to ramp).

In the past I used to unhook everything in the prep area, but not anymore.

 

[Big Sarge]

Re: Boat sliding off trailer?

You can usually do it without any hassle but don't, it's very dangerous and could your boat a bo-bo. Or when you get all pissed blame it on your wife

 

[drknute3]

Re: Boat sliding off trailer?

Thanks for the advice everyone. Guess I'll just leave the strap on and undo it when wife is ready to launch. Haven't ever heard of a problem, but guess there is a first time for everything.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Boat sliding off trailer?

Common sense goes a long way. Some ramps I use, including the public ramps at Voyagers National Park are steep, and i leave the bow strap hooked up until I'm ready to let the boat go in the water. Others are so shallow a slope that the boat couldn't come off the trailer even if you slammed on the brakes. Then I unhook, climb in, and let the wife back it in, or tie the boat off with a long line to the side, and back it in till it floats off.

One thing is that at the steep ramps, the hitch is high and dry when the boat floats. On the shallow ones, the car has to swim a little.

I never get my feet wet, but keep it safe.

hope it helps
John

 

[cdnfthree2]

Re: Boat sliding off trailer?

I'd have to agree with not unhooking until the motor is in water and running strong.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: Boat sliding off trailer?

I never unhook until the boat is in the water. Then I unhook it and my wife takes the boat out while i park the truck.

 

[KM2]

Re: Boat sliding off trailer?

I have heard of boats sliding off, but it was always on a roller trailer. I wouldn't think you would have a problem unless on a steep ramp. But my boat will slide back sometimes a inch or two when I pull it out. (18ft I/O on a bunk trailer)

I guess I would leave the safety chain on until the rear of the boat is in the water.

 

[Tyme2fish]

Re: Boat sliding off trailer?

Here is my procedure,modified over the years with knowledge learned from iboats and experience.

In the prep area I
1.Unhook the transom tie downs
2. Remove transom saver
3. Prime the gas line bulb
4.Check plug
5. Check plug again
6.Go to the bow and unhook safety chain
7. Unplug trailer lights

When the is boat is almost in the water I then unhook the wench strap

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Boat sliding off trailer?

The winch strap is there not only to recover the boat but to secure the boat in position. The safety chain is your back up if the winch strap fails. I would suggest leaving them both in place till you are ready for the boat to slide into the water. That's what I do. It may appear overkill but I would rather that than post a disaster in the "stupid human tricks" section.

 

[hankll]

Re: Boat sliding off trailer?

I'm probably beating a dead horse here, but I undo the transom straps, Transom saver, prime bulb, put plug in , dry crank motor ( to make sure its gonna fire) All this done away from ramp out of other peoples way, then back it down ramp till trailer wheels are in the water and its almost ready to float. Then My wife gets in our tow vehicle and I get in our boat, unhooking wench from boat and lower motor while she backs up a few more feet and I'm cranking motor and backing away while she parks the trailer. So far it seems to be the safest way and quickest so I don't hold up the other people waiting in line to get their boats in or out. But I also wouldn't just undo wench at top of ramp. Not always gonna get what ya think, could be a ride down the ramp backwards in the fiberglass.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Boat sliding off trailer?

it is not a good practice, but i launch alone most of the time. i disconnect everything, tie the bow line to trailer, and back in. boat floats off i pull up some and get bow line. you really have to know your set up. steep ramp. i do wait to release bow.

 

[BoatinFool]

Re: Boat sliding off trailer?

When the is boat is almost in the water I then unhook the wench strap

I tried that once. She knocked me off the edge of the dock and I had a black eye for a week. I now wait till I'm well off shore before unhooking the wench strap.