Having troubles retrieving boat

[Pouryakamkar]

Ok so I own a 16 feet boat. And whenever I load it back on the trailer I'm always nervous. When do I bring the motor up? How fast should I approach it? Then I can never centre it. I always go and it's never centered. The boat is still floating when my dad drives the car up. Is that normal or does my dad drive the trailer to deep in the water?

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Having troubles retrieving boat

Probably trailer too deep. power loading?

 

[ajax5240]

Re: Having troubles retrieving boat

Invest in a set of trailer guides. They make trailering a boat a breeze. Just get the boat between the guides and you Are good.

Try with the trailer not as far in the water. And observe where your prop is when the boat is on the trailer. Most boats, the drive would not hit. If the stern of the boat is still floating when trailered, you really have less to worry about. I usually trim up to the stop before having to hit the trailer button just to be safe.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Having troubles retrieving boat

too deep. use the winch, not the motor. You do not drive up to the winch stand. Why do you think there's 20' of cable there?

tell us what boat and what trailer (roller or bunk). Fresh or salt. generally you are either with the water below the axle, or just over the top of the tire.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Having troubles retrieving boat

Probably more psychological than physical . . . So, approach it with an attitude that it is a small boat and easy to load.


my only comments to add to the others so far . . .


slow as you can go . . . Use the winch strap to pull the boat up onto the trailer. . . Have Dad pull out really slowly as that helps center the boat as it comes out of the water.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Having troubles retrieving boat

A lot of this was already answered in your other question.

The approach speed is however fast your arm can pull it because when you attempt to retreive the boat the motor is off and up.

If the boat is floating when the car drives up, the trailer was backed in Waaaaaayyy too far.

My rule of thumb is that if I can't stand behind the car and work the winch without getting my feet wet, then I'm in too far.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Having troubles retrieving boat

If the boat is floating when the car drives up, the trailer was backed in Waaaaaayyy too far.

My rule of thumb is that if I can't stand behind the car and work the winch without getting my feet wet, then I'm in too far.

amen. I might be in ankle boots but that's it. Recently saw clips of guys swimming around their boats!

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Having troubles retrieving boat

Side guides and not as deep. 16 ft boat should certainly not need to be power loaded.

Practice and experimentation will give you the ideal depth and method.

Ignore this type of advice given here so far and you become part of the daily ramp entertainment !!!

 

[Stamey]

Re: Having troubles retrieving boat

My rule of thumb, for bunk trailers, is get the front edge of the bunks near the water surface. On my pontoon trailer I have the front, top edge of the bunks about an inch out of the water, and with my deck boat trailer, I get the front, top edge of the outer bunks just under the surface of the water. These settings, for those boats, provided a perfect guide on and a little friction to hold the boat in place while connecting the winch. For my roller trailer, and 19' bow rider, it didn't really matter, but my setting was with the trailer fenders just below the surface.
You will need to experiment with different depths to find the sweet spot where it guides the boat on but is not too hard to load.


Chris

 

[jayhanig]

Re: Having troubles retrieving boat

I never power load. I just back my trailer in until its fenders are 1/2 to 2/3 covered with water. My boat is tied to the dock and I release it, then pull the bowline up towards my truck. My guides help keep it straight. Then I just click on the winch strap and crank it the last 3 feet or so. My truck tires never get wet, and even though I'm using a 2WD Ford Ranger (auto, 3.0 liter engine), I've yet so spin a wheel pulling my boat out. I just stand on the brake, add a little gas, and then release the brake. I'm out of there: no muss/no fuss.

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: Having troubles retrieving boat

Every boat/trailer combo is different and you'll have to find the right one for you. I can't launch my rig unless my feet are wet. My first thought is you're actually being too cautious, which is normal. When you're cautious you end up too slow. Too slow and you lose control of the rig. Practice makes perfect...if at first you don't succeed...you know all of the cliche's. Be the wolf. :happy:

 

[security6]

Re: Having troubles retrieving boat

Every boat/trailer combo is different and you'll have to find the right one for you. I can't launch my rig unless my feet are wet. My first thought is you're actually being too cautious, which is normal. When you're cautious you end up too slow. Too slow and you lose control of the rig. Practice makes perfect...if at first you don't succeed...you know all of the cliche's. Be the wolf. :happy:

Not only is every boat/trailer combo different, but ramps are different too. At one ramp you might keep you truck tires dry because the ramp is steep, while at another ramp you might have water close to the axles because the ramp is is not steep.