Little bit worried about launching.....

[garzilla]

Just got my first boat....see avatar.

15 ft fiberglass LUND tri hull....1970
Trailer seems to be a tilt..has a pin towards the middle.

Boat is VERY light, rolls real easy by hand on concrete...pulled it home a couple miles with my 92 s10 longbed pickup....2.8 motor, 5 speed manual...

Illinois boat launches....for the most part are a shade off of VERTICAL ....and that's no exaggeration LOL....

The steeper ones do, however have VVVVVV grooves in the concrete though.


Any tips on launching with a stickshift.....I'll definitely have a helper with me when going out.

Any tips on a tilt trailer too??.....I"m used to tilt snowmobile trailers....not boat trailers

 

[Biged007]

Re: Little bit worried about launching.....

Any chance of a better pic remember max size 800X600 the avatar is too small

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Little bit worried about launching.....

do NOT use the tilt if you have a steep ramp. In fact, I can't remember EVER using the tilt on my boat trailers, most of the ramps I frequent are fairly steep though. (although late this summer the water came up 8 feet, and I unloaded more or less from the parking lot. The FRONT wheels of the vehicle were a couple feet in the water. THAT is when a tilt trailer is nice!_

 

[garzilla]

Re: Little bit worried about launching.....

Biged......hate to put you on a scavenger hunt, but I'm posting on my phone.....if you click my name, I think it'll show you some of my older posts....I've got pictures at the last page of tri hull club, and the last page of the lund one...

I'll throw some up tomorrow if you cant find them....



Actually.....lol try this


http://forums.iboats.com/showpost.php?p=2998782&postcount=119

 

[woosterken]

Re: Little bit worried about launching.....

set the park brake,put a wheel chock behind the back wheel.
put a short chain on the chock and hook it on the bumper, then when you pull out, you dont have to worry about it ,it will just drag along to flat ground.

woosterken

 

[garzilla]

Re: Little bit worried about launching.....

That's a good idea woosterken!

 

[marktwainsonic]

Re: Little bit worried about launching.....

set the park brake,put a wheel chock behind the back wheel.
put a short chain on the chock and hook it on the bumper, then when you pull out, you dont have to worry about it ,it will just drag along to flat ground.

woosterken

This is awesome. Brilliant!

 

[garzilla]

Re: Little bit worried about launching.....

My luck it'll snag on something and rip my bed off my truck lol.

 

[garzilla]

Re: Little bit worried about launching.....

My biggest concern is the power of the truck....and it's two wheel drive.

It was raining bringing it home, and I chirped the tires coming off stop signs with it in tow....I can only imagine wetting the tires, and having to pull it up an incline....wheel spin, then right back into the water, boat, trailer, and truck!!!..

 

[garzilla]

Re: Little bit worried about launching.....

Oh another thing....

Looking at the picture I posted, does that trailer seem too short for that boat??

 

[woosterken]

Re: Little bit worried about launching.....

while your seting against the wheel chock, could you start out in 2nd gear?
that may hold down the whell spin some.

woosterken

 

[garzilla]

Re: Little bit worried about launching.....

I probably will have to.....i suppose theres really only one way to find out....wait til spring, get my arse out there and just do it..

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Little bit worried about launching.....

Put some weight in the bed.

Bags of sand work good and stay put.

 

[garzilla]

Re: Little bit worried about launching.....

Judging by my, and friends' weekend behavior...It'll be cases of Old Style.

 

[jayhanig]

Re: Little bit worried about launching.....

My biggest concern is the power of the truck....and it's two wheel drive.

It was raining bringing it home, and I chirped the tires coming off stop signs with it in tow....I can only imagine wetting the tires, and having to pull it up an incline....wheel spin, then right back into the water, boat, trailer, and truck!!!..

I'm pulling a 17' Galaxy Bowrider with a 2007 Ford Ranger with the 3 liter 6 cylinder, automatic transmission and 2 wheel drive. It comes right up the ramp even with the rear tires of the truck in the water but the rims still dry.

No wheel spin.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Little bit worried about launching.....

don't worry about your tow vehicle.

Is it on rollers? If so you don't need to sink the trailer; stop when the water is below the axles. Chances are, your car will be dry--and your feet will stay dry. Push the boat off; if it doesn't come easily, try the tilt. Hold the bow line to hold the bow down first time; sometimes they tuilt up too high and ship water over the stern--don't put your cooler back there.
Use the tilt when you retrieve; keep the axle dry.

 

[garzilla]

Re: Little bit worried about launching.....

Awesome.....good to hear.

I definitely think your bowrider is a bit more portly than my little fishin' boat..

LETS GO SPRING!!!

 

[79Glastron]

Re: Little bit worried about launching.....

I wouldn't try second gear, use first. Keep the parking brake on and operate it with your free hand. Keep one foot on the clutch and the other the gas. Once the clutch starts to engage, release the brake and away you go, don't stop til you're at the top! This helps you avoid burning the clutch out.

 

[garzilla]

Re: Little bit worried about launching.....

Cool....not a roller trailer either....has bunks.

 

[jayhanig]

Re: Little bit worried about launching.....

Awesome.....good to hear.

I definitely think your bowrider is a bit more portly than my little fishin' boat..

That was my point. Don't worry; be happy!