Low-angle ramps

[texmacs]

Got to a new ramp today and found it to be very shallow (as in "not steep"). Could only get about 33% of my 18-foot bowrider wet before my vehicle's tailpipe was in the water. Had a hell of a time pushing, rocking, reversing, etc before I could launch the boat. Am I missing an obvious launching technique on a ramp like this? Is this the big advantage of rollers vs bunks (I've got bunks)? What's the best way to deal with a ramp like his?

 

[KCook]

Re: Low-angle ramps

Submerge your vehicle's tailpipe. As long as you leave the engine running, should be Ok.<br /><br />Kelly Cook

 

[BillP]

Re: Low-angle ramps

A good roller trailer might do the job...and a tilt trailer would launch and retrieve with only the trailer tires at the edge of the water. Nothing beats a tilt for these applications.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Low-angle ramps

Kelly - Submerging the tailpipe, or any other part of your vehicle, is not good if in salt water.<br /><br />tex - There is only one way to deal with this other than having a trailer with rollers. There is an outfit that makes an extension that you can attach to the front of your trailer to extend the length. It comes in a couple of different lengths. Hop over to the trailer section & post there if interested.<br /><br />There are lotsa ramps in the Keys that I can't use because of this - 23'er with bunks that has to be submerged to launch. My previous 19'er had rollers & I could drop it in a foot of water.

 

[KCook]

Re: Low-angle ramps

SoLittle - good point about the saltwater! All of my ramps have been on freshwater. Once watched a big ole Caddy convertible launch a ski boat at a shallow ramp. Doubt the Caddy's designers ever had that in mind! <br /><br />Kelly

 

[BillP]

Re: Low-angle ramps

I dunk my tailpipe all the time with my two float on trailers. Sometimes the car's front tires even get wet. <br /><br />Extention tongues can be a pain though...they need to be adjustable or you may bottom out the tongue on the ramp. If you use a tongue with set length, make sure it won't bottom out. I used a 4' non adjustable extension in the fl keys for a 20' flats boat and an 8' adjustable extension for a 22' sailboat. My tilts were always easier to use on those ramps compared to extensions.

 

[Terry H]

Re: Low-angle ramps

I've seen guys put bumper hitch on front bumper and launch thatta way. Looks funny, but these folks all had campers on and couldn't see the boat backing up. Might work on a shallow ramp. <br />There's one place on the Snake where I have all four wheels of my truck in the water, and that's looks odd, but I have a shallow draft boat and trailer so no exhaust prollems...just a thought

 

[Maximerc]

Re: Low-angle ramps

How high off the ground is your trailer ? can you invert your axle ? ( put it on top of the spring??) Just a thought.

 

[texmacs]

Re: Low-angle ramps

Thanks all. I'm not near saltwater, so I guess I'll just dunk the tailpipe under. Fortunately, this doesn't happen very often.

 

[Bert1]

Re: Low-angle ramps

You could try to apply some silicone spray to your bunks. We have a similar ramp here and I did this with mine and now the boat slides on and off with very little resistance. Just be carefull when you get the boat back on the trailer as there will be very little resitance to stop the boat on the bunks.

 

[Bert1]

Re: Low-angle ramps

You could try to apply some silicone spray to your bunks. We have a similar ramp here and I did this with mine and now the boat slides on and off with very little resistance. Just be carefull when you get the boat back on the trailer as there will be very little resitance to stop the boat on the bunks.

 

[Osprey]

Re: Low-angle ramps

Here is a technique for you.<br /><br />1. Back the boat down only until you are several feet from the back tires / tail pipe.<br /><br />2. Drop the outboard and Start / warmup the engine.<br /><br />3. Then while your driving the boat, put it in reverse and begin pulling off the trailer at the same time you have a friend backing down the truck and trailer. The trick is to allow the truck and trailer to back down quickly and then tap the brakes hard and quick. When done well this will break the friction between the hull and trailer bunks and you can then power it off the trailer. All in one motion.

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: Low-angle ramps

You can also get your boat ready to launch and then put on your brakes quickly just before the tow vehicle hits the water. You have to be careful with this one for obvious reasons.