So just got off the water.....

[arod2012]

So just took the pontoon out for the 1st time since I have owned it. I traded my ski boat for it a few weeks back and with working and rewiring the trailer and putting new tires on and everything else that goes on in life this afternoon was the 1st time we took it out. The whole family and the dog went. Everything worked as it should and nothing sank (haha). A couple of things I learned. We need to get a different ladder to get in the boat from the water. It came with a rope ladder and it is almost impossible to use. Need to get a solid ladder but I see they are not cheap so will have to make something. Also wondering what everyone else does to load there pontoon on the trailer. Do you lower the trailer to get the pontoon off and then raise to get it back on or load and unload it more like a boat. (that is what I did today). I did not raise or lower the trailer at all just drove under it and pulled it out of the water. I think I will have a problem in the future on knowing how far forward or back the pontoon should be on the trailer.

Just some things I was thinking about. We all had a great time and the wife and kids enjoyed it much better than the ski boat. and there was plenty of room for the dog.

Later

 

[oldjeep]

Re: So just got off the water.....

I don't raise or lower the trailer when launching and retreiving my dads pontoon each season, but I guess it would depend on the ramp/lake. As for the forward/back - doesn't your trailer have bump stops on the top of the rail to stop the pontoon from coming forward? That should be the proper loading position. If your trailer doesn't have anything to prevent the boat from coming too far forward then you should add some.

 

[Treker57]

Re: So just got off the water.....

Sounds as if this is a scissor trailer

 

[oldjeep]

Re: So just got off the water.....

Sounds as if this is a scissor trailer

So is ours But scissor trailers sit even lower than a bunk trailer so there is almost never a reason to crank down to launch

 

[Silvertip]

Re: So just got off the water.....

The answer to that question is to do what you need to do. If you have a scissor trailer and a deep water ramp you probably don't need to. If you are at a shallow water ramp you probably have to lower it a bit. It all depends on whether you want to drive onto the trailer or winch it up. That may spark a power loading discussion but idling onto a lowered scissor trailer is not power loading. Powering onto any trailer where the trailer is offering resistance is indeed power loading. Or using more power than idle to get onto the trailer. I agree that the trailer should have some sort of bow stop. Without one you run the risk of having the toon in the back of your tow vehicle in a panic stop or crash.

 

[cin3000]

Re: So just got off the water.....

I have launched the pontoon 2 ways - lowering the scissor trailer and also leaving it up and then backing the trailer into the water and slamming on the breaks so the pontoon slides off the trailer. I don't know if the ladder of the 2 is the correct way but it has worked for me. As far as loading it onto the trailer, I launch it from a shallower landing so I always lower the trailer to load it.
As far as your ladder issue. I too had a cheap ladder but I'm the one who ended up buying it as one didn not come with the pontoon. I thought I would save some money but buying 2 cup mounts and using a portable hook ladder. Big MISTAKE! I installed the cup mounts (having to drill 2 holes in the decking for the cup mounts to be flush with the decking) and then took our pontoon out to go swimming and try out the ladder. The first time we used the ladder, the cup mounts started pulling away from the decking. One screw came out even. I was not happy. So, now I have to repair 2 holes in my decking.
I broke down today and did a lot of research on what would be the best ladder for what we need it for and for a reasonable price. I found an aluminum 4 step ladder that is sturdier but is not foldable. It is removeable which is great. It also comes with the mounting hardware. Here's the ladder that I bought -


http://mylakesidelifestyle.com/?q=node/43

 

[oldjeep]

Re: So just got off the water.....

No need to slam on the brakes - boats float, back it in until it does

 

[arod2012]

Re: So just got off the water.....

I don't raise or lower the trailer when launching and retreiving my dads pontoon each season, but I guess it would depend on the ramp/lake. As for the forward/back - doesn't your trailer have bump stops on the top of the rail to stop the pontoon from coming forward? That should be the proper loading position. If your trailer doesn't have anything to prevent the boat from coming too far forward then you should add some.

Nope. Didn't know it shuld have but now that you say it and I think about it I guess I need to add something there. Like someone else said there is nothing to stop it from sliding forward into the back of my truck.

 

[arod2012]

Re: So just got off the water.....

Sounds as if this is a scissor trailer

You are correct.

 

[arod2012]

Re: So just got off the water.....

I have launched the pontoon 2 ways - lowering the scissor trailer and also leaving it up and then backing the trailer into the water and slamming on the breaks so the pontoon slides off the trailer. I don't know if the ladder of the 2 is the correct way but it has worked for me. As far as loading it onto the trailer, I launch it from a shallower landing so I always lower the trailer to load it.
As far as your ladder issue. I too had a cheap ladder but I'm the one who ended up buying it as one didn not come with the pontoon. I thought I would save some money but buying 2 cup mounts and using a portable hook ladder. Big MISTAKE! I installed the cup mounts (having to drill 2 holes in the decking for the cup mounts to be flush with the decking) and then took our pontoon out to go swimming and try out the ladder. The first time we used the ladder, the cup mounts started pulling away from the decking. One screw came out even. I was not happy. So, now I have to repair 2 holes in my decking.
I broke down today and did a lot of research on what would be the best ladder for what we need it for and for a reasonable price. I found an aluminum 4 step ladder that is sturdier but is not foldable. It is removeable which is great. It also comes with the mounting hardware. Here's the ladder that I bought -


http://mylakesidelifestyle.com/?q=node/43

Thanks for the info. I just ordered this ladder.

 

[Old Screwball]

Re: So just got off the water.....

Welcome to 'toonin'

Our new Sun Tracker came with a rear folding ladder, and I kept a plastic step stool for getting off and on when beached. Ladders are truly expensive, keep looking. I found one on E-Bay, 3 step collapsing for $111.00 Haven't installed it yet, but looks pretty good. Mounts under the deck and folds away out of sight.

Good Luck.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/33075642547...iewitem=&sspagename=ADME:L:OC:US:3160&vxp=mtr

 

[RustyShackleford]

Re: So just got off the water.....

No need to slam on the brakes - boats float, back it in until it does

My father-in-law does this every time he helps me launch. I keep telling him that he doesn't need to do that, but he does.

 

[RustyShackleford]

Re: So just got off the water.....

If you think ladders are expensive, wait until you start looking for a ramp for your dog to climb into the boat from the water!

 

[Treker57]

Re: So just got off the water.....

If you think ladders are expensive, wait until you start looking for a ramp for your dog to climb into the boat from the water!

You got that right Rusty

 

[Silver Eagle]

Re: So just got off the water.....

We use a fiberglass folding ladder (6ft). Keep it in the back of the truck. Not all boat ramps have walkways to get on the boat.So I put the people on in the parking lot. Sometimes we take it with us for deep water loading.

 

[cin3000]

Re: So just got off the water.....

We launch from a shallower boat landing so we either have to lower the trailer and push it off (which is sometimes hard to do), or back up and slam on the brakes. If we ever get to a boat landing that is deeper, then we will just back it in and let it float off with a little assistance of course.

 

[cin3000]

Re: So just got off the water.....

They are! I just bought a life jacket with handles on top to help get my dog in but it's kind of tricky and hard on one's back.

 

[cin3000]

Re: So just got off the water.....

Hope it works out for you. I should be getting mine before this weekend so I'll let you know how it works out for me.

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: So just got off the water.....

it's been my observation that the biggest problem with boat ladders in general is no place to grab on to once you're on the bottom rung.

 

[arod2012]

Re: So just got off the water.....

Well I ordered the ladder that Cin3000 suggested. It looks good for the price and hopefully will do the job. Working on making some bump stops for the trailer and it also looks like I need to make some sort of hard plastic "L" shape piece to mount to the front on the pontoon. 2 of them actually right where the pontoon rubs/ slides on the 2 rails of the trailer. Right now the aluminum bends and flexs when it slides up the rails. I would think there should have been something on the front already. Interesting.