Boston Whaler & TailerBoats Mag How to Video's

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Author Topic:   Boston Whaler & TailerBoats Mag How to Video's

Ridge Runner posted 08-21-2008 12:06 PM ET (US)
Ran accross this set of video's made by Boston Whaler and TrailerBoats Mag using a Montauk 170.
Boston Whaler/TrailerBoats.com-Retrieving your boat:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WmV0_yUb3U

Boston Whaler/TrailerBoats.com-Docking your boat:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba7QQ52vaqw
Boston Whaler/TrailerBoats.com-Launching your boat:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu35wqiQHdE
Boston Whaler/TrailerBoats.com-Things you gotta have!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1FX7gNXW5I
Boston Whaler/TrailerBoats.com-Skippering your boat:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYlYyqCADOE
Boston Whaler/TrailerBoats.com-Trailering/Towing your boat:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRAIDcsJLdE

whalerajm posted 08-23-2008 12:38 AM ET (US)
These videos are good...but in the real world:
1. I launch by myself most of the time whether I'm alone or only with my kids. The "buddy" they show in the video is usually not with me.
2. At least 50% of the ramps I use are trailer width plus about 18 inches on each side. In the video it looks like he's launching at a beach.
3. How did he find a launch during day light hours with no other boats or trailers in sight? That video was not filmed in NJ!
4. Powering on and off looks good, when it works, but everyone I know who powers on-off (especially in tidal waters) has a few encounters where prop meets bottom (usually concrete).
In the real world (my world), I've learned to float boat on and off bunks and always tie off to something on ramp or trailer to make sure boat doesn't get away. I may get my feet wet, but in 15 years of ramp encounters I haven't had a bad experience, yet! I'll probably never be asked to do a video on launching.
*What would be more interesting would be a video showing us 50 year old guys lifting two 84 lb. gas tanks up onto the trailer and into a Montauk.
*...or watching me pushing and winching my boat and trailer back into the garage.
BTW, the hitch, coupling, trailer, etc, in the video look too damn good! I bet that 170 doesn't even smell like fish!
Chuck Tribolet posted 08-23-2008 02:30 AM ET (US)
I just watched the "Retreiving" video. One thing I would add:
- While checking the trailer lights, turn on the four-way
flashers. That will let you see if the brake/turn lights are
working.

Chuck
Chuck Tribolet posted 08-23-2008 03:02 AM ET (US)
All in all, nice videos, but:
Another comment on "Retreiving":
- When there's a cross-wind or cross current, stand dead
center in the boat, and steer the boat to keep your eyes on
the centerline of the trailer. Don't turn the boat parallel
to the trailer until the last minute.
And a comment on "Docking"
- Dunno about other boats, but my '97ish Montauk will pull
away just fine if I turn the wheel all the way to starboard
(I'm almost always tied on on the port side of the boat)
BEFORE I put it in reverse. Esp. with a little push on the
bow from Adm. Linda as she steps on board, there's no contact
between fenders and dock.
"Things you gotta have":
- No mention of a VHF radio.
"Trailering:"
- I don't think they crossed over the safety chains.

- They didn't mention that it's important to not tow right
at the max for you truck.
- They didn't mention that it's important to grease the
hitch ball.
- They didn't mention explicitly that the trailer will run
a little inside of the truck on turns.
And, in all:
- Where heck are their PFDs???

Chuck
jimh posted 08-23-2008 08:47 AM ET (US)
Which way is preferred for placing the safety chain S-hooks onto the hitch? In the video, the S-hooks are dropped onto the hitch eye with the shank of the S-hook behind the eye. I always put my S-hooks onto the eyes with the shank of the S-hook in the eye. Does it make a difference?
Chuck Tribolet posted 08-23-2008 09:09 AM ET (US)
S hook with the opening facing aft. Less likely to bounce
out that way.
and those safety chains are too long. They should only be
as long as they need to be.

Chuck
BlueMax posted 08-23-2008 09:19 AM ET (US)
I cross my chains and usually put the 'S' hook in from behind the eye of the tow hitch. Also I do not power on to my trailer - the only couple of times I've tried that, I've gone sideways from wind/current or a wake from another boat washing in from passing traffic. I find it is quick and easier to pull the boat onto the trailer with a bow line and then winch it up the rest of the way.
Additionally, I use the lift lever or a piece of wood to support the engine (I only trailer 3 or 5 miles to the ramps near me) I was was thinking of a 'my wedge' for my boat's birthday in July but forgot. I also turn the engine full to port so that the shaft is fully inside the cylinder to reduce exposure to corrosion. After a year of weather and water, there is no rust on the shaft at all.
cgodfrey posted 08-23-2008 12:59 PM ET (US)
In the Retrieval video, I found the host's psychic ability to confirm the good condition of the wheel bearings to be slightly amusing.
I'm sure they're fine, but he should have mentioned how he checked them recently. A half-second walking glance at one wheel bearing while on the ramp doesn't exactly confirm their good condition. Someone who doesn't know what to look, listen, and feel for can easily miss bad wheel bearings.
In the Trailering Basics video, the suggestion that holding your wheel at the 6 o'clock position is a good tip for beginners, but it's certainly not as important as practice.
I've seen plenty of inexperienced boaters at the ramp frustrated and confounded as to why the trailer's not going where they expect it to.
An understanding of how trailers pivot at the hitch and then travel is pretty vital, and they shouldn't have ignored that concept.
erik selis posted 08-23-2008 01:15 PM ET (US)
We retrieve our boats in a different way here in Europe. At least most of us do. Most also have trailers with rollers and don't back the trailer that far in the water. The wheels are only half submerged. Also every trailer towing a 170 Montauk has brakes (mandatory) so driving that deep into salt water would cause premature corrosion IMO. The downside is that you have to use some elbow grease to winch the boat up the trailer. I'm not saying our system is better , by no means. Just different strokes I guess.
Erik
kamie posted 08-24-2008 09:53 AM ET (US)
I was waiting for the boat to endup in the back of the truck when he was powerloading.
I no longer bother to powerload. If your trailer is setup with rollers, it can be just as easy to winch the boat up. I back the car and trailer down into the water so the last two rollers are under water. drive the boat so it sticks to the last roller, hop out, and hook up the winch strap. At that point, I turn off the engine and raise it. I then push the boat out away from the trailer, and start cranking. The boat usually comes up dead center on the rollers and the only part that is hard is the last 2 feet. I am toying with the idea of getting a power winch for christmas for the last 2 feet.

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Author	Topic: Boston Whaler & TailerBoats Mag How to Video's
Ridge Runner	posted 08-21-2008 12:06 PM ET (US) Ran accross this set of video's made by Boston Whaler and TrailerBoats Mag using a Montauk 170. Boston Whaler/TrailerBoats.com-Retrieving your boat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WmV0_yUb3U Boston Whaler/TrailerBoats.com-Docking your boat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba7QQ52vaqw Boston Whaler/TrailerBoats.com-Launching your boat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu35wqiQHdE Boston Whaler/TrailerBoats.com-Things you gotta have!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1FX7gNXW5I Boston Whaler/TrailerBoats.com-Skippering your boat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYlYyqCADOE Boston Whaler/TrailerBoats.com-Trailering/Towing your boat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRAIDcsJLdE
whalerajm	posted 08-23-2008 12:38 AM ET (US) These videos are good...but in the real world: 1. I launch by myself most of the time whether I'm alone or only with my kids. The "buddy" they show in the video is usually not with me. 2. At least 50% of the ramps I use are trailer width plus about 18 inches on each side. In the video it looks like he's launching at a beach. 3. How did he find a launch during day light hours with no other boats or trailers in sight? That video was not filmed in NJ! 4. Powering on and off looks good, when it works, but everyone I know who powers on-off (especially in tidal waters) has a few encounters where prop meets bottom (usually concrete). In the real world (my world), I've learned to float boat on and off bunks and always tie off to something on ramp or trailer to make sure boat doesn't get away. I may get my feet wet, but in 15 years of ramp encounters I haven't had a bad experience, yet! I'll probably never be asked to do a video on launching. What would be more interesting would be a video showing us 50 year old guys lifting two 84 lb. gas tanks up onto the trailer and into a Montauk. ...or watching me pushing and winching my boat and trailer back into the garage. BTW, the hitch, coupling, trailer, etc, in the video look too damn good! I bet that 170 doesn't even smell like fish!
Chuck Tribolet	posted 08-23-2008 02:30 AM ET (US) I just watched the "Retreiving" video. One thing I would add: - While checking the trailer lights, turn on the four-way flashers. That will let you see if the brake/turn lights are working. Chuck
Chuck Tribolet	posted 08-23-2008 03:02 AM ET (US) All in all, nice videos, but: Another comment on "Retreiving": - When there's a cross-wind or cross current, stand dead center in the boat, and steer the boat to keep your eyes on the centerline of the trailer. Don't turn the boat parallel to the trailer until the last minute. And a comment on "Docking" - Dunno about other boats, but my '97ish Montauk will pull away just fine if I turn the wheel all the way to starboard (I'm almost always tied on on the port side of the boat) BEFORE I put it in reverse. Esp. with a little push on the bow from Adm. Linda as she steps on board, there's no contact between fenders and dock. "Things you gotta have": - No mention of a VHF radio. "Trailering:" - I don't think they crossed over the safety chains. - They didn't mention that it's important to not tow right at the max for you truck. - They didn't mention that it's important to grease the hitch ball. - They didn't mention explicitly that the trailer will run a little inside of the truck on turns. And, in all: - Where heck are their PFDs??? Chuck
jimh	posted 08-23-2008 08:47 AM ET (US) Which way is preferred for placing the safety chain S-hooks onto the hitch? In the video, the S-hooks are dropped onto the hitch eye with the shank of the S-hook behind the eye. I always put my S-hooks onto the eyes with the shank of the S-hook in the eye. Does it make a difference?
Chuck Tribolet	posted 08-23-2008 09:09 AM ET (US) S hook with the opening facing aft. Less likely to bounce out that way. and those safety chains are too long. They should only be as long as they need to be. Chuck
BlueMax	posted 08-23-2008 09:19 AM ET (US) I cross my chains and usually put the 'S' hook in from behind the eye of the tow hitch. Also I do not power on to my trailer - the only couple of times I've tried that, I've gone sideways from wind/current or a wake from another boat washing in from passing traffic. I find it is quick and easier to pull the boat onto the trailer with a bow line and then winch it up the rest of the way. Additionally, I use the lift lever or a piece of wood to support the engine (I only trailer 3 or 5 miles to the ramps near me) I was was thinking of a 'my wedge' for my boat's birthday in July but forgot. I also turn the engine full to port so that the shaft is fully inside the cylinder to reduce exposure to corrosion. After a year of weather and water, there is no rust on the shaft at all.
cgodfrey	posted 08-23-2008 12:59 PM ET (US) In the Retrieval video, I found the host's psychic ability to confirm the good condition of the wheel bearings to be slightly amusing. I'm sure they're fine, but he should have mentioned how he checked them recently. A half-second walking glance at one wheel bearing while on the ramp doesn't exactly confirm their good condition. Someone who doesn't know what to look, listen, and feel for can easily miss bad wheel bearings. In the Trailering Basics video, the suggestion that holding your wheel at the 6 o'clock position is a good tip for beginners, but it's certainly not as important as practice. I've seen plenty of inexperienced boaters at the ramp frustrated and confounded as to why the trailer's not going where they expect it to. An understanding of how trailers pivot at the hitch and then travel is pretty vital, and they shouldn't have ignored that concept.
erik selis	posted 08-23-2008 01:15 PM ET (US) We retrieve our boats in a different way here in Europe. At least most of us do. Most also have trailers with rollers and don't back the trailer that far in the water. The wheels are only half submerged. Also every trailer towing a 170 Montauk has brakes (mandatory) so driving that deep into salt water would cause premature corrosion IMO. The downside is that you have to use some elbow grease to winch the boat up the trailer. I'm not saying our system is better , by no means. Just different strokes I guess. Erik
kamie	posted 08-24-2008 09:53 AM ET (US) I was waiting for the boat to endup in the back of the truck when he was powerloading. I no longer bother to powerload. If your trailer is setup with rollers, it can be just as easy to winch the boat up. I back the car and trailer down into the water so the last two rollers are under water. drive the boat so it sticks to the last roller, hop out, and hook up the winch strap. At that point, I turn off the engine and raise it. I then push the boat out away from the trailer, and start cranking. The boat usually comes up dead center on the rollers and the only part that is hard is the last 2 feet. I am toying with the idea of getting a power winch for christmas for the last 2 feet.