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Author Topic:   Techniques For Loading Boat On Trailer

protek9543 posted 02-11-2011 09:47 PM ET (US)
[This article had no content and only directed readers to another website where an expensive and complicated mechanical system to load a boat on a trailer was being promoted and offered for sale. Please note that articles which are posted here and contain nothing but a link to someplace else are routinely deleted. These forums are for discussions, not for directing people to links on other websites--jimh.]
elaelap posted 02-12-2011 10:32 AM ET (US)
Talk about a waste of thirteen hundred bucks! I wouldn't have this useless, over-engineered rust-attractor if they gave it to me for what it's worth -- nothing.
Take it back. This might be very useful for folks in a wheelchair or walker-bound (which may well be me in the not-so-distant future, so I better watch my karma with those nasty remarks). Seriously, there's really no need of an electric winch of any kind -- let alone this uber-complicated nonsense -- to launch and retrieve a small motorboat. I'm a little past my tightrope-walking stage, so I just guide my Whaler onto the trailer's bunks, roll up my trousers, and wade in the two feet of water to hook up the boat and hand-winch it in. If one's trailer is properly positioned, one hand will easily spin the winch handle, and the entire procedure takes less than five minutes. Oh yeah...I wear water shoes, Crocs, or no shoes at all, and I do get funny looks sometimes at the wash-down bay while I'm flushing my motor and rinsing the salt water off my shoes/feet via the motor's pee-stream.
Tony
jimh posted 02-12-2011 11:51 AM ET (US)
Tony--I keep a pair of Croc shoes in the truck just for the purpose of wearing them on boat ramps. I find it easier to wade into the water to a depth of a foot or two to attach the trailer winch strap to the hull's bow eye than to use complex mechanical contrivances. It is also my impression there is less danger to wade in than to try to perch oneself precariously on the trailer and lean over to attach the strap to the bow eye. There is a risk of falling in both cases, but I find the risk of falling when wading is less, although it does depend on the conditions at the ramp. If the ramp is covered in slime or other growth that creates a slippery surface, I use the boat and the trailer to help stabilize myself when wading in. In any case, one as to be careful.
Personally, I also favor using a hand-crank winch. When operating the winch by hand, the operator feels the resistance of the boat to loading on the trailer. I use this resistance as a signal or cue to the status of the loading. If there is too much resistance, I will stop the loading. I will back the trailer further down the ramp; this will decrease the load on the winch strap and bow eye during loading. If there is too little resistance, the boat may be floating onto the trailer, which often results in uneven lateral loading. In that case I might pull the trailer out a foot to reach a better loading balance. If using an electric winch you don't have as much appreciation of the resistance to loading, although if under a heavy stain I suspect the electric motor speed will decrease and become noticeable.
jimh posted 02-12-2011 11:57 AM ET (US)
Also, for use in saltwater, the simpler the mechanical system of loading, the better. In freshwater a complicated mechanical contrivance might last a reasonable amount of time, but I suspect that in saltwater the life span would be less.
elaelap posted 02-12-2011 12:39 PM ET (US)
What do they say about great minds, Jim...?
Sourpuss1 posted 02-12-2011 01:41 PM ET (US)
Is protek9543 a salesman for this device? I certainly found the device interesting, but useless. It is pretty high technology for such a simple process.
Notice the photo with the guys water shoes sitting next to the truck?
Maybe I'm jealous, as my ramp forays (2 per year) are always a fiasco. I doubt this thing would work with a 26 pursuit and the crappy ramp I use.
pcrussell50 posted 02-12-2011 01:42 PM ET (US)
I step on the main beam of the trailer to keep my feet dry, but I don't wear Crocs. (No rolling your eyes, Jim), I do it totally barefooted, which at least gives me a little bit of the "monkey" foot, balance effect that I wouldn't have wearing shoes. Our launch ramp water can get down to 60 in the winter, maybe even the upper 50's. That's no fun to dunk your feet in, involuntarily. Trying to stay feet-dry adds a fun little challenge to the whole affair.
-Peter
contender posted 02-12-2011 02:58 PM ET (US)
I have a 1975 galvanized roller trailer that I still have and use today with an electric winch. However, I made my own electric winch by using a starter from a 1953 Ford Truck. I welded two ears on the started and mounted it to my winch post. The winch is a 2 speed Shelby, I welded a 12 inch v pulley on the left side on to the drive shaft of the winch. The winch can run in either speed. The right side of the winch still has an attachment for a hand crank if needed. I have also installed a remote switch that I can plug into the winch (this way I can hook the the winch cable to the bow eye and tighten it by my self). The problem with the electric winch of days past is that the motor was to small and could not handle the stress. My set up is 22 years old and have not had any problems what so ever and puts the boat on the trailer in 15 seconds. I also do not see the point to change my trailer for a float on just to not have to deal with an electric winch(why spend the money if my trailer functions just fine). I also think having a float on trailer you still are going to get your feet wet anyway, Its just part of boating and launching the boat. If anyone is interested in my set up shoot me an email and I will show you some pictures. My total cost was less than $100 for the winch set up.
protek9543 posted 02-12-2011 03:02 PM ET (US)
I'm not a salesman for this product. Saw it on TV. Might come in handy for some older folks who are still wanting to go boating and have a hard time I thought.
ConB posted 02-12-2011 05:45 PM ET (US)
I agree with Tony and Jim with the exception of I wear Teva sandals in stead of Crocs.
Con
modenacart posted 02-12-2011 06:23 PM ET (US)
If you don't like it, don't buy it. No need to insult.
sapple posted 02-13-2011 07:53 AM ET (US)
I have considered and tried everything I can think of to launch and retrieve without getting into the water. Due to limited mobility and a bow rail, climbing over the bow is not an option for me. I don't like prower loading. Therefore, I always end up with the "elaelap" proceedure. Works every time and no unpleasent surprises.
jimh posted 02-13-2011 09:21 AM ET (US)
Power loading is often prohibited at boat ramps in Michigan.
sternorama posted 02-23-2011 06:09 PM ET (US)
In a conversation with a one-time Montauk owner I heard about his custom bow railing that had an opening in the middle for entry and egress, and custom weldments on his trailer that made for some sort of a staircase up to the bow deck. Sounded cool!
SpongeBob posted 02-23-2011 07:07 PM ET (US)
Many sailboat trailers have a staircase/ladder provision on the trailer tongue due to the boats height. Hunter has some very nice trailers set up this way.
Jeff

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Author	Topic: Techniques For Loading Boat On Trailer
protek9543	posted 02-11-2011 09:47 PM ET (US) [This article had no content and only directed readers to another website where an expensive and complicated mechanical system to load a boat on a trailer was being promoted and offered for sale. Please note that articles which are posted here and contain nothing but a link to someplace else are routinely deleted. These forums are for discussions, not for directing people to links on other websites--jimh.]
elaelap	posted 02-12-2011 10:32 AM ET (US) Talk about a waste of thirteen hundred bucks! I wouldn't have this useless, over-engineered rust-attractor if they gave it to me for what it's worth -- nothing. Take it back. This might be very useful for folks in a wheelchair or walker-bound (which may well be me in the not-so-distant future, so I better watch my karma with those nasty remarks). Seriously, there's really no need of an electric winch of any kind -- let alone this uber-complicated nonsense -- to launch and retrieve a small motorboat. I'm a little past my tightrope-walking stage, so I just guide my Whaler onto the trailer's bunks, roll up my trousers, and wade in the two feet of water to hook up the boat and hand-winch it in. If one's trailer is properly positioned, one hand will easily spin the winch handle, and the entire procedure takes less than five minutes. Oh yeah...I wear water shoes, Crocs, or no shoes at all, and I do get funny looks sometimes at the wash-down bay while I'm flushing my motor and rinsing the salt water off my shoes/feet via the motor's pee-stream. Tony
jimh	posted 02-12-2011 11:51 AM ET (US) Tony--I keep a pair of Croc shoes in the truck just for the purpose of wearing them on boat ramps. I find it easier to wade into the water to a depth of a foot or two to attach the trailer winch strap to the hull's bow eye than to use complex mechanical contrivances. It is also my impression there is less danger to wade in than to try to perch oneself precariously on the trailer and lean over to attach the strap to the bow eye. There is a risk of falling in both cases, but I find the risk of falling when wading is less, although it does depend on the conditions at the ramp. If the ramp is covered in slime or other growth that creates a slippery surface, I use the boat and the trailer to help stabilize myself when wading in. In any case, one as to be careful. Personally, I also favor using a hand-crank winch. When operating the winch by hand, the operator feels the resistance of the boat to loading on the trailer. I use this resistance as a signal or cue to the status of the loading. If there is too much resistance, I will stop the loading. I will back the trailer further down the ramp; this will decrease the load on the winch strap and bow eye during loading. If there is too little resistance, the boat may be floating onto the trailer, which often results in uneven lateral loading. In that case I might pull the trailer out a foot to reach a better loading balance. If using an electric winch you don't have as much appreciation of the resistance to loading, although if under a heavy stain I suspect the electric motor speed will decrease and become noticeable.
jimh	posted 02-12-2011 11:57 AM ET (US) Also, for use in saltwater, the simpler the mechanical system of loading, the better. In freshwater a complicated mechanical contrivance might last a reasonable amount of time, but I suspect that in saltwater the life span would be less.
elaelap	posted 02-12-2011 12:39 PM ET (US) What do they say about great minds, Jim...?
Sourpuss1	posted 02-12-2011 01:41 PM ET (US) Is protek9543 a salesman for this device? I certainly found the device interesting, but useless. It is pretty high technology for such a simple process. Notice the photo with the guys water shoes sitting next to the truck? Maybe I'm jealous, as my ramp forays (2 per year) are always a fiasco. I doubt this thing would work with a 26 pursuit and the crappy ramp I use.
pcrussell50	posted 02-12-2011 01:42 PM ET (US) I step on the main beam of the trailer to keep my feet dry, but I don't wear Crocs. (No rolling your eyes, Jim), I do it totally barefooted, which at least gives me a little bit of the "monkey" foot, balance effect that I wouldn't have wearing shoes. Our launch ramp water can get down to 60 in the winter, maybe even the upper 50's. That's no fun to dunk your feet in, involuntarily. Trying to stay feet-dry adds a fun little challenge to the whole affair. -Peter
contender	posted 02-12-2011 02:58 PM ET (US) I have a 1975 galvanized roller trailer that I still have and use today with an electric winch. However, I made my own electric winch by using a starter from a 1953 Ford Truck. I welded two ears on the started and mounted it to my winch post. The winch is a 2 speed Shelby, I welded a 12 inch v pulley on the left side on to the drive shaft of the winch. The winch can run in either speed. The right side of the winch still has an attachment for a hand crank if needed. I have also installed a remote switch that I can plug into the winch (this way I can hook the the winch cable to the bow eye and tighten it by my self). The problem with the electric winch of days past is that the motor was to small and could not handle the stress. My set up is 22 years old and have not had any problems what so ever and puts the boat on the trailer in 15 seconds. I also do not see the point to change my trailer for a float on just to not have to deal with an electric winch(why spend the money if my trailer functions just fine). I also think having a float on trailer you still are going to get your feet wet anyway, Its just part of boating and launching the boat. If anyone is interested in my set up shoot me an email and I will show you some pictures. My total cost was less than $100 for the winch set up.
protek9543	posted 02-12-2011 03:02 PM ET (US) I'm not a salesman for this product. Saw it on TV. Might come in handy for some older folks who are still wanting to go boating and have a hard time I thought.
ConB	posted 02-12-2011 05:45 PM ET (US) I agree with Tony and Jim with the exception of I wear Teva sandals in stead of Crocs. Con
modenacart	posted 02-12-2011 06:23 PM ET (US) If you don't like it, don't buy it. No need to insult.
sapple	posted 02-13-2011 07:53 AM ET (US) I have considered and tried everything I can think of to launch and retrieve without getting into the water. Due to limited mobility and a bow rail, climbing over the bow is not an option for me. I don't like prower loading. Therefore, I always end up with the "elaelap" proceedure. Works every time and no unpleasent surprises.
jimh	posted 02-13-2011 09:21 AM ET (US) Power loading is often prohibited at boat ramps in Michigan.
sternorama	posted 02-23-2011 06:09 PM ET (US) In a conversation with a one-time Montauk owner I heard about his custom bow railing that had an opening in the middle for entry and egress, and custom weldments on his trailer that made for some sort of a staircase up to the bow deck. Sounded cool!
SpongeBob	posted 02-23-2011 07:07 PM ET (US) Many sailboat trailers have a staircase/ladder provision on the trailer tongue due to the boats height. Hunter has some very nice trailers set up this way. Jeff