Unloading/launching boat from trailer

Thomas Gilg · 02-02-2009, 08:26 PM

I'm a power-unloader and loader with a 21' Seahawk on EZ Loader with carpet bunks.

Is it safe to back the boat down until it's just over the water, unhook the bow strap, then back further until the boat drifts off, possibly with some minor reverse thrust?

My fear is the boat suddendly sliding and shooting off with force prior to getting backed up far enough. I saw a 2003 post saying the boat would stick to the carpet just fine, but?

Currently I back down until the rear floats, the boat does slide out as I unwinch, I let the boat rest on the emergency bow chain, I unhook the winch strap, my wife powers forward, and then the chain hook pops off with ease. If the winch handle slips out of my hand while unwinching, I figure the chain stunt means the handle will only knock a few body parts off before stopping due to the chain.

--tg

baitsauce · 02-02-2009, 09:20 PM

Sounds like you are pretty expierenced and have a good routine/system. I don't think I'd change anything. Grab a cooler of beer, a lawn chair and have a seat at the Hammond boat ramp on a morning in late August and you'll soon see why you probably shouldn't change and NOT trust the carpet on your bunks. I have presonally witnessed more than one "Uh ohs"! Including one guide.

I have almost the same routine. My wife backs me in far enough to draw water through the pump, I start the boat and just it into gear giving thrust at idle, she unhooks and it the boat isn't floating enough she backs in a little further and off I go. I get the hell out of there. (Especially Hammond in late August

). She parks, I pick her up then we start fishing.

Jason S · 02-02-2009, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomas Gilg

I'm a power-unloader and loader with a 21' Seahawk on EZ Loader with carpet bunks.

Is it safe to back the boat down until it's just over the water, unhook the bow strap, then back further until the boat drifts off, possibly with some minor reverse thrust?

My fear is the boat suddendly sliding and shooting off with force prior to getting backed up far enough. I saw a 2003 post saying the boat would stick to the carpet just fine, but?

Currently I back down until the rear floats, the boat does slide out as I unwinch, I let the boat rest on the emergency bow chain, I unhook the winch strap, my wife powers forward, and then the chain hook pops off with ease. If the winch handle slips out of my hand while unwinching, I figure the chain stunt means the handle will only knock a few body parts off before stopping due to the chain.

--tg

I boot mine off with the brakes all the time. Back down depending on the angle of the ramp till the rear wheel is about half submerged. Unhook all straps. Give her a shove myself and generally she'll come off. If that doesn;t work. Roll truck back about a foot and jam brakes off she'll go. I have the ezloader slick pads on mine though. My last boat I put silicone spray on the bunks. She'd push right off. Bow line on my boat is sized so it won't get into prop if I forget it. This is also perfect size such that it stops the boat when I have the loop over the upright where the bow is just off of the bunks. Holds it perfect right there. I launch and load mostely by myself though so it is different I would tie up the ramp too much driving off.

I do drive on though because I hate winching. It is also faster for me to drive on hold with the motor in neutral and then hook and turn a couple turns laying in bow. Turn off tilt up jump form bow to the tailgate and off I go.

glowball · 02-03-2009, 05:00 AM

My boat isn't as heavy, but here is what we do. I undo the winch and back down to the waters edge. Than a buddy grabs the rope and unhooks safety chain. Than back in a tap breaks and drive away. I've launched my boat over 100 times and never had it slip down on the bunks to where the safety chain had to save me.

Danno · 02-03-2009, 09:16 AM

As to whether the boat will slip off of the bunks; that will depend on whether the carpet has dried since the last launch. Wet carpet or plastic bunks will release the boat sooner.

I figure that you have to disconnect the winch strap and safety chain somewhere close to the water just to protect your investment so why not just back the boat down until you can still reach the two hooks without getting you feet wet. If the boat slides off from here (unlikely), it slides into shallow water which will lessen any impact although the slip and the impact are highly unlikely.

When unhooking the boat, I hand the two lines to someone on the dock. I get back in the truck and back up a few more feet and hit the brakes. The boat floats off under the control of the hand lines.

I wouldn't do it any different under a power launch if I had someone I trusted at the helm.

jfa686 · 02-03-2009, 12:55 PM

i just ended up getting a 20 dollar pair of rubber boots. i never want to be that guy

Raining_Kings · 02-03-2009, 12:57 PM

If you ever get the chance, check out the EZ MARINE DVD at Fishermans/Sportsman show, he shows a great method to launching your boat that I've since followed and works great.

- Back down til over water remove Winch Strap and Chain.
- Tie a loop in your bow line that's just long enough to loop around the riser on your trailer and give you a couple of slack feet to work with. Ideal length should be enough to keep the bow of the boat within the trailer bunks still.
- Back down til rear of boat floats, then hard brake. Boat will float away, but is still attached to the bowline looped over the trailer riser.
- Once rope gets taunt, drive forward a couple feet and stop. This will yank the boat back towards the trailer and make it stop slightly on the end of the bunks. (remember your rope length should be long enough to keep the boat within the trailer bunks so it has nowhere to go).
- If done right, you should now be able to get out of your truck and grab the bow line that you looped around your trailer and not get your feet wet cause you pulled forward a couple of feet. Hop up on the dock and slight pull is all it should take to get the boat off the ends of the bunks.
- Walk it back, tie it off and park the truck.

Sounds more complicated than it is - the video shows it much better. Since I used this process it have no problem launching solo. Even with help I still follow this process cause I'm used to it and it's my routine. The extra help gets to hold the boat and watch the stuff while I park my rig.

FWIW - I do powerload, and hook winch line up by leaning over the bow.

-= Scott

fish-on-bend · 02-03-2009, 02:21 PM

I'm all for backing in until your over the water before unhooking. I have plastic bunks and dumped my aluminum boat on the ramp a couple years ago, so I have backed down almost to the water the last couple years. Then 2 weeks ago I launched in heavy ice fog. The bunks, ramp, everything was slick. I climbed in the boat, my buddy got in my truck and it slid off the bunks as soon as he put it in gear.

clunk.........on the ramp again. I will never unhook till the transom is over at least a foot of water. Slow learner I guess.

croation2 · 02-03-2009, 02:26 PM

I have the slick bunks and I do it pretty much like you. When I first got the boat, I would drive it on and leave it in gear to hold it up so I could latch it. I found out I didn't have to worry about it, it will stay put! I still wouldn't pull it all the way out without the latch on, cause I don't want the guy in the lawnchair with a beer to get any cheap thrills, at least not from me! I'd turn all red en stuff, then the wife would be mad, and then I wold have to call it a bad day of fishin. (these are very rare)

Thomas Gilg · 02-03-2009, 06:30 PM

Thanks for the feedback. Lots of tricks for me and the wife to try (on the ramp... with the boat... ).

While reading Scott's reply, I remember thinking it might be possible to use a bow line tied to the trailer riser via a slip knot, and my wife in the boat could tug on the end to release the slip knot when appropriate.

--tg

baitsauce · 02-03-2009, 06:39 PM

This is one of the things that can be enjoyed at a busy boatramp with a cooler full of beer and a lawnchair.

croation2 · 02-03-2009, 06:49 PM

As much as I like to laugh, joke around, talk big, act tough, trashtalk, kick names, take butt,(not necessarily in that order, then, do some smack talkin, I would probably not have snapped that pic, but, I can see where a person would think it was a treasure at the time, I would delete the electronic copy and burn the prints! Some bad Karma there!!

Jason S · 02-03-2009, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raining_Kings

If you ever get the chance, check out the EZ MARINE DVD at Fishermans/Sportsman show, he shows a great method to launching your boat that I've since followed and works great.

- Back down til over water remove Winch Strap and Chain.
- Tie a loop in your bow line that's just long enough to loop around the riser on your trailer and give you a couple of slack feet to work with. Ideal length should be enough to keep the bow of the boat within the trailer bunks still.
- Back down til rear of boat floats, then hard brake. Boat will float away, but is still attached to the bowline looped over the trailer riser.
- Once rope gets taunt, drive forward a couple feet and stop. This will yank the boat back towards the trailer and make it stop slightly on the end of the bunks. (remember your rope length should be long enough to keep the boat within the trailer bunks so it has nowhere to go).
- If done right, you should now be able to get out of your truck and grab the bow line that you looped around your trailer and not get your feet wet cause you pulled forward a couple of feet. Hop up on the dock and slight pull is all it should take to get the boat off the ends of the bunks.
- Walk it back, tie it off and park the truck.

Sounds more complicated than it is - the video shows it much better. Since I used this process it have no problem launching solo. Even with help I still follow this process cause I'm used to it and it's my routine. The extra help gets to hold the boat and watch the stuff while I park my rig.

FWIW - I do powerload, and hook winch line up by leaning over the bow.

-= Scott

Thats pretty well written much better than mine as far as it goes. Exactly pretty much my method. Except with the slick bunks I can usually lift a little on the bow and push off. But stopping the momentum of the boat is why you want the rope sized the way it is also. This is a great one person method. If I am fishing with someone inexperienced I will a lot of times launch and load without there help because I have this down.

oregonrafter · 02-04-2009, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raining_Kings

If you ever get the chance, check out the EZ MARINE DVD at Fishermans/Sportsman show, he shows a great method to launching your boat that I've since followed and works great.

- Back down til over water remove Winch Strap and Chain.
- Tie a loop in your bow line that's just long enough to loop around the riser on your trailer and give you a couple of slack feet to work with. Ideal length should be enough to keep the bow of the boat within the trailer bunks still.
- Back down til rear of boat floats, then hard brake. Boat will float away, but is still attached to the bowline looped over the trailer riser.
- Once rope gets taunt, drive forward a couple feet and stop. This will yank the boat back towards the trailer and make it stop slightly on the end of the bunks. (remember your rope length should be long enough to keep the boat within the trailer bunks so it has nowhere to go).
- If done right, you should now be able to get out of your truck and grab the bow line that you looped around your trailer and not get your feet wet cause you pulled forward a couple of feet. Hop up on the dock and slight pull is all it should take to get the boat off the ends of the bunks.
- Walk it back, tie it off and park the truck.

Sounds more complicated than it is - the video shows it much better. Since I used this process it have no problem launching solo. Even with help I still follow this process cause I'm used to it and it's my routine. The extra help gets to hold the boat and watch the stuff while I park my rig.

FWIW - I do powerload, and hook winch line up by leaning over the bow.

-= Scott

I follow this procedure, but instead of tyeing the bowline to the winch stand, I tie it to my truck bumper. The reason is, that sometimes the winch stand is over the water, and if it's tied to the winch stand, I have to jump out on to the tongue to untie the rope. This usually results in loosing my balance, falling in the water, and cussing. I usually don't have to get my feet wet if I tie it to my truck bumper.

After a while, you learn how long the rope needs to be to keep the boat in the trailer guides, but not so far out that the boat floats sideways.

bandwcow · 02-04-2009, 05:14 AM

If you take some of your wifes red or pink thread and weave it through the bow line you will know how just how much rope to tie off with. No guessing.

skystext · 02-07-2009, 02:41 PM

Im with croation on this one burn it , bad juju , I saw the video on this thought it was posted on u tube not sure if its the ez marine one or another but is a really good tutorial , simple. sorry i dont have a link to it anyone else?

croation2 · 02-07-2009, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bandwcow

If you take some of your wifes red or pink thread and weave it through the bow line you will know how just how much rope to tie off with. No guessing.

That's a good idea, I do something similar with my crabtraps, I weave a quicktie 10 ft from the crabpot so that when I see the tie, the pot is close to the boat, then I prevent the dreaded paint scrape sound.

mstarck · 02-07-2009, 07:50 PM

well i have read the posts and tried to follow,but i don't think i am understanding the procedure.are we talking about a ONE PERSON launch and retreive or a helper with you.Just to set the record straight i launched a 15' seaswirl on the ramp at newport .i did not know how well a roller trailer worked.that was my third boat so it wasn't my first time.what a shock,sitten there on the concrete.fast forward,2008 thunderjet (22')on a TRICKER trailer with UHMW on the bunks.Backin till rear fenders are partly in water.have driver get out and unhook strap(winch is still accessible on dry ground.start engine,back off of trailer and pull to dock ,or float around until driver returns to be picked up.reverse for loading.biggest problem is backing the trailer to far into the water.the boat wants to get off to one side instead of following the bunks.drive the boat on and have driver attach winch line then drive rig up to parking lot.it's that simple and works every time.if you are solo than maybe you need some fishin buddys.
mike s.

mstarck · 02-07-2009, 08:05 PM

just a couple other thought. i have never used a bow line in the two years i have had the boat.or used the winch.in the post you said you powered on and off.that should work with a 21' NR.Launch and retrive with my TJ has been wonderful,no hazzle at all.if you don't have a skipper running the boat when you launch then i guess my method won't work.

mike s.

Tinman · 02-08-2009, 08:53 AM

I launch my 22' dory at the ramp single-handed without difficulty. I use the "toy boat" approach, meaning I treat the boat like it was a toy boat on a string. I back it down, release the winch strap, and give it a push. With bow line in hand, I guide it to the dock, secure the docklines, and go park the rig.

When retrieving, I don't try to drive the boat onto the trailer. Using the toy boat approach, I pull it onto the trailer with the bow line, then winch it up. PM if you want details.