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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Launching a fixed keel

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ckroll
1st Mate

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50 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/30/2010 : 11:10:42

Hey guys. We've still got a good bit to do before we can launch our C25 but I wanted to go ahead and get my plans ready as for how we are going to get this boat in the water. We were "lucky" enough to get a trailer with this boat when we bought it but even so, there are still some dilemmas we have. 1) the combined weight of the the trailer and boat is probably 7000-8000lbs (I have access to an Excursion with a V10 but it seemed to struggle when we moved it last time), the trailer is homemade and does not have a tongue extension, there are no marinas on our lake that have a crane that could be used to lift/drop the boat in the water.

So, with that being said have any of you had to launch your fixed keel boat and if so, what did you do/use to make it a successful launch?

Thanks again for your input!

Edited by - on

djdurrett
Navigator

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124 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2010 : 11:59:01

What you could do is get a very strong and long rope. Back the trailer down to the ramp, chock it, un hook then pull the truck up. Double the large strong rope and run it from the truck to the trailer. Take up the slack, unchock and sink the trailer. You will need someone on the rope to steer the trailer as you sink it. This is how we launched our J24 when sailing ciruit stops. Just make sure the boat won't fall off of the trailer (due to incline) and be sure to untie the boat from the trailer. I saw one fall off the trailer on a very steep ramp at Cayon Lake in San Antonio (CYLC) a few years back. It was ugly... Have a long line on the bow so that you can retrieve the boat once you sink the trailer. I would also search you tube for this method. Good Luck.

Edited by - on

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2010 : 12:59:51

The Excursion should laugh at the load. My Mountaineer used to tow mine each spring and fall.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2010 : 13:22:51

We use a 2" wide strap similar to the rope described above. You want a strap rated to about 10k lbs. and at least 30 ft. long. Drive the boat to the ramp and chock it. Unhook from the vehicle and pull the vehicle forward. Loop the strap around the trailer and connect it to the vehicle (I remove the ball mount and push the strap loop into the receiver and secure it to the pin.)

Edited by - on

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2010 : 15:38:09

And I would first and foremost go to the launch ramp of your choice and find the end of the ramp, Then measure how deep the water is and will it be enough to float the boat. Things can get really ugly if you drop the trailer off the end of the ramp and now your boat and trailer are sitting on the frame without enough water to get the boat off.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
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Response Posted - 08/30/2010 : 21:16:08

Like Frank, I'm more interested in why an Excursion V-10 would struggle with a C-25. My V-8 Grand Cherokee doesn't seem to have any problem and I'm sure you've got a lot more torque. You really need to check that trailer.

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Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2010 : 21:18:31

That's an important point about the end of the ramp--especially for retrieval. Then the next question is how to get the boat positioned back on the trailer that's deep enough to be pretty much out of sight.

And does the trailer have any braking system? How far and at what speed will you be towing?

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 08/30/2010 21:20:34

ckroll
1st Mate

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50 Posts

Response Posted - 08/31/2010 : 05:26:56

Well this was the first time I had pulled something this big and was very paranoid. Perhaps I was being over paranoid with regards to what stress I was putting on the truck. They use it to pull a big ole horse trailer and two horses so I assumed the boat and trailer would not be an issue. I kept it in low the whole time....all 3 miles of the drive :-).

As for the ramp and trailer issue, hopefully when this boat is launched, it's in the water "for good" (relatively speaking). It has "new" anti-foul paint so baring any issues that require us to pull it back out, it's staying in. We'll keep the trailer for about 3-6 months just in case but plan to sell it once we're sure she's good to go. The trailer is homemade and would be something great for dry storage and repairs. However, not something I would trust to take on a long trip though. No brakes (or ones that work)and would probably not pass a DOT inspection. We'll sell it for cheap if anyone's interested...I know..wrong forum.

Thanks for the advice again and it looks like there are some really good, feasible, not so daunting ideas here.

Oh yeah, the ramp (a very large public one) is about a mile away. However, I'll still go the extra mile and check the depth at the end.

Edited by - ckroll on 08/31/2010 05:30:05

klassi1
1st Mate

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88 Posts

Response Posted - 08/31/2010 : 06:42:13

I wouldn't be so quick to sell the trailer if you have a place to store it. You will have to repaint the bottom of the boat periodically.

The Excursion may have appeared to struggle if you were in low gear and your RPMs were high. Otherwise that vehicle should be able to handle the load. I know many who haul with an Excusion or Suburban without issues.

Edited by - on

Unsinkable2
Captain

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USA
273 Posts

Response Posted - 08/31/2010 : 08:57:02

When you trailer launch the boat, you might want a rolling spare tire hub mounted on the front of the trailer. the little trailer jack wheel will probably have trouble rolling if the trailer has to go in past the end of the ramp.

Edited by - on

ckroll
1st Mate

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50 Posts

Response Posted - 08/31/2010 : 09:05:35

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Unsinkable2</i>
<br />When you trailer launch the boat, you might want a rolling spare tire hub mounted on the front of the trailer. the little trailer jack wheel will probably have trouble rolling if the trailer has to go in past the end of the ramp.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yup..I've been giving some thought to that as this particular trailer does not even have a wheel on the front at all. Has dual axles but will definitely need something up front. Figured I would build something with pieces of a 4x4 post and 2 old lawn tractor tires that I've got in the shed. I knew they would be useful for something when I put them in there.....5 years ago.

Edited by - on

Mark Maxwell
Captain

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USA
329 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2010 : 14:52:26

How much tongue weight do you have? Can you lift it by hand? Is your outboard on the boat when you test this? The reason I ask is because if it is too light, when you rope launch, you can easily tip the trailer backwards. If it is too heavy, your launch wheel/stand could break.

I have a C25 Finn Keel and have rope launched many,many times. Plan your steps and take your time. First time rope launch can be very stressful, especially with impatient power boaters at a busy ramp.

Edited by - Mark Maxwell on 09/01/2010 15:02:59

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2010 : 19:07:02

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by ckroll</i>
<br />Well this was the first time I had pulled something this big and was very paranoid. Perhaps I was being over paranoid with regards to what stress I was putting on the truck. They use it to pull a big ole horse trailer and two horses so I assumed the boat and trailer would not be an issue. I kept it in low the whole time....all 3 miles of the drive :-).

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Not sure how fast you were pulling the boat but driving only in low and going much over 20 mph for any distance will put far more stress on the transmission than driving with it in normal drive.

Driving in low above 20 mph causes the internal pressures within the transmission to skyrocket and is a good way to blow all kinds of seals.

The Expedition I was looking at last month had a 5.7L V-8 engine and was rated to pull 8900 pounds. Several people I've spoken with have pulled boats near that weight and said it handled it with no problem.

A friend of mine used to have an Excursion with a V10 and he could pull a 28' cabin cruiser at 80 mph without even feeling it.

Leave the transmission in drive and let it work like it was designed to do.

Here's the spec's for the 2005 Excursion:

<font color="blue"><b><h3>310 HP SAE @ 4,250 rpm -- 425 lb/ft of Torque</h3></b></font id="blue"> <font color="red"><b><h3>Maximum Trailer Weight with Brakes - 10,999(lbs)</h3></b></font id="red">
Way more than enough to pull a C25!!!

Edited by - GaryB on 09/01/2010 19:09:23

ckroll
1st Mate

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50 Posts

Response Posted - 09/02/2010 : 05:14:31

I definitely cannot lift the tongue with my hands (not sure what that says about me....) but at that time when I tried the engine was not on the boat. From how heavy the tongue seemed I don't THINK that the addition of the engine would have made that much of a difference but I'll be sure to test and definitely plan our launch carefully.

Thanks for the info on the Excursion. Guess I should have just trusted the vehicle to do what it's designed to do. Point taken and I will definitely do that the next time we pull it.

Edited by - on

Mark Maxwell
Captain

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USA
329 Posts

Response Posted - 09/02/2010 : 09:53:39

That tongue weight sounds good. It should be about 10% of the load, somewhere around 400 to 500lbs. Now be sure that what ever you use to roll the tongue, it is able to handle the load. It does not need to sit level either. In fact I would suggest to have it as low to the ground as possible. I've seen guys just let it drag but that can be very hard on the ramp and the hitch.

As far as steering it goes, unless you have a very narrow ramp, you don't need to steer it. Just line up straight with trailer just at waters edge, and use ropes long enough to control the boat once splashed from the pier. Back in slow, let her float off the trailer. If your rudder is attached tie/hold the tiller midship, this will ensure that she doesn't turn too soon. I launch solo so I don't pin the rudder till in the water.

Be Safe:
DO NOT allow anyone behind the boat EVER!
When you chock the trailer walk around the front. Once chocked then pre-load them by slowly allowing the vehicle to release it's brake. Then re-apply. This will let you unhitch easier too. Keep your tow saftey chains attached while you connect the tow rope.

I hope not to offend you. I've seen so many mishaps at boat ramps and you indicated this is your first time. I just want you to be able to splash (without a hitch ba-dum-pa

)

Good Luck

Edited by - Mark Maxwell on 09/02/2010 11:25:50

ckroll
1st Mate

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50 Posts

Response Posted - 09/02/2010 : 11:21:14

No offense taken. I posted to get as much info as possible and that's what all of you are providing. Heretofore I've always owned powerboats of no more than 24' but could tell immediately that launching this boat would be an entirely different animal. Can't wait to get her out on the water so I can swamp the forum with more newb questions :-)

Edited by - ckroll on 09/02/2010 11:22:16

Jefffriday
Navigator

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USA
198 Posts

Response Posted - 09/02/2010 : 11:50:13

Also, use a second slack lie tied off securely, we have had 5 trailers get away in the last two years at our club (one member 3 times, had to hire a diver to find it the last time) When and if you have to retrieve it, a couple pieces or PVC pipe sticking up on the back corners help with realignment. It's really an easy process, we have our star fleet doing it every week for Sunday races

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