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Launching Question

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Capt. Kurt
Navigator

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185 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/18/2005 : 10:58:51

I am having a difficult time getting the boat all the way onto the trailer when I pull the boat out of the water.

When I back the trailer into the water, I use the trailer winch to pull the bow all the way tight against the trailer bow rollers. However, after I pull the boat out the boat is 3-4 inches away from the bow rollers. The ramp is pretty steep so I'm concerned that maybe the boat is slipping back a bit as I pull it out, but I'm not sure if that is what's happening.

Has anyone experienced this before? Is it ok if the bow is not seated against the trailer bow rollers?

Thanks,
Kurt
'04 C-250WK #818 "Tortuga"

Edited by - Capt. Kurt on 01/18/2005 15:21:44

Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 01/18/2005 : 11:17:41

Yes on one occasion when the ramp was not long enough I could not get Chick-a-pea the last 3-4 inches. And the boat really bounces around when the stem is not snug. I had to bring it to another ramp here and refloat her. Then winch her up tight. In your case you may need to put some stern straps on her too.

Edited by - on

Ray Seitz
Captain

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USA
416 Posts

Response Posted - 01/18/2005 : 12:32:24

Our boat always slips back 3" or so if I just use the winch. I think on ours it is because of the very long strap (very difficult to get truly tight) used for the mast raising system as well as for the bow hook. I have a short length of gal. chain bolted to the trailer with a hook on the other end. Which, I hook on after I have winched the boat in for all i'm worth. The chain is usually a bugger to attach but the boat does not seem to move much when I exit up the ramp.

Edited by - Ray Seitz on 01/18/2005 12:34:21

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 01/18/2005 : 12:43:56

Kurt, on steep ramps even though the bow is into the stop...when the boat seats on the bunks it does so a few inches aft of the stop and really tightens the wire rope on the winch drum which allows it to be pulled aft the few inches that you notice.

On the water ballast version this can be avoived by ensuring that the bunk boards are lubed so that the hull will slide forward on them which is often needed to be done on the level. A stiff braking at about 5 mph will bring the boat up.

It will not do so if the bunks are not lubed and I don't know if similar works with the wing keel.

Lubing can be done with dish washing liquid on the bunk carpet.

Edited by - on

Robert
1st Mate

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USA
75 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2005 : 13:15:29

Kurt;
I have used Arlyn's method many times and I find that it works very well. The soap also helps with any scum that may be on the bottom because I can not clean the bottom on top of the bunks when the boat is on the trailer. I have a set of combing winches for my spinnaker and I run a line from the trailer up to the winches and cinch the boat down. Since I have a water ballast, I usually drain the ballast and refloat the boat on the trailer or I blow the ballast with a pump. See Arlyn's mods.
Robert

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BJ Wagner
1st Mate

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USA
50 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2005 : 13:34:21

Kurt,

Since we have the same boat and launch on the same ramp, I know exactly what you mean. I find that getting the trailer a little deeper helps, plus you have to really crank down on the trailer winch to get the bow into the v-blocks. If you don't as soon as you start up the ramp and the boat settles to rest on wing and is stablized by the pads she will slip back. Hopefully, one of these days we'll catch up with each other out on the water.

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Capt. Kurt
Navigator

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185 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2005 : 18:34:24

Thanks for the tips, I will try the soap trick and backing in the trailer in the water further next time and let you know how that works out.

Brad, I'm sure we will run into each other one of these days... I'm hoping to take Tortuga out this weekend, its going to be 75-80 degrees again.

Kurt

'04 C-250WK #818 "Tortuga"

Edited by - on

At Ease
Admiral

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672 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2005 : 20:25:11

IMHO, the easiest way to solve this problem, if an option, is to put it in the water and leave it there. Once you have had a wet slip, you'll never go back to dragging a boat around.

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Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2005 : 20:31:03

Kurt, I used to have the same problem. My solution was to pull her out just enough to get the ballast valve out of the water, let her drain, close the valve, and then back in until the stern just becomes buoyant. Climb back there and crank her up to the V. It will take a little effort, because she's still somewhat weighted. Then pull out and she'll stay. Open the valve again, so any remaining water will find it's way out.

Oscar
C42 # 76 "Lady Kay" (Ex. C250 WB #618 )
Georgetown MD/Fort Lauderdale FL

Edited by - on

tmhansen
Captain

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USA
397 Posts

Response Posted - 01/28/2005 : 02:36:03

I have a different boat but had the exact same problem. I solved it for me by replacing the v block with a v roller from Champion. Now I can crank in the bow until it seats and then I keep cranking until it raises the bow an inch or two. I had to adjust the height of the winch to make it all work. Backing the trailer down farther did not help as the bow was then too high for the trailer. It is amazing how much difference a few inches can make when trailering!

Edited by - on

Capt. Kurt
Navigator

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185 Posts

Response Posted - 01/28/2005 : 16:25:31

I think I discovered what the problem was. Last weekend I paid special attention to what I was doing when I retrieved "Tortuga". I was on the foredeck when I cranked on the bow winch, and noticed that my weight was pushing the bow down keeping it from mating with the trailer properly... When I stepped over onto the traler ladder I was able to cranking it in further and it looked much better. When I pulled her out, all looked good! It might even help to have extra weight astern - I couldn't test this though because my only passenger (the admiral) was holding the dock lines!

Thanks again!
Kurt
#818 C250WK "Tortuga"

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