Breathtaking stupidity on a Boat Ramp

[flick]

I always make sure my engine turns over before i leave home. This is also when my bungs go in. As said, ya gotta have a routine.

Jim

[Fish Guts]

One thing i cant stand is arrogant know it all twits who give out to guys who might not be as quick at launching or retrieving or the guys that dont do it your way....you've gotta start somewhere. geeze give people a break. Can gurantee everyone has muffed it up on a ramp before. Whats the point in going out on your boat when your already in bad mood before even launching the boat ?

[finga]

I had big troubles at the ramp once.
It was the first launching of 'Junior'.
When I set the trailer up I hadn't noticed that the long sliders were going to bind on the curved chines.
In the shed it would slide no worries but the no worries was only for the first 2/3rds of the launch.
If it wasn't for some nice guys we wouldn't have gone fishing that morning as we literally lifted the boat off the trailer and plonked it in the water.
They thought they could start a service in peek times carrying the boats to the water and save all that ramp rage stuff
Anyways the trailer problem was quick to fix. Dad's handsaw and a quick chop and jobs done.

So what am I trying to say?? Dunno really.
All I know is is that it's pretty easy to see who's proficient at launching and who's not.
If they're not so good it's pretty easy to find out if they would appreciate some help.
Usually when they tell me to get stuffed when offering help is a good sign they don't want help.
That's when you openly laugh when they sink or the boat ends up on the ramp.

[Hamish73]

Where's the popcorn! This is gunna be a bewdie!
I've been lucky enough not to have too many dramas with the tinny.
Did have one funny situation at Tinny creek (ramp isnt on a very big angle there). The Mrs had a dung leg and had dressing on it so couldnt get it wet, so decided to load her into the tinny whilst it was on the trailer. being a newby at this stage, didnt back the trailer in far enough. Tinny doesnt have much freeboard, so as I pushed it back it tipped to one side and dipped a corner in and took on a shit load of water
The damage: pride, mobile phone and digital camera.
bailed it out, then went for a run with the bung out (rubber bung installed from the inside) and we were good to go.
When I get my glass boat I think I may join MBTBC. So much easier when you have a pontoon and a ramp to yourself, especially with a child and a injured mrs

[Sea-Dog]

Does anyone use the tilt feature of the tilt trailer on ramp launches or retrieves?

Or is it just for beach launching?

Is trailer tilt only used when launching or both launch and retrieve?

I've never seen a trailer tilted at a ramp - maybe that's a clue.

I can imagine the tilt would be handy if you needed to drop the boat onto the front lawn for any reason - as it lowers the height of the rear rollers.

Hmmm - may come in handy if I have to pick the boat up off the ramp if I miss the water.

[disorderly]

Does anyone use the tilt feature of the tilt trailer on ramp launches or retrieves?

I used to use the tilt feature but that was mainly because my roller assemblies were so rusted that the rollers didnt actually roll.Had to tilt the trailer and push and shove the boat off.
One day however I got to the ramp and I was missing a couple of double roller assemblies(had rusted so bad they had fallen off) so I had to replace them and well now I dont need to tilt the trailer anymore to launch.
Hmmm.....I think there is a lesson in that somewhere..

Scott

[tigermullet]

The tilt function of a trailer is for launching only, not for retrieval. It depends upon the angle and depth of water but the tilt function is just perfect for heavy boats.

I am back to using a small dinghy at ramps but used the tilt 99% of the time when launching in the past.

[finga]

The tilt function of a trailer is for launching only, not for retrieval. It depends upon the angle and depth of water but the tilt function is just perfect for heavy boats.

I am back to using a small dinghy at ramps but used the tilt 99% of the time when launching in the past.

I wonder how many people copped the bow of the boat under the chin when using the tilt when launching.
I can picture it....the tilt function is atcivated...the bloke on the front pushing and puffing and pushing some more then the boat starts rolling then the blokes pushes some more then.... the boat's bow shoots up in the sky when the trailer tilts and whammo....bow of boat under the chin... ouch

[NAGG]

I always make sure my engine turns over before i leave home. This is also when my bungs go in. As said, ya gotta have a routine.

Jim

Yep ..... Then for me start the motor before unhooking the strap & safety ........ I'd like a 5$ for everytime I've seen someone push off from the trailer & then attempt to start the motor .... even seen one (largish glass boat drift onto a breakwall .... Ouch) .... Nagg

[Brumby]

The tilt function of a trailer is for launching only, not for retrieval. It depends upon the angle and depth of water but the tilt function is just perfect for heavy boats.

I am back to using a small dinghy at ramps but used the tilt 99% of the time when launching in the past.

Must say I almost always used the tilt feature when retrieving my previous boat - Signature 492. I am a dedicated non dipper of brakes and bearings and using the tilt allowed me to winch the boat up fairly easily without having to get it up and over the rear roller. I'm pretty sure there was less strain on the hull too.

I suspect the answer will vary depending on the steepness of the ramp, how long the tilt arm is etc.

[dodgyone]

I usually fish out of a 7.4 Pacific Sportfish. A fair chunk of boat. We can launch and retrieve in the same time as a 4m tinny. Just comes down to practice and a crew that know whats going on and know their role in the whole situation.
Have also given blokes a hand that were struggling. Usually happy to have a hand. I think its all in the way you approach people.
Have spent an hour chest deep in the South Alligator river helping around 6 boats get back on trailers in the middle of a wet season storm. Not the highlight of my life but would rather give a hand than sit back and watch.

[Mercury16]

Well, everyone has been saying someone should make a "How To" video on boat launching and retrieving and well i found this short one on youtube, dont know if it will be of much help, but at least its been done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJv8zWpRbdY

cheers Peter

[bungie]

There are lots of suggestions about getting the boat on and off the trailer; all seem to be using the position of the wheels in relation to the water. The depths of water at the wheels or axles have no bearing on the "correct" position of the trailer. You have a basic lever and fulcrum here, the last roller being the fulcrum, the boat the lever. If there is no water under the last roller the boats bow, being lighter than the stern will lift up over the fulcrum then the stern will drop down, smashing the outboard onto the ramp. The greater the distance between the water and the last roller, the greater the angle the boat achieves. Creating more damage to the stern. If you have too much water above the roller you have the boat floating from side to side, dragging the hull over the trailer. For a winch on boat the trailer should have the water lapping the underside of the last fixed roller, so when you start to winch it up on to the trailer the boat lifts slightly, then is pulled straight towards the winch post. This minimises the chance of sliding sideways, a self centring roller or retrieve mates make it even easier again. I have a 17ft old fibreglass runabout with a 150 Blueband on the bum, get it on and off on my own. Even with cross winds or currants, and then see three people fighting to put a 12ft tinnie on their trailer.
I was launching and retrieving, my boat too deep on the trailer for a long time, before a nice stranger pointed out my mistake.

Drive on ………… no idea as I have never had a trailer that was designed for it.

[bungie]

A bit deep maybe ??

[cormorant]

http://www.bia.org.au/video/index.html

Haven't seen this but I imagine the people who sell boats should be handing a few more out so everyone can enjoy their boating.

Maybe the BIA would like to sponsor this site with a few or allow the posting of some of the video so people can learn

C