I have a problem

roffey

roffey

Junior Member
The last time I loaded by boat on the trailer my "first mate" hooked the trailer winch to the anchor hook and not the bow hook. As he did not drive a truck with trailer or a boat I had to back the trailer down the ramp and then get into the boat and drive it onto the trailer, his job was to hook up the boat, winch it on and just drive ten feet up the ramp.... best laid plans and my 4500 lb boat snapped the post on the trailer. I had a slow drive back home. We were able to weld the trailer post back on even better than before but the boat is about three feet back on the trailer. When not hooked up to the truck the tongue will sit about three feet off the pavement and my hitch it about two. I have tried and can not winch the boat up further. My boat ramp is about 10 miles from my house, I think if I use a car jack and force the tongue down on to the hitch and drive slowly I can launch the boat and just refloat it back on... My question is am I looking for trouble. I think if I use caution I should be ok. Has anyone had this problem before?
 
Just get a jack under the boat and jack it up enough off the trailer so you can back up the trailer to where it needs to be..you need 2 people to do this. Take your time and do it slowly.
 
you are going to have to unbolt the winch post and move it forward to get boat all the way on the trailer, if not it is going to be all over the road when you tow it!
 
I am sure I can get it on the hitch I was just unsure if the trailer might pop off the hitch

v1.... and carnage would ensue from there. You would see a grown man crying like a little girl on the side of the road, and no one want's to see that... I'm just looking out for the non boaters out for a nice drive.
 
macojoe said:
you are going to have to unbolt the winch post and move it forward to get boat all the way on the trailer, if not it is going to be all over the road when you tow it!
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it's welded on... the road I will take is a side road and I can drive at low speed... like 20 - 30 miles per hour, if not slower..
 
I have been able to winch mine to the post w/the tail-end of the trailer backed up a steep hill...then you got some gravity workin' for you...carry buckets if you have to and wet the bunks too...w/my V20, going down hill, slamb on the brakes has moved it to the winch, too...even if you can't get it all the way to the bow roller like this, any movement forward will help...have a camera ready...this could get interesting and you know how we like pictures around here...:clap:
 
I am confused?? Is the boat up against the stop and 3 feet off the trailer or is it 3 feet from the post??
If off the trailer you will need to cut the post and re weld it in the right place, if the boat is 3 feet away from the post then just crank it on the trailer some more
 
reelapeelin said:
I have been able to winch mine to the post w/the tail-end of the trailer backed up a steep hill...then you got some gravity workin' for you...carry buckets if you have to and wet the bunks too...w/my V20, going down hill, slamb on the brakes has moved it to the winch, too...even if you can't get it all the way to the bow roller like this, any movement forward will help...have a camera ready...this could get interesting and you know how we like pictures around here...:clap:
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Works for me too....maybe not the bigger boat?
 
getting pics now, give me 5 min and I will post. Keep in mind this is a 26 foot cruiser, not huge but to big to winch on unless I upgrade my winch. I did check and it will cost me about $1500. Give me 5 and I will posy a few pics....
 
sorry for the quality,,, but you get the idea. If you want better quality let me know and I will supply...
 

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Rof...is there supposed to be another amber-colored rubber stop on bottom of the arm that has one in the picture?...and that arm swings up to catch the bow in two places w/those stops?...do you have working trailer brakes to help stop it...you don't need to be going fast, but down a steep hill really helps...Ridge is kiddin'...he ain't got no hills in FL...wet the bunks and get the winch cable TIGHT so it is assisting forward movement...

I agree w/Blue Runner...your larger boat may not respond to all this, but it worth a try...
 
the stop was my fault, I brought the boat in a little to fast.... the old one was dun anyway and needed to be replaced.

That day at the dock was something else, one guy took almost 2 hours to trailer his boat, we just waited and watched. Is it uncool if I offer to put the boat on for him? When he finally had the boat on his trailer he said the problem was with the ramp, really? His boat was 19 feet, mine is 26 and I did it mostly by my self, and I'm new at this. The next guy had a 16 footer and just pinned it to pop it on the trailer, dug a huge hole in the bottom of the river, a underwater speed bump so to speak... I guess it's all a learning game. The best thing is, it's still nice even waiting around for 2 hours, floating on the boat, listening to the radio and watching the scantly clad women..

Thanks for the advice. going to give the break thing a try.... after I buy a stop... LOL
 
I have just rolled forward with my 23' and hit the brakes hard at 5 mph to move it to the stop, you don't need much!!
 
I can tell ya that with my 28' cruiser, 4 electric trailer brakes and huge killer 4 wheel disc on my dually, half a dozen panic stops with the winch cable TIGHT won't move it 2" forward...

You either need to jack it up like with a floor jack and a block of wood under the keel about 2/5 from rear to front.... doesn't need to leave the trailer, just make it lighter or take it to the ramp.... I'd suggest no more than 20 mph MAX though as when it does go bad, it happens fast... better safe than sorry
 
smokeonthewater said:
I can tell ya that with my 28' cruiser, 4 electric trailer brakes and huge killer 4 wheel disc on my dually, half a dozen panic stops with the winch cable TIGHT won't move it 2" forward...

You either need to jack it up like with a floor jack and a block of wood under the keel about 2/5 from rear to front.... doesn't need to leave the trailer, just make it lighter or take it to the ramp.... I'd suggest no more than 20 mph MAX though as when it does go bad, it happens fast... better safe than sorry
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I gave it a try and no go. I was able to put a hitch on the truck that is at the same height, almost. My truck is a F150 4X4 with a towing kit and sits quit high and has big breaks. I am going out tomorrow for a little cruse. I think If I am careful pulling the boat I will be OK. Even if the boat comes off the hitch the breaks will stop it and I can deal with it, maybe. LOL, thanks for the advice and I will keep you posted. By the BY, my restoration or work in progress is coming along. I just spent the weekend redoing all the teak, looks great. Break Out Another Thousand....
 
Do it the redneck way.

Tow strap yer trailer to a big ol' tree and anutherin between the truck hitch and bow eye of your boat. Pull boat forward. Just in case the rear cross member of your trailer doesn't break free, be sure to duck down to avoid getting decapitated when the bow eye pulls loose and slingshots through the back glass of your F-150. Would be better to do it with a tow strap all the way around the stern of the boat.

Ask me how I know.
 
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