I was reading some comments about it elsewhere and got to thinking.
When/if I get to the point of launching my own boat, I'll have to
spend some time watching ramp activity before I do it myself.
Used to launch/retrieve with my buddies years ago, but I forgot
everything except how hard it was to crank the boat onto the bunks.
I think the owner was leery of backing in far enough to float it.
Oddly, I don't remember any problems pushing it off when launching.
Maybe we were stronger setting out fishing than we were when we got
back, or maybe it's just how gravity works.
I don't remember any problems at all.
But from my reading it seems the ramp is a good comedy show sometimes,
and a good drama when the hotheads get involved.
Anybody care to share some "outstanding" experiences?

--Vic

Vic Smith wrote:
I was reading some comments about it elsewhere and got to thinking.
When/if I get to the point of launching my own boat, I'll have to
spend some time watching ramp activity before I do it myself.
Used to launch/retrieve with my buddies years ago, but I forgot
everything except how hard it was to crank the boat onto the bunks.
I think the owner was leery of backing in far enough to float it.
Oddly, I don't remember any problems pushing it off when launching.
Maybe we were stronger setting out fishing than we were when we got
back, or maybe it's just how gravity works.
I don't remember any problems at all.
But from my reading it seems the ramp is a good comedy show sometimes,
and a good drama when the hotheads get involved.
Anybody care to share some "outstanding" experiences?

--Vic



Yeah, instead of standing or sitting around laughing at the foibles of
others (something turds like John Herring do...or at least tell us they
do), go over and offer to help out whoever is having a problem.

I used to single-handedly launch and retrieve my 7000-pound 25' Parker
on occasion with a bunk trailer. I did it slowly and deliberately and I
never had a problem except when there was a side wind. Then, I
appreciated it when a volunteer offered to take a line form the stern
and help hold the boat centered while I winched it up onto the trailer.

wrote:
On Fri, 27 Feb 2009 21:11:07 -0500, HK wrote:

go over and offer to help out whoever is having a problem.

Just be careful of morons. About a month ago I was helping a guy
unload a 22 foot center console and the anchor, on a pulpit, got hung
up on the winch. I told him to wait and I moved in to bump it loose
then he backed up.
I got hit and went down hard on the ramp. I am still having trouble
with my knee.
Sometime it is better to just watch.


I suppose, but I don't take any pleasure in watching guys who are having
a difficult time on the boat ramp. At one time or another, all of us
have had a bad experience launching or retrieving a boat. Considering
the possibilities for an injury to ones self or the boat, I don't see
much humor in the situations.

"Vic Smith" wrote in message
...
I was reading some comments about it elsewhere and got to thinking.
When/if I get to the point of launching my own boat, I'll have to
spend some time watching ramp activity before I do it myself.
Used to launch/retrieve with my buddies years ago, but I forgot
everything except how hard it was to crank the boat onto the bunks.
I think the owner was leery of backing in far enough to float it.
Oddly, I don't remember any problems pushing it off when launching.
Maybe we were stronger setting out fishing than we were when we got
back, or maybe it's just how gravity works.
I don't remember any problems at all.
But from my reading it seems the ramp is a good comedy show sometimes,
and a good drama when the hotheads get involved.
Anybody care to share some "outstanding" experiences?

--Vic

I back down until the truck rear tires touch water. I'm especially careful
when in salt water due to potential corrosion.
My open aluminum boat will be partially floating at this point so it's easy
to push off & control. I pull the boat next to the trailer and lift the
bow up enough to slip a couple of fenders under it. I then lay the anchor
forward on the ramp to avoid the boat floating away while I park the
truck/trailer.
With my bigger and much heavier sailboat... solo launch/retrieval was more
troublesome because the boat sat too high to float off/on.

On Fri, 27 Feb 2009 22:24:49 -0400, "Don White"
wrote:

I back down until the truck rear tires touch water. I'm especially careful
when in salt water due to potential corrosion.
My open aluminum boat will be partially floating at this point so it's easy
to push off & control. I pull the boat next to the trailer and lift the
bow up enough to slip a couple of fenders under it. I then lay the anchor
forward on the ramp to avoid the boat floating away while I park the
truck/trailer.
With my bigger and much heavier sailboat... solo launch/retrieval was more
troublesome because the boat sat too high to float off/on.

In many of the boat ramp stories I see there's so much traffic the
solo stuff slows things down. But hey, if you're solo, you're solo.
What you said about not wetting the rear truck hubs gave me an idea
for a trailer though.
I don't know the exact part names so bear with me. It should be clear
enough.
The hitch is on an arm connected to the yoke/frame.
So the "hitch arm" is straight. I've seen them of different lengths
depending on trailer design and size.
What if the hitch was a telescoping tube, and once you got your back
truck tires wet you could release the telescoping lock (maybe a pin
though the tube.) and the trailer would then back down another few
feet into the water?
You could drive away from the water with it extended but collapse it
and lock it before you hit the road.
That could be real useful on steep ramps.
Might have a similar design that would be let loose on a cable(s) to
back down the ramp, then be cranked back up with a self-contained
winch. The two end parts would be designed to auto-align and snug up
stiff to be relocked. Don't know the parts names, but they use
something like that for space station docking and mid-air refueling.
This all might be overkill for a boat trailer, but might sell some.
I'm not going into business and won't put a patent on the internets,
so consider these ideas yours now.
Just invite me for a week at the tropical island you buy with the
proceeds.

--Vic

"Vic Smith" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 27 Feb 2009 22:24:49 -0400, "Don White"
wrote:

I back down until the truck rear tires touch water. I'm especially
careful
when in salt water due to potential corrosion.
My open aluminum boat will be partially floating at this point so it's
easy
to push off & control. I pull the boat next to the trailer and lift the
bow up enough to slip a couple of fenders under it. I then lay the anchor
forward on the ramp to avoid the boat floating away while I park the
truck/trailer.
With my bigger and much heavier sailboat... solo launch/retrieval was more
troublesome because the boat sat too high to float off/on.

In many of the boat ramp stories I see there's so much traffic the
solo stuff slows things down. But hey, if you're solo, you're solo.
What you said about not wetting the rear truck hubs gave me an idea
for a trailer though.
I don't know the exact part names so bear with me. It should be clear
enough.
The hitch is on an arm connected to the yoke/frame.
So the "hitch arm" is straight. I've seen them of different lengths
depending on trailer design and size.
What if the hitch was a telescoping tube, and once you got your back
truck tires wet you could release the telescoping lock (maybe a pin
though the tube.) and the trailer would then back down another few
feet into the water?
You could drive away from the water with it extended but collapse it
and lock it before you hit the road.
That could be real useful on steep ramps.
Might have a similar design that would be let loose on a cable(s) to
back down the ramp, then be cranked back up with a self-contained
winch. The two end parts would be designed to auto-align and snug up
stiff to be relocked. Don't know the parts names, but they use
something like that for space station docking and mid-air refueling.
This all might be overkill for a boat trailer, but might sell some.
I'm not going into business and won't put a patent on the internets,
so consider these ideas yours now.
Just invite me for a week at the tropical island you buy with the
proceeds.

--Vic


I had this ideas when I ordered my custom built trailer. Originally I
wanted a hinge type tongue similar to what some major trailer manufacturers
use.
(re 20 x 12 foot garage)
The builder couldn't do that so we compromised on a larger frame square tube
with a smaller diameter tongue slipped inside with two bolts to hold the
tongue solid during use.
The idiot made it so it only added 18" to the length and I could only
enlongate or shorten it while the boat was on level ....or when the coupler
was disengaged and the tongue supported by a tongue jack.
Here you should be able to see one of the through bolts directly behind the
winch mast.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../winchmast.jpg

"Don White" wrote in message
...

"Vic Smith" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 27 Feb 2009 22:24:49 -0400, "Don White"
wrote:

I back down until the truck rear tires touch water. I'm especially
careful
when in salt water due to potential corrosion.
My open aluminum boat will be partially floating at this point so it's
easy
to push off & control. I pull the boat next to the trailer and lift the
bow up enough to slip a couple of fenders under it. I then lay the anchor
forward on the ramp to avoid the boat floating away while I park the
truck/trailer.
With my bigger and much heavier sailboat... solo launch/retrieval was
more
troublesome because the boat sat too high to float off/on.

In many of the boat ramp stories I see there's so much traffic the
solo stuff slows things down. But hey, if you're solo, you're solo.
What you said about not wetting the rear truck hubs gave me an idea
for a trailer though.
I don't know the exact part names so bear with me. It should be clear
enough.
The hitch is on an arm connected to the yoke/frame.
So the "hitch arm" is straight. I've seen them of different lengths
depending on trailer design and size.
What if the hitch was a telescoping tube, and once you got your back
truck tires wet you could release the telescoping lock (maybe a pin
though the tube.) and the trailer would then back down another few
feet into the water?
You could drive away from the water with it extended but collapse it
and lock it before you hit the road.
That could be real useful on steep ramps.
Might have a similar design that would be let loose on a cable(s) to
back down the ramp, then be cranked back up with a self-contained
winch. The two end parts would be designed to auto-align and snug up
stiff to be relocked. Don't know the parts names, but they use
something like that for space station docking and mid-air refueling.
This all might be overkill for a boat trailer, but might sell some.
I'm not going into business and won't put a patent on the internets,
so consider these ideas yours now.
Just invite me for a week at the tropical island you buy with the
proceeds.

--Vic


I had this ideas when I ordered my custom built trailer. Originally I
wanted a hinge type tongue similar to what some major trailer
manufacturers use.
(re 20 x 12 foot garage)
The builder couldn't do that so we compromised on a larger frame square
tube with a smaller diameter tongue slipped inside with two bolts to hold
the tongue solid during use.
The idiot made it so it only added 18" to the length and I could only
enlongate or shorten it while the boat was on level ....or when the
coupler was disengaged and the tongue supported by a tongue jack.
Here you should be able to see one of the through bolts directly behind
the winch mast.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../winchmast.jpg


Oh yeah.. I also had to loosen that back u-bolt (seen removed in picture) in
order to slide the tongue forward (for launch/retrival) or back (for
trailering).

"Don White" wrote in message
...

"Vic Smith" wrote in message
...
I was reading some comments about it elsewhere and got to thinking.
When/if I get to the point of launching my own boat, I'll have to
spend some time watching ramp activity before I do it myself.
Used to launch/retrieve with my buddies years ago, but I forgot
everything except how hard it was to crank the boat onto the bunks.
I think the owner was leery of backing in far enough to float it.
Oddly, I don't remember any problems pushing it off when launching.
Maybe we were stronger setting out fishing than we were when we got
back, or maybe it's just how gravity works.
I don't remember any problems at all.
But from my reading it seems the ramp is a good comedy show sometimes,
and a good drama when the hotheads get involved.
Anybody care to share some "outstanding" experiences?

--Vic

I back down until the truck rear tires touch water. I'm especially
careful when in salt water due to potential corrosion.
My open aluminum boat will be partially floating at this point so it's
easy to push off & control. I pull the boat next to the trailer and lift
the bow up enough to slip a couple of fenders under it. I then lay the
anchor forward on the ramp to avoid the boat floating away while I park
the truck/trailer.
With my bigger and much heavier sailboat... solo launch/retrieval was more
troublesome because the boat sat too high to float off/on.


And you screw up the ramp for others while you park the truck. Pull it off
to the side of the ramp area or tie it off to the dock out of the way.

"CalifBill" wrote in message
news

"Don White" wrote in message
...

"Vic Smith" wrote in message
...
I was reading some comments about it elsewhere and got to thinking.
When/if I get to the point of launching my own boat, I'll have to
spend some time watching ramp activity before I do it myself.
Used to launch/retrieve with my buddies years ago, but I forgot
everything except how hard it was to crank the boat onto the bunks.
I think the owner was leery of backing in far enough to float it.
Oddly, I don't remember any problems pushing it off when launching.
Maybe we were stronger setting out fishing than we were when we got
back, or maybe it's just how gravity works.
I don't remember any problems at all.
But from my reading it seems the ramp is a good comedy show sometimes,
and a good drama when the hotheads get involved.
Anybody care to share some "outstanding" experiences?

--Vic

I back down until the truck rear tires touch water. I'm especially
careful when in salt water due to potential corrosion.
My open aluminum boat will be partially floating at this point so it's
easy to push off & control. I pull the boat next to the trailer and
lift the bow up enough to slip a couple of fenders under it. I then lay
the anchor forward on the ramp to avoid the boat floating away while I
park the truck/trailer.
With my bigger and much heavier sailboat... solo launch/retrieval was
more troublesome because the boat sat too high to float off/on.


And you screw up the ramp for others while you park the truck. Pull it
off to the side of the ramp area or tie it off to the dock out of the way.

Don't screw up anything. Here, it's usually quiet at the ramps during the
week and I do move the boat too one side where it waits for me.
Unfortunately, they usually put the little finger docks a small distance
from the ramp.
Makes it a bit of a hassle for solo launches/retrievals.
examples..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...launchramp.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...d/Hpim0187.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...d/Hpim0155.jpg

"Don White" wrote in message
...

"CalifBill" wrote in message
news

"Don White" wrote in message
...

"Vic Smith" wrote in message
...
I was reading some comments about it elsewhere and got to thinking.
When/if I get to the point of launching my own boat, I'll have to
spend some time watching ramp activity before I do it myself.
Used to launch/retrieve with my buddies years ago, but I forgot
everything except how hard it was to crank the boat onto the bunks.
I think the owner was leery of backing in far enough to float it.
Oddly, I don't remember any problems pushing it off when launching.
Maybe we were stronger setting out fishing than we were when we got
back, or maybe it's just how gravity works.
I don't remember any problems at all.
But from my reading it seems the ramp is a good comedy show sometimes,
and a good drama when the hotheads get involved.
Anybody care to share some "outstanding" experiences?

--Vic

I back down until the truck rear tires touch water. I'm especially
careful when in salt water due to potential corrosion.
My open aluminum boat will be partially floating at this point so it's
easy to push off & control. I pull the boat next to the trailer and
lift the bow up enough to slip a couple of fenders under it. I then lay
the anchor forward on the ramp to avoid the boat floating away while I
park the truck/trailer.
With my bigger and much heavier sailboat... solo launch/retrieval was
more troublesome because the boat sat too high to float off/on.


And you screw up the ramp for others while you park the truck. Pull it
off to the side of the ramp area or tie it off to the dock out of the
way.

Don't screw up anything. Here, it's usually quiet at the ramps during the
week and I do move the boat too one side where it waits for me.
Unfortunately, they usually put the little finger docks a small distance
from the ramp.
Makes it a bit of a hassle for solo launches/retrievals.
examples..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...launchramp.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...d/Hpim0187.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...d/Hpim0155.jpg


Pull it over to the docks and tie it off or to the rocks if calm. If
someone else comes up they do not want to wait for you to fart around.
One of our ramps that just reopened.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/10...0226091747.jpg
Has been the low water gravel ramp for 6 months at least to launch. And
this paved ramp is the normal low water ramp. the normal ramp at highwater
is 8 lanes wide.