Short trailer help.

[lokart]

This is my first short trailer, folding tongue. I find myself having to park the rear tires of my truck in the water about up to the rim in order to get the tip of the bow above the bow roller when loading the boat. Is this common? Should I consider a full size trailer? Maybe my hitch needs to be dropped? It's almost level now where the hitch is, but I could drop it 2-3 inches if that will make a difference. I'm so use to having six + feet of trailer tongue, it's strange now. The bow of the boat is only 20 inches from the tail gate. Tows real nice, maybe just need to get use to it, but I hate having my rear truck tires in the "slippery".

 

[anmut]

Your issue sounds related to the angle of the ramp vs. the length of your trailer tongue. Is your tow vehicle only 2wd? If you have 4wd/AWD/FWD, I wouldn't worry about your rear tires getting in the water slightly. I've towed big boats at bad ramps in the last 15 years and have only used 4WD on my truck twice to get out.

I wouldn't mess around with your hitch height as that can adversely impact towing safety. Balanced load > ease at the boat ramp.

Btw, when you back in to recover, you should have about 2" of water over the trailer tire fenders. But again, this is all in relation to the angle of your ramp.

 

[lokart]

I've had it at two different ramps so far. One was very shallow and the other we very steep. Both required me to place the tires in the water. The shallow ramp cleared the bow roller fine. The truck is 4 wheel drive yes, so not too concerned I guess. Bigger concern I guess is safety, standing on slimy ramps. I'm used to standing on dry concrete with the full size tongue. Yes my fenders are about 3 inches under water, maybe 4 on the steep ramps.

 

[anmut]

I've had it at two different ramps so far. One was very shallow and the other we very steep. Both required me to place the tires in the water. The shallow ramp cleared the bow roller fine. The truck is 4 wheel drive yes, so not too concerned I guess. Bigger concern I guess is safety, standing on slimy ramps. I'm used to standing on dry concrete with the full size tongue. Yes my fenders are about 3 inches under water, maybe 4 on the steep ramps.

When launching, you should only have to go in as far as it takes the boat to float. When recovering, try 2" over the fender. Are you doing this by yourself or do you have a helper usually?

 

[Ronnie]

I would not worry about the height of the bow stop/winch compared to the bow of the boat. Once the boat hits the bunks the bunks will correct the angle of the boat as the boat moves toward the bow stop.

 

[HangOutdoors]

I've had it at two different ramps so far. One was very shallow and the other we very steep. Both required me to place the tires in the water. The shallow ramp cleared the bow roller fine. The truck is 4 wheel drive yes, so not too concerned I guess. Bigger concern I guess is safety, standing on slimy ramps. I'm used to standing on dry concrete with the full size tongue. Yes my fenders are about 3 inches under water, maybe 4 on the steep ramps.

Totally get where you are coming from with safety. It is not just the moss and algea but everything else people leave in the water at ramps, glass, lures, etc.

I use a pair of keen water shoes that have excellent traction on the ramps and can slide on and off easily. Plus the have more protection than neoprene slip on water shoes or sandals. Toes are kept protected to. I also can run in them if I need to.

Men's Newport Hydro - Water Hiking Sandals | KEEN Footwear

 

[Canuckjetboater]

@lokart .... as usual great suggestions from members. I use snorkeling reef shoes for grip and to avoid dangerous sharp debris at ramp sites. As well they provide great grip on the wet trailer surface. I have seen people take bad falls when standing on their their wet trailers with bare feet or flip flops. I too have a "shorter" distance from my bow to the back of my SUV. In fact it's so close that if my trailer and SUV aren't in a straight line I can not open the rear hatch of the SUV. That's close LOL. Used to it now. We all develop our favorite ways to launch and retrieve but mine is to back in until the boat floats - as said usually a couple of inches of water (at my ramp) over the fenders.

 

[lokart]

I would not worry about the height of the bow stop/winch compared to the bow of the boat. Once the boat hits the bunks the bunks will correct the angle of the boat as the boat moves toward the bow stop.

I must be to deep then. I don't hit the bunks much at all and by the time I do I'm under the bow roller.

 

[lokart]

@lokart .... as usual great suggestions from members. I use snorkeling reef shoes for grip and to avoid dangerous sharp debris at ramp sites. As well they provide great grip on the wet trailer surface. I have seen people take bad falls when standing on their their wet trailers with bare feet or flip flops. I too have a "shorter" distance from my bow to the back of my SUV. In fact it's so close that if my trailer and SUV aren't in a straight line I can not open the rear hatch of the SUV. That's close LOL. Used to it now. We all develop our favorite ways to launch and retrieve but mine is to back in until the boat floats - as said usually a couple of inches of water (at my ramp) over the fenders.

Thanks for the advice. I'll keep practicing. Unloading is a breeze. Getting on the bunks and still being able to wench it up over the roller is the challenge.

 

[Canuckjetboater]

Thanks for the advice. I'll keep practicing. Unloading is a breeze. Getting on the bunks and still being able to wench it up over the roller is the challenge.

@lokart .... for us my wife usually gets the boat just onto the trailer bunks. I am in the water with water shoes on. I have the winch strap with about 8 feet of slack on it. The bunks are under water with several inches of water over the trailer wheel covers. I attach the winch strap to the boat's bow eye and winch it onto the bunks. My wife stays in the center of the boat to keep it on center on the trailer. I climb into the SUV and pull it out while she's still in the boat and we prep it for travel. I have seen lots of other boaters tie-up their boats at the launch ramp then use the mooring lines to pull them onto their trailer or sometimes one person wades into the water to position the boat onto the trailer then they pull it on. If the trailer ramp isn't too busy my wife sometimes backs the trailer into the water and then I drive the boat onto the trailer and lean over the bow to attach the winch strap and winch the boat into position myself then she drives the whole rig out of the water while I remain in the center of the boat to hold its position centered on the trailer. There are so many ways to load your boat and the best thing to remember is take your time - don't be rushed by some AH looking at his watch and make you nervous and rush you, that's when mistakes happen....and (IMO) practice makes perfect. So plan your entry and exit before hand with your Admiral (aka wife) have your gear ready and take your time. BTW about 5 years ago I was at a ramp and a guy who was berating a young couple for taking too much time to load their boat spun his tires in the gravel to get his trailer to the ramp, revved his boat onto the trailer then spun his tires in his anger to go up the ramp. He had forgotten to attach his bow winch strap. His boat slid off the trailer and landed with an ugly thud on the ramp - now THAT slowed things down. BTW ll Isn't boating supposed to be fun? Why do so many AHs at ramps start and end their day with ugly drama?

 

[lokart]

@lokart .... for us my wife usually gets the boat just onto the trailer bunks. I am in the water with water shoes on. I have the winch strap with about 8 feet of slack on it. The bunks are under water with several inches of water over the trailer wheel covers. I attach the winch strap to the boat's bow eye and winch it onto the bunks. My wife stays in the center of the boat to keep it on center on the trailer. I climb into the SUV and pull it out while she's still in the boat and we prep it for travel. I have seen lots of other boaters tie-up their boats at the launch ramp then use the mooring lines to pull them onto their trailer or sometimes one person wades into the water to position the boat onto the trailer then they pull it on. If the trailer ramp isn't too busy my wife sometimes backs the trailer into the water and then I drive the boat onto the trailer and lean over the bow to attach the winch strap and winch the boat into position myself then she drives the whole rig out of the water while I remain in the center of the boat to hold its position centered on the trailer. There are so many ways to load your boat and the best thing to remember is take your time - don't be rushed by some AH looking at his watch and make you nervous and rush you, that's when mistakes happen....and (IMO) practice makes perfect. So plan your entry and exit before hand with your Admiral (aka wife) have your gear ready and take your time. BTW about 5 years ago I was at a ramp and a guy who was berating a young couple for taking too much time to load their boat spun his tires in the gravel to get hos trailer to the ramp, revved his boat onto the trailer then spun his tires in his anger to go up the ramp. He had forgotten to attach his bow winch strap. His boat slid off the trailer and landed with an ugly thud on the ramp - now THAT slowed things down. BTW ll Isn't boating supposed to be fun? Why do so many AHs at ramps start and end their day with ugly drama?

Thanks so much. I like the first option you mentioned with the 8 foot of slack and then getting out of the boat. I noticed my boat was not center on the bunks this time because I drove it up and had my weight on the starboard side. I've watched a bunch of youtube videos on "ramp rage"... folks just need to chill out.

 

[HangOutdoors]

Trailer Guide Posts are your friend Boat goes on every time and settles on the bunks perfectly for me with them.

The easiest way i found is once i dunk the trailer and fenders a couple inches or so under the waterline I just start driving at the trailer slowly and once the bow is between the trailer guides, i kill the engine and the boat bumps the guides and come to a stop about 4 feet or so from the winch with the back center. Then I hop out and winch it on. Give the brakes the ole tap as I am coming out of the water to snug it.

When I didn't have the guide posts the ass end was all over the place depending on the steepness of the ramp. It was a PITA in a wind or current as well, at least for me.

 

[lokart]

Trailer Guide Posts are your friend Boat goes on every time and settles on the bunks perfectly for me with them.

The easiest way i found is once i dunk the trailer and fenders a couple inches or so under the waterline I just start driving at the trailer slowly and once the bow is between the trailer guides, i kill the engine and the boat bumps the guides and come to a stop about 4 feet or so from the winch with the back center. Then I hop out and winch it on. Give the brakes the ole tap as I am coming out of the water to snug it.

When I didn't have the guide posts the ass end was all over the place depending on the steepness of the ramp. It was a PITA in a wind or current as well, at least for me.

I did add the guide posts and they did save me a few weeks back when the wind was so strong. The issue with the guides on these Yamaha's is that the rear is more narrow than the beam of the boat, so I can't count on the guides to keep me center once the full beam passes them. None the less, the guides were the very first thing I added to my setup, even before my first launch. A must have for sure. I got the lighted caps too, looks great and nice to have for night launches. Thinking of getting some underwater trailer lights if I find myself going out at night more often. Nice to be able to see the trailer under the surface of the water after dark.

 

[HangOutdoors]

Is your boat that much narrower than mine in the back with respect to the widest point? My guidebposts are 1.5 inches away from boat when it is fully on trailer. Boat always centers

 

[lokart]

Wow, yes mine are about 8 inches. I'm going to double check to see if there is room to bring them in a bit. I think my beam is 8'4. I wonder if I keep the guides 9' apart if that would work better. Not too sure how fare apart they are now to be honest. Have to look into that!

 

[212s]

@lokart We overcome the centering issue by not backing in as far to load. First I back in to dip the bunks (so the boat slides on easily), then pull forward so the fenders are just a bit out of the water. Then when we pull the boat to the trailer the inner bunks guide the bow in and centers it for me. Then I put the winch strap on the bow eye and winch it a few feet to pull it in and on the bunks a bit. At this point I back the trailer in a few inches deeper so I can winch the boat on completely to the bow stop. The boat is nicely centered every singe time, whether it's windy, choppy, or not.

We wear crocs or watershoes and I wear shorts so I can step in the water as needed to launch/retrieve the boat. We don't allow shoes of any kind on the boat - naked feet only - so when we're done getting ready to launch, we can slip our shoes off at the dock, and put them in the locker.

 

[lokart]

That's a great suggestion. I like that approach and will give it a go. Makes perfectly good sense to me!