Can you post pics of your boat on the trailer

[SuperSaltAir]

Hey guys I wan to redo the winch on my boat and I was wondering if you can post up some pics of your boats sitting on the trailer I currently have the stupid flip up bar and it is a pain to put on and off I really need to change that before someone gets hurt or worse I break the boat

[87SunSportMikeyD]

Flip up bar huh?

http://photos.wakeboarder.com/data/3486/Picture_0272.jpg

[SuperSaltAir]

That's nice pic very complicated looking but it looks like it will work well

[SuperSaltAir]

lets see if my pic comes up

[SuperSaltAir]

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g27/the13element/026.jpg

[SuperSaltAir]

That's the best pic I have but if you see the red bar going to the eye that's what I'm talking about you have to keep winching the boat up stop disconnect check if it the bar will fit then put the bar on and then the hook below the bar then next time your trying to take the boat off the driller the bar gets jammed unless its perfectly aligned its just a pain in the but to deal with

[Salty87]

never seen the bar setup before. mikey...what's going on under yours?

mine is a lot simpler:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a10/salty87/DSCF0191.jpg

[SuperSaltAir]

I like your set up Salty its very simple
As far as the my bar set up I think it looks very clean and its very secure even when your strap brakes but its a pain to load

[Okie Boarder]

Mine looks a lot like Salty's. Yours and Mikey's both look kind of complex.

http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu144/OkieBoarder/img_4179_resized.jpg

http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu144/OkieBoarder/img_4180_resized.jpg

[iwakeboard]

Don't have a terrific picture of that area, but here's some...

http://hphotos-snc1.fbcdn.net/hs276.snc1/10317_741151454475_9403317_42871908_1150028_n.jpg

http://photos-sf2p.fbcdn.net/v649/185/70/9403317/n9403317_41422733_502481.jpg

[87SunSportMikeyD]

Well I know mine was modified to use a Boat Buddy
http://www.cabelas.com/p-0001975011046a.shtml
So you can drive on all the way and no winching required. Makes launching by yourself nice, or really fast with two people. Never leave the boat or car.

I think they added a roller wheel on mine down low in the bow area but the boat doesn't ever touch that wheel.

[sybrmike]

I've got the same Randall VIP trailer under the Salt I picked up last month. I only took her out one time after purchasing, but used the technique the PO showed me during the test drive. It does take two people (one semi-brave) - haven't loaded solo yet.

Driver in the boat, helper at the front of the trailer. Before the driver reaches the trailer, the helper takes enough winch strap out to reach the end of the tow bar plus a little extra slack. As the driver throttles the boat onto the trailer, the helper holds the tow bar into position. A few seconds of hand signals and shouting should get the bow eye in the proper position so the tow bar can slip over the bow eye. The helper can then clip the winch strap through the bow eye and tighten the strap before the throttle is relaxed.

I was a little concerned at first, standing at the front of the trailer as 3500 lbs was being "finessed" towards my face. However, I think it's relatively safe if positioned properly. The fixed vee bow/keel support limits the forward travel of the boat. Once the keel hits the support, the bow is forced upward.

Admittedly, only two times is not enough to claim it's a good technique - it does take two people, the helper has to be comfortable with the duty, ramp angle could come into play, etc. But it's a suggestion. I can see how this setup could be problematic, but so far it looks like a fairly simple way to secure the boat to the trailer - the winch strap hook, tow bar, bow eye combo really locks things into place (even if the strap breaks).

btw - how's your rebuild going? Any progress on the new ski locker, ballast system, updated pics?

[21vGravityCustom]

Here is the '08 setup with the boat buddy.

[SuperSaltAir]

I took it out like that a few times and its not a big deal in the summer to get it on but we ride year round and I don't feel like getting my feet wet. Plus I have a welder and most everything that I would need to make it work a bit better so why not. And last I see the back of the trailer has some marks from the prop I am assuming from the PO loading to deep and or fast and getting to far up on the trailer I would really like to make it as fool proof as I can some of the people that come out with me are not very boat savy

[87SunSportMikeyD]

Yeah once I had my trailer in too deep and I clipped the end of the wooden bunk with the prop. Prop was fine, took a gash out of the wood/carpet. Would some kind of little marker be helpful if it told you how far to back in? In general I find if the bunks are just sticking out of the water a few inches it is good.

I have never seen that bar before on your setup and agree it would be nice to get rid of that if possible.

[87SunSportMikeyD]

type but leave out the spaces [ img ] http://picURL [ / img ]

upload the pic to your gallery or another site that allows larger pics (wakeboarder.com or photobucket). right click the pic, properties to get the URL

[chautauquasun]

If you go to my pictures area on my profile page you will see my trailer adn winch. Works okay but I think I need more support on bottom of the bow. All of bow weight is on thw winch post, which I guess is okay because the trailer was for a Pirata orginally which is bigger and heavier than mine. Not sure if this helps you or not.