Boat Buddy: Anyone like it?

[jonyb]

That's pretty much exactly what I do, but when it's time to unload I can't get the pin out.

When you pull up, the pin locks, then the truck pulls up, the boat pulls against the pin putting it in a bind. The only way to get it pulled out is to drop the boat so far in the water that the tongue's underwater taking the tension off the pin and bowstrap.

[Ed G]

from my own past experience -

I once had to force open the pin with a screw driver after my wife hit the boat buddy a wee bit too "enthusiastically"

sounds to me that you or someone has slammed the boat into the boat buddy once too often and the thing is in a bind.

Perhaps yours may have been defective from the box.

These things really do work great.

[jonyb]

It moves fine when the boat's unloaded.

[Ed G]

"It moves fine when the boat's unloaded."

I'm sure it does.

"the boat pulls against the pin putting it in a bind"

if the boat is pulling against the pin and not pushing against the pin...

I got a $1 that says you are putting the trailer in the water too deep.

The boat is floating. As you pull up the ramp the boat moves back, pulling against the pin and causing it to bind.

"I have the trailer backed into the water so the fenders are barely under water."

Bingo. Next time, try it with the rear fenders about 1 1/2 inches out of the water.

[jonyb]

You forgot this quote:

then I've still got about 4-5 feet to go

the bow gets to a certain point on the trailer, and I still have to power the boat up to get to the bowstop. The boat isnt floating at that point, but it has to be floating completely to get it released.

I appreciate your efforts. It's hard to explain this and make someone understand.

[IndyMatt]

If your hitting with 4-5 feet to go, I dont think depth is the problem. It honestly sounds like you may be loading on a ramp that isnt steep enough. How are your water levels? I think the best thing I saw from that exchange was to wet your bunks prior to loading. You may want to attach the strap after your loaded into the boat buddy, cowboy a few cranks out of it just to get the load of the lock pin. You could also do a quick stop once your off the ramp and level, that should shift the boat slightly forward. You an also try some pam or liquid soap on the bunks. Like I said before, i dont drive my boat directly into the boat buddy. With my fenders a few inches out, I can easily drive the boat onto the bunks, within 12-15" and finish off with the straps.

[myturndad]

i have had the boat buddy on 2 boats and love it.

i have seen it a little more difficult to hit right if you are one a pretty level ramp.

one product that makes it easy is liquid rollers. spray it on the bunks and trust me you will slide with ease.

just make sure you have your straps on before you leave and leave everything hooked up till you are ready to launch.

[jonyb]

If your hitting with 4-5 feet to go, I dont think depth is the problem. It honestly sounds like you may be loading on a ramp that isnt steep enough. How are your water levels? I think the best thing I saw from that exchange was to wet your bunks prior to loading. You may want to attach the strap after your loaded into the boat buddy, cowboy a few cranks out of it just to get the load of the lock pin. You could also do a quick stop once your off the ramp and level, that should shift the boat slightly forward. You an also try some pam or liquid soap on the bunks. Like I said before, i dont drive my boat directly into the boat buddy. With my fenders a few inches out, I can easily drive the boat onto the bunks, within 12-15" and finish off with the straps.

When loading the bunks are wet, then the trailer's pulled back up. You say hit the pin then attach the strap... I've just been attaching the strap from inside the boat and not even using the pin. The driver never has to get out that way but it's a pain to try winching the boat even an inch. The ramps here aren't very steep though like you mentioned.

[Ed G]

and you never had this loading problem before putting the boat buddy on the trailer?

[IndyMatt]

I meant back the trailer in all the way and then pull up to your desired loading position so everything was wet. I guess I misunderstood somthing, if your just using the strap then how is the pin of the boat buddy involved? Was this a factory installed BB or somthing you added? I read your original problem as when you use the boat buddy, the boat slid back when pulled out of the water and put pressure against the pin, causing you difficulty when releasing the pin for the next launch. The other problem of the bow striking the BB has to do with the pitch of the trailer and water depth.