Boat Did Not Sit Right on Trailer

[JimKW]

Last night when I pulled the boat out of the water into the staging area I noticed a space between the bow stop and the boat. I pushed down on the boat an noticed it rocking on the trailer. I tried to tighten the winch, but it would not move easily. I probably could have forced it, but don't like doing that. I also saw that the boat was hanging over the back of the bunks a couple inches and it normally sits flush.

So, since there was nobody out last night, I put the boat back down the ramp and into the water. I floated it and tightened the winch two or three clicks.

Had it been crowded do you think I could have pulled the boat up further without putting it in the water?

 

[BaileysBoat]

Re: Boat Did Not Sit Right on Trailer

Bunk trailer? Always easier when the bunks are still wet.

This has happened to me. When I'm highway towing I usually stop after 15 minutes towing and check the the whole rig. No problem pulling the boat a little tighter to the winch stand.

Just make sure the winch is adjusted to pull at an upward angle toward the bow stop.

And, don't forget to loosen the stern tie downs and take the load off of the transom saver before you try to pull her higher. I made that mistake once.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Boat Did Not Sit Right on Trailer

Had it been crowded do you think I could have pulled the boat up further without putting it in the water?

I can't on mine. Even when the bunks are wet, if I mess up and leave the boat an inch or so back I have to re-dip it.

 

[JimKW]

Re: Boat Did Not Sit Right on Trailer

I did not have the rear tie downs on yet when I noticed this. I tried turning the winch, but it was really hard, so I decided to just re-dip the boat.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Boat Did Not Sit Right on Trailer

ya could try the fast stop.
get going maybe 5 mph then slam on the breaks. usually the boat will move fwd on the trailer. use caution though. ya don't wanna be going to fast or slam on the breaks real hard. use good judgment.

i usually come to a quik stop at the first stop sign when i'm leaveing my watering hole. then go give the wench a crank and see if it tightens up any. usually it does but not always....

i got a roller trailer so that helps. but my buddy has bunks and he does the same as i do. i probably learned it from him..

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Boat Did Not Sit Right on Trailer

I think you did it the best way by re-floating it. We used to be able to "manually" adjust our 16' but anything bigger than that, not so much.

 

[BaileysBoat]

Re: Boat Did Not Sit Right on Trailer

Wish I'd thought of that. Good one.

ya could try the fast stop.
get going maybe 5 mph then slam on the breaks. usually the boat will move fwd on the trailer. use caution though. ya don't wanna be going to fast or slam on the breaks real hard. use good judgment. QUOTE]

 

[dbkerley]

Re: Boat Did Not Sit Right on Trailer

I always redip. One time I had one of my bunks turn edgeways and stayed that way. I had to rebalance the boat on a shoulder and then roll the bunk down with a paddle. That was the only time I readjusted out of the water. I don't like scratching the bottom. I prefer to float on and let her settle in as I pull out.

My previous boat had lots of bottom scratches from the previous owner power loading it at the ramp and I just don't like seeing those. Besides, power loading creates washouts at the base of the ramp that have to be fixed every year during drawdown.

 

[keelhauled]

Re: Boat Did Not Sit Right on Trailer

This happens to me from time to time, usually when I put the trailer in too deep. My trailer is really hard to see and every ramp is different. I always have to redip; my electric winch just stalls if I try to winch it on land.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: Boat Did Not Sit Right on Trailer

At this point, I'm assuming that you've got bunks. However, your winch should be able to tug it that extra inch or two if the ramp is crowded. If not, re-dipping is the best move or splash some water at the bunks with a bucket.

When I pull my boat up the ramp, some slack always comes out of the winch as the strap tightens around itself. I've got rollers so it's easy to just give the winch a final crank before throwing on the transom tie-downs.

Good luck

 

[jmarty10]

Re: Boat Did Not Sit Right on Trailer

Ziggy has a good trick and I used it a couple of times and worked expecially on my last trip as marina guy did not crank boat up to stop enough.

I had the same problem and became frustrated, but here is the trick rather than re-dipping. Back your trailer all the way in so the bunks are completely submerged. This will wet them good. Then pull up so you can see about a quarter or a little more of your bunks. Winch it up. When it gets real tight and and has a couple more inches to go lock the winch, get in your car and back down a little more (maybe 4-6"). Get out and winch her on nice and tight. This will get it all the way up. This will save you the trouble of re-dipping. Worked for me.

 

[JimKW]

Re: Boat Did Not Sit Right on Trailer

My bunks were good and wet. I had just pulled out of the water. All I did was back down watched for the boat to float just a little, pulled forward very little and then tightened the winch about 2 or 3 clicks. Had the ramp been crowded though, I don't know if I would have waited. Not sure it would move by just going slow and slamming the brakes on. Maybe, but not certain.

 

[109jb]

Re: Boat Did Not Sit Right on Trailer

Your winch would have pulled it forward.

 

[sltintexas]

Re: Boat Did Not Sit Right on Trailer

to answer part of your question, i would not have driven like that. I have done it not knowing the boat wasn't all the way up and its a bouncey ride. i am sure a long trip might have been an issue.

I must be a whimp cuz I can't wench my boat up if it ain't in the water.

 

[korygrandy]

Re: Boat Did Not Sit Right on Trailer

Jim,
I have the same issue as you with the bunk trailer. Do you notice that when you crank it up in the water and then pull out that the boat moves back a couple of inches?

It feels like if I tried to crank it with the winch out of the water I would break the bow strap/cleat off. I've cranked on enough stuff in my life to know I could probably break something so I always redip.

I've got better at recognizing the distance my trailer needs to be in the water in relation to the water depth and then I watch the winch strap's location.

For me what works is backing the trailer in until the tips of the bunks are just barely under water. If they are barely above the water I can tell there is more resistance on the winch, and that means I need to crank it just a bit further than I normally do because when I pull out of the water the boat will float backwards a bit from where it was in the water.

 

[boat1010]

Re: Boat Did Not Sit Right on Trailer

If you have a winch strap they have a tendency of breaking. I would dip it every time to winch it up. It is just a lot less stress on everything. My winch will not move the boat up when out of the water. LOL tried it before. I would wait even if there was a line at the loading dock. Just much easier ans less stress.

 

[ufm82]

Re: Boat Did Not Sit Right on Trailer

The winch probably would have drawn the boat up assuming it was big enough. A little 800 lb winch trying to pull up a 3,000 lb boat will have problems but a bigger 1,500 lb or 2,000 lb winch would have done it. I often see these little baby winches on trailers and wonder why that is. Are the manufacturer/dealers simply cheap? Do people buy a new winch and base the purchase on cost? Apparently so. And don't forget, when the boat is floating it can be moved very easily and many people never have an issue.
I have a 2 speed winch on my trailer but my boat only weighs 3,500lbs. Yes, I can move the boat on the bunks when it is on dry land provided it is on flat ground. I can switch to the low speed and winch it even on the ramp but I fear the stress on the bow eye may cause an issue so I don't do that often. Re-dipping is of course the easiest if the ramp is uncrowded but when there is a line a mile long the pressure to get out of the way can be strong.
As for straps breaking, if you look at the strap often and watch for wear, you'll not have an issue. I've never had a strap break on me yet (knock on wood) and don't expect to have that problem. Frayed edges, cuts or broken threads are all indicators that a replacement is needed. I much prefer them to cables as I always seem to find the frayed wires with my fingertips. OUCH!!!

UFM82

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: Boat Did Not Sit Right on Trailer

I have the same boat as the OP except a 20foot model, freshly replaced bunks, strap in good shape etc. No way could or would I winch it 3" even with wet bunks. If you load it right to begin with it should never be a problem. I trailer everywhere I boat 25+ loads per season and have never had the boat slide back a few inches away from the bow stop. Make a mark or something on the hull where the bow stop needs to be to and take an extra minute when loading to prevent this from happening. I usually have about 12-18 inches of strap out, coast onto trailer, winch up to tight, hook safety chain, and be out of the water. My crownline seems to have a pretty thick hull but why put that much un needed pressure on it.

 

[JimKW]

Re: Boat Did Not Sit Right on Trailer

I have probably loaded over 30 times and this is the first time it happened to me. I just didn't pay enough attention. It will not happen again.