Getting trailer depth just right!

[Wee Hooker]

Anybody trailering a boat knows that their rig launch's and hauls best with the water at a certain depth as compared to their boat/bunks/rollers. Put the trailer too deep and it floats on crooked and /or push?s off hard/slow. Too shallow and it may bottom out on launch or come on hard/slow. Find the sweet spot and everything gets predictable and easy. My new 16' Mirrocraft Outfitter on a factory bunk trailer is no exception. With this boat, a water level 2? shy of the bunk tips is about perfect. Problem is that it's often to see how deep I am through the truck window/tailgate and / or boat. Lots of neck cramming and or "get out and look" was the norm at the ramp. Here's how I fixed it;

First, I mounted a 12V LED on top of my guide on where I could see it well from the drivers seat. ( Salvaged from a broken tail light actually.) Then I mounted a float type bilge switch on the trailer frame at a position / heigh so that it would kick in as the water depth got "just right" for a launch. Power was tapped from the directional circuit at the tail light and brought to the LED. ( I used the blinker circuit so I could shut it off and also to assure that stready glare wasn?t an issue on the LED on bright days. )The other lead of the LED was wired to the input on the bilge switch. The other side of the bilge switch was wired to the frame for ground. (i.e It?s all wired in series.) So now when I back in, the bilge switch sets activates a blinking LED at eye level as soon as I get to the sweet spot. Simple fix and I highly recommend it!

hth

 

[tswiczko]

Re: Getting trailer depth just right!

I had a piece of tape on my frame but found out as I went to different ramps with differet grades. How far I had to back my trailer in to float my boat changed.

The ramp here in Louisville at Cox park I can float my boat when the top of the fenders are about an inch under water. Which puts the waters edge at the back tire of my truck.
At Luna Pier on Lake Erie I have to be in the water with water half way up the rear tire of my truck to float the boat which puts the waters edge near my door.
steeper grade ramps require less trailer in the water than shallow ramps

But thats a nice set up if you launch at the same ramp every time. it takes all the guess work out of launching.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Getting trailer depth just right!

It's all good when using the same ramps time after time, I have a couple different sweet spots, this one ramp very steep and it put the trailer angle different and my one sweet spot doesn't work, I always get on a little crooked on that one, I found that if very slowly pull out the stern wags a couple times before settling, Thats a trick set up you have there.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Getting trailer depth just right!

Pretty slick looking install....I like it! Good idea.

 

[cribber]

Re: Getting trailer depth just right!

Pretty slick setup and would be beneficial if you launch from the same angled ramps! We generally launch from one of two ramps locally and the depths needed to launch at both are nearly the same.

 

[BoatNoobie]

Re: Getting trailer depth just right!

I can see the water line on my trailer tires/fender on the side mirrors. No need for fancy lights.