Handicapped And need help launching and retrieving.

[hz293]

Boat is 19ft Chaperral Fiberglas with carpeted bunks on trailer. It is open bow but I can't lay over bow or bend far enough to hook up or unhook winch hook or chain hook from bow eye. I have tried to come up with some way to jury rig an alternate way (MacGyver it) so that I didn't have to bend over the bow to reach the hook, maybe something like using some kind of third hand. My wife can't help but I'm hoping someone on the forum has the same problem who found a solution or knows someone who has.

 

[Grub54891]

I've never done it that way, so I suppose I'm not much help. I always waded in the water and hook it/unhook from the water. I take off my shoes and roll up my pants and walk in, I suppose some waders would help.

 

[Frank Acampora]

As far as unhooking, sailors use them a lot: They are called "Pelican Hooks." A short lanyard can be attached to open it. For attaching, perhaps you could make a jig to reach the bow eye. I don't know if these hooks come sized big enough to use as a winch hook but it certainly can not hurt to search. I am reasonably certain they are sold at West Marine and possibly Overbrooks. You should also search here in iboats store

 

[ondarvr]

You can buy an automatic latch, you just drive the boat onto the trailer and it hooks itself.

I Didn't see one here on iboats though.

 

[Fed]

I've seen people use a dedicated rope that runs from the rear boat bollard to downward pointing hook attached to the trailer about half way along it.
Fit the rope before launching and disconnect the winch cable & safety chain, once in position remove rope and off you go.
For retrieving get boat on trailer then dangle the rope over the hook and loop back over the bollard & off you go.

Sort of like a boat catch without the cost, fitting & adjusting.

 

[ondarvr]

I've seen people use a dedicated rope that runs from the rear boat bollard to downward pointing hook attached to the trailer about half way along it.
Fit the rope before launching and disconnect the winch cable & safety chain, once in position remove rope and off you go.
For retrieving get boat on trailer then dangle the rope over the hook and loop back over the bollard & off you go.

Sort of like a boat catch without the cost, fitting & adjusting.

That methods sounds easy and cheap.

 

[hz293]

Checked on the automatic latch. Looks great but I'll have to save up for it. The rope trick looks promising and I'll try it. My next problem with this is getting off the boat after I get it hooked up with the rope so I can pull truck and trailer out. I saw some bow stairs that attach to the trailer but quite expensive. I think I'll try to think about how I can DIY for getting off the boat. Any suggestions?

 

[SilverSS07]

Might try stopping by a local welding shop and talk to them. Maybe they could fab something up that would work for you.

 

[JimS123]

Do you launch off a beach, or is there a dock next to the boat?

 

[Fed]

You might be better off winching with a powerwinch.

 

[keith2k455]

If your ramp has a dock, try to launch and retrieve not under power. I used to go to church with a guy who never launched or retrieved under power - just because. Didn't take him too long either and was plenty safe.

 

[H20Rat]

Power latches never really work well. You have to generally hit them with enough force, and you have to absolutely power load for them to be of any use.