Shallow Shore line launch

[bayliner175_2014]

Hi all,

I'm quite new to boating got my first power boat last month (bayliner 175). Looking for ideas how to launch in shallow water on my shoreline.

I have a 30hp tractor which i will use for launching, heres what im thinking:

* Extend the tow bar using a custom made tow bar extension (i.e. ball on one end and a coupling on the other... maybe about 12ft long)

* Put extra wide tyres (single axle trailer) - this should help spread the weight as i currently have R13 165 tyres. I'll change back to the original tyres when transporting the boat on public roads.

* Pneumatic Jockey Wheel to prevent the jockey wheel digging into the ground.

Has anyone out there done something similar or any tips for shore/beach launching?

 

[oldjeep]

If that is going to be your normal launch then the first thing I would do is trade the bunk trailer for a roller trailer.

 

[bayliner175_2014]

I already have a roller trailer heres the exact trailer i have:

http://www.apolloduck.ie/feature.phtml?id=374047

so i should be ok once i get back in deep enough?

 

[oldjeep]

Sure - main thing is making sure you are actually deep enough for the boat to float once you push it off since you can launch you boat onto dry land with a roller trailer.

 

[java230]

How far in do you need to get to float the boat? a 17'er should not need a whole lot of water.

Have you have the trailer on the beach yet? The tires may be just fine, you can deflate them a bit also.

 

[bobdec]

Hope your 30 HP has a decent rear end, not a lawnmower setup where one wheel spins backward when braking if you loose traction. Have that on my Craftsman, darn single brake is on the drive shaft. With a heavy load or slippery surface instead of locking brakes one wheel spins forward and one backward and it does not stop to well. .

 

[kjsAZ]

I wouldn't use the jockey wheel at all. Make you tongue extension longer and install the ball so the extension goes along the existing tongue and hold it at the end with a bracket in place. That way you have a "stiff" tongue and leave the "holding up" to your tractor. With that much extension the tongue weight goes rapidly down and the tractor should handle it.
My 1750 trailer also came with these stroller wheels (13"). I upgraded to 205/75R14 and it's a day and night difference in towing.

The absolute minimum I have been able to launch and retrieve was with the end of the trailer in 75cm deep water. However, don't run the engine there as it may suck in a lot of dirt/mud. I use a stern mounted electric trolling motor to get off and on.

 

[kjsAZ]

No Title

 

[midcarolina]

There was a thread on here not long ago about adding an adjustable length trailer tongue extension for shallow water launch........do a search on youtube

 

[hungupthespikes]

"I have a 30hp tractor" ???? Yard, garden, sub-compact, compact, old Ford N8????
Compact or old full size... you don't need to do anything.
How about the tires???? Turf or garden... turf tires are poor at best for pulling. Changing to lugged/garden tires or adding chains to turf tires may get you out of a need to add an extension on the trailer.
30hp is more than enough power, getting that power to the ground is key.
huts

 

[bayliner175_2014]

thanks for all the helpful replies ....

so i tried a shore launch at the weekend for the first time.... i used no extension just the tractor and the trailer (as linked above).

I had no trouble getting the boat of the trailer the rear lifted off the rollers as i backed her in. Heres the tractor im using:

http://www.tractordata.com/farm-tractors/000/7/2/729-massey-ferguson-35.html

The water level was quite high around the tractor .... water was touching the rear axel and covering the PTO... i assume this was ok as the PTO oil isnt leaking out i assume water cant get in. Water was just about touching the engine block at the front.

I still think ill look into using an extension just to be sure i do no damage to the tractor.

 

[midcarolina]

Thats a great tractor.......... If you are launching in salt water I would for sure look into adding a tongue extension, just to keep the ol girl out of the salt water.

 

[hungupthespikes]

+1 on good old girl........You need a bigger boat. :yo:

 

[UncleWillie]

One thing to keep in mind that by extending the tow bar 12 feet, that creates one heck of a lever arm.
200 lbs on the end of the 12 foot tow bar may be the equivalent of 2000 lbs on the normal ball.
That tractor may very well be able to handle that load but be prepared that the front end is going to be lighter.

Temporarily extending the trailer tongue the 12 feet would be the preferred solution.

 

[kjsAZ]

One thing to keep in mind that by extending the tow bar 12 feet, that creates one heck of a lever arm.
200 lbs on the end of the 12 foot tow bar may be the equivalent of 2000 lbs on the normal ball.
That tractor may very well be able to handle that load but be prepared that the front end is going to be lighter.

Temporarily extending the trailer tongue the 12 feet would be the preferred solution.

That's a misconception. The trailer needs the tongue weight at the point the coupler currently is. If he extends the tongue (let's say double the length) he will have half the tongue weight on the extended tongue and that gives him BETTER stability and lifts the front of the tractor less. Trailer stability increases over-proportional with tongue length. Naturally the extension has to be made rigid enough to handle the loads and not what was recently posted here with an electrical conduit.....

 

[UncleWillie]

That's a misconception. The trailer needs the tongue weight at the point the coupler currently is. If he extends the tongue (let's say double the length) he will have half the tongue weight on the extended tongue and that gives him BETTER stability and lifts the front of the tractor less. Trailer stability increases over-proportional with tongue length. Naturally the extension has to be made rigid enough to handle the loads and not what was recently posted here with an electrical conduit.....

Confused!???

I think you are agreeing with me! ???
Read Post #14 again, I think you read it backwards???

Extend tongue on Trailer, Not Extent Tow bar on Tractor.
Stability is improved, but is a non-issue at 3 mph.

 

[kjsAZ]

looks like it.... English isn't my native tongue and sometimes I read something without reading it right.... Sorry.

 

[bayliner175_2014]

Hi all again....

so tried moving my tractor yesterday clutch didnt kick in as usual so it appears water is getting up on the clutch. Ill only be using the boat on fresh water.

I'v been thinking since i may be able to adapt a car dolly or make something similar to do what i need.

Something like the image below with the following changes:

* weld on the ball hitch to the dolly

* increase the length of the dolly towbar.

* and add some sort of locking plate which locks onto the boat trailer tow bar (So there is only one pivot point i.e. where the dolly connects to the tractor)



http://st-albert-jiujitsu.com/clients/old_hitchhouse/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Tow-Dolly.jpg

What you think guys.... will this work?

 

[java230]

Why not just buy another coupler a length of tubing (same size as the tongue on the trailer and a couple of u bolts. Bolt it under the tongue and wa la you have longer tongue. When you want to tow again, just undo the U bolts, and you have your normal trailer back.

 

[kjsAZ]

Hi all again....

so tried moving my tractor yesterday clutch didnt kick in as usual so it appears water is getting up on the clutch. Ill only be using the boat on fresh water.

I'v been thinking since i may be able to adapt a car dolly or make something similar to do what i need.

Something like the image below with the following changes:

* weld on the ball hitch to the dolly

* increase the length of the dolly towbar.

* and add some sort of locking plate which locks onto the boat trailer tow bar (So there is only one pivot point i.e. where the dolly connects to the tractor)



http://st-albert-jiujitsu.com/clients/old_hitchhouse/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Tow-Dolly.jpg

What you think guys.... will this work?

If you are used to it it's actually easier to have two pivot points! That will work and could do the job but the simple extension with a longer bar under the trailer tongue would do a similar job without having yet another half-trailer sitting around.