Bought my first boat last week. 24ft Sunbird Neptune CC. Big boat… big dang boat. Maybe too big for a first time owner. But I’m too stubborn to fail and it was great deal.
The boat itself sits high on the trailer (big dang boat) and I feel that the bow eye sits low on the boat (at least judging from pics of other boats). So because of this, I can’t reach the winch hook to disconnect/reconnect while trailering. The previous owner was a little more squirrely and could hop up and down with no worries with connecting/diconnecting.
So here’s my question… There’s 3 cleats on the bow; center, left, and right. Can I tie a line from the trailer to one of these cleats and the untie when ready to launch? Meaning: I back the trailer down the ramp, disconnect the safety chain and winch. Climb my fat butt up the boat, do all the pre-checks with the motor. Disconnect the line from a cleat and be on my merry way? And then do the opposite on the way back in from all my crazy successful fishing trips?
Additional information: Truck is an F-150 with Ecoboost, primary ramp will be Leeds Ave, will be solo launch as my dog doesn’t care about anything that isn’t a rabbit, the trailer has bunks with the PVC pipes for guides.
Well, the first few trips will be solo or with the wife to learn and get used to it. But I’m look at the worst case senario when I can’t find anyone who wants to go fishing or at work.
But thank you for the suggestion. I’ll look into it.
Twitch. I think it would work for launching. but I confused as to how it will help you when putting it back on the trailer. Once you float up on the trailer the line tied to the trailer will be on the ground/under water.
Attach a rod/pole/bar to the winch post. Find a way to loop/clamp the line to the rod. I can reach down, but the winch strap/bow eye is just outside my reach.
I run one of these on my 20ft CC. Does exactly what your trying to do but in a safe manner.
http://www.boatlatch.com/
I think I saw him advertise this at some point on here.
I have been using it for about a year now.
When your ready to launch, give it a little gas and it will unlatch. put it in neutral and you slide back and are free. Can be done from the helm so your not running around the boat while your at the ramp.
Pulling out, you just drive on until it latches. Shut everything down, walk around, hook up the winch strap, and pull the boat out. No need to leave the helm while its in gear to hold the boat in place while you secure the winch strap.
I am not affiliated with this product nor will I get anything for this post, I found a product I like and dont mind telling others. I launch by myself most of the time and this thing makes my life easier.
Geoff was a great guy to talk to and very helpful. Give him a call if you have any questions. Just remember the timezone difference to Australia.
If your boat doesn’t overhang your fenders you have it made. You can back it down next to the floating dock where the fender almost rubs. Back down until part of the boat is in the water. Unhook the safety chain and strap. Have a rope tied to one of the forward cleats before the bow and tie it to the trailer post. Back down until it starts floating and then ease up leaving the boat still between the guide posts. Untie from trailer and then walk down the dock pulling boat backwards. If you could manage to have a stern line as well that would make it easier. The higher the tide the better off you’ll be because of the slope on that ramp. If you want to practice I can meet you on a Saturday or Sunday to help out if need be.
Twitch. I think it would work for launching. but I confused as to how it will help you when putting it back on the trailer. Once you float up on the trailer the line tied to the trailer will be on the ground/under water.
What am I missing?
I have a feeling he would be smart enough to put the rope where he could reach it when he backed the trailer in the water. LoL
As for getting the boat back on the trailer…it’s easy also.
Just back in far enough to run the boat 3/4 of the way up the trailer, leave the motor in gear with just a bit of throttle (not much), hop out and hook the cable, winch up to the pulpit, get back in the boat and shut it off. D-O-N-E done.
Leaving the motor in gear with a minimal amount of throttle makes winching the boat up the last couple of feet very easy and doesn’t “blow out” the ramp.
Cape is right, back down next to the dock leaving enough room behind the truck you can walk without getting in the water. Climb on trailer and hook winch and wind her up. I you catch the tide right you can probably sink the trailer enough to get the boat up to the post.
