My HOA has a boat yard with about 20 spaces in it, around 12 on the left and 8 on the right. I don’t know who painted the lines, but all the spaces are very narrow. That’s bad.
What’s worse, is the space between the left and right (not my space…the road between the left and right) is ridiculously tight. I mean, it was tough with my 19 foot boat, but it’s a real chore with my 22 foot boat. Getting out isn’t too bad, but getting my boat in the space takes at least one spotter. I need the spotter to watch the front end of my truck so that I don’t hit the other boat trailers with my front end as I back into my spot.
I got one of those Valet XL things but it’s mostly useless without 2 people too…someone to keep the handle brake up and from engaging and one to run the drill. The tight turn backing up with the Valet XL is an effer.
I’d like to be able to get the boat and put it back into the boat yard with out a spotter, so I’m thinking a golf cart or riding lawn mower might help.
You guys got any experience moving a heavy boat with a riding mower on flat level pavement? How is the turning while backing…do the front tires just slide? Do you pop wheelies?
Are golf carts better? How about a 4 wheeler. Mind you, I don’t want to spend a fortune.
“I am constantly amazed at the stupidity of the general public.”
~my dad
Equipment:
2007 Grady White 222 Fisherman / 250 Yamaha
Simrad NSS evo2 and G4
1- 23 boy that won’t move out)
1 - 19 year old (fishing maniac)
1 - wife (The Warden)
Similar situation with a very large cc. I painted a line on the ground and as long as kept tires on the line I knew I wouldn’t hit anything. I also painted a perpendicular one to know when to stop. Hope this helps
-Regulator 28fs
-Dolphin 18BC Pro
-Miscellaneous boats
“Everybody dances when shotgun sings” Stewart and Winfield
Similar situation with a very large cc. I painted a line on the ground and as long as kept tires on the line I knew I wouldn’t hit anything. I also painted a perpendicular one to know when to stop. Hope this helps
-Regulator 28fs
-Dolphin 18BC Pro
-Miscellaneous boats
“Everybody dances when shotgun sings” Stewart and Winfield
I know if my left side tires are less than 6 inches off the left painted line, I won’t hit the boat to my starboard. I keep a flat block on the ground for my stopping spot.
It’s hard getting good spotters. I’ll be watching the port side tires, knowing where they need to be and when I look up to see if the front bumper is about to hit something, my spotters will be at the back of the boat thinking I’m going to hit the starboard boat. Stay on my 12, I got my 6!
“I am constantly amazed at the stupidity of the general public.”
~my dad
Equipment:
2007 Grady White 222 Fisherman / 250 Yamaha
Simrad NSS evo2 and G4
1- 23 boy that won’t move out)
1 - 19 year old (fishing maniac)
1 - wife (The Warden)
Not sure if it is an option but, my Granddad had a real tight space in which to parks years ago. He put a trailer hitch on the front of his truck. It made parking the boat way easier.
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”, but really, who cares?
We once used a lawn mower as a tow vehicle for a single engine cessna. It would pop a wheelie when getting off the clutch. If you do go that route find one that is a hydrostatic drive with engine in front.
Get some marking paint and several spotters, paint a line the entire path to your parking spot. Three or Four times a year repaint it. or you could get a camera system like the new Fords have. total trailer coverage! My Friend just got a new F450 with that feature. I’d not pay that much, but it sure does have a lot of creature comforts.
Make sure that you are backing towards your left side,and get as close as you can to your side of the spaces.Then open your door and keep your eyes on the left trailer tire,shouldn’t be a problem if it’s physically possible.If this is not possible ,I don’t know if I could get it done.
Google “powered trailer dolly.” There are lots of different makes. I don’t have experience with one of these but I’m guessing it would be less expensive than a mower or golf cart
You can’t paint lines in the parking lot. Someone could use that as a excuse to make a claim on someone. Maybe talk to your neighbors and try to come to a parking agreement that allows the most maneuverability for the big guys since there seems to be some small ones. Or set up some big orange cones as guides, they don’t move from 12 to 6.
ive used my SCAG zero turn to move my 22ft boat around the yard, it works well, but will definitely pop a wheelie if you push too fast too hard on the sticks. and stopping can be interesting some times.
Proline 201WA
Aloha 24ft pontoon (LooneyToon)
Old Town stern with 7.5 johnson
If you are using a truck. Do like my dad did and add a receiver to the front of his truck with a removable ball slide. He could put his boat anywhere without problems.
Claim, I am the manager of our neighborhood boatyard. We have the same issues with access to some of our spaces. What is the width of the aisle way between the lines on the left and right? That looks rather narrow. Was the parking lot set up for smaller items only? Out of curiosity how much does the HOA charge for a space?
Unfortunately I don’t have a solution for you, but I like the idea of mounting a receiver on the front of a tow vehicle.
This is what I use to move my KW 1720, around. I mounted it on my Cub Cadet and I can put it in some tight spots! You can turn the tractor and boat on a dime.
Claim, I am the manager of our neighborhood boatyard. We have the same issues with access to some of our spaces. What is the width of the aisle way between the lines on the left and right? That looks rather narrow. Was the parking lot set up for smaller items only? Out of curiosity how much does the HOA charge for a space?
Unfortunately I don’t have a solution for you, but I like the idea of mounting a receiver on the front of a tow vehicle.
I’m not sure how wide the isle is, I keep asking the HOA to widen the boat yard and they agree it’s a good idea, but just won’t do it. The boat yard was put in by the original developer, don’t think he really cared except the HOA rules said boats only.
When we moved in the boat fee was $25 a year. When I was in the HOA leadership, I raised the price to $200 a year for boat yard improvements…all they ever did was replace the original wooden fence with a chain link fence and repainted the lines.
I’ve thought of getting a front end hitch receiver, but I kinda hate to mess with the look of my truck. (Yeah…a little ocd on that)
“I am constantly amazed at the stupidity of the general public.”
~my dad
Equipment:
2007 Grady White 222 Fisherman / 250 Yamaha
Simrad NSS evo2 and G4
1- 23 boy that won’t move out)
1 - 19 year old (fishing maniac)
1 - wife (The Warden)
“I am constantly amazed at the stupidity of the general public.”
~my dad
Equipment:
2007 Grady White 222 Fisherman / 250 Yamaha
Simrad NSS evo2 and G4
1- 23 boy that won’t move out)
1 - 19 year old (fishing maniac)
1 - wife (The Warden)
When I lived down in the Keys I used an old Murry lawn mower for years. I just bolted a 2" ball to the back of the mower. That made for a low connection that helped with the turning. It is a lot easer to park a single axel than a double axel rig. If you have a double axel parking can be made a little easer by lowering the trailer tung as much as possible. This will take some of the weight off the rear axel and make for easer turning. Also if you have a double axel, make sure your last movement is forward. A movement of only a foot or so will take the strain of the axels and prevent a the hitch from jumping when you uncouple.
