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Launching Question

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River Harley
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132 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/16/2006 : 08:15:56

I have always had my wk slung-in and out at the marina rather than ramp launched to avoid the trailer's exposure to saltwater. I am considering attempting ramp launch for the first time. (1) Is ramp launching the wing-keel a major headache i.e. due to height, keel guide and supports as opposed to horizontal bunks? (2) Am I fretting needlessly over the saltwater corrosion issue? (3) Anyone with experience on these matters have any tips about launch and retrieval that would save me any embarassment before I go out of my comfort zone on this?

River Harley

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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1913 Posts

Response Posted - 04/16/2006 : 08:39:07

Hi River,
The steepness of the ramp can sometimes make it difficult. Unlike other boats that like a steep ramp our Wing Keels like a long not so steep ramp. Your most likely going to need some type of launch wheel on the tongue of your trailer, a long strap or strong rope and some wheel chocks. I don't recommend using your fold down trailer jack with the wheel, it will fold over and break (mine did) you may get lucky and it work a couple times. I built a launch wheel, but others have just install a large caster wheel on the tongue with U-bolts. [url="http://webpages.charter.net/potterhouse/my%20web/page12.html"]Here's how we do it.[/url]

I have a galvanized trailer and have launched in salt water. Just remember to give your trailer a good rinse down after launch and retrieval. I've been to ramps that had water but no hose, I now carry a hose in the back of my truck just for that occasion.

Edited by - Tom Potter on 04/16/2006 08:44:54

River Harley
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132 Posts

Response Posted - 04/16/2006 : 09:04:59

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by tompotter
 Hi River,
The steepness of the ramp can sometimes make it difficult. Unlike other boats that like a steep ramp our Wing Keels like a long not so steep ramp. Your most likely going to need some type of launch wheel on the tongue of your trailer, a long strap or strong rope and some wheel chocks. I don't recommend using your fold down trailer jack with the wheel, it will fold over and break (mine did) you may get lucky and it work a couple times. I built a launch wheel, but others have just install a large caster wheel on the tongue with U-bolts. [url="http://webpages.charter.net/potterhouse/my%20web/page12.html"]Here's how we do it.[/url]

I have a galvanized trailer and have launched in salt water. Just remember to give your trailer a good rinse down after launch and retrieval. I've been to ramps that had water but no hose, I now carry a hose in the back of my truck just for that occasion.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Interesting process....So, I take it that you have found the tongue extension to be not adequate??? Also, I've noticed that even though I have not ever ramp launched my boat, that the tiny surge-brake lines that run along the trailer have rusted. There is no rust anywhere else. Is that unusual?

River Harley

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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1913 Posts

Response Posted - 04/16/2006 : 10:33:55

River, I don't have the tongue extension. If you have one of those your ahead in the game. I think a little rust on those steel lines is not to unusual. The key is to remember to rinse it down with fresh water after a salt water dunk.

Edited by - on

kevinmac
Admiral

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732 Posts

Response Posted - 04/16/2006 : 11:49:50

River,

I launched my boat with the tongue extension on the St. Helens ramp with no significant problem, BUT... (more on the BUT at the end). Most of the below is research I have done on trailer launching, and from talking to other owners. I have only trailer launched my boat once.

I disagree with Tom, if you use the tongue extension, you need the steepest ramp you can find, because the tongue extension is not really long enough. The St. Helens ramp is just barely steep enough to get my boat in the water and float it off the trailer, BUT (here it is), I had to slightly submerge my back bumper to get the boat in the water. I will do that in fresh water, I would not want to do so in salt.

The steepness of ramps varies a lot. Some of the ramps I have seen in Puget sound look fine (although I have not tried them) e.g. the ramp at Boston Harbor in Olympia where (Chris Welshoff? Can't quite remember name or spelling correctly) is plenty steep enough.

If you do trailer launch, make sure to do it at high tide. If the ramp is short in length, you could put your wheels in the mud before you get the boat deep enough.

Gary Bruner (Portland C25 fleet) incredibly emphasizes not putting your trailer in salt water. He won't do it unless he can find a fresh water lake nearby to dip it in afterwards. Others (mostly those that live on an ocean coast) say that you just need to rinse it off well, and use a brake washout system, and you'll be fine.

I talked with Don McGee (in Vancouver, owns C250WK). He has trailered his C250WK all over the place, including Lake Merwin and Detroit Lake, with no troubles. He dropped one of his wheels into the mud on a ramp at Lake Merwin, then pulled it out and went to another ramp on the same lake and got in fine.

I am going to get a third wheel made up like Tom had done, and rope launch and recover, as he does. I will also install a brake washout system. I think it is the best solution when an inexpensive launch is not available. If you can get it crane launched without mortgaging your house, I think that would always be preferable.

Tom, why do you think a shallow ramp is better, as opposed to steep?

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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1913 Posts

Response Posted - 04/16/2006 : 12:43:08

If the ramp is too steep, (vertical) your trailer will be at such an angle that the wing will hit the top of the horizontal keel guides on the trailer, or wedge under the bottom edge of the horizontal keel guides. You then will have to pull the trailer up so the wing can get under the guides. Once you do that then your trailers not back in the water far enough to get the boat all the way on. (been there done that) Took TomG and myself about a hour of backing the trailer a couple inches and cranking the winch. Even ran a line from the trailer to the deck winches to assist. This was a steep ramp, so steep I could almost launch the wing keel with the trailer hooked to the truck, (with no type of extension). I broke the winch strap and bent the trailer jack that day but we did manage to get her on the trailer.

Launch and recovery on a not so steep (grade) ramp allows the trailer to be more horizontal than vertical so the wing fits nicely under the guides and comes forward on the trailer. I've launched and retrieved her a dozen times or so, the more gentle the grade on the ramp the easier it has been. That's just my opinion.

Edited by - on

welshoff
Captain

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USA
253 Posts

Response Posted - 04/17/2006 : 10:20:13

River,
I have launched and retrived at the Boston Harbor boat launch north of Olympia, WA. There is no floating dock so two people are very helpful.

To retrieve:
I used the tounge extender and had no troubles. I have someone back the trailer in until the rear wheels of the truck just touch the water (keeping the brake drums out of the water). Float the boat on the trailer - I leave the motor in forward with a small amount of throttle to help push it on the trailer. Then, I walk up to the bow, stand on the ladder, put the winch in the lower gear, and crank the boat to the bow trailer stops. I then go back and shut down the motor. Then have the driver pull the boat out. You would get very wet trying to walk from the truck to the boat winch, as it is in pretty deep water. The trailer ladder is about 1-2 rungs under the water. Note, the boat tends to settle back a couple inches after it comes out of the water (back from the bow trailer stop). I have not came up with a solution to keep it all the way forward, but have had no problems to date with this? If I am trailering any distance, I make sure all of the six pads are solid and strap the rear of the boat to the trailer. I also added a saftey chain to back up the winch strap at the bow.

To launch:
I use the tounge extender as well. I back the boat to the water, unhook the winch strap and safety chain, then I get on the boat via the trailer ladder. I have the driver back the boat into the water, when the motor is in the water, I start it and let it warm up for a couple minutes. The boat will need a little help to slide off of the trailer. I put the boat in reverse and have the driver back down the ramp the last 5-6 feet a little fast then hit the brakes hard (rear tires of the truck just touching the water). I apply some throttle about this same time. The boat usually slides off and you float away. Sometimes it takes a couple tries.

A couple notes:
What I have found is you need about a 15 degree ramp to use the tounge extender. Any shallower and it will become more difficult and you will end up with more of your truck in the water. I always try to do this at high tide as you will have the steeper part of the ramp underwater. A lot of ramps "flatten out" at the bottom (during low tide). I always hose the trailer down when done, especially the brake drums (there is a hole you can shoot water into on the backside of the drums). I also hose the rear tires and brakes down on the truck as well (just to be sure and keep the saltwater off).

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 04/17/2006 : 19:16:47

Couple of hints on using the extending trailer tongue..

Always make sure the hitch latch is in the closed position before slideing the tongue back, otherwise, it could jamb up against the upper tongue and it's a beast to get it out again (yep, pulling the tongue out pretty much describes it!)

If you have a low slung hitch (we have two hitches for the truck, one for towing the other for launching, there is a 6" difference in hitch ball height.) watch out when recovering, it's easy on a steep ramp to bottom out the launching tongue!

Don't leave the launching tongue extended for any length of time, ours seems to bend each recovery, after a few hours it seems to regain it's straightness, until then it won't slide at all, we have to push it back using the truck with the trailer wheels chocked.

Oh... and have two sets of chocks handy, we have ours attached by a line so we can pull them out from one side of the trailer.

Bow to the applause when you lanuch and the peanut gallery recognize you did ok!

Paul.

Edited by - on

StSimon
Captain

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USA
298 Posts

Response Posted - 04/17/2006 : 23:52:24

Tom,

I sent you an email but I'll try here too. Where can I get a spare/launch wheel setup like yours?

Thanks,

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 04/18/2006 : 11:03:48

Andy,
I built that out of scrap. There are a few places that sell them but they are very costly, around $400. [url="http://www.trailrite.com/prod05.htm"]Here's one place[/url]. I just looked at the design in the link and started building one with the scrap I had. They can be built much cheaper that you can buy them. There are other ideas floating around the forum that look like they work just as good if not better. Do some searching under "Launch Wheel".

Edited by - on

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