drive-on trailering question
 

I'll be single handing my boat.

Do most of the boats that have a trailer "drive-on" setup stay in place
enough, once they're all the way up where they should be, for the operator
to get out and fully secure the bow eye to the post---without 'em trying to
slide back down or drift out?

I have a 21 foot boat and have bunk racks on my trailer. I generally
operate the boat by myself and it is pretty easy once you get the hang
of it. I have carpet on my bunks and I generally unhook the front clip
when I back the boat down into the water. I tie a rope to the boat and
hook it to the trailer, once I back down the boat comes off, the rope
catches the boat, I pull it in, tie it to the dock, park my rig and am
set.

When put the boat back on the trailer, I back into the water with just
enough water on the back to allow me to drive the boat onto the trailer
and allow the bunks to catch to make the boat straight. I drive the
boat right up to the bumper on my trailer, turn the motor off, climb
down off the front, hook the cable and snatch it tight, and get in and
pull the boat out of the water.

If you have a roller trailer or clicks on your bunks, this obviously
will not work the same, you will have to keep your cable hooked on the
way down the ramp. When pulling out of the water with rollers you will
not be able to drive it up most likely unless you really sink the
trailer.

Hope this helps! If you are looking for a good fishing site that has
about 24,000 anglers on the message boards check out Tidal Fish at
http://www.TidalFish.com, registeration is free.

Good luck!

Thanks very much for the good trailering/loading info, and also for the lead
to TidalFish. Great site!

ALWAYS have the hook or strap on the boat backing down the ramp!!! When
you get to the edge of the water, unhook. If something happens and you have
to jam on the brakes maybe because someone crossed behind you, you are going
to watch your pretty boat, get unpretty. I load my trailer same as tital
fish. I just back down until the fenders are partly submerged and drive the
boat on to the trailer and give it a little power to slide it up the bunks
to the bow stop. Then I pull the truck up enough to walk around to the
front of the boat and hook up the strap and chain without getting my feet
wet.

"Tidal Fish" wrote in message
oups.com...
I have a 21 foot boat and have bunk racks on my trailer. I generally
operate the boat by myself and it is pretty easy once you get the hang
of it. I have carpet on my bunks and I generally unhook the front clip
when I back the boat down into the water. I tie a rope to the boat and
hook it to the trailer, once I back down the boat comes off, the rope
catches the boat, I pull it in, tie it to the dock, park my rig and am
set.

When put the boat back on the trailer, I back into the water with just
enough water on the back to allow me to drive the boat onto the trailer
and allow the bunks to catch to make the boat straight. I drive the
boat right up to the bumper on my trailer, turn the motor off, climb
down off the front, hook the cable and snatch it tight, and get in and
pull the boat out of the water.

If you have a roller trailer or clicks on your bunks, this obviously
will not work the same, you will have to keep your cable hooked on the
way down the ramp. When pulling out of the water with rollers you will
not be able to drive it up most likely unless you really sink the
trailer.

Hope this helps! If you are looking for a good fishing site that has
about 24,000 anglers on the message boards check out Tidal Fish at
http://www.TidalFish.com, registeration is free.

Good luck!