20 foot Boat launch soon, but how ?

[waynes world]

Hi all, i am starting to plan the launch of my 20 foot cruiser in about 4 months time. I am saving for a trailer but a few things have cropped up and i need more time for that fund now.

I spoke to a few chaps with a trailer but as it is on hard standing and at my house they will not drag it on in case of any damage to the boat or there trailer. Understandable. I have done it many a time myself but then i had my own trailer and boats.

I have called around also for trailer hire but nobody does that anymore around here.

Only way i can think of for now to get it launched is by Hiab again.



So if anybody knows of one on hire can you please let on. It will be going from Manchester M26 4HU to Boothstown Marina M28 1YB

Cheers



Wayne

 

[Seajet]

Wayne,

can you please tell us what type of boat and what keel she has ?

The trailer hire firms gave up a while ago as their kit kept being generally abused by dunking in salt water and bent etc.

 

[VicS]

Wayne,

can you please tell us what type of boat and what keel she has ?

The trailer hire firms gave up a while ago as their kit kept being generally abused by dunking in salt water and bent etc.

I assume he is referring to "Plant Pot"

 

[waynes world]

Wayne,

can you please tell us what type of boat and what keel she has ?

The trailer hire firms gave up a while ago as their kit kept being generally abused by dunking in salt water and bent etc.

Thats the one ^^^ a Buckingham 20

Thanks Vic

better pic

 

[skipmac]

Can you rent a flat bed trailer with load capacity for the boat? What if you do that, build a cradle for the boat and drag it onto the flatbed trailer and drive it yourself?

 

[Mister E]

If you were to build a cradle how about some rollers, then you can position the trailer at the front of the boat. If you then pull the trailer back under the boat if the cradle lifts the boat slightly.
Could just be a wooden frame that is sitting on the flat bed.

 

[mlines]

I know its a distance but http://www.berkshiretrailerhire.co.uk/ have a large boat roller trailer for hire and when I was talking to them about how rare it was to have one they said people travel from all over the country to hire it.

Also, my trailer boat is drystacked from march onwards for the summer season so my trailer (twin axle roller trailer - set up for a 21 foot boat) is idle during this time. However again we are in Berkshire

 

[waynes world]

Can you rent a flat bed trailer with load capacity for the boat? What if you do that, build a cradle for the boat and drag it onto the flatbed trailer and drive it yourself?

If you were to build a cradle how about some rollers, then you can position the trailer at the front of the boat. If you then pull the trailer back under the boat if the cradle lifts the boat slightly.
Could just be a wooden frame that is sitting on the flat bed.

Good idea`s and could be a way to go for a cheap launch if i cant sort it otherwise. Getting a a large flat deck trailer to take the boat and not to forget to be ok`d to slip launch the boat is another thing. Still ways around these things.

I know its a distance but http://www.berkshiretrailerhire.co.uk/ have a large boat roller trailer for hire and when I was talking to them about how rare it was to have one they said people travel from all over the country to hire it.

Also, my trailer boat is drystacked from march onwards for the summer season so my trailer (twin axle roller trailer - set up for a 21 foot boat) is idle during this time. However again we are in Berkshire

Yes that is a trek to do, always the way though isnt it.



Well for a positive note, a chap PM`d me saying that i can use his trailer that is not to far from me. Again it great how boat`y folk help folk out. I am just waiting to see what the overall length is of the trailer as he uses it for a 24 foot. I am limited to space to get a trailer in front of the boat to drag it under.

 

[solent clown]

Good idea`s and could be a way to go for a cheap launch if i cant sort it otherwise. Getting a a large flat deck trailer to take the boat and not to forget to be ok`d to slip launch the boat is another thing. Still ways around these things.




Yes that is a trek to do, always the way though isnt it.



Well for a positive note, a chap PM`d me saying that i can use his trailer that is not to far from me. Again it great how boat`y folk help folk out. I am just waiting to see what the overall length is of the trailer as he uses it for a 24 foot. I am limited to space to get a trailer in front of the boat to drag it under.

if you can rig up a support for the front of the boat, you could reverse the trailer most of the way under it by hand. if you have access to some scaffold tubing and clamps you would be most of the way there.

 

[Mister E]

Wayne you would need some sort of legs to support the cradle when unloading off the trailer. Then let the tide come on and float the boat off the cradle.

 

[solent clown]

I wouldn't bother with a cradle, one of the few occasions old tyres are potentially your friend is now. If you can get the trailer under the boat with a supporting frame holding it up, you can drop it onto tyres along the keel line, then support the sides with blocks before strapping it down. that way you will need less water to float it off the trailer. We have used this improvised method to pull out moored boats onto a trailer, and to return them to the water a few times where our flatbed car trailer was a better bet than our big yacht trailer. Just make sure it is safe to tow. The lower you can get it the better, every inch lower is less to reverse into the water with, more time across the tide to do it, and less cold - if you can keep the water below the crotch line when you are fiddling about on the slipway, it is much easier to stay warm.

 

[waynes world]

if you can rig up a support for the front of the boat, you could reverse the trailer most of the way under it by hand. if you have access to some scaffold tubing and clamps you would be most of the way there.

The easy bit is getting the trailer under the boat, aslong as the trailer is level near with the keel the boat can be adjusted in height. the front frame can be moved back to get a hold at the front then the trailer will pull itself under easy enough. Worked a few times for me on 17-18 foot boats.

Wayne you would need some sort of legs to support the cradle when unloading off the trailer. Then let the tide come on and float the boat off the cradle.

I will be waiting a while for the tide come in on the Leeds/Liverpool canal though lol.


I will be launching on a canal for now then a cruiser around the rivers and canals for a so long and go from there, well to North Wales i hope.

 

[solent clown]

how do you launch on a canal? It is a genuine question as it never occurred to me before, are you lifted in, or are there slipways or dry docks?

 

[waynes world]

if you can rig up a support for the front of the boat, you could reverse the trailer most of the way under it by hand. if you have access to some scaffold tubing and clamps you would be most of the way there.

Wayne you would need some sort of legs to support the cradle when unloading off the trailer. Then let the tide come on and float the boat off the cradle.

how do you launch on a canal? It is a genuine question as it never occurred to me before, are you lifted in, or are there slipways or dry docks?

Much the same as anywhere, depends on the spot, it can be a slip either along the canal, some on marinas or lifted in at a marina. Same river or canal

 

[solent clown]

sorry if it sounded a daft question, but I have zero experience of canals and was just curious. :encouragement:

 

[waynes world]

sorry if it sounded a daft question, but I have zero experience of canals and was just curious. :encouragement:

It didnt sound daft at all, no doubt i will be asking all sorts when i get to go to sea.

 

[solent clown]

It didnt sound daft at all, no doubt i will be asking all sorts when i get to go to sea.

That is the joy of this forum, if you can ignore or laugh at the grumpy buggars - or make them smile - this place is a font of knowledge. Just do not speak of 1 2 both switches, or intergenerational stuff, or brexit, or boatbuilding materials, or anything really!
It is occasionally informative when people talk about boats though.
In all seriousness, like you we still have lots to learn, and although I don't believe in shortcuts, being as well informed as possible before trying things is always good ammunition. This is a good forum for that.