Lakesailor
New member
We had to use a strop to launch my boat the other week. This has the disadvatage that you can't push the trailer, or steer it when going into the water and that it doesn't stop the trailer and boat tilting up as the slope and extra weight of outboard and rudder unbalance the trailer. Without the motor and rudder on I have 50 kgs noseweight, which is about right.
I decided to make a solid extension that will use the original towhitch and allow me to have an extra 6 feet, in this instance, to keep the back of the car out of the water. I could launch without a strop as the car has a wading depth of 20", but things like a poor handbrake (so I have to stop the engine and put it in gear) means that restarting with the exhaust under water may be exciting. Also when you get in and out of the car you are sloshing about too much.
I have some bits of metal and spare tow ball so I got a 7ft bit of galvanised scaffolding pole (£5) and set to.
This is the pole except for the car-end hitch which I am still awaiting.
This bit fits under the end of the winch post bracket
This is the new ball that engages on the trailer hitch and a U bracket around the trailer tube to prevent sideways movement
This is attaching it. (If you click on the Vimeo logo, bottom right, you can see it full screen in HD)
It's pretty heavy, but as it will ride on the trailer, strapped to the backbone, that isn't a big issue.
I decided to make a solid extension that will use the original towhitch and allow me to have an extra 6 feet, in this instance, to keep the back of the car out of the water. I could launch without a strop as the car has a wading depth of 20", but things like a poor handbrake (so I have to stop the engine and put it in gear) means that restarting with the exhaust under water may be exciting. Also when you get in and out of the car you are sloshing about too much.
I have some bits of metal and spare tow ball so I got a 7ft bit of galvanised scaffolding pole (£5) and set to.
This is the pole except for the car-end hitch which I am still awaiting.
This bit fits under the end of the winch post bracket
This is the new ball that engages on the trailer hitch and a U bracket around the trailer tube to prevent sideways movement
This is attaching it. (If you click on the Vimeo logo, bottom right, you can see it full screen in HD)
It's pretty heavy, but as it will ride on the trailer, strapped to the backbone, that isn't a big issue.
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