Getting a RIB onto it's trailer up a slipway

Judders

Judders

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Getting a RIB onto it\'s trailer up a slipway

SWMBO and I were paddling our (gorgeous) new tender back to th pontoon and slipway yesterday evening but were taking our time as a RIB had just turned up and the owener was struggling to get it onto it's trailer. We planned to tie up further down the pontoon and await our turn. Just as we were preparing to come along side, this guy decided to stick the 130hp outboard back in the water and kick in full revs, presumably in the hope that it would be enough to get his RIB onto the trailer. It didn't work but it did create the most almighty wash which whilst I thought was fun, did rather upset SWMBO. Eventually, our friend dscovered the winch on the trailer which made short work of the job.

Should I have expected him to do this and stood further off?

I worked with RIBS a bit in the past and never tried this method, it looked illcontrolled, dangerous and downright inconsiderate to me, not to mention futile.
 
Re: Getting a RIB onto it\'s trailer up a slipway

[ QUOTE ]
Eventually, our friend discovered the winch on the trailer which made short work of the job.

[/ QUOTE ] I think that sentence sums up the situation.
Perhaps newly-promoted from jetskis?
 
Re: Getting a RIB onto it\'s trailer up a slipway

Well I thought it must be either that of special forces. I have seen the same method used for getting a rib into the sloped dock of a Customs vessel which is, of course about five times as wide. If it had been the latter, then pointing out the errors in his method may not have been to my medium and long term advantage.

That said, the evidence suggests he was just inconsiderate because he then nleft his 4x4 and trailer on the slipway whilst going off to do something else, trebbling the distance I had to lug the tender.
 
Re: Getting a RIB onto it\'s trailer up a slipway

not sure how extreme you mean, but driving the boat using power onto the trailer is perfectly normal.
Rather exciting case I saw was (presumably some local pros) in Dartmouth. Not interested in waiting for duffers like me, they reverse the trailer between the chains of the approaching car ferry, roar in at 20 knts, and have disappeared off down the road before I ve had time to close my drooping jaw! Just as well with the ferry about to ram them on the slipway! Respect!
 
Re: Getting a RIB onto it\'s trailer up a slipway

well it might have worked here had the trailer been lower and his aim better... I suppose.
 
Re: Getting a RIB onto it\'s trailer up a slipway

Provided the trailer is securely fastened and correctly immersed this is fairly normal practice. It means you can haul out single handed.
 
Re: Getting a RIB onto it\'s trailer up a slipway

Except it didn't seem to work and from what Judders says he was making up Plan B as he looked around the trailer.
 
Re: Getting a RIB onto it\'s trailer up a slipway

Hmm, I can see how it would work, but I would have thought the trailer would need to be a lot lower in the water and you would need to be onbaord.

Furthermore, you would then need to apply a fair amoutn of maintenance to your trailer.

Perhaps our hero had seen it done elsewhere but not paid enough attention.
 
At Pwellheli this is standard practice to get a boat on a trailer when the tide is too low. The slipway ends and they cannot reverse the trailer in any more so I have seen loads and loads of people power there ribs/sports cruisers up almost dry trailers.... It seems to work but does create a load of wash.

I remember watching a speed boat (approx 24ft??) with twin mercruisers power onto a trailer that was totally dry. After a couple of minutes of engine roar and lots of steering wiggling there was a big cheer as the gathered audience clapped when it was finally on the trailer!!! It was good to watch!!
 
mucklestone said:
At Pwellheli this is standard practice to get a boat on a trailer when the tide is too low. The slipway ends and they cannot reverse the trailer in any more so I have seen loads and loads of people power there ribs/sports cruisers up almost dry trailers.... It seems to work but does create a load of wash.

I remember watching a speed boat (approx 24ft??) with twin mercruisers power onto a trailer that was totally dry. After a couple of minutes of engine roar and lots of steering wiggling there was a big cheer as the gathered audience clapped when it was finally on the trailer!!! It was good to watch!!
Click to expand...

In my opinion in most cases it is totally un-necessary. I used to have a rib. Most of them can be picked up off dry land with a modern brake back roller trailer and a winch.

It is a big accident waiting to happen. It only encourages the less experienced to have a go usually with inexperienced and very young helpers within inches of being trapped at the front or slipping on the slime into the props.:eek:

On the other hand they are probably doing a better job than the council at clearing a bit of mud out of the harbour:)
 
I agree, and would not try to recover unless the trailer is totally submerged. However I disagree with using the winch. As a matter of fact I make trailers and the winches are not designed to pull them up a dry trailer whether a roller one or not..... Most will take it but if one is a bit rusty or the boat on the limit of the winch then that is where problems occur...

It is common practice to use the winch but every year people do get hurt when the winches fail even if it is just scraped knuckles but it can dislocate wrists, arms etc....

Really if you are responsible you should aim to recover with enough water!!!
 
I wouldn't call that a sensible way of doing it, however not unheard of.... Personally with my 7.2M RIB with a 200HP on I can do it in about 70cm of water, winch it up to the first set of rollers then your away..... simples.......
 
Judders said:
Well I thought it must be either that or special forces. I have seen the same method used for getting a rib into the sloped dock of a Customs vessel
Click to expand...

The special forces do it up the ramp of a Chinook! My dad was involved in trials of the technique, they put an inflatable dam across the cabin to keep the water out of the electrics up front, then get the back of the helicopter just under the water and let the boats just roar in at max chat. I think they have a bar across the back of the ramp to kick the engine up, and the boats just skid to a halt on their keels in the cabin.

Pete
 
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