Problems with Regal Fastrac hull

[kecresswell]

I have recently purchased a Regal 1800 sports boat and roller trailer [SBS 1600]. Unfortunately due to the 'Fastrac' design of the hull I am having great difficulty launching the boat off the trailer as the 'lip' on the hull will not ride over the rollers. The boat is used almost wholly in the Solent area and as the water is tidal I am forced to wait until the water is between 4 -6 inches above the mudguard before I am able to launch it. The trailer will then react like a bunk trailer and the boat will float off. This is severely restricting the amount of time I can use the boat between tides and totally defeats the object of having a roller trailer. I have launched several different types of sports boats from roller trailers in the past but have never before encountered this type of problem. I would be interested to know if there are any other Regal sports boat owners who are experiencing similar types of problems and if anyone has found a practical solution to overcome this 'Fastrac' problem.

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[kecresswell]

I have recently purchased a Regal 1800 sports boat and roller trailer [SBS 1600]. Unfortunately due to the 'Fastrac' design of the hull I am having great difficulty launching the boat off the trailer as the 'lip' on the hull will not ride over the rollers. The boat is used almost wholly in the Solent area and as the water is tidal I am forced to wait until the water is between 4 -6 inches above the mudguard before I am able to launch it. The trailer will then react like a bunk trailer and the boat will float off. This is severely restricting the amount of time I can use the boat between tides and totally defeats the object of having a roller trailer. I have launched several different types of sports boats from roller trailers in the past but have never before encountered this type of problem. I would be interested to know if there are any other Regal sports boat owners who are experiencing similar types of problems and if anyone has found a practical solution to overcome this 'Fastrac' problem.

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[jfm]

You mean a stepped hull, like this?

Yikes, this is a prob. Dunno. Will have a think. Possibly a big wedge to fill the step, attached with a girth strap going right round the boat would solve it (remember, you dont have to fix this girth thing to recover, only to launch).

(No, I didn't think it was a great idea either)

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[Happy1]

There is an easy solution to this as I use it on a shallow slip, use a rope. I have a 20ft (strong) rope that I attach around the post on the trailer and onto the tow hook of my 4x4, I then apply the brake on the trailer, lower the jockey wheel, release it from the hitch, take up the strain with the vehicle on the rope, apply handbrake on vehicle, return and undo trailer handbrake, reverse gently and find the trailer just roles down the slip until it floats off. I use the same method in reverse for recovery and never get my vehicle wet /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif I hope this helps a little. Just REMEMBER to unhook the strap from the boat before you reverse or you WILL be getting wet /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

<font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[tripleace]

Go to the link at the bottom and look at humour. select jetski and it will show you how to launch this without any problems

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[tripleace]

could you have a case against Don at Gibbs marine for selling a trailer un fit for the purpose it was sold for?

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[whisper]

We have a similar problem with our Ryds 23. The rollers will just bridge the step ok on a steep slip on launching though it looks a bit "iffy". De Graffe trailers now produce a trailer type that has much larger, pneumatic? tyres/rollers to overcome the problem.

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[h4nym]

Three questions - I'm trying to visualise the problem...
Where's the 'lip?'
How big is the 'lip'?
How heavy is the boat?

H

<hr width=100% size=1>Life balance?

 

[DepSol]

Stick a large fender under their attached by rope.

<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

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[kindredspirit]

Would, say, doubling the number of positions of roller wheels on the trailer overcome the problem? The lip then wouldn't get a chance to drop down, because all the extra rollers would keep the hull up.

<hr width=100% size=1>Kev.

 

[jfm]

Kindred, I agree, that must be the best answer. If there are loads and loads of rollers then none of them will get stuck in the hull step

Happy1's "easy" method isn't easy. Yuo can only appreciate "easy" when you have a roller coaster trailer that works. Back down the slip, brakes out of water, trailer always hitched to car. Untie bow of boat, push boat, and it slowly glides into water. That's what roller coasters should do, none of this detach-from-car-and-use-ropes stuff, that's "hard"

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[Dave_Snelson]

On a similar vein - how about changing the rollers on mid trailer to a carpet style runner? Don't know if thats possible?

Happy's idea isn't such a bad one. I have been using this method for some time in order to not dunk my car when launching on a slip-way. It does allow you to literally float your boat off - and protect your car.

I must say that I hadn't thought about stepped hulls giving this problem, obvious though it seems, and equally neither has the vendor.

You sure they have sold you the right trailer for the job??

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[kindredspirit]

My previous boat had a trailer with carpet style runners and obviously a stepped hull wouldn't cause any problems on such a trailer.

I'd forgotten about that actually.

<hr width=100% size=1>Kev.

 

[tripleace]

My thoughts exactly.

why should he have so much trouble. Its the dealers fault for selling something unfit for the purpose.

For those who know Gibbs Marine, Are we surprised. Flog it and Run.


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