Trailer launching and recovery tips please..

[wipe_out]

Hi,

We are just under a month from collecting the new boat which will be on a roller trailer.. I haven't launched and recovered a boat on a trailer since I was about 20 and that was a small 15ft speed boat that we could pretty much load onto the bunk trailer by hand.. So looking for any advice or tips that will make my life easier and less stressed when launching and recovering the boat.. I know some on the forum are very practised with trailers and larger boats so good place to ask the question..

What I have been told so far is that with a roller trailer you don't go that far into the water (compared to a bunk trailer that would be put totally into the water).. I have been told to just submerge the first rollers and that's enough which will centre the boat and then it can be powered up most of the way with the winch being used for just the last bit.. Does that sound about right?

What else should or shouldn't I do?

 

[mlines]

Hi

It might be correct for some people that you only need to submerge the first rollers and power up but I have never really liked that way.

Instead I submerge at least until only the final set of rollers is showing. This still means power has to be applied but at least the boat is already halfway on the trailer first and not trying to climb onto the first rollers.

You can see me doing this here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9tGC0r9aNg (sorry for the vibration in the video)

And with a larger boat on a shallower slip here https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=0bFtStvBwlM#t=251

May not be the perfect way, but works for me

 

[Nick_H]

I don't think you can be as precise as saying submerge to the first roller, because it all depends on the angle of the slip and the roller pattern of the trailer, but I agree with mlines method and that's exactly what I do. How far to submerge it is a bit trial and error with your particular set up, and the slipway you use.

You do need to get the boat mostly floating to launch it though, because of course you can't winch it off, and if you pull it off under lots of power it can cause the nose to dip and the keel to scrape across the trailer cross bars (ask me how I know this? ). It also looks a bit amateurish to have the engine screaming in reverse and water flooding the slip.

 

[wipe_out]

Thanks for the replies and videos.. Very Useful..

It seems a roller trailer in practice is not that different to a bunk trailer in terms of how far it goes into the water or the fact that it's better to get the boat floating to launch.. Last thing I want to do is catch the hull on the trailer anywhere and not having the trailer deep in the water makes this more likely to happen.. Hopefully first time out is very calm and I can get a feel for it..

@mlines - I noticed on the first video clip you had the vertical guide bars but not in the second.. Did you find they weren't really needed/useful so didn't bother putting them onto the second trailer?

 

[benjenbav]

Hi

It might be correct for some people that you only need to submerge the first rollers and power up but I have never really liked that way.

Instead I submerge at least until only the final set of rollers is showing. This still means power has to be applied but at least the boat is already halfway on the trailer first and not trying to climb onto the first rollers.

You can see me doing this here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9tGC0r9aNg (sorry for the vibration in the video)

And with a larger boat on a shallower slip here https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=0bFtStvBwlM#t=251

May not be the perfect way, but works for me

Great work mlines - and a nice plate on the rangie. I did notice how the more mature gentleman seemed to be doing the donkey work. T'was ever thus!

 

[mlines]

The vertical guide bars were home made and gave a good reference as to where the end of the trailer was in the water. They did not have the strength to actually guide the newer, heavier boat. My neighbour in the yard has "Flotems" fitted which look beefier.

Rockley Park (where the video with the guide poles was taken) has a strong cross slip flow when the tide is running out so any guides would have to take the weight of the boat.

 

[Jim@sea]

I used to launch a 24ft boat from a Roller Trailer, sometimes from slipways which had different degrees of slope, what made a lot of difference was buying a pair of Fishing Waders, then once launched I could walk the boat to the side of the slipway or when getting the boat out, walk to the boat and pull it onto the trailer. mind you I was doing all this on my own, when you have help its a lot easier.

 

[TheOrs]

Some roller trailers are also break-back & have a pin which can be removed at launch/recovery allowing you to launch or recover more easily in shallow water.
I have never used one but they are claimed to make it easier so it may be worth checking if your trailer has this feature.

 

[Baddox]

There have been some good launching tips already so here are some trailering tips which may or may not be new to you.

Check your driving licence to see if you can tow a trailer.
Find a big, empty car park and practice manoeuvring and reversing the trailer before you head for a slipway.
Check your wheel bearings very regularly if you immerse them in water. Ideally wait until they have cooled after a drive, before getting them wet.
Flushing kits are useful once the trailer is back out of the water.
If launching over sand, bring a foot pump; letting a lot of air out of tyres increases their foot-print and can help if sinking in to soft sand.

 

[wipe_out]

Thanks everyone.. Some good tips..

 

[BruceK]

Having a roller trailer high out the water in comparison to a bunk allows for the boat to self centre on the rollers. However I find launching the boat could sometimes be more difficult if the stern wasn't floating i.e. the trailer in quite deep. And as for riding the boat in the deeper the better. However, especially as I was launching and retrieving solo in the Conwy estuary with 4knt currents and wind, deep water would cause the boat to drift off the rollers. In the end these were a godsend...
http://www.floatempoles.co.uk/

Pricey but worth every last penny. Get the bow inbetween the poles and everything just sorts itself out. Looked like a pro everytime. Nothing worse than the slipway stress to start or end a good day at sea.