Trailer recovery problem

[Happy1]

I expanded my experience at Mercury by using a steepish slipway, this was a dream for launching after Gillingham Pier, BUT on recovering the boat last night was a bit of a nightmare! I had taken BarryH's advice and bought some chest waders and boy did I need them! We were recovering about an hour before high tide, got the trailer in (on extended tow rope), winched boat to about 6" from trailer post, but unable to line up the stern on the one silly little roller. The water was so sh..ty that you could not see below the surface, and there was wind and tide. I was hoping with my waders on I could have guided the boat onto the roller while it was being slowly pulled out, but it was impossible. Anyway eventually I got the best possible fit after Lanason had quite kindly put me in and out about 6 times!! I really did appreciate that. I wanted the boat well balanced before setting off on a longish trip back to the dealer where they will spend a few more days putting on bits they haven't yet fitted.

I do remember someone telling me that they had fitted side posts with something similar to scaffold poles that would guide the boat to the centre. If anyone else has any great ideas it would be appreciated. It may even help if the trailer bunks fitted against the chines but perhaps that is too much to ask.

I do thing it was just the steepness as all the other times I have managed to get it on OK, perhaps I am too fussy wanting it in the centre!

Cheers,

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[jfm]

the only solution.......

Happy1, cut your losses and see if the dealer can unbolt the bunkers and fit rollercoasters instead. You get none of these problems with rollercoasters, and on a steepish slipway you do not even unhitch the trailer from the car, nor do you need chest waders

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[Happy1]

Re: the only solution.......

I was looking forward to the steep sleep, as you say I would not have needed to use the Gillingham Pier waders that cost me £87!! The launch went like dream, but the pay back was the fact that your stern is floating until the last minute, too late then to adjust the centre roller. The trailer cost me £1,800 so I don't really want to fork out more, I take in what you said but as I am mostly marina bound I think I will just have to either get the guidng poles made which can clamp on when required, or choose my slips more carefully. It certainly is an experience, but there is nothing better than just walking to the marina and stepping on the boat. The long trail home at the end of a great day takes a bit of the shine off it IMHO. But I am happy to do it now and again to justify the cost of the trailer. I want to make use of my 15 free visitor nights with MDL, one gone 14 to go, so I am up for any invitations for a weekend at the coast /forums/images/icons/wink.gif SWMBO wants a bigger boat now thanks to all those with the brilliant ones that were at Mercury that she was kindly invited on. She wants to know why ours bumps over waves and Col's doesn't even feel like it's moving!. We will use this for the season and see what happens, it me be alll that we require after all /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

Cheers,

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[Chris_d]

agreed..

i've messed around with bunkers before as well, and it always takes a couple of refloats to centre the boat even in ideal conditions. My boat is 25ft and with a rollercoaster i have never unhitched the car, the boat just always pulls straight up and self aligns, its just so much less hassle.

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[Happy1]

Re: agreed..

I must say that if I had been given the choice I would have gone for rollers. Perhaps this will serve as a bit of research for anyone else considering a trailer. There must be Pro's and Con's to both, and you need to get the one that suits you. Mind you this was the first slip that has given me a problem, but why are they not all made at a certain gradient or is that too easy? I am sure during my ownership I will come by other problems, are there any you could forsee that I could watch out for?

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[longjohnsilver]

Re: agreed..

Definitely rollers for any boat without a keel, makes it so easy. Unfortunately H1 they (the dealers) seem to have seen you coming.....................................................

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