Winching trailor with boat out of water?

[dajoco]

Hi all, This is my first post so please dont flame me for the silly question lol.

I have a small speedboat (fletcher arrosport 150) My problem is that where I live I need to drive down the beach to launch and retrieve it. My family car (vauxhall vectra) will tow on the sand no problem but there is no way it will pull the trailer with boat out of the water as it just wheel spins on the sand (main problem being that the waves wash the sand around the wheels making it a little harder to start the trailer rolling)
Would fitting an electric winch to the rear of my car have the power to pull my trailer with boat out of the water onto the sand so that I can get hitched and drive off?
The boat is about 395kg plus trailer and outboard, Im guessing probably about 600-700kg max.

What do you think? what power of winch would I need or do you have any other alternative methods other than buying a 4x4 lol?

Cheers
Dave

 

[neale]

Can't you use a long rope between towbar and trailer and have the car higher up the beach, or even on something more solid?

 

[mlines]

Fit balloon tyres to the trailer (aka Quad Bike Tyres).

You could even push by hand with the right tyres.

 

[RobWales]

Can't you use a long rope between towbar and trailer and have the car higher up the beach, or even on something more solid?

Thats the simple answer!

 

[Nick_H]

Potential problem with the winch or long rope method is that the jockey wheel may dig into the sand.

 

[RobWales]

PS Why the double posting?

 

[oGaryo]

PS Why the double posting?

aye.. was my answer in the first post not good enough for ya

 

[fireball]

Potential problem with the winch or long rope method is that the jockey wheel may dig into the sand.

You can get inflatable jockey wheels - or even make up a beach launch jockywheel ...

 

[Nick_H]

You can get inflatable jockey wheels - or even make up a beach launch jockywheel ...

or carry a couple of short scaffold planks to put under the jockey wheel

 

[Lakesailor]

Use the trailer winch

​

Or a long strop

 

[oGaryo]

I had a long strop once..... latest 2 weeks!

 

[gjgm]

or carry a couple of short scaffold planks to put under the jockey wheel

and/or put them under the car's drive wheels.

 

[gjgm]

that's pretty cool using the trailer winch...remember to tie the boat on with something else !

 

[Firefly625]

I had a long strop once..... latest 2 weeks!

I'm having a strop at the moment, I think it will last a while so may end up being a long strop but will keep you posted.

 

[Lakesailor]

that's pretty cool using the trailer winch...remember to tie the boat on with something else !

You can just see the painter tied to the winch post as I get to the top of the landing.

It would be very embarrassing to wind the trailer out from under the boat!

 

[gjgm]

You can just see the painter tied to the winch post as I get to the top of the landing.

It would be very embarrassing to wind the trailer out from under the boat!

Or successfully winch the car down to the trailer !

 

[dajoco]

Can't you use a long rope between towbar and trailer and have the car higher up the beach, or even on something more solid?

Ive tried this but the car still just spins on the sand, unfortunatly there is no solid ground. I can manage it this way if I have a couple of bodies to help wiggle and pull the trailer free from the sand as it can get pretty stuck.

 

[dajoco]

Fit balloon tyres to the trailer (aka Quad Bike Tyres).

You could even push by hand with the right tyres.

This sounds like a good option! Will have a look into this. cheers

 

[dajoco]

or carry a couple of short scaffold planks to put under the jockey wheel

Will try this next time, fingers crossed!

 

[rbcoomer]

A few ideas to consider if you are looking for a long term solution would be that as well as wider 'balloon' type tyres as suggested (check legality for road too if you need to use on highway), consider going for a larger wheel diameter or a twin axle. Twin axle would spread the weight better and thus less 'bogging down' in the sand, but will make it heavier. There would obviously be a cost implication with both (new wheel arches or additional axle/wheels), but if it means being able to use the boat, perhaps worthwhile?

Secondly, I'd make a 'track' for the jockey wheel - screw a couple of battens down either side of the suggested plank, otherwise the wheel will inevitably fall off one side or other! I suspect the plank on it's own will be very hit 'n' miss if single handed! You might also make better progress with some form of plank/matting under and in front of trailer wheels? Perhaps a couple of rolled up lengths of mesh/matting to carry with you? Perhaps something like this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Non-Slip-Gr...6O/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1334606578&sr=8-11 ? Unlike the car wheels, the trailer is undriven, so any form of 'packing' under the wheels should stay there - whereas the car wheels would probably just 'spit' it out! Just don't let it float away...

Finally, if the car is front wheel drive, perhaps a front towball if possible for the car? The more of the weight you can get onto the driving wheels, the better your chances.

Overall however I'd tend to think that if a rope tow doesn't work then the tow car simply doesn't have enough traction and it will only be a matter of time before you come unstuck by getting bogged in! Thus the winch method is almost certainly safer...

P.S. has anyone opened the bidding yet on video rights?