Re: P-15 trailers & launching

From: Michele Sladko (michele@whidbeyisland.net)
Date: Tue Apr 04 2000 - 13:22:22 PDT


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For what it's worth, I personally use the tow-rope solution.
My launch ramp was built for sea planes and is far to shallow
to get the boat in deep enough, without getting 'water up my
tailpipe', as was said.

I use a nylon braided line that is 25 feet long with a bowline
around my truck hitch ball, and another knot around the
trailer behind the winch post.

I back down to the water's edge, block the trailer wheels, unhook
the hitch, loop the rope over the truck, drive the truck up till the rope
is tight, walk back and un-block the trailer wheels, and then back
the trailer down into the water. It comes out perfect, all the carpet
thingies the boat sits on are submerged, and my truck tires are just
barely touching the water, not even an inch deep.

My only problem is the ruts and holes in this old cement ramp, sometimes
one trailer wheel will catch and the whole thing will pivot away from the
dock. If I try it a couple times it usually works out close enough to the
dock
for me to unhook the winch and take the boat off. The ideal thing is to
have someone hold my bow and stern lines and guide the trailer down
so it stays right next to the dock. That's a peach.

Since I need so much distance, any metal tongue extention would be a
pole of about 20 feet, which seems much more a hassle than a coiled rope.
I never get my feet wet, and I've used this many times. When the ramp is
busy, there are many willing volunteers to guide my trailer down with
my dock lines, to get me on my way quickly.

That's my 2 cents.

Michele Sladko
P-15 #2254 SeaHorse
Oak Harbor, WA



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