Newbie Mistake....
 

Had to help an experienced boater today. One of our guys dumped a new 20' Trophy on the ramp, about 8' from the water. One tough boat, she slid all the way until the stern was nearly floating. I helped him get her back on the trailer and really, just minimal damage right under the garboard plug. Simply amazing.

The moral to the story....don't unhook the winch until your ready to launch ;)

And for the worst part....the guys wife told him the unhooking early was a bad idea and he shouldn't do it. He said it would be fine............. ::)

Re: Newbie Mistake....
 

that means it was a roller trailer see Bunks are so much better

Re: Newbie Mistake....
 

not always skools. *i have a bunk and i always un hook. back down and tap the brakes to unload. *it was getting where i had to tap 2 or 3 times, so i sprayed the carpet with food grade silicone. next weekend back to the ramp, unhook and start down. *my wife starts yelling the boat is moving and i *hit the brakes(footnote: this is the WRONG thing to do) and the boat is now 5 feet from the water on the ramp.

Re: Newbie Mistake....
 

but you greased her up lol a non greased one won't do that, but a roller is going to unload

Re: Newbie Mistake....
 

your right, i will never do that again........

Re: Newbie Mistake....
 

I like my bunks, but I never unhook until the old girls' a$$ is in the water and swaying back and forth a little bit. ;D

Re: Newbie Mistake....
 

I never unhook till shes in the water too. Ive got 8ft. bunks under the rear and rollers under the middle to the bow, it works really good ! I watched two guys dump a 19ft boat on a ramp years ago, and it gouged a big hole in the bottom and cracked the outdrive. Man I felt sorry for them.

Re: Newbie Mistake....
 

phat, I did the same thing several years ago with an aluminum boat I had. Sprayed the bunks with silicone.
For some unknown reason I unhooked the boat and started down the ramp and could see the boat going farther down the trailer. :o So what did I do, SPEED UP.
No I didn't make it to the water but at least no damage except bending the drain plug.

Re: Newbie Mistake....
 

Damm Air, that guy must have a relative that lives in Lewes. Guy backed up to the ramp, unhooked his and then prefers to back up and let the boat slide off. Well the boat slid off before he had a chance to back. Slid all the way down the ramp into the water. Heard he damaged up the boat good. :-[

Re: Newbie Mistake....
 

do you mean you? and if so when the hell did you do that?

Re: Newbie Mistake....
 

X2

Re: Newbie Mistake....
 

I wish my ramp were steep enough to make the boat come off the trailer, I am lucky to get it to come off the trailer with the back floating.

I can unhook when I leave the house. ;D

Re: Newbie Mistake....
 

My trailer is a roller, I never unhook!! I have to wrap a rope around the trailer post and hold the winch and winch it out slow!! Then when I have enough to get the winch cable off I let lose the rope and she gone! :o

Re: Newbie Mistake....
 

MJ, you and I have the same launch technique.I've seen a few guys with bunks that had to get into the water to get their boats off the trailer. That would suck in January. Sometimes I like to go to the ramp and watch, it can be better than watching a 3 ring circus with lots of clowns ;D.
When I come in I back the trailer down, pull the boat onto the rear rollers, walk down my walk board, hook up the boat, and turn on the power wench using a trip wire that runs down my walk board. I'm in and out within 5 minutes by myself.

Re: Newbie Mistake....
 

I may fab up a walk board this winter, because yes, it sucks to get in the water in January.

Re: Newbie Mistake....
 

I'm w/ Frayed and Pipe...no unhook til her butt's over water ... even if a boat won't come off, what's the advantage in doin' it any sooner ??? ...