Trailer to bow ladder for V20 Sport Fish

[RWilson2526]

Very nice.....I have been kicking that idea around a little bit myself. With my wife attending to the 2 kids I launch alone almost virtually every time I go out. At 44 I can still get up and over the bow rail no problem after disconnecting the cable but guaranteed the day will come where it gets a little harder. More importantly I dont like the strain I put on the bow rail pulling myself up and over repeatedly.....Being I'm in the sheet metal business I could get one thrown together from stuff lying around in no time but I guess its like the shoemakers kids with no shoes thing.

[deepguy]

Originally Posted by RWilson2526

Very nice.....I have been kicking that idea around a little bit myself. With my wife attending to the 2 kids I launch alone almost virtually every time I go out. At 44 I can still get up and over the bow rail no problem after disconnecting the cable but guaranteed the day will come where it gets a little harder. More importantly I dont like the strain I put on the bow rail pulling myself up and over repeatedly.....Being I'm in the sheet metal business I could get one thrown together from stuff lying around in no time but I guess its like the shoemakers kids with no shoes thing.

First step above tongue is 12x6x 1.5 inches
Second step 13x6x 1.5 inches
Third step 14x6x1.5 inches.
The post is 3 inches
The height of each step is from 12 to 24 to 36,inches.
They added the step below the tongue 6x12x 1.5 inches own their own.
Which made the setup a little nicer.
The measurement I had from bow to tongue was 47 inches.

Do not know hand rail size but think it is .5 inch diameter.
They added the hand grab rail between step 2 and step 3 on their own
and that is handy to hold on when standing on the ground getting ready
to go up.
Wanted a slick step with sandpaper strips as I did not want them
to be too rough on feet if bare footed.
You could go lighter material. But these steps feel good and do not give or move while using them.

Deepguy

[csvencer]

Now that's no fun, this takes the whole gamble out of stepping off onto the winch post...

JK- Looks nice, I'll tell you what I would of loved to have that on my last trailer, it takes only once to slip off that post and give your boys a good slam on the way down to realize you need a real step. Believe me.

-Svence

[Blue_Runner]

Good one CV. A long time ago a buddy of mine fell backwards onto a trailer. I think it was a jetski? Not sure exactly the scenario but you should see the scars on his back! Ouch!

Those steps are SHAWEEEEEET!!!! Good job DEEP and thanks for the documentary!

[RWilson2526]

Thanks for the dimensional information. Studying your pics some more its no wonder you needed a ladder. The way your winch post is compared to mine I dont think anyone is making that leap up there.

The only reason I can get over mine so easily is I can hop from the tongue to the spare tire to the top of the winchpost and up.... Thinking of adding a tread or two off the winchpost to make it a little more sure footed.

[Destroyer]

The steps are sweet looking for sure.. very professional job. Well done.



Not sure if this should be posted on this thread, but I have to comment/ask. I've never gone over the front rail when launching or retreiving. In truth, I don't even understand... why you would do such a thing?

I have a 3/8" nylon line about 50 foot long with a snap hook on the end that I secure to one of the bow cleats. When I come into the ramp I tie up at the dock, go get my truck and back it into position on the ramp, then I just pull my boat from the dock to the trailer, hook the winch cable to it and pull the lanyard to have the winch pull the boat onto the trailer while I guide it from the backside. When launching, I just reverse the steps. Back trailer into position on ramp, release clutch on winch to allow boat to go into water and pull winch cable out for retreiving later, (I keep promising myself that I'm going to weld an eye onto the back of the trailer to hook the winch cable to, but normally I just wrap it around the last crossmember). unhook boat from the cable and pull it to the dock. Never had a problem, takes very little time and makes the trailering part of the trip an easy chore.

I suppose that if I had a second driver in the truck it would make it even faster, but people in hell want ice water, (meaning that you can't always get what you want). Since I do a lot of fishing by myself, I've found that this is the safest and quickest way for me to launch and retreive.

[RWilson2526]

That's definitely the way I do it except when I go out of the Atlantic Highlands which is probably at least half my outings.....When you are in the middle of that 6 boat wide ramp there aint no other way to get in the boat .

[deepguy]

Originally Posted by Destroyer

The steps are sweet looking for sure.. very professional job. Well done.

Not sure if this should be posted on this thread, but I have to comment/ask. I've never gone over the front rail when launching or retrieving. In truth, I don't even understand... why you would do such a thing?

.

Couple of reasons not using a rope as you suggest. The places I launch have lots of rocks and want to stay out of them. Do not want to get in the water for any reason.
Also I want to start motor before disconnecting from trailer so the back and forth to the tongue can be easier to do.
Last of all want to avoid gymnastics.

I launch my Jon boat in the fashion as you described using a rope etc.
It hits rocks etc but is light and can be pushed off with a paddle.