So Close! What to do?

[drxfish]

I will read everything before I hook it up to the charger. It is meant for this type of situation. I was just double checking about it being in series. Rain today. Hope to get seats on and take it out for a while tomorrow.

 

[JL8Jeff]

Bummer that the boat won't work for you, but I can understand where you're coming from. I can move my 1652 around a bit here and there but any regular amount of movement would get old quick and bother my wrists and back. I wonder if that decking on the boat increased the forward weight quite a bit over the stock configuration making it difficult to move around easily. I could barely tilt my 60/45 motor myself with the manual tilt (it usually took me 2+ tries to tilt and lock it in) but I got lucky and found a power trim setup on Ebay which helps a lot. If the boat doesn't serve the purpose, it's not useful or fun.

 

[FuzzyGrub]

Sorry to hear that it is not working out for you.

 

[drxfish]

I had a good day out on the water Wednesday. Here is a picture with the front seat on before heading out. The ropes are a mess because I had not cut the ratty old tied one off yet. It is gone now. I was able to operate the TM and everything as intended. I caught 13 smallies with a 19 inch kicker and one catfish.

Landing the boat at the ramp was a cluster. There was a guy in the middle of the ramp with his buddy working on a jet ski. After squeezing by to beach the boat and get my car, I told them I needed to back my trailer up and asked if they were about done. They said yes. When the guy went to start his pick-up, it did not start. There was another guy waiting to launch a bigger boat and then a guy waiting to land a bigger boat too. I had to back in the trailer in a super tight space between my boat and the pick-up. I backed up ok, but there was barely enough room to get out of my vehicle. Got wet. Backed the boat up and landed on the trailer, I thought straight enough. Pulled the boat out. It was not straight on the rollers and too heavy to push correct.

I had to wait for the truck (finally started), big boat to launch and the other one to land. A couple jet skiers squeezed in, plus kayakers launching and landing. this is a shallow ramp that really is meant for maybe 2 to launch when sediment build up not too bad on the edges. It was about 30 minutes or so before I was able to back in again. It took 3 tries and me finally getting almost waist deep in the water to finally straighten it out.

I ordered guide on bunks from C E Smith. The trailer does not look like it has enough room to install the smaller guide on bunk, but I called, and the guy said I might be able to install on the crossbar at the back where the lights are. We shall see. Rear seat is drilled, but not installed yet due to rain. Should have that on tomorrow. More to come.

 

[JL8Jeff]

Our ramp is private for our boat club and it's 1 boat at a time so it doesn't get too crazy. It does have a shallow section but depending on the river level, it drops down a bit when the river is lower. I always end up walking into the water, I'm used to it. But my boat stays at a dock most of the summer so I don't trailer it very often.

 

[drxfish]

I like your ride!

 

[airshot]

You are a kind man, no way would I have put up with that!! Haven't folks ever heard of move over or wait your turn?? I have used our local sheriff in the past when things are not good at the ramp.

 

[drxfish]

Par for the course at this place. I almost got into it with one guy a few years back that cut me off. I since realized it is not worth it with the crazy stuff people are getting killed over nowadays. I do get riled up and will let people know when they are out of line. Mostly newbies that just do not know better.

Got the rear seat on. Going out tomorrow.

 

[David Atkins]

The most common things seen in people now-a-days is being inconsiderate, rude, and compassionless for others; in the old days (back in 50'.s, 60's, 70's) boaters would actually stop and help each other launch or land boats for each other. Sped up the process and thus everyone had more time on the water to enjoy themselves, we also would stop and tow other boaters who had broken down, it was a sort of respect for everyone on the water - TODAY not so much anymore, last time I stopped to help a stranded boater he asked me how much it would cost him? What the hell ! I said how about a thank you, the woman in the boat said thanks very quickly as they had been stranded for over 3 hours and no one even stopped to check on them much less offer to pull them into the dock. WOW, life sure has changed how people are!

 

[LaqueRatt]

The other boaters I've run into here locally are pretty much just like you describe David. The probs I see at the launch involve logistics. When you pull in off the lake and another guy comes back with an empty trailer, who's turn is it? Is it cool to make me wait while the other boat isn't even in sight yet? There is not a lot of room for a nice tidy line either. I'm just glad I'm able to go out on weekdays. On a weekend or a holiday, geez it has to be a real circus. I also find people with jet skis to be a pain since they many times show up as a group and want to all launch and retrieve together.

 

[drxfish]

Today was better at the ramp. Still a PITA to land the boat, but I am resigned to getting wet. Bunks come this week, so hope they work. I agree with you guys about people used to help more. I see some help, but the others way outnumber them. I go weekdays too to minimize the craziness.

 

[LaqueRatt]

Maybe I've just been lucky and I'm still really new to all this, but when I'm at the ramp people are always trying to help me. Maybe they just want to get me out of the way? LOL I've had everyone from kids to an 80 yo lady give me a hand getting the boat on the trailer. Seems to me the local boaters and fishermen are super nice people. You couldn't find a friendlier bunch. I definitely feel for anybody getting into the water to launch and retrieve, I'm CURRENTLY in the same BOAT! OK, I'ma gonna quit with the cheesy puns now. ;-)

 

[airshot]

How about some side guides....well worth the small expense. Get that trailer set up properly and enjoy your time on the water!! Absolutely no reason to get into the water, way to many tricks to setting the trailer up correctly! I am 73 yrs old, been a boat owner for over 60 years, never have I went into the water to retrieve my boat....unless you enjoy getting wet, lots of ways to eliminate that...

 

[drxfish]

I just received the CE Smith short guide on bunks. I still don't know if they will fit anywhere on the back of the trailer where they need to be. Refer to this picture showing how little space is available.

 

[pathunter]

Maybe I've just been lucky and I'm still really new to all this, but when I'm at the ramp people are always trying to help me. Maybe they just want to get me out of the way? LOL I've had everyone from kids to an 80 yo lady give me a hand getting the boat on the trailer. Seems to me the local boaters and fishermen are super nice people. You couldn't find a friendlier bunch. I definitely feel for anybody getting into the water to launch and retrieve, I'm CURRENTLY in the same BOAT! OK, I'ma gonna quit with the cheesy puns now. ;-)

There are two wives in upstate Chestertown NY who launch at the little 8 car launch on Brant Lake. They tow the boat down to the launch. They stop far enough from ramp to be able to unhook the trailer from the truck. They move the truck out of the way, turn the trailer around and hand push the trailer to the brink of the ramp. Then they back the truck up, hook up the trailer and back the boat down the ramp. Coming back out they unhook the trailer, back it to the edge of the ramp, back the truck up to it, hook it up etc. I suggested they have their husbands install a spotting hitch on the front hoping they could, maybe move the boat around if they could watch it out the front window. Don't know if they ever did. They were always courteous and allowed others to go first though. The bigger problem at these small launches is that we have invasive vegetation monitors who inspect all boats. No problem there, but they always set up their tents and park their cars in the shady spot and its always right where you need that extra 12 feet to straighten your rig out to get a straight run on the ramp.

 

[airshot]

I just received the CE Smith short guide on bunks. I still don't know if they will fit anywhere on the back of the trailer where they need to be. Refer to this picture showing how little space is available.

Looks like a rachet tie down strap there....move it and you will have plenty of room....those straps can be mounted most anywhere, even on the side of the frame shown. Side guides will be far more helpfull than rachett straps.
You could even use that piece of angle supporting rhe fender to mount side guides.

 

[pathunter]

Looks like a rachet tie down strap there....move it and you will have plenty of room....those straps can be mounted most anywhere, even on the side of the frame shown. Side guides will be far more helpfull than rachett straps.
You could even use that piece of angle supporting rhe fender to mount side guides.

I bought a pair of the "guides" that are a couple of lengths of white plastic pipe. The chintzy bracket was so thin that going down the road, the pipes wobbled so hard they would tap the gunnels. They went with the boat when I sold it.
The last little pair, for my little Jon boat, I made myself out of steel flat stock, couple 18" lengths of 6"pine I" pine board, and outdoor carpet for less than $25 including the clamps to attach it to the trailer. I had the wood. The carpet would have been the expensive part but I found outdoor carpet at Loew's. I comes on a 12 foot roll and is sold by the foot. If I recall correctly, I needed about 16" of it to rap around the board and overlap it. I would have purchased 2 running feet, but the store measures generously to allow for any uneven prior cut on the material. I told the guy I actually needed 18 wide x 38 inches long for a project and he made sure I had enough within the 12 foot to do so. Think the price was around six or seven dollars. That material, a wife who is a good holder downer, and some long staples, and a hammer to "set" the ones that the gun doesn't quite seat and your in business. I think I used 1/8 flat stock and they were a little light. Would use heavier next time. Some black paint and it looked good.

 

[David Atkins]

The other boaters I've run into here locally are pretty much just like you describe David. The probs I see at the launch involve logistics. When you pull in off the lake and another guy comes back with an empty trailer, who's turn is it? Is it cool to make me wait while the other boat isn't even in sight yet? There is not a lot of room for a nice tidy line either. I'm just glad I'm able to go out on weekdays. On a weekend or a holiday, geez it has to be a real circus. I also find people with jet skis to be a pain since they many times show up as a group and want to all launch and retrieve together.

It has always been first come first serve at the docks, but you had to be ready not waiting for the boat or trailer to show up, but alas those days are gone, last outing guy pulled his boat up on the concrete ramp got out went to get his truck/trailer, took 30 minutes to get boat loaded and then tried to wash it down right there on the dock. Local Police showed up and told him to get off the loading ramp, was causing a lot of grief for everyone else, soon after the game warden showed up too. Someone has a lot of pull, lol

 

[drxfish]

Looks like a rachet tie down strap there....move it and you will have plenty of room....those straps can be mounted most anywhere, even on the side of the frame shown. Side guides will be far more helpfull than rachett straps.
You could even use that piece of angle supporting rhe fender to mount side guides.

Sounds like a plan! I will take a look at that tomorrow.

 

[Steph Boeker]

There are two wives in upstate Chestertown NY who launch at the little 8 car launch on Brant Lake. They tow the boat down to the launch. They stop far enough from ramp to be able to unhook the trailer from the truck. They move the truck out of the way, turn the trailer around and hand push the trailer to the brink of the ramp. Then they back the truck up, hook up the trailer and back the boat down the ramp. Coming back out they unhook the trailer, back it to the edge of the ramp, back the truck up to it, hook it up etc. I suggested they have their husbands install a spotting hitch on the front hoping they could, maybe move the boat around if they could watch it out the front window. Don't know if they ever did. They were always courteous and allowed others to go first though. The bigger problem at these small launches is that we have invasive vegetation monitors who inspect all boats. No problem there, but they always set up their tents and park their cars in the shady spot and its always right where you need that extra 12 feet to straighten your rig out to get a straight run on the ramp.

That's a great idea. I've been watching movies for entertainment lately. I guess sitting at a boat launch for a couple hours w/ a chilly one in hand would be as much fun and cost less.