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Originally Posted by phragle
(Post 3905852)
just a thought... would it work if your ramp challanged to have 4 or 6 of the big round fenders, tie them to the back of the trailer... the boat would be heavy enough to back off, then the trailer would have some float/lift to help the wheels get over the hump... Getting out, stop at the end and power the boat on.
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Originally Posted by cheech
(Post 3906506)
I take it because the ramps were too short? If they aren't why wouldn't you just set the trailer deeper in the water? No insult meant just a honest question.
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Originally Posted by MILD THUNDER
(Post 3905757)
So I was bored today, took a ride to the harbor to check launch ramp conditions, as Lake Michigan lake level is down a lot. Pulled up and saw this guy launching a 34 Sea Ray. Parked my truck and had to see how it would go for him. He was already backed in at that point, and was going over some stuff with the customer he was launching for. Boat actually got off the trailer ok. Then he attempted to pull the truck and trailer out. UH-OH! Stuck. Trailer axle on passenger side of trailer, completely off the ramp.
He asked since I had my dually, if I can give him a tug, as he was spinning all 4 tires. Hooked the strap up, and still nothing, both trucks just spun the tires. At that point, I said "this aint gonna work''. I had suggested to him that if he had a floor jack, only thing I can see working is getting in that water, and jackin up the trailer. Considering the water is probably barely 40*, and he was a long way from home, he wasn't in the mood for that just yet. I gave him the number to a wrecker outfit ive used in the past. They dispatched out, and he called his Girlfriend to bring him some waders. Wrecker arrives first. Driver hooked the winch cable to his tow hooks, and tugged on it. Wouldn't budge, and I wasn't digging the creaking noise the truck/trailer was making! After a while the GF showed up with some waders. He got into the water with the floor jack, jacked the trailer frame up, wrecker winched it and rolled right up. Trailer fender sustained some damage, but after all that not bad. I actually knew the guy launching the boat, and the wrecker driver, who is also a boater. So he didn't beat him up to bad on the charges. I stuck around until everything was done, as I felt for the guy. He was all by himself, and he's been hauling/workin on boats for a long time. It was just one of those things, and he was prob more concerned with making the customer happy then realizing what he was doin with the trailer. Glad it all worked out for him. Rather than Monday morning quarterback the guy, I figured i'd help since I may be there someday in that spot! Moral of the story, be careful with the lake levels this season! FYI, several seasons ago, I used to launch a 40' here. And I'd be able to step off the concrete wall into my cockpit and back off trailer. Now you can see where the cockpit would be. Just to give a general idea of the lake level changes. |
it happend to me last year with my new boat. i went to the ramp at my marina that i always used for my 27. the ramp didnt have a finger so u had to be in the boat and someone elce in the truck so my dad backed it in and i started it up. the boat has twin steps so i wanted to make shure it was floating befor backing off. he keept backing up untill all three axels fell and was siteing on the fram. luckly he was able to get it out in 4 low and all was good with the traylor was ok. but lession learned and will be useing a public ramp this year and hope for the best.
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Originally Posted by Ernest T Bass
(Post 3906545)
I had an aluminum trailer with 15" wheels/tires for a small tunnel boat I use to have. If you backed in to far it would float. Which in current sucked! :lolhit:
I had another customer that had a trailer that floated. He made some simple aluminum brackets that bolted to the trailer just behind the rear axle. They would hold a John Deere tractor weight. If you dropped off the ramp, you could just remove the weights and the trailer would float up. Then just pull it out. Eddie |
Originally Posted by sommerfliesby
(Post 3905922)
Way to go, Joe! I'm sure that guy certainly appreciated the help. I'm letting Mr.Cig put his in the water at Hammond before I try mine! Lol.
I backed the trailer off the end of the ramp at Portage, IN a few years back...didn't know it. After the boat came off the trailer, I jumped in the truck and took off. There was a large crashing sound and a big jerk as I came out, but I thought I had just rolled over something on the ramp. Looked at the trailer when I parked...all the lights were hanging out of the back and the front axle support was torn on the driver's side. Fortunately, it held together for the trip home. We straightened the front axle and welded angular supports like what CNC described to address any future problems. |
It should be interesting for me this year. I have a tall trailer and already have to back in a fair distance. Had a few issues last season and now the water is a foot lower... :poopoo:
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Originally Posted by Young Performance
(Post 3906862)
I had a customer with a 33 Powerplay on an aluminum trailer that floated. We installed some larger wheels and tires (15") and it caused it to float. It previously had some little girl wheels and tires and they were not rated to handle the weight and he was having blowouts. If the tide was running real hard, we would have to tie the trailer to the dock to keep it straight. When loading it, you would have to pull up easy and bump the rear of the bunks while they were floating. When you bumped it, it would sink for just a second. As soon as it sunk, you better get on the gas and drive it on before it floated again.
I had another customer that had a trailer that floated. He made some simple aluminum brackets that bolted to the trailer just behind the rear axle. They would hold a John Deere tractor weight. If you dropped off the ramp, you could just remove the weights and the trailer would float up. Then just pull it out. Eddie |
I thought I was the only one to do this, I am very glad I had two extra jacks, I`ll never forget that vacation.
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Triple axle = lift a small boat a rope in reverse = more lift .
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Used to have that problem at a local ramp I used. Took a bunch of bags of quickcrete (still in their bags), we set them out in the water at the end of the ramp on a Monday. They were like "concrete" by the next weekend and most are still there .
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This is what I plan on doing.. with a longer ramp (Hypotenuse)
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Originally Posted by Sydwayz
(Post 3906511)
I've heard, yet not seen it done...
...That you can tie a line to the center of the aft end of the trailer, and then tie the other end off tight to the bow eye of the boat. Have someone in the boat put the boat in reverse to provide lift to the back end of the trailer while the driver of the truck pulls the trailer out in 4X4 Low Gear. Granted, sounds like a nice way to pull the entire truck and trailer in the water though as well. |
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the Winnetka launch is not fairing very well after this winter :(
****See attached - The effect of Lake Michigan water level dropping 18 inches this winter combined with winter storms piling sand and gravel into the area. Last summer we had about 48 inches of water at the launch ramp. |
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And if any locals here in Chicago have ever used the Wilson launch ramp years past....its now a Dog Park!!! Check this out! look at the distance between the 2nd and 3rd pic....how far back the shore line is!!! I launched my 30' scarab hout of here back in 2001ish....and my drives were bouncing off the sand floor!! and I love the last picture where it says no swimming! lol
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wow those pics really show how bad it has gotten over the years and even from last year to now. looks like there will be a lot of people loosing drives this year if they arnt paying attention.
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As you come south the ramps are just as messed up Wally. 2x last fall we launched 40+ footers at Diversey and the ramps slope to your boats starboard side. As a result the trailer slides that direction and easily gets hooked under the docks as you try to pull out. Both times we had to put a line on the trailer and 2 guys in the water to physically slide it out from under the pier-style docks. Thank god we had Ricky and some other big dudes. I'll be shocked if we can launch there at all this year.
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Wow I knew the levels have been down for some time. Wallys pictures really tell the story of how low the levels are. My daughter takes her dog to wilson park.
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Any of the Chicago guys use the new ramp at 31st I always used Burnham harbor but its kind of a pita ?
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31ST is real steep, you need 4x4 to pull out of there. I`m predicting it will be really busy this summer and there isn`t that much parking.
Maybe this Monsoon we`re getting will help a bit. |
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Originally Posted by CNC
(Post 3908149)
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Looks like it is somewhat cyclical for the past 100 years.
Last year launching out of Grand Haven in November I was hitting the bottom at the launch that I used all summer, and was somewhat low all summer. When heading out of the channel the low water levels uncovered docks and steps that I had never seen in the last 20years of launching out of GH. Talked to an older gentleman and he said 50 yrs ago that is how low the water was. According to the above link he was right. Who knew... |
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