Quad cities area ramps
 

I posted a similar thread on the found board. I need to know the best ramp to launch a 47 fountain. It is on a Myco tandem dually trailer so it has to go deep. I've had some trouble on crappy ramps so I wanted to try and get info from those who know.
Thanks!

We launch my buddy's 388 slingshot from green gables. Funny, i got a phone call this morning regarding this from Justin. You may be off the concrete but it dosent drop off. little shallow in there esp if you have LWP on the drives. Have seen that ramp claim a few impellers (including mine). The LeClaire public ramp also has not been a problem with that 388 either. I know they aren't the same length boats but the trailer for the hustler is really odd. its an i beam setup and it sits on top of it as opposed to in it. so we have to go even deeper to wash it off the trailer. But you will be dealing with the current if you use the public ramp. That is something that takes a few trys to master.

Hey stanger...

With a 47 I would never attempt gables in my opinion. I would have to say Leclaire public or Bettendorf public. I dont know how that 388 gets out at gables?? I launched twice this year at Leclaire public this year a loved it.

Good rule of thumb there is to back out entirely. do not attempt to turn around in there. thats how i ruined an impeller. i had just installed my hydraulic steering and the drive doesn't turn as sharp as the olde tiller arm cable/inside deal. plus it was windy. But Mark, We are river rats. I could sit all day at the LeClaire ramp and watch the newbies not compensate for the current. My main reason got using green gables is its closer. you dont need a permit and they always have parking (even if its up by the road). plus i was given a $60 ticket last year for not having a permit (when i had no clue what those signs meant) they say resident parking only. Resident of what? well, now i know. But no warning? BS!

Thanks for all the info. The boat sits high on the trailer and has to go deep, even for a 47.

Fixxxer,, dont know if youve heard, the Nordic is leaveing the QC tomorrow. Hard to let go after BBlades added another 3mph. but on another boat search..

Careful in leclaire. Had tandem myco under 32 baja. Dropped both axels off back of pad. 10' drop behind pad. Hell of a time getting trailer back on pad with no boat on it

Thats why i say green gables. No huge drop. just mud.

BBlades is good stuff. You still thinking cruiser?

No Ramps in the area that big my suggestion is to have green gables lift it in they lift almost a 50 foot sundancer they can lift you boat no problem.

or they could go to the Captains Quarters Dry stak. Its right up river from green gables. On the same street

Either or would be the place to do it I just say green gables because its a sure thing there I dont know how big of a boat they can lift now at the dry stack. When i kept my boat there they were having trouble with the upper 30 foot boats because the forks on the lift were to short. Green gables with there strap lift is a sure thing but I dont know how deep the water is over where they lower the boats into probably 3 foot or so. Best bet would be what you said about backing out the whole way when wet launching id keep the probs up and go straight back into deeper water. Just have your friends there with you to make sure you dont back into the wall.

Did some more research on this topic. Fixxxer is correct no huge drop just mud, so with the LWP of the fountain id suggest a radical idea to get the boat in the water if you wet launch it. Leave the engines completely trimmed up dont even turn them on and have a smaller boat pull you out about 15 to 20 feet from where you launch to deeper water. Same with the lift station for Green Gables the water is shallow id suggest have someone pull you out to the deeper water. Ive seen this done before with a few smaller performance boats with LWP they never have any problems with the mud.

Launched yesterday at Grren Gables. Launch was perfect. Boat floated right off the trailer. Picked up a little silt even though I had the motors trimmed up. Will have to flush the water system but that is no big deal. Will keep you posted on the retrieval Sunday.

Great weekend of boating john.... If you didnt figure it out its carter by the way... The ramp worked decently for launch minus the silt in the intakes. The low water level being a foot or more low right now hurt us in that aspect. It also hurt us getting it back on the ramp. Next trip down Ill kind a better place to launch in deeper water. We will probably have to go get it lifted in at waukeen by lindsay park and lock it through if the water is low. which wont be a big deal ill get it all lined up ahead of time. Or possibly take it to clinton they got a nice marina there. All in all it was a great trip thanks for bringing the boat down and letting me drive it all weekend I cant wait to get back on that thing!

If we launch at green gables again with the water level low we will do this for sure. The water only averaged 3 feet with a few inches thrown in there so if we get the fountain to come back towing it out beyond the docks will prevent us from having to hold back because of the silt we sucked up into the intakes.

I saw you at princeton! Glad you had a good time. Boat looks great. Sounded awesome when you took a fly by. Did olde dunbar in that 33 outlaw catch ya? It didnt look good for him when you were going by the beach upriver.

twins or trips? never got close to ya.

Triples all the way but I didnt see anyone passing us while I was driving unless we wer slowing down for a reason. Man I dont know how Im going to go back to driving my families little sea ray after driving that fountain all weekend its never going to be the same.

Talked to some people in Clinton they said that they could safely launch your boat there no problem. Just need to call the Marina and tell them when your coming and they will take care of getting the boat in the water. Hope to see you on the river next summer I caught your boat driving past Clinton while I was visiting with some friends it looked amazing!