Would like to get some info on trailering 2 man pond boat and launching and recovery from boat ramps at Athens and Purtis Creek.

Specifically for healthy 77 year old that will be handling boat alone using 5 x 8 Northern Trailer using TM only.

Do I need a winch for recovery? If yes, how do you mount it on trailer and where to attach to Bass Raider boat in recovery?
Does it slide on and off trailer easily on carpeted wood deck?
How do you tie it down, straps to trailer?
Any problems in turning with short tongue on trailer? Will be towing with Honda CRV.
Would 18 inch receiver extension help in launching and turning?

Any other tips or comments appreciated. My main concern is getting it on and off the trailer by myself and turning with short wheelbase vehicle.

Open to anything, haven't purchased yet.

You can put these on each fender to allow you to see the trailer better in reverse. I towed the same trailer behind min Pilot and couldn't see it if I was straight. CRV is narrower and it may not be an issue. I definitely would put a trailer tongue extension on it. This will keep it from reacting too quickly when backing up.

EDIT: link doesn't work but you can find them at Academy also. Set of two. Look like a yellow tennis ball on an extension with magnetic base. One on trailer and one on receiver allow you to back under trailer on first shot. One on each fender while backing allow better visibility of trailer.

http://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Accessorie...CFQUIaQodR5UEwA

This post will show you a good option for a winch.

https://www.privatewaterfishing.com/forums/view/great-portable-winch

For straps I used the 1" ratcheting web straps and went over the boat from side to side.

When I had a bass raider I put a small chain between the two handles on the front. I used the threaded chain link that allowed you to secure to each handle. I hooked the trailer winch hook to the middle of the chain while on the trailer.

http://www.e-rigging.com/three-sixteenths-inch-Quick-Link?gclid=CL_u8Yrk3MwCFQ6maQodbG0MJQ

Thanks for your input K.D.

I tow a 2 man Pelican predator on a modified jet ski trailer. I have never needed a winch for the boat. I do have a flag I use to back it up on the ramp. I can't see the boat out of my 4 banger Nissan truck and it is near impossible to back it up with the flag. I have two straps that keep the boat on the trailer. Everything works out great for me.

I use a standard utility trailer with wood floor and it does fine. If you have a harbor freight nearby a cheap winch with 20ft strap is about 25 dollars. Some days i use the winch some I dont depends on energy level after a day's of fishing. The winch is portable with a hook it should fit on trailer edge just fine.

Thanks for everyone's input.

krazydaddy2: Portable winch isn't mounted to the trailer?

Grainraiser: I like the idea of using a jetski trailer as it's made to put in the water but hard to find w/o a jetski.

I ordered a Northern 5 x 8 trailer with plans to put a marine grade plywood deck on it for Pelican 10 ft Bass Raider.

I'll add a winch and jack and possibly side bunkers or guide on to keep it centered when towing and recovering and hold down straps. Also considering putting a higher center piece because deck is 1 ft wider than plywood sheet and to fill space and help in centering.

Still thinking about how to control front and back movement but might just go with tie downs through the handles to the trailer. Just concerned about strength of handles with constant pressure and bumps on the road.

I like the idea of the TM shaft rudder due to fishing some bigger lakes so I'll be looking for a junk TM. Using a MK C2 55 TM mounted on the front with Big Foot switch.

I'll try to post some pics when I'm finished.

I've read all the posts and learned a lot about these boats and good ideas for mods. Thanks to all.


PS: What length are you using for a paddle reaching from the seat?

If you are looking for a trolling motor rudder bullnose makes one for 35 dollars. I just put one on my little boat but havent tried it out yet. The two paddles I use are a 3ft and 5 ft. The small paddle is used for one arm paddleing and larger is for two hands. The small winch can be mounted to the trailer tounge if you want I ended up mounting mine to a small plate of scrap metal my friend welded for me.

Keep in mind you can launch and retrieve your boat on a flatbed trailer more easily than a jetski trailer. A flatbed trailer is only backed till the end is to the waters edge. As you push the boat backwards It begins to float once it touches the water. I tie a 15 ft rope to the boat, shove it off and pull it to the bank beside the trailer.

When retrieving I do the same thing. Tie to the boat' with the trailer beside it at the launch. Push the boat off into the lake with the rope tied to , step onto the trailer and pull the boat to you. Once the nose of the boat is at the edge of the trailer, grab the boat and walk backwards up the trailer.

You'll never have to get the deck or the tires wet this way and you can launch and retrieve regardless of water temp. You never get your feet wet

Good tips, Thanks.

K.D.: Hadn't thought about exactly how that launching/retrieving from a flat deck would work when you can't drive on/off the trailer like a regular Bass Boat.

I have the 8' Pond Prowler. Very similar boat. I used the 4x8 folding utility trailer from Harbor Freight, and I love it! Got it during one of their sales, and used an online coupon. Cost me just over $200 and a couple days work putting it together. Added 3/4" treated plywood decking, and it works perfectly! I'll post some updated pics soon so you can see my setup.

Mark: I looked very hard at that 4x8 trailer but the Bass Raider 10E has a 50 Inch beam and I didn't want to worry about banging it up trying to get between the fenders with a 48 inch deck. So I opted for a 5x8 from Northern for a little more space on the deck. My trailer is due the 24th. I hope to be ready to go to the lake the first week in June.

Would love to see your pics and thanks for info.

The first two are older pics. I'll get some new ones up soon so you can see it completed. Good call on the 5x8 since your boat is wider. I added PVC (you can see it in the last pic) to help guide to boat on the trailer and keep it from hitting the finders etc. Also helps me see the trailer when backing without the boat.

Nice and neat. Your boat fits well inside the fenders. I have something similar in mind on the PVC for guide ons. I'll have to add a winch to aid in loading and a jack to wheel it around at home. I have a backup camera on my CRV to help in backing or I can raise the hatch. The trailer I ordered doesn't come with stake holders and yours look real handy for tie downs.

Do you launch/recover with the trailer in the water?

I almost always fish with a partner, so I have the trolling motor on the back. This allows me to launch & recover exactly like a "normal" boat. Although two people can easily carry the empty boat to the water's edge if I want to launch somewhere without a ramp.

Hey, tell me about the lights!!!

I plan to put TM on front but just wondering why you couldn't turn TM around and drive boat on trailer backwards? Rudder end first. Could use Reverse but not sure of Reverse power on a C2 55, but usually TM's are pretty weak in reverse.

I plan to use an extended handle from an old Motor Guide TM that I have that fits on the shaft or find a ProControl steering arm which I had on my bass boat TM and really liked. I think this would help in steering the TM backwards and actually have a rear TM at that point. The handle would be pointed away from the boat so it would be difficult to control direction w/o a reversible extension.

Almost all of my fishing will be done alone so doing everything I can for one elderly man to accomplish.

That makes sense. And yes, you can certainly do that. Bottom line is that with these little boats, you can set them up however YOU choose. There really is no wrong way. If I was fishing alone all the time, I would turn the TM head around 180 degrees on the shaft, mount it in the front and stand to fish, just like standing on the front deck of a bass boat. I may eventually install a quick release into my front wiring harness to accomodate that configuration, but for now, I'm really happy with mine the way it is.

So here are a few more pics of the completed setup.

I added some non-slip tape on the tongue because I have to stand on that slippery metal to launch/recover.

The PVC guides fit perfectly over the angle iron that's designed to hold the casters for when the trailer is folded. But I don't ever plan to do that, so I took off the upper caster on each side and fit the PVC right over the angle iron.

I also added paddle clips on the outside of the hull so I could store the 5" paddle out of the way.

The bow lights are a pair of 6" LED strips I picked up at Academy for $10, and the stern is a 1' pedestal that folds down when not in use. Got that from Amazon. Very convenient, and I think they look super cool!

Very nice Mark. Those lights are nifty.

Pelican Bass Raider 10E ready to go on Northern Tool 5x8 trailer.

Finished the trailer and put the boat on and there is 9" of space on either side of the boat on a 5x8 trailer. 4x8 would have been enough. The 50" beam must be measured from the outer edges and they clear the fenders. At 10' it does stick out over the 8' deck.

Getting the ground wire to work was time consuming so I ran a ground wire to taillights and problem was fixed. Lesson here is don't screw around with their ground. Trying to use the painted frame for a ground all the way around didn't work for me. I also ground off the paint where the ground wire was attached to the frame.

I used eyebolts for the tie down straps instead of stake holders and put on a 1/2" plywood deck tied down with plastic straps. I added a jack and planned to add a winch but it's rather easy to just start the boat on the rear and pull or push it onto the trailer as K. D. said. It slides real easy on the deck.

I've also added a 2 piece floor of 1/2" plywood to the boat and a portable Big Foot (mounted to a block of wood) to the MK 55 TM for hands free operation and now working on a rudder. I plan to add a pedestal base to the floor for my seat and use an adjustable pedestal and butt seat laying around here for stand up (almost) fishing. Elevation helps in Pitching and flipping which I like to do. I also purchased a bilge pump (just in case) and wired it to a cig plug that will fit into my MK power center.

I got some great info from this sight so thank you all.

Now for some decent fishing weather to try it out.

Sounds like a really good setup for one person. Would love to see pics! I've enjoyed setting mine up almost as much as catching fish out of it...almost.

I've enjoyed setting mine up too. I still have a few things to finish then I'll try to post some pics. Looks like the weather will allow me to get it on the water this week.

Sounds like it's coming together. I was at Boris Electronic on Thursday and noticed he had fabricated a few rudders and had them in the front.

Some update on Web site or my phone keeps me from posting pics. If you want to see it PM me your cell and I will text a photo to you.

You could either purchase or duplicate.

Do a screenshot of the pic, then try posting, it should work

I've done that repeatedly. I'm using an iPad and it won't work. It used to, but now says image has to be a .jpg and the iPad is wrong format

If you want to see it Pm me your cell or email addy

Thanks for pic K.D. That rudder looks like it's built to last and is used to steer with that solid handle on top. I cobbled one up from spare parts and some 1/2" channel and excess 1/2" plywood from the floor that will work until I can get time to build a more polished one. Trying boat out on Wed. at small Lake in Canton with buddy and his Yak. I'll try to get some pics up this week.

Took boat out Wed. with buddy at Canton Mill Creek Lake. He didn't bring his Yak and we had a good day and caught 12 Bass, out for 6 hours straight, too long in small boat. IMO LOL Everything went as planned except launch and recovery. Ramp does not have much banking, pretty flat, so had to wade to get boat on the trailer to launch and recover. I did put boat on trailer rear first which is much better when launching as TM is now in back to pull off trlr and/or the bank. Think I'll need a winch when going alone. Seats are uncomfortable. Trailer tow was not even noticeable behind Honda CRV. Very pleased with setup and fishing from Bass Raider 10e. Floorboard and BigFoot on TM worked great. Definitely have some modifications in mind for seating to enhance the experience.

Got to the lake and 2 pond boats came in stacked in the back of a pickup, 1 with gas motor.

I'll post pics here next week.

I have a question for you. Thinking about buying a pond boat like yours ( Pelican 10ft.) and noticed you have the TP&W numbers on the boat. Is that a requirement even if you're not using a trailer or gas engine? Thanks

In public waters in Texas if you have a motor of any kind ,even a Trolling Motor, you have to have it registered and the numbers.

Thanks, figured that after seeing several with numbers.

Had boat out 3 times since last post and have had to make several mods to original plans so haven't posted pics. We have had good success in catching fish with 22 fish in 2 hours (7 to 9 PM) on a farm pond and 26 fish at Fork in 11 hours in 2 days. Buzz bait bite early and late working real well and catching them in bunches. I doubt we would have caught the fish on Fork in a bass boat as we wouldn't even stop there, but with limited range we fished within 30 minutes to the launch in shallow grass and points.

Ditched adjustable pedestal and cheap seat for fixed and well padded seat, adj. was not stable enough and seat was back killer. Keeping boat tight on trailer is a challenge on 90 minute hauls, bumpy roads and 65 MPH tow. Unloading off the trailer is easy, it will float off, but loading is more difficult, even with 2. With a trailer mod think I can mount a winch that should help. No matter where we launch hard to not have to wade to get in and out of the boat and step on and off the trailer due to the short tongue.

My TM is in front but I load it back end first using TM to pull off the bank and TM in Reverse to push it on to the bank, that is working out real well. Person in back stands up behind my seat to take weight off the back end to get farther up the bank. We use a rope to pull boat around and onto the Trailer. We haven't needed the rudder so can't comment on that.

What is the easiest way to post pics on here?

Except for some appearance mods boat and trailer are done for now and ready to post pics.

Not far SE of Kaufman is a trailer company where I purchased a 4X6' Aluma trailer. It works perfectly with my 8' pond boat. a 4X8 would be better, but I bought what was in stock. I added a small manual winch to the trailer tongue, and have never had a problem getting the boat onto the trailer at ANY of the Private Water Fishing lakes that I have fished. I back up so the trailer tires are just out of the water, and then walk out to the end of the trailer. From there, I can lift the bow of the pond boat onto the trailer and connect the winch. Works like a dream, even on a fairly steep bank. Good luck with your setup.

Getting a pelican 10e this week and using sonar with both DI and SI. DI transducer will be going on the trolling motor, but need an adjustable arm for the SI transducer so that it won't get knocked off the bottom when loading/unloading from the truck and launching on the bank. Thinking something like the Scotty Kayak Transducer Arm Mount. Any suggestions for what to do?

Eric