Not sure if that is the correct term> I was thinking about getting one for the Bay Champ and wondering what peoples experiences are. The back of the Bay Champ likes to drift off the back of the trailer so running up hard to make solid contact with bow stop is necessary. Winching that 5000 lber is tough unless you get trailer deeper. This and the fact that just running it up and latching on without getting out of boat and on trailer to hook up winch is appealing.

You may have to change/adjust the bow eye to an extended one to have the reach to make it latch.

I think what you're looking for is an automatic bow clamp - look at Ramp-N-Clamp and Drotto - both just let you put the boat on and when the bow eye hits a spot it locks on automatically - been looking at both - would love to see if someone has one or the other and what they think - I know the old boat buddy (I think that's it) but never heard a really good report - seemed the pin would bend and then you couldn't unhook it.

my bow snugs right up to roller so not sure that would be a problem. Problem with my boat is standing on the trailer you have to a contortionist to hook up winch. If I did not mind getting wet it would be no problem.

Looks like either of the two systems would work - you wouldn't have to do anything on the ramp - just put the regular strap on in the parking lot. I was looking at them to help me on those steeper ramps - like squaw creek - it will hold against the bow stop as long as I have a little throttle on the engine but not enough at idle so when I shift weight to the front to hook and tighten the strap boat always slides back some -

I have several Boat Buddy's brand new still in packages. PM me if interested. Ive used them for years & love em. Ive got a Champion I'm upgrading & will put one on it also. Been using them since 1987 & never bent one. Not saying you can't bend one but the only way to do that is if you have it set to locked (closed) position and not in the load position(open). You'd have to run into it extremely hard. Its a stainless steel pin.

^^^^This
I had one on my nitro for several years. I loved it. Never bent. Just be sure to put it in the open position before backing into the water to load.

FlexStep

I know the feeling of having to be a contortionist when trying to reach over the bow to connect my bay boat. This solved my problem. I power load then just off the bow onto the step then on to the tongue of the trailer.

I have a boat buddy and love it. They offer 2 sizes, under 22ft and over 22ft. Go with the bigger one. It is more heavy duty.

Did you have to change out your bow eye for the "over22' boat " to latch?

I have the drotto boat 2 trailer and will never be without one again. Pretty sweet set up.

If I remember right I did have to change the bow eye. I had to use a longer stainless steel u bolt to reach the tripping mechanism. It has been several years and beers so I’m a little hazy on it. Seems like I did have to though.

I'm was thinking that. If you bought the bigger one it required bow eye to be replaced with the U-bolt eye. Some of my Champions had the small panels at bow, so access to change one was harder. Ive never had a problem with the 21' under Boat Buddies though.

You have to change the bow eyelet for either one of them. The new eyelet is deeper so it will grab the locking pin.