texasfishingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
TraeMartin, Power-Pole CS, T-Rigger, JoeGoes, EcKo
119150 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
hopalong 120,590
TexDawg 119,534
Bigbob_FTW 94,918
John175☮ 85,894
Pilothawk 83,264
Bob Davis 81,566
Mark Perry 72,297
Derek 🐝 68,313
JDavis7873 67,416
Forum Statistics
Forums59
Topics1,037,879
Posts13,935,963
Members144,150
Most Online39,925
Dec 30th, 2023
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Boat launching question. #12861745 08/12/18 03:04 PM
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 805
west tex angler Offline OP
Pro Angler
OP Offline
Pro Angler
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 805
Question- Do you guys launch your boats with both the winch strap and hard point strap disconnected? I've always had a fear of having my boat slide off the trailer halfway down the ramp.
Many years ago, I was at Possum Kingdom launching at the old Scenic Point launch. Some of you'll may remember it. This was a very steep launch. Anyway, one guy launched his boat and it slide off the trailer half way down, and crunched his boat.
The way modern trailers are built, does that still happen?
I fish by myself a lot and that means launching and loading by myself.


PB 9lbs 13oz
Moritz Chevrolet - 9101 Camp Bowie W Blvd, Fort Worth, TX - Monte Coon (817) 696-2003
Re: Boat launching question. [Re: west tex angler] #12861754 08/12/18 03:11 PM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 35,817
Allison1 Offline
TFF Guru
Offline
TFF Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 35,817
Shallow ramp, unhook it all. I may only loosen the winch strap if I am alone just so the boat can't float off.
Steep ramp, unhook the hard and loosen the winch a little.

Make sure you've taken off the rear boat buckles and put the plug in.
Also the motor support. I've left that on and heard it leaving the first time I punched it.......twice.


Re: Boat launching question. [Re: west tex angler] #12861757 08/12/18 03:12 PM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,896
H
heybaylor Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
H
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,896
keep your fear, leave the winch connected until at the water.
takes a few extra seconds to undo it there, however you wont have to tie up the ramp getting your boat off the concrete.


heybaylor
Re: Boat launching question. [Re: west tex angler] #12861787 08/12/18 03:38 PM
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,606
C
ChuChu1 Offline
TFF Team Angler
Offline
TFF Team Angler
C
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,606
I unhook both and connect a dock line to the winch. I back in till the transom floats, unhook the dock line, get in the boat, start the engine and back on off.


Snowflakes and entitled brats will be the doom of America!


Re: Boat launching question. [Re: west tex angler] #12861796 08/12/18 03:56 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 16,815
E
ezbassin Offline
TFF Guru
Offline
TFF Guru
E
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 16,815
I unhook the back but leave the winch strap a little loose but locked so the boat can't slide off the trailer so far that I can't get in.

Re: Boat launching question. [Re: west tex angler] #12861852 08/12/18 05:41 PM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 640
EZ_Legend Offline
Pro Angler
Offline
Pro Angler
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 640
Same as above, I pull a foot or so slack in the winch and then lock it back in to position so it doesn't unwind the whole spool when she starts to float.

I have never been really scared of the boat sliding off while trailer is dry (not saying it is any safer) but if your carpet is worn down then it can be very slick... about like those pcv bunks you can buy.

Last edited by jackson_ranger; 08/12/18 05:42 PM.

2003 Legend LE21
Optimax 225
Re: Boat launching question. [Re: west tex angler] #12861861 08/12/18 05:52 PM
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 2,561
J
Jeff From Iowa Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
J
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 2,561
Im always alone. I use to use a long rope and send it floating back.

Now I use one of these. It works as it should I can release the lever and back the boat off or pull it over by hand and tie to the dock.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Drotto-Automatic-boat-latch-boat-auto-latch/201649623277?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

Re: Boat launching question. [Re: west tex angler] #12861879 08/12/18 06:18 PM
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,900
T
Topwater2 Offline
TFF Team Angler
Offline
TFF Team Angler
T
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,900
I always leave the winch strap tight until I launch. I've seen boats on the concrete and that's not where I want mine. The lighter the boat (tin) the more likely it will slide off, especially with wet bunks and a steep launch.


FishKen
Re: Boat launching question. [Re: west tex angler] #12861888 08/12/18 06:29 PM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 693
B
BAIT956 Online Content
Pro Angler
Online Content
Pro Angler
B
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 693
Always have a line connected to the boat bow. I disconnect the winch strap and slowly back in. The rope is connected to the winch handle. The boat floats off and I get out, pull it to shore and go park the vehicle and trailer. I usually fish alone and this works well.

Re: Boat launching question. [Re: west tex angler] #12861892 08/12/18 06:35 PM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 836
F
Fish2222 Offline
Pro Angler
Offline
Pro Angler
F
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 836
I launch alone 98.3% of the time. I launch in the dark 99.6% of the time.
I used to unhook it all....until earlier this summer, I couldn't see my fenders and floated the BassCat off the damn trailer.
Trust me, that was a dark, weedy swim at Naconiche.
I leave it hooked up now.


"I only catch the ones that bite"
BassCat Sabre
Mercury EFI 175
Re: Boat launching question. [Re: west tex angler] #12861906 08/12/18 06:56 PM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 385
S
stratos caster Online Content
Angler
Online Content
Angler
S
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 385
I leave the strap on alone or with a buddy because if your buddy is backing down and hits the brakes to hard that's when your going for a sleigh ride.

Re: Boat launching question. [Re: west tex angler] #12862299 08/13/18 12:59 AM
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 7,011
B
beartrap Offline
TFF Celebrity
Offline
TFF Celebrity
B
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 7,011
handiest thing I've got on my bass boat and duck boat is an anchor rein...got a brass snap on it that I hook to winch stand, and I unhook winch/tie downs,back down ramp til boat floats off trailer,pull up enough to where I don't have to get my feet wet,anchor rein has fed out enough rope to where I can unhook brass snap and pull boat to the bank beside the trailer...
neither of my boats will slide off the trailer and I've launched at some pretty steep ramps...
if you watch most experienced tournament fishermen,almost all of them unhook prior to backing down ramp and they don't hook up pulling up ramp afterwards either...
if you are concerned your boat might slide off the trailer try this...put about a foot of slack in your winch strap and back down the ramp...stop halfway down the ramp and check to see if your boat has moved...I'll bet 98% of bass boats won't move even if you slam on the brakes...
DON'T DO THIS IF you have put some sort of glide bunks on your trailer or sprayed the bunks with silicone spray...also do not unhook your winch if it is below freezing and your bunks might be icy.....
you can do this same test loading your boat too...hook up then put a couple feet of slack in your winch strap and when you load your boat push nose up against winch stop,leave engine idling in gear but trimmed up,signal your partner to slowly pull out and when you feel the boat settle on the trailer,shut the engine off as the prop clears the water...saves couple of minute vs you having to lean over front of boat and hook up winch then run back and shut engine off....couple minutes isn't much until you multiply it by 50-100 boats loading after a tournament...

Last edited by beartrap; 08/13/18 01:04 AM.
Re: Boat launching question. [Re: west tex angler] #12862369 08/13/18 01:59 AM
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,435
S
Squirrely Dan Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
S
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,435
Leave the strap hooked with plenty slack. When water gets colder I use rubber boots to walk and unhook then get on.


Fully sponsored by my mom
Re: Boat launching question. [Re: west tex angler] #12862374 08/13/18 02:08 AM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,512
F
Fishspanker Offline
TFF Guru
Offline
TFF Guru
F
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,512
Alone I just loosen the strap a couple of cranks but leave the winch engaged. Back it down into the water to where the boat goes back slightly. Unhook it then climb in the boat and drive it off the trailer.


The Sheep who only fears the Wolf is eaten by the Shepherd.
Re: Boat launching question. [Re: west tex angler] #12862375 08/13/18 02:08 AM
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 786
kevine80 Offline
Pro Angler
Offline
Pro Angler
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 786
i back down to the waters edge - unhook winch -and hook up a rope -- back in shoot it off the trailer -- let it spool out then hit my talon remote -- throw the rope down on the bank --go park

Page 1 of 2 1 2
Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 1998-2022 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3