Boat ramp near North Myrtle Beach SC

[tparrent]

Any info on a good ramp for my first haulout of the TomCat?

The boat is currently a few minutes from the ramps under the Hwy 17 bridge but those look tricky with swirling currents and no docks.

Next closest I have seen is the Sunset Beach ramp about 12 miles away.

I had planned to cruise from NMB to New Bern but weather than logistics are proving difficult what with the boat and vehicle ending up 3 hours away from each other.

[gulfcoast john]

TP,
Cherry Grove Marina (Formerly Anchor Marina) is up a little inlet with a private ramp beside that Hwy 17 ramp. I haven’t been there. On my trailer, the aft end scum line is 53 inches high, so you need a steep and deep ramp. You could ask them if they would consider letting you use it for a fee.

http://cherrygrovemarina.com/contact-2/

The Sunset ramp has ‘breakwaters’ per Active Captain and that is just what you need.

The narrow ICW all along there is strongly affected by the 2-3ft tides, with strong currents perpendicular to the boat. (10ft in Georgia!) And the current affects the stern more than the bow (depending). So as you’re drifting sideways downstream with the current while trying to keep the bow and stern aligned and approaching the trailer you’re trying to time it to slide the sponsons onto the bunks outside the cage and start to power up...but by now the current has the aft end trying to turn the boat 90 degrees and twist it off the trailer.

If possible, do it at slack high tide; charts are online for Waccamaw river etc. Make that priority #1. And priority #2.

The key to loading the TC255 is not rear guide posts, but to avoid backing down so much that the cage can’t prevent the sponsons from mis-aligning off the bunks. You don’t need a dock nearby, but you DO need a driver in the truck to move the trailer deeper or more shallow while you drive on. You can’t stand on a dock with a line and pull a 255 against any current. Cell phones on speaker or with Bluetooth headsets can work over truck and boat noise. Or EarTechs. Priority #3 is two way comm with your truck driver while you drive on.

To launch, back down til the top front trailer fender is 3-4 inches under water.

To load, start with the front fender an inch out of the water or awash so the cage can direct the sponsons onto the bunks. Once halfway to ⅔ on the trailer and straight, instead of full power have the truck driver back down a foot or two and then much less power will finish taking the boat up to the bow stops. A ½” PVC ‘indicator bar’ that kisses the bow rail when at the stops helps me, since you can’t see the stops and your driver is in the cab.

Did I mention don’t even THINK about other than slack tide?

We loaded for our Eastern ICW Adventure downriver at the public ramp beside this marina:

https://www.waccawachemarina.com/

East of the ramp is a large safe 24-h public rig parking area behind the marina. We hauled out at mid tide and it was the most difficult loading we’ve ever done. At least there is a fair amount of drifting room, and the ramp was said to be usable even at low tide. If you break a cage guide board or two, they can be replaced. Silicone spray the bunks before dunking. If you had your rig prepositioned in the 24h lot you could stay overnight at the marina to time the tides. Ask for a slip behind the restaurant, though a no-wake zone there are wakes.

I’d advise calling the local Sea Tow captain in the office and ask re best ramp option (they won’t ask if you’re a member). If you offer that the boat is like a 26-28 ft World Cat they’ve seen those. Morningstar Reserve Yacht club ramp is not possible.

We used Enterprise to drive back to Jacksonville, but they have become unhelpful with picking you up. For a same-day drive, a $19.99 UHaul van or F150 (return it to pickup point same day) has become the go-to option for many one-way loopers. Some day head south, it’s an amazing trip.

Hope this is helpful. PM me if any questions.

Cheers!
John

[tparrent]

What could possibly go wrong?

I saw a guy bring a small fishing boat into the Hwy 17 ramp and I immediately decided that I wouldn't be doing that! I sure do miss the current, tide, salt and obstruction free waters of the Great Lakes.

Thanks for the suggestions about how to best launch and load the boat. I'm printing out your post and putting it in with the ship's papers for future reference.

Still finalizing details but I think I'm going to deliver the boat by water and just bring the trailer up separately. I always seek (and seldom succeed) to reduce chaos wherever possible. Twisty tides and currents on a new to me boat combined with a trailer just seems like a recipe for disaster. I'll get used to the boat first and then deal with trailering.

[tparrent]

Had my broker (Lars Bergstrom - best in the business) deliver the boat while I dragged the trailer up to New Bern.

Learned two important lessons:

1. Be very careful about having someone drive your TomCat. They may not want to bring it back. Definitely created a convert.

2. If you are going to drag that big trailer on a long trip, use the restroom ahead of time. Awfully hard to find a place to pull over with that beast!

[gulfcoast john]

Easy Peasy, it's barely as long as a typical tractor-trailer rig...and twice as purty!



You'll get used to it.
John