Launching a 22' Cruiser

R

Rabbits Hutch

New member
Hi All,

I'm used to launching my 16' cruiser using a roller trailer. Any substantial differences that I should be aware of when moving up to a 22' cruiser? the trailer will also be a roller one, only difference is this would be tandem axle.

Should I expect to get wet when retrieving the boat back onto the trailer? On the 16', it required some wading to latch the cable to the bow eye.

Always a pleasure learning more from the group,

Gary R.
 
It really depends on where you are launching but in general, you shouldn't have to get wet at all if there is a dock at the ramp and you can get the trailer wheels most of the way under water w/o getting the tow vehicle wet. Every place I have launched from Seattle to Neah Bay has not required me to get wet.

At present, I have an old F250 as a tow vehicle. I lower the tailgate prior to backing the trailer down. I have 25' lines at the bow and stern.

If launching, my wife or whoever is with me, takes both lines and walks with them in hand as I back down slowly. Once the stern is safely in the water, I hop out and unlatch the cable from the bow (NEVER do this too early especially on a steep ramp), and back down until the stern starts to float or until the trailer wheels are 2/3 submerged (whichever comes first). The partner who is with me pulls the boat off (with perhaps a push on the bow from me) and we're launched. If I need to push on the bow, having the tail gate down usually allows me to hop on the tailget and go from there to the "Y" in the hitch and push the boat off w/o getting my feet wet.

To retrieve, I usually back up close to the dock again with the wheels 2/3 submerged on the trailer. I pull the boat forward with the bow line - a 25' line allows us my wife to pull it up to near the trailer and hand the bow line off to me on dry land. I hope up onto the tail gate and pull the boat onto the trailer while she uses the stern line to assist with the pulling and a boat hook to push the stern out if needed. I hop down onto the trailer, hook up the winch and winch it up. Typically, I only have to winch less than 2-3'.

If I'm single handed, the procedure is approximately the same, it just takes longer. I've never gotten my feet wet with the exception of one stupid fall from the trailer. Once I got the pickup (as opposed the the Trooper I used to use), the tailgate has made it a lot easier to stay dry and get to the trailter "Y".

Roger
 
Gary- I bring chest waders to retrieve the boat. It really helps when you need to put her on the trailer solo.

Launching and landing a boat is all about control. I found the 22' cruiser needs two lines to achieve control. Both front and rear. I can launch and stay dry but plan on getting wet to bring it out. Guide on posts may solve the centering issues I have. You can do it solo provided the "control ropes" are in hand 100% of time when you deploy or bring it in.

Keep in mind my trailer is super short for a 22' boat so I have a need to back up just a little further than most.

I like having someone else along for loading/ launching but can do it alone. When I do it alone it always seems to draw an audience. People looking for show. This seems to be a Northern Wisconsin past time for some to watch boat ramps. They almost seem disappointed when you show up prepared to get wet and pull it off with out incident.

Chris Bulovsky
 
Both my 22 and my 25 I have launched and retreived a zillion times by myself (actually only several hundred) (well, maybe a hundred and nine), and don't get too wet. Except for the time I slipped of the trailer into 2 feet of salt water and fried both my cell phone and fire dept. pager.

I always back the trailer into the water on the ramp (no dock here) and then I power the boat onto the trailer until it is within 6-12" from the bow roller. Keep the power on about 1000RPM and go foreward and attach the winch. Go back and turn off the engine and go back forward and winch in on up the last what-ever.
 
OK, CD22, 25, whatever. Back down until the back end of the car is near the water's edge, undo the safety chain and winch line, get back in the car, spousal unit is holding the lines, back up a foot or two and slam on the brakes. Viola (OK, I know it is voila), car stops and boat keeps going...boat be launched! Do a Google define: on "inertia" to understand how this works...Retrieval also involves spousal unit, and frequently some colorful language...
 
K,

So now to make this project work, I need a spousal unit. If anyone has a thin, athletic and single female friend between 21 and 35, please let me know.

Gary
 
Since my 22' is on a bunk trailer I am finding it necessary to have a boat friend hold the ropes while I back the boat in and slam on the brakes like previously mentioned. This works great.

Upon retrieval I like to back the trailer as close to the dock as possible. This way you can actually reach the boat from the dock and do any adjusting if necessary.

I have yet to do a launch/retrieve by myself. It would be stressful at a busy ramp but in the winter I could easily do it.
 
Like Roger I too use a 30 ' rope , 90% of the time I launch solo .But on my last 4 trailers I have been using a 9' tongue, it make all the difference in the world. It makes anybody backing up the boat look like you are an expert ,because a very small correction is needed to direct the trailer where you want it to go! I have yet to see a tide that will stop me from putting SEARAM into the water . My trailer is a bunk trailer with 10' loading side boards spaced about 3/4 of an inch on each side. When retreiving my boat out of the water, the trailer is backed up until the the tip of the front bunks is almost submerged , then I jump onto the ramp untie the boat, jump back onto my truck then proceed to pull the boat by hand,first within 5 to 10 '' from the winch. Voila! You do need boots or hipwaders in winter time , as you have to get in the water to hook the final few inches to the winch.


Gary SEARAM
 
Crazy Idea # 33 (?)

Has anyone with a wireless remote control on a gas trolling motor or an electric transom mounted trolling motor tried turning the boat loose (only in light wind) from the dock and guiding the boat from the dock to the trailer with the wireless remote while walking from the dock to the trailer?

What? You say the boat was caught in the wind/curent and was last seen near Neah Bay headed Westward at 6 mph ?
 
A remote would be a handy gadget for solo launching at busy ramps.

my procedure for solo launching with da bunk trailer at ramps with floats.
prep boat berore proceding to ramp,install plug, tilt engines partially down, remove stern strap, install fenders and dock lines & loosen winch line (as you back into the water the stern floats up and pulls pretty hard on that winch line otherwise). The rear dock line I throw in the cockpit and have about a 1' tail hanging over the gunnel, the front line I coil up by the anchor. Back the boat down untill my truck bumper is about to the edge of the water, remove safety chain and winch line, grab bow line and shove. If the boat doesn't float off I'll tie the bow line off on the dock towards the stern and jump in the truck and do the inertia thing.

Loading back up I'll tie up to the dock, retrieve truck and just walk or drive the boat onto the trailer, I have to do my Great Wallenda imitation as I walk out on the trailer to hook the bow eye. We've always been fortunate to have floats available at the ramps we use so I've managed to stayed dry.
 
That remote idea has some merit but not with my luck.

When I launch a Grumman sport boat or my 16 Alumacraft I tie a 60' cord to the bow eye and back in aggressively. And the boat floats way out then put the truck in gear and slowly pull forward. Your boat tracks right to the ramp. Untie, park , then fish.

I know its low tech. However it works pretty good.

Chris
 
We are very new at boating but agree with what everyone has said. You shouldn't have any problem with the 22. We have found it quite easy to launch and retrieve, either with partner or solo, and have not had to get wet yet, but I am sure that will happen soon. Let us know how it goes.
 
Haven't had a chance to load/unload the 27' yet. But with the sled it goes like this... after doing prep work, back most of the way down the ramp/river bank unhook boat and hand 30' line to helper if available. Do the inertia thing and float off if I have help. Otherwise put trailer tires in until the fender is just at the waters surface. Hop in the boat and power off. Beach boat or tie to dock and move the truck.

To load it I simply back the trailer up till the fenders are at the surface and then drive the boat onto the trailer. Leaving it in gear I Hop on the bow and put the cleat on the bow eye. Shut off the boat motor. Hop in the truck and drive off.

The tricky part is when you are on a river with good current pushing the boat sideways as you try to load! The last time I did that I was on the Skykomish at Sultan. The Launch there is at the mouth of the Sultan and can be really tricky to get loaded due to the currents. Point the boat straight upriver and slowly manuever the boat until you hook the downstream sideboard with the bow. Then crank the wheel and power on the trailer trying to line up the bow with the cleat and not get the river anchor caught on the winch! All while hoping that the river doesn't bury your trailer wheels! :thup

It'll be interesting to see how tough the 27' loads! I've been driving my boats onto the trailers for years. I don't know that I'll be able to do that with the big boat!
 
So now to make this project work, I need a spousal unit.
Click to expand...

Gary R: If you acquire a spousal unit for launch and retrieve MAKE SURE it is a FULLY MARINE COMPATIBLE unit. Non-marine compatible spousal units WILL NOT FUNCTION in launch / retrieve mode.

Jim
 
An excellent point! Do NOT under any circumstances try to substitute an automotive compatible spousal unit for a marine compatible spousal unit. While an automotive compatible spousal unit may function marginally in launch / retrieve mode, it will not hold up to the harsh marine environment over time...


Aiviq":yvubwwa7 said:
So now to make this project work, I need a spousal unit.
Click to expand...

Gary R: If you acquire a spousal unit for launch and retrieve MAKE SURE it is a FULLY MARINE COMPATIBLE unit. Non-marine compatible spousal units WILL NOT FUNCTION in launch / retrieve mode.

Jim
Click to expand...
 
Ditto on the spousal unit marine compatibility requirement. My ex hated boats, so I single handedly launched and retrieved for about 25 yrs.

Helping El and Bill launch at one point, I was surprized that most of you do not start and warm up the engines prior to sliding the boat off the trailer. I guess some of my old boats were too unpredictable, but alot of the old engines would cough and die just as you backed off the trailer.

I would put the trailer in to early floating level sternwise, then board and start the engines. After that, back up to launch level and reboard the boat and dirve it off. Depending upon the wind, either beach the boat, or go to nearest dock area, then hike back to truck and tailer and park, then hike back to boat....puff puff , pant pant....

JOhn
 
Besides the standard procedures mentioned already, I'd like to make a few of additions:

A roller trailer, as opposed t a bunk, can make launching and retrieving much easier on shallow ramps where the bunk trailer has trouble getting in far enough to float on and off.

There are a number off additions to the trailer that facilitate easy launching-

1. A good set of guide-ons that are high and long enough are a major need for a boat the size of a 22 or 25. They should be up nearly to the rub rail in height, and run from the forward end of the front window to the end of the cockpit interior to be most effective. They are of invaluable help in currents and wind, but just make the whole launching drill more managable anytime. Pad them well and mount your clearance lights to them to keep them out of the water and less likely to get smashed in the parking lot.

2. Widen the tongue and place anti-skid tape on the surfaces to be walked on. You can also fill in the v-shaped triangle behind where the trailer side members join with the tongue with a waterproofed plywood sheet to be able to walk out on it to retrieve the nose of the boat and clip the winch line hook to the bow eye of the boat. A ladder on the tongue to the area above the winch post that can be used to climb over the bow pulpit, and takes you out of the arena of circus high wire performners who have hung up their aging bodies on the ground tackle.

Here's an excellent example of such a system from David's Anna Leigh:

Cat_walk_and_ladder.sized.jpg

Be sure you've got a secondary positive attachment hook/chain/device for the bow retention in case the winch fails on the ramp or while traveling on roads (applies expecially to roller trailers). If the winch ratchet fails, you don't want the boat sliding back off the trailer on either the ramp or the freeway. Had a friend who used to get so mad racing sailboats that he frerquently forgot to tie the boat completely down on the trailer before storming off to go home. Planed two boats down the highway, one on the Dumbarton Bridge which was run over by an 18 wheeler(!) And we thought his blood pressure was high when he left the launch ramp!

Just some more thoughts.....Joe.[/list]
 
An excellent point! Do NOT under any circumstances try to substitute an automotive compatible spousal unit for a marine compatible spousal unit. While an automotive compatible spousal unit may function marginally in launch / retrieve mode, it will not hold up to the harsh marine environment over time...
Click to expand...

My limited experience indicates that "the spousal unit" (don't ever let El know I used that term!) functions even better in the "harsh" marine environment that in the automobile. Wildlife viewings, sundowners, etc. are far better in the marine world than on the freeways.

There is a major disadvantage to rollers on a trailer -- yep, you can drop the boat off on a freeway or on a steep boat ramp if you [forgot and] untied the holdings before backing down. I'm not arguing against rollers -- they also have some wonderful advantages.

Yep, John, aren't these new outboards marvelous? -- they (usually) start when you want them to cough into life. Wasn't that a great time we shared on the Arkansas? Going to see a dental surgeon this afternoon, so hope he has one of those great tv goggles you helped develop ...
 
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