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Boat launch and feasible solution.. wadday think of my idea?

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bigJake said:
Guys I think we are wasting our time here. He obviously knows more than us. I think we just congratulate him on coming up with such a great idear. I bet he can even market that there trunk winch and become a multi millionare and maybe be able to move to a better community. Come to think of it, I think I paid more than 270K for my tool shed....
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come on man! stop with the damn low blows! i made none at anyone and just threw an idea out there. someone else attacked where i live and what they think i live in... had nothing to do with my post.. 'guys'. wasnt looking for congrats...and if you want to continue this bs of money and how much you paid for your toolshed.. you go for it. no need to talk about whose balls are bigger or crap to get up one on someone else. sorry, but i didnt throw any stones at anyone. i simply put something, whatever it was, out there, there was no need to make personal insults at me. if you cant understand that, well... thats a shame. i didnt do a thing to deserve that.
 
guitarsjm said:
come on man! stop with the damn low blows! i made none at anyone and just threw an idea out there. someone else attacked where i live and what they think i live in... had nothing to do with my post.. 'guys'. wasnt looking for congrats...and if you want to continue this bs of money and how much you paid for your toolshed.. you go for it. no need to talk about whose balls are bigger or crap to get up one on someone else. sorry, but i didnt throw any stones at anyone. i simply put something, whatever it was, out there, there was no need to make personal insults at me. if you cant understand that, well... thats a shame. i didnt do a thing to deserve that.
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You asked our advice on your idea. We told you it was a bad idea. You insisted you were right and we were wrong. Griz was obviously joking with you about where you lived, you took it way too serious.

ps. my tool shed really didn't cost a dime over 100K
 
Yep... Jake's play house is on a privet lake. My Wife's sister has a place up there, and I can't even go.


To All: the next time I see foul language, and personal attacks... I'll have the thread locked. DO WE UNDERSTAND??


With that said:

1) As said above... they can make a hitch for anything, and the one in the link above is engineered to pull 2000Lbs. (I'll agree to that) BUT... the hitch is made out of steel that is probably 6 times thicker than anything else in the car. Just because a company makes a product, doesn't mean it's safe or legal.

2) A USA spec Civic is not rated to tow. (period)

3) Even if you use the UK Specs, it's only good for 850 Lbs. That would be OK for a single jetski, but not a 14.5' boat. (realistically it's 1500 Lbs with fuel)

4) If you try to tow with it... you will roast the brakes, and the transmission.


Putting that aside... if you tried to disconnect the trailer at the ramp on a summer day (When it's busy) you will get a bunch of upset people yelling at you. SO, my opinion on the winch would be to NOT do it. The best thing would be to add 3' or 4' to the tongue of the trailer.
 
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bigJake said:
Doc, would adding length to the tongue affect the sway?
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Adding a few feet to the tongue probably won't change it too much... but it will drop the tongue weight.

Actually, the small seadoo boat trailer has a tongue that unbolts... so you can just buy 3" square tube, and replace it with a longer one.
 
i'm bored so i'll chime in.

1) the winch idea is a bad one, skip it, not worth pursuing....
2) the honda will probably make it, but its not going to be healthy for the car
2a) if your a long term boat owner, its time to upgrade your tow vehicle, or find a boating buddy that owns a truck.

my tow vehicle is a 95 lexus ES, and i've towed single and double ski trailers up and down ramps everywhere within 200 miles, no issues, but a boat is a different thing, I have dragged my 96 challenger across florida and back for service *but i haven't taken to boat to a ramp yet* its a project boat, so i only planned on a trip or 3 down the ramp, and i've already discussed this with my buddy that owns a truck, he'll be there with me the first trip down the ramp, just in case, and it will be a short, shallow ramp, not the steep one I usually launch at... but with a front wheel drive its unlikely the boat will drag you into the water, its just more likely your burn up the transmission and fk up the suspension over the long term.

Towing ability set aside, the key is if your brakes can handle the extra weight, i'd be more concerned about somebody stopping short in front of you on the way to the ramp, than you getting dragged into the lake.

honestly I don't plan on owning my boat for more than 3 or 4 rides, then its getting sold, but I still started shopping around for a 3-4K SUV or truck anyway, since i'd like to have one and replace the lexus, i'm slowly killing my lexus's tranny and struts with all the towing i've done.

proceed with caution, but your definitely stretching the limits of the civic, for sure, but the winch is NOT the answer.
 
Jake,

The Yacht Club trailer is the longest PWC trailer that I have seen, I've had no problems towing it, in fact it's a lot easier to back up then my other trailers. I guess they added extra weight to the front of the trailer to have the proper tongue weight, which could be a problem by just simply adding to the length of a regular trailer.

Lou
 
i just reviewed my posts on this stupid thread, the only cursing i did was i said stupid bullcrap, if u wanna throw me out of the forums, so be it, but when u post stuff like this, it is stupid bullcrap, i also submitted some important information on towing if someone would look, if, i was behind this setup on interstate, i would just simply call fhp, i, will never answer another thing this member has to say, matter a fact, i wont piss on him if he was on fire
 
RFoster130 said:
If you are stuck on making it work, i would do as Lou suggests. Look at making the tongue longer to keep you out of the water. With a front wheel drive civic, i cant imagine your tires ever being in the water though. Keep them on dry pavement. The algea covered ramps would be the biggest problem. I have been to a few where i had to use 4wd on my truck just because of them being too slippery.
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thanks RFoster130.... thats all i was looking for... not attacks on me, where i live and all that nonsense.... it is ALL we have at this time, so just doing the best with what we have. and by the way, we are from NY... so any of those polk county junk comments dont mean a thing; they are made with no knowledge of who they are levying them at. but i thank you, Lou, the Dr and others who have been great and helpful. with all i have learned from you guys and the manual, i know every inch of our boat and appreciate it. thanks again and i will surely look into making the tongue longer. any ideas as to how much longer i should look into making it? thanks again...
 
griz400 said:
i just reviewed my posts on this stupid thread, the only cursing i did was i said stupid bullcrap, if u wanna throw me out of the forums, so be it, but when u post stuff like this, it is stupid bullcrap, i also submitted some important information on towing if someone would look, if, i was behind this setup on interstate, i would just simply call fhp, i, will never answer another thing this member has to say, matter a fact, i wont piss on him if he was on fire
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just a note.. it may be 'stupid bc' to you because you have been doing this for some time; we, havent. so to us, we are just asking what seems to be questions to those who are in the know. and for the most part, those who have replied KNOW we are new to this and have replied accordingly... no one has taken any of my questions or concerns and replied as if any posts were 'stupid' or 'bull---'. sorry you felt that way.
 
boat ramp

One of the replies mentioned that you would likely be ridiculed at the boat ramp for launching your boat with a winch. Please remember ramp etiquette. I for one, don't like waiting any longer than necessary to launch or load. I teach my teenagers how important it is to get off that ramp as soon and safely as possible. I can't tell you how many times I have had to wait because of poor planning, mechanical problems, and just plain lack of courtesy. A couple of years ago I saw a pickup truck sink because the guy was launching a jet ski from the bed of his truck. The ramp was closed for several hours. I can't imagine how he explained that to his insurance company. Your winch idea sounds dangerous and you will likely tie up a ramp for an unreasonable amount of time. Whatever you decide to do please keep in mind that there are other boaters.
 
buckeye_paul said:
......... Please remember ramp etiquette. I for one, don't like waiting any longer than necessary to launch or load. I teach my teenagers how important it is to get off that ramp as soon and safely as possible. I can't tell you how many times I have had to wait because of poor planning, mechanical problems, and just plain lack of courtesy. A couple of years ago I saw a pickup truck sink because the guy was launching a jet ski from the bed of his truck. The ramp was closed for several hours. I can't imagine how he explained that to his insurance company. Your winch idea sounds dangerous and you will likely tie up a ramp for an unreasonable amount of time. Whatever you decide to do please keep in mind that there are other boaters.
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yep... what he said.

On a busy day... I get pissed when people take an excessive amount of time on the ramp. Last summer, we were dropping into the Rivers around Pittsburgh, and there was some guy (obviously new to boats) who backed down the center of a BIG ramp, and was a little sideways. So he was the ONLY person who could use the ramp. Mind you... it's a ramp that normally is for 2 large boats, or 3 smaller boat/jetskis. Then then the guy started pissing with the boat because it wouldn't start. (You need to test start the boat before you launch) After about 10 minutes, I thought there was going to be a fist fight, and a park ranger finally came over and told him to get his truck and boat off the ramp.

On a busy day... launching a boat should take no more than 2 or 3 minutes. If it takes longer than that... you have no business being at the ramp.

A final note... with the winch... you won't have very good control over the trailer, and that could be dangerous to other people on the ramp.
 
Dr Honda said:
yep... what he said.

On a busy day... I get pissed when people take an excessive amount of time on the ramp. Last summer, we were dropping into the Rivers around Pittsburgh, and there was some guy (obviously new to boats) who backed down the center of a BIG ramp, and was a little sideways. So he was the ONLY person who could use the ramp. Mind you... it's a ramp that normally is for 2 large boats, or 3 smaller boat/jetskis. Then then the guy started pissing with the boat because it wouldn't start. (You need to test start the boat before you launch) After about 10 minutes, I thought there was going to be a fist fight, and a park ranger finally came over and told him to get his truck and boat off the ramp.

On a busy day... launching a boat should take no more than 2 or 3 minutes. If it takes longer than that... you have no business being at the ramp.

A final note... with the winch... you won't have very good control over the trailer, and that could be dangerous to other people on the ramp.
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thanks Dr...
 
another thing to be aware of is that occasionally you will encounter a launch ramp that "drops off". you back the trailer in the water and your trailer wheels drop off a 6" ledge. if this happens when you are taking the boat out, now your tow vehicle has to have the power to pull the weight of the boat up over the ledge. this happened to me and i have a F150 with a 4.6L. my wheels spun a little before getting the boat out. Do this with your honda and you could be in trouble. combine it with a slippery ramp and you better just call a tow truck.

boaters are generally a friendly breed until you tie up the ramp then you are dealing with a bunch of rabid dogs because now you are ruining their day on the water too. So when ya call for that tow truck, ya might want to call for an ambulance too. Just tellin ya how it is. Your decision on what you do.
 
bigJake said:
boaters are generally a friendly breed until you tie up the ramp then you are dealing with a bunch of rabid dogs because now you are ruining their day on the water too.
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:cheers::lol::D:rofl:

You are absolutely right. In the water, or parked on the shore... you can ask for help... or even ask if they have an extra bottle of water... and I have never turned someone down. But tie up the ramp when I have a kid screaming, and wanting to get out of the truck... and I start to get pissed off.


I also thought of something else with the winch... and why it's not a good idea. If you get into a busy harbor... or just a choppy harbor... I've had trailers start to go sideways, and if they weren't solidly attached to my truck... they would have caused damage.
 
Dr Honda said:
:cheers::lol::D:rofl:

You are absolutely right. In the water, or parked on the shore... you can ask for help... or even ask if they have an extra bottle of water... and I have never turned someone down. But tie up the ramp when I have a kid screaming, and wanting to get out of the truck... and I start to get pissed off.


I also thought of something else with the winch... and why it's not a good idea. If you get into a busy harbor... or just a choppy harbor... I've had trailers start to go sideways, and if they weren't solidly attached to my truck... they would have caused damage.
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good point, even if it is a double boat ramp, now he is tying up the entire boat ramp because it wouldn't be safe for someone to launch a boat next to him because the boat on the end of the winch line is going to go with the water and smash into the other boat.
 
bigJake said:
good point, even if it is a double boat ramp, now he is tying up the entire boat ramp because it wouldn't be safe for someone to launch a boat next to him because the boat on the end of the winch line is going to go with the water and smash into the other boat.
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excellent points and i never thought of the water being too choppy; when we tested it out ON A CALM LAKE with a ramp that was nothing to back down, the winch idea may have briefly been a thought, but i really do see how it could be a bad idea if waters are choppy, especially if we want to go in any coastal waters.... i appreciate all this help and know that you guys are just showin this newbie the ropes so that i dont cause damage physical or otherwise to ourselves or others.... until we can upgrade vehicle, we will scope out nearby ramps that arent steep and will do our best to not tie up anything... when we did test, it took about 4-5 min to launch and a min or 2 more to get it back on. that said, we would of course have no problems being last in line going in or coming back out so others can do what they need to more quickly. the winch idea, though it may been a fair thought at first... i see how it could be problematic... thanks for the help all around!
 
omg... u guys gave me nightmares..... got our baby all legal today...title/reg for boat and trailer... went to walmart to get a few other items...the one by us has a pretty decent attwood marine aisle with loads of boat 'stuff' you need or may need as well as trailer s and safety stuff... ordered that ultimate trailer keeper wheel lock, the fuel sender float and some other stuff... the boat/trailer registstration too almost $300; frickn trailer cost more to reg than the boat did. cant make heads or tails about that, but a big part of bill was taxes on what we paid for the enitire pkge,,,, also got automatic battery charger and stuff. well... know have to wait for a few weeks to the carpet, top, engine cover and ALL our seats redone... what a SICK irresistable price we got... and the person will do it same day for no extra!! cant wait to show off before during and finished pics...
 
Take a boating safety course too. In Pa you can do it online, don't know about Fl. Also check into what safety devices you are required to have on board. (life jackets, fire extinguisher, throw float, audible alarms, etc) if you get pulled over by the boat cops for a safety check and don't have all the required items, it could be a major fine.
 
I modified my Speedster trailer to fit larger wheels by repositioning the axle underneath the springs instead of above. This lifted the boat by about 2 inches, then I gained another inch with the larger wheels. my 3 inch lift wasn't an issue because it now sat level with my 4wd which was also modified. However I sold the 4wd and then hooked the boat trailer up to my new 4wd and 3 inches meant I had to get the front wheels wet to launch the boat.

Why am I telling you this? Explore whether you can get smaller wheels on your trailer and a new tow bar tounge to offset the lowered trailer hitch. 1-2 inches makes an enormous difference when launching your boat.

For the record, I too have considered mounting a winch to my 4wd bumper to launch my jetski in the ocean with no available ramp. That way I wouldn't need to give the 4wd a salt water bath. Abandoned the idea because I wouldn't be able to push the trailer out to launch in the first place!

One other option is swapping your trailer skids for rollers. I know they're not popular in the USA, but 90% boat trailers have them here in Australia. Rollers mean you you only need enough water depth for your boat to float when launching and retrieving as opposed to sinking it deep enough to float off the skids.

I've seen the rollers for sale in the USA for about $200 a set and you'd need a set of quad wobbly rollers on the back of the trailer too.

Personally I don't like skids, they gather crap and scratch your hull and force you to submerge your trailer deeper than necessary. I'd go rollers any day but it's too expensive to swap them out here in Oz.
 
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Macster, you make some really good points.

Reading this post brought up another idea, trailer slides. I had these on a boat I use to own, I didn't especially like them because it made retrieving the boat a two person operation. The reason being that when you put the boat back on the trailer if you weren't careful, the runners were so slippery the boat would slide back into the water before you could get to boat secured to the trailer.

At the time we owned that boat, the kids were little and my wife had a full time job just keeping the kids rounded up and in a safe place. However if you have two people to retrieve the boat it would not be a problem.

http://www.overtons.com/modperl/pro...ler_Slides_1_5_W_x_15_L&aID=603E&merchID=4006

Lou
 
bigJake said:
Take a boating safety course too. In Pa you can do it online, don't know about Fl. Also check into what safety devices you are required to have on board. (life jackets, fire extinguisher, throw float, audible alarms, etc) if you get pulled over by the boat cops for a safety check and don't have all the required items, it could be a major fine.
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thanks Jake (thats also my sons name). having worked on marinas and a regular renter of boats, i know quite a bit; though OWNING one is quite different and there is surely no harm in learning or refreshing ones knowledge. the first things we got were all the safety gear you mentioned... most of it came with the boat and is all in fine shape including flares. we bought new vests and a flotation tether and added some of our own like med emergency kit (wife is an RN), a solar/crank emergency radio/light and stuff. on another note, i was reading one of the other threads that spoke of carrying some extra gas.... totally smart move as one cat lost track of time (and gas) quite easily while out on the water. in one of our local lakes, that may not be too much of a frightful event, but being out in a bay or a bit off shore could make for a horrible experience for sure. so, with that in mind, is carrying a 5 gall jug safe and where could it be safely stgored? in lower engine compartment? how about for those of us with oil injected motors, an extra gallon of oil? back to the safety issue, we picked a boaters safety guide when we went to title/register our boat and trailer. good advice no doubt! the waters, hospitals, and morgues have their share of inexperienced boaters who just think you go in and GO! with no regard for others...
 
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