I have an '86 O'day 192 shoal keel sailboat that I trailer to various local ramps. My problem is I can't get the boat to float off of the trailer without de-coupling it and submersing the trailer. I've set up an additional winch to retrieve the trailer when doing this, but I looking for an easier way (there are no moorings or slips available locally). I came across a product, 'Extend-a-hitch', that mounts below the existing main rail on the trailer, and slides out for an extension while at the ramp. Has anyone used this extension? If so, would you please provide feedback? Thanks.
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Ray Bowles
Matt, I've seen the chain launch and recovery
used by actual sailboat hauling companies. They unhook the trailer and let it roll down the ramp and launch the boat and then recover the trailer with the attached chain. Reverse for recovery. If the attachment you are speaking about attaches to the front tongue of the trailer and bridges to the tow rig and allows say 6 to 10 feet more of tongue length, so as to be an extendable tongue, then it should work. But only if it is so solidly attached to the tongue that the trailer can be steered by it. If it is a universal joint at the front of the tongue then steering the trailer into the water would be a pain in the fanny. The chain method would be easier. Another option is to weld an extendable tongue onto your trailer or attach an extendable ball assembly under your truck. Now don't laugh. I saw one in use in Idaho where he attached it onto his class 3 truck trailer hitch assembly. There was 2 square mounting points, one at the front(as in forward portion of the hitch assembly)and one at the rear of the hitch. He mounted a sq. box tube about 10' long into it and pinned it in place. It had a ball on the end that hooked to the trailer and the result was a big splash. If this is hard to visualize then we are on the same page but it flat assed worked. E-mail if I could help explain it more. Ray S/V Speedy
used by actual sailboat hauling companies. They unhook the trailer and let it roll down the ramp and launch the boat and then recover the trailer with the attached chain. Reverse for recovery. If the attachment you are speaking about attaches to the front tongue of the trailer and bridges to the tow rig and allows say 6 to 10 feet more of tongue length, so as to be an extendable tongue, then it should work. But only if it is so solidly attached to the tongue that the trailer can be steered by it. If it is a universal joint at the front of the tongue then steering the trailer into the water would be a pain in the fanny. The chain method would be easier. Another option is to weld an extendable tongue onto your trailer or attach an extendable ball assembly under your truck. Now don't laugh. I saw one in use in Idaho where he attached it onto his class 3 truck trailer hitch assembly. There was 2 square mounting points, one at the front(as in forward portion of the hitch assembly)and one at the rear of the hitch. He mounted a sq. box tube about 10' long into it and pinned it in place. It had a ball on the end that hooked to the trailer and the result was a big splash. If this is hard to visualize then we are on the same page but it flat assed worked. E-mail if I could help explain it more. Ray S/V Speedy
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larry w.
A Gene Simmons tongue
Matt; An 8 foot tongue extension, built of box tube, is the hot set-up. It needs to connects to your trailer at two points so you can steer down the ramp. I built one for my old C-22 but any trailer shop can make one. They're worth it.
Matt; An 8 foot tongue extension, built of box tube, is the hot set-up. It needs to connects to your trailer at two points so you can steer down the ramp. I built one for my old C-22 but any trailer shop can make one. They're worth it.
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Matt
Thanks
Thanks for the feedback. I'm looking more towards the 10' rail versus a chain (or cable). Aside from the one company that I came across, I guess I'll have to make it up on my own. It doesn't look to difficult - and should be much less than the retail. Any thoughts about the extension scraping the ground as the trailer breaks over the crest of the ramp and the truck is still lying flat? If the pitch of the ramp comes into play - I'll have to get the trailer on the ramp and mesure a straight line.
Thanks for the feedback. I'm looking more towards the 10' rail versus a chain (or cable). Aside from the one company that I came across, I guess I'll have to make it up on my own. It doesn't look to difficult - and should be much less than the retail. Any thoughts about the extension scraping the ground as the trailer breaks over the crest of the ramp and the truck is still lying flat? If the pitch of the ramp comes into play - I'll have to get the trailer on the ramp and mesure a straight line.
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Matt
Trailer tongue
Thanks for the feedback. I'm looking more towards a 10'. I typically have to let out about 8' of cable, and would like to have a little leeway. Any thoughts about the extension scraping the ground as the trailer breaks over the crest of the ramp and the truck is still lying flat? If the pitch of the ramp comes into play - I'll have to get the trailer on the ramp and mesure a straight line between the two for the right size.
Thanks for the feedback. I'm looking more towards a 10'. I typically have to let out about 8' of cable, and would like to have a little leeway. Any thoughts about the extension scraping the ground as the trailer breaks over the crest of the ramp and the truck is still lying flat? If the pitch of the ramp comes into play - I'll have to get the trailer on the ramp and mesure a straight line between the two for the right size.
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Echo Gulf
16 foot
We use a 16 foot extension bar here at the sailing club (2 - 10 ft square steel tubes with one fitting into the other and pinned). In an effort to accomadate the different styles of trailers we have one end (the end that attaches to the trailer) designed to accept different sized trailer balls and the other end has a 2 5/16 in hitch. Despite the additional movable joint in this system, we have very little difficulty in launching or recovering boats in the 20 to 30 ft range. The simple solution for you, may be to obtain a suitable length of steel tube or pipe and attach the required ball and hitch. It should be easy to find storage for it on your trailer.
We use a 16 foot extension bar here at the sailing club (2 - 10 ft square steel tubes with one fitting into the other and pinned). In an effort to accomadate the different styles of trailers we have one end (the end that attaches to the trailer) designed to accept different sized trailer balls and the other end has a 2 5/16 in hitch. Despite the additional movable joint in this system, we have very little difficulty in launching or recovering boats in the 20 to 30 ft range. The simple solution for you, may be to obtain a suitable length of steel tube or pipe and attach the required ball and hitch. It should be easy to find storage for it on your trailer.
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RICK APPLING
Trailer Extension
Matt, I have an OD23 on a tandem axle trailer. I experienced a similar problem when lauching my boat at local ramps. In order to get the boat to float off the trailer the rear axle of my truck had to be in the water. I went to a local trailer builder and had a tongue extension built onto my the existing trailer. The extension is made out of 2.5 " square stock, 8'6" long with a hitch/coupler on one end. The extension is stowed under the primary tongue and hitch/coupler. When I'm ready to launch the boat I disconnect the primar hitch, slide the extension out (secured by a hex bolt), secure it, connect to the truck and back the boat in the water barely getting the tires wet. It works great, takes about 5 minutes to switch from primary to extension but, worth the preservation to my vehicle.
Matt, I have an OD23 on a tandem axle trailer. I experienced a similar problem when lauching my boat at local ramps. In order to get the boat to float off the trailer the rear axle of my truck had to be in the water. I went to a local trailer builder and had a tongue extension built onto my the existing trailer. The extension is made out of 2.5 " square stock, 8'6" long with a hitch/coupler on one end. The extension is stowed under the primary tongue and hitch/coupler. When I'm ready to launch the boat I disconnect the primar hitch, slide the extension out (secured by a hex bolt), secure it, connect to the truck and back the boat in the water barely getting the tires wet. It works great, takes about 5 minutes to switch from primary to extension but, worth the preservation to my vehicle.
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Ralph McGraw
BUT BEWARE
I have ( had up to last saturday ) an exrension that would give me an additional 8 ft of tongue. Problem on launch this time was trailer veered to one side a little and I didn't pick up on it. After pulling trailing out of water I noticed the bend in the 2.75 x 2.75 square tubing. Enough so wouldn't slide through receiver on trailer for storage of extension.
I have ( had up to last saturday ) an exrension that would give me an additional 8 ft of tongue. Problem on launch this time was trailer veered to one side a little and I didn't pick up on it. After pulling trailing out of water I noticed the bend in the 2.75 x 2.75 square tubing. Enough so wouldn't slide through receiver on trailer for storage of extension.
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Scot Mathis
Build your own
I have a wing-keel C22 which I launched last year with a lifted Jeep. I nearly floated the Jeep and still had to muscle the boat off of the trailer. When the time came recently to pull the boat out, I had a problem. There was no way that I was going to be able to get the boat on the trailer with the new, non-lifted Jeep. Time for a tongue extension. I looked at the Extend-a-Hitch, but I was scared off by the price and my fear of telescoping parts. I ended up fabricating my own extension based mostly on a sketch I found at http://home.earthlink.net/~sparkg/beagle/beagle.html (scroll down to the trailer mods section, look at drawing #2). Designs #1 and #3 looked workable too, but #2 is very strong and has no telescoping parts. Last Sunday I pulled the boat single-handedly. The extension worked like a charm. I was worried about dragging at the top of the ramp, but it was only a minor problem. The extension didn't drag, but some low-hanging braces on the trailer did. I still need to add brackets to the trailer for the extension. I also need to add handles, since it weighs close to a hundred pounds and is slippery when wet.
I have a wing-keel C22 which I launched last year with a lifted Jeep. I nearly floated the Jeep and still had to muscle the boat off of the trailer. When the time came recently to pull the boat out, I had a problem. There was no way that I was going to be able to get the boat on the trailer with the new, non-lifted Jeep. Time for a tongue extension. I looked at the Extend-a-Hitch, but I was scared off by the price and my fear of telescoping parts. I ended up fabricating my own extension based mostly on a sketch I found at http://home.earthlink.net/~sparkg/beagle/beagle.html (scroll down to the trailer mods section, look at drawing #2). Designs #1 and #3 looked workable too, but #2 is very strong and has no telescoping parts. Last Sunday I pulled the boat single-handedly. The extension worked like a charm. I was worried about dragging at the top of the ramp, but it was only a minor problem. The extension didn't drag, but some low-hanging braces on the trailer did. I still need to add brackets to the trailer for the extension. I also need to add handles, since it weighs close to a hundred pounds and is slippery when wet.
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Matt
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Matt
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