H260 trailer questions

[Bob 04 H260]

I just pulled my 260 out of the water for the first time this afternoon. I have few questions.
1. should the winch belt go over the roller or under it ? I think it looks like it should go under.
2. I winched the boat up tight to the roller but when I got up to the top of the ramp there was about 4" between the bow and the roller. Do you winch the boat forward or "bump" it forward ?
3. how far do you usually back the trailer down the ramp to load the boat on ? I used the tongue extension and probably put it too far back, my pickup truck tires were just in the water.

The boat went on well nice and straight first try.

Bob

 

[Dave D]

Hi Bob, over or under? Is that like the great toilet paper debate?

1) My winch only pulls one way, the other is a free release, so I have no choice.

2) you will always end up with that slack pulling out, most of us bump, if it's excessive, once you drain the ballast re-float and tighten it up.

3) that all depends of on the steepness of the ramp. The closer you can get it to sliding up the bunk boards as you pull onto the trailer, the better your results will generally be. If your floating, you'll get a little drift when you pull up the ramp. When I was new to it on my ramp, the rub-rail actually settled on top of the goal post once! (not good)

short story long, there aren't any steadfast rules. There's too much variance from ramp to tramp. Unfortunately, until you do it frequently, your not going to nail it down. I suggest you practice launching and retrieving all day when it's 99 degrees outside and a big boating holiday! Oh, and rent some kids top sit in the truck, scream and complain, that always helps.

 

[BrianW]

Just a caution... if you come up short MORE than just a few inches, beware! There is a hell of a lot of weight toward the back of your trailer if the boat is not near fully winched up. This results in a negative trailer tongue weight. On even a moderately sloped ramp, this can cause too little traction or weight on the rear tires of the tow vehicle. After pulling the boat and trailer to the top of the wet ramp, the boat and trailer can even drag your tow vehicle back down into the water, even with your vehicle brakes fully on! Wanna know how I know this? This happened to me with A Chevy van and my H26. BrianW

 

[BrianW]

I should probably clarify my response above about pulling a boat up a ramp with too long a distance from the winch. My problem was created by stopping about 2 feet short of the winch. I retrieved the boat during very low winter tide on a very short boat ramp. This condition was over-stressing the winch strap so I elected to attach a safety chain to the boat and trailer and pull the trailer up the ramp with the boat 2 feet short of the winch. To say the least, I didn't feel very smart for doing this! I've sucessfully pulled the boat up the ramp 6 inches short, but never 2 feet short. I have set a 6-inch maximum limit for myself in the future. BrianW

 

[cephius (Dave)]

I've been pulling my H260 out at the end of the season for 6 years now. I have yet to keep the bow on the roller. I tried several radical things, like additional non-stretch lines, and the best I ever got was 1" from the roller.

Since it doen't affect the way the boat sits on the trailer, I stopped worrying about it. My trailer is dual axle so it takes more than just a few inches to change the tongue weight. 2 feet may do it :-(

I've never needed to extend the tongue on the ramp I use. The boat floats all the way in with the jeep wheels right at the edge of the water.


I do use cargo straps bow and stern when traveling. That may be overkill with the weight of this boat, and the amount of contact with the trailer, but straps cost so little and are quick to place. Cheap insurance.

 

[ZEE326@AOL.COM]

Trailor Zip Out

I Learned The Hard Way, My 26 Ft Hunter Would Always Be 2-3 Feet Short The Winch On The Trailer. With Bunk Pads The Boat Would Not Move Towards The Winch. I Tried Placing Plastic Latice On The Bunk Pads And The Boat Slides Like Butter Going On And Off .

 

[JackAsch]

22

I Learned The Hard Way, My 26 Ft Hunter Would Always Be 2-3 Feet Short The Winch On The Trailer. With Bunk Pads The Boat Would Not Move Towards The Winch. I Tried Placing Plastic Latice On The Bunk Pads And The Boat Slides Like Butter Going On And Off .

On my former boat, a catalina 22, I'd have to pull the trailer forward a few feet and go back and winch up the cable. This would bring the nose of the boat up allowing me to winch it up.

 

[cephius (Dave)]

I never had the problem when I owned a Catalina 22. But darn if I can't keep the H260 snug against the roller no matter how many times I crank / re-float.

 

[George H260]

If your bow comes within 6 inches of the winch, I would not worry. As noted, each ramp is different. I used to do the bump, but learned that the boat will inch forward a little each time you come to a stop or go down a hill, so by the time you get to your destination, the bow will be snug against the winch.

On the way home I look for a place to pull over and retighten the winch.

 

[BrianW]

As Zee posted, he used something to lube his bunks. What is plastic latice? Has anyone else used anything else to "slick up" their bunks? BrianW

 

[George H260]

As Zee posted, he used something to lube his bunks. What is plastic latice? Has anyone else used anything else to "slick up" their bunks? BrianW

Some people use liquid soap on the bunks. However, you have to be careful to make sure you don't make the bunks so slick the boat shifts around during transit.

 

[awoody]

I just experienced retrieving my H26 for the second time. The bow eye was about four inches from the winch. However after traveling about 40 miles to home I found that the boat had shifted position so that it was not lined up straight on the trailer the bow was about 4 inches to the side of the winch. It will have to stay there until spring.

 

[Rick Webb]

I am Considering

Changing to a cable then there a re blocks available to hok on the bow eye to bring the cable back to the winch post and then you have a sigfificant mechanical advantageto drag the boat right up to the bow snubber.

On the other hand I have found it is possible use Ivory Liquid on the bunks then to put tension on the strap and then shake and push the boat up a bit at a time. After a half dozen or eight evolutions it is tight against the snubber. I used to use the stomp, slide, winch and repeat method but the parking lot at my ramp is not well paved so it does not work there.

******Disclaimer*****
Probably not somthing that women, children or guys with s lighter build would be able to do.