In a previous post concerning an O'Day 25 with a fin keel, there was mention of problems with launching from a trailer. Have any O'Day owners had experience in this regard. Could they please relate their experiences. As a new OD 25 Fin keel owner, I will attempt this when the season begins. I have been warned that I should have the boat lifted into the water at a boat yard. But I would like to learn to utilize the trailer, as I won't always have the convenience of a boatyard. Thanks for you help.
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Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Thoughts
Bob - My first comment would be to recommend you do not even try this without someone who's done it before. There is a lot of potential to go wrong, but nothing should if you're careful. The fin keel O25 should have a draft of 4'6". You are therefore going to want about 5 feet of water so that little waves don't drop the boat on the ramp. Its not a big deal in the mud, but asphault is unforgiving. At the least, its tough on your bottom coating. Does you trailer have a tounge extension? If so, its a relatively simple matter of lining up the trailer, chocking the wheels, adding the extension and then having someone back the rig into the water after you climb aboard. Have your engine mounted and in position (assuming its outboard?), and your fenders out. Have you driver back the rig down until the engine is sufficiently submerged to get it running, but the boat is still firmly on the trailer. Then warm up the engine. Back in the rest of the way, put the engine in reverse, and back off. If you don't have the trailer extension, the operation is similar, but your driver will have less positive control as s/he backs the rig into the water because the trailer will be held by line or wire, and if the wheels catch on something on the ramp you may have a snag. You'd think the weight involved would roll over anything, but on our ramp there is a break between the pavement and the cement portions of the ramp and it can be a problem. If you're going to use this method, make absolutely sure your line is strong enough, and that your fittings are up to the task. One local guy who trailer launches his J24 has a winch mounted on his truck so that he can lower the trailer into the water under even better control. The tricky parts come if there is any wind or wave action. What you really want to do is back in and get off that trailer as quickly as you can safely go so that you don't drift sideways into the beams or get pounded on the bottom. This doesn't mean driving down the ramp quickly, but it does mean not fooling around. Make sure your tow vehicle is rated to pull a lot more than the anticipated weight of the boat, because pulling the boat and trailer up a steep ramp with lots of resistance is not a simple thing. One thing some people do around here at quiet times is to use the tide to help out. Casco Bay has tides around eight to twelve feet. This means that if you park the trailer on the ramp at low tide, you can just float right off, then recover the trailer at the next low. Do this once or twice and you'll figure out exactly how low the water need to be to back down into. Then you do just far enough in advance of high-tide to let you back in, and have the shortest possible interval until you can pull the trailer out. Make sure you have really good chocks on the trailer before you pull the tow vehicle out. This is the preferred method on our ramp, but obviously can only be done early or late in the season, or in the middle of the night. All that said, I'd pay to have it done. Whatever you do - be careful and good luck! Justin - O'day Owners' Web The trick
Bob - My first comment would be to recommend you do not even try this without someone who's done it before. There is a lot of potential to go wrong, but nothing should if you're careful. The fin keel O25 should have a draft of 4'6". You are therefore going to want about 5 feet of water so that little waves don't drop the boat on the ramp. Its not a big deal in the mud, but asphault is unforgiving. At the least, its tough on your bottom coating. Does you trailer have a tounge extension? If so, its a relatively simple matter of lining up the trailer, chocking the wheels, adding the extension and then having someone back the rig into the water after you climb aboard. Have your engine mounted and in position (assuming its outboard?), and your fenders out. Have you driver back the rig down until the engine is sufficiently submerged to get it running, but the boat is still firmly on the trailer. Then warm up the engine. Back in the rest of the way, put the engine in reverse, and back off. If you don't have the trailer extension, the operation is similar, but your driver will have less positive control as s/he backs the rig into the water because the trailer will be held by line or wire, and if the wheels catch on something on the ramp you may have a snag. You'd think the weight involved would roll over anything, but on our ramp there is a break between the pavement and the cement portions of the ramp and it can be a problem. If you're going to use this method, make absolutely sure your line is strong enough, and that your fittings are up to the task. One local guy who trailer launches his J24 has a winch mounted on his truck so that he can lower the trailer into the water under even better control. The tricky parts come if there is any wind or wave action. What you really want to do is back in and get off that trailer as quickly as you can safely go so that you don't drift sideways into the beams or get pounded on the bottom. This doesn't mean driving down the ramp quickly, but it does mean not fooling around. Make sure your tow vehicle is rated to pull a lot more than the anticipated weight of the boat, because pulling the boat and trailer up a steep ramp with lots of resistance is not a simple thing. One thing some people do around here at quiet times is to use the tide to help out. Casco Bay has tides around eight to twelve feet. This means that if you park the trailer on the ramp at low tide, you can just float right off, then recover the trailer at the next low. Do this once or twice and you'll figure out exactly how low the water need to be to back down into. Then you do just far enough in advance of high-tide to let you back in, and have the shortest possible interval until you can pull the trailer out. Make sure you have really good chocks on the trailer before you pull the tow vehicle out. This is the preferred method on our ramp, but obviously can only be done early or late in the season, or in the middle of the night. All that said, I'd pay to have it done. Whatever you do - be careful and good luck! Justin - O'day Owners' Web The trick
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david lewis
Trailer launching of fin keels
I can't imaging how you can even do this??? I assume your fin keel has a 4 foot draft like my catalina 25. If you assume another foot for the distance from the road to the bottom of the keel (conservative estimate) then the trailor will have to be at least 5 feet under water to float the boat. The boat displacement is about 4500 pounds so pushing it around before it floats will be questionable. To get your trailor 5 feet under water your car or truck will have to be 3 or 4 feet under water. This whole thing sounds pretty risky to me. I have always seen the yard use a travelift for launching fin keel boats. Best of luck whatever you do. dave
I can't imaging how you can even do this??? I assume your fin keel has a 4 foot draft like my catalina 25. If you assume another foot for the distance from the road to the bottom of the keel (conservative estimate) then the trailor will have to be at least 5 feet under water to float the boat. The boat displacement is about 4500 pounds so pushing it around before it floats will be questionable. To get your trailor 5 feet under water your car or truck will have to be 3 or 4 feet under water. This whole thing sounds pretty risky to me. I have always seen the yard use a travelift for launching fin keel boats. Best of luck whatever you do. dave
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Don Evans
I Completely Understand Your Desire...
to be independant, with regards to self launching your fin keel. I would also be figuring out a way to do it. Justin has given sage advice based on observations around launch ramps. You have not mentioned your tow vehicle? An additional consideration is the surface area of a fully submerged trailer. Additional HP will be needed to overcome water resistance. I would recommend 4 wheel drive, especially if back wheels are also submerged. I have a 10' extension on my trailer and some times I need all of it to launch at my ramp. An additional consideration you salty sailors have to contend with is salt water. You will have to visit a car wash shortly after submersion, and watch those brake components and trailer lights. I would watch others first, ask your yard for advice. I agree with Justin and Dave, unless I had control of all the variables, I would cough up the money to lift her in. Don
to be independant, with regards to self launching your fin keel. I would also be figuring out a way to do it. Justin has given sage advice based on observations around launch ramps. You have not mentioned your tow vehicle? An additional consideration is the surface area of a fully submerged trailer. Additional HP will be needed to overcome water resistance. I would recommend 4 wheel drive, especially if back wheels are also submerged. I have a 10' extension on my trailer and some times I need all of it to launch at my ramp. An additional consideration you salty sailors have to contend with is salt water. You will have to visit a car wash shortly after submersion, and watch those brake components and trailer lights. I would watch others first, ask your yard for advice. I agree with Justin and Dave, unless I had control of all the variables, I would cough up the money to lift her in. Don
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JT
trailering a OD25
I have an OD23 with a CB. The guy I bought it from told me the story of the first (and last) time he tried to launch it from the trailer. He backed in, tried to float it and the boat got hung up. He backed in farther and went off the ramp with the truck. That cost him $1800 and a new drive shaft. The OD23 has a much smaller draft than the 25. I don't know how wou could get it into the water far enough. JT
I have an OD23 with a CB. The guy I bought it from told me the story of the first (and last) time he tried to launch it from the trailer. He backed in, tried to float it and the boat got hung up. He backed in farther and went off the ramp with the truck. That cost him $1800 and a new drive shaft. The OD23 has a much smaller draft than the 25. I don't know how wou could get it into the water far enough. JT
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Paul Mieszczenski
Slip-sliden' away
Bob, If you are going to be launching at a ramp that is so remote that there is no convient boat yard, there probably will not be much convient help either when boat, trailer, and vehical all start sliding down the ramp with all fours locked up. I have been a trailer sailor for 28 years and when I bought my 25 CB with trailer I figured I would still be one. After much thought and calculation (cost of referbishing the trailer on a regular basis) it just made more dollars and sense to take it to the yard. That and the vivid memory of filling the trunk of the old Pontiac with half of the Lake Worth Lagoon with just a 14 footer attached made the choice pretty easy. Proceed with caution! PM
Bob, If you are going to be launching at a ramp that is so remote that there is no convient boat yard, there probably will not be much convient help either when boat, trailer, and vehical all start sliding down the ramp with all fours locked up. I have been a trailer sailor for 28 years and when I bought my 25 CB with trailer I figured I would still be one. After much thought and calculation (cost of referbishing the trailer on a regular basis) it just made more dollars and sense to take it to the yard. That and the vivid memory of filling the trunk of the old Pontiac with half of the Lake Worth Lagoon with just a 14 footer attached made the choice pretty easy. Proceed with caution! PM
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Bob
Not a terribly good idea...
I've seen more disasters than success stories in this operation. There has to be more than enough boatyards convenient to Newport to stave off disaster...East Passage Yachting Center comes to mind. If it costs you around $150.00 to chuck it in from a sling and another $150.00 to haul out at the end of the season, in my mind that's short money every year compared to potential damage control. Just my two-cents (US) Cheers, Bob
I've seen more disasters than success stories in this operation. There has to be more than enough boatyards convenient to Newport to stave off disaster...East Passage Yachting Center comes to mind. If it costs you around $150.00 to chuck it in from a sling and another $150.00 to haul out at the end of the season, in my mind that's short money every year compared to potential damage control. Just my two-cents (US) Cheers, Bob
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Paul Palmer
Launching a fin keel from a trailer
Bob Launching a fin keel from a trailer is not a big deal if you have the proper set up and take it a step at a time. That is the only way all of us that sail at our lake have to launch our boats. First the set up: 1. Adequate vehicle able to pull your boat up the ramp. 2. Forget any trailer extensions, they will not be anywhere near long enough unless they were custom make for this purpose. I use (2) 20ft nylon tow straps ( not tow ropes) hooked together. They have a loop in each end, no hooks. You may need more or less depending on the steepness of your ramp. They can be bought at any Walmart. Some people use cable but I wouldn't recommend it. Most small cable available is not strong enough. The tow straps are rated for 20,000 pounds. 3. You will need some kind of a wheel to carry the front of your trailer. The small wheel on the trailer crank stands will not work. I built a carrier for my spare tire that mounts on the front of the trailer to carry the front of the trailer as I back down the ramp. The process: 1. Back boat and trailer to water edge. Be careful to line it up correctly because you cannot turn it while backing into the water. 2. Very carefully chock your trailer wheel on both sides of the trailer. 3. Raise the front of the trailer off vehicle and install tire to carry front of trailer. 4. Pull vehicle forward the length of your tow straps and attach your tow strap very securely to the trailer. The straps have a loop in each end. I use two short lengths of chain bolted to the trailer, on the other end of the chains I run a heavy bolt through the end link of one chain, through the loop of the tow strap and then through the end link of the other chain and fasten with a nut. At the vehicle end I have a receiver hitch. I remove the hitch and insert the loop of the tow strap inside the receiver and replace the hitch pin through the reciever and through the loop. This is a very secure setup. 5. We have a dock paralleling the launch ramp so I attach a line to the bow of the boat to walk it along the dock as the boat is launched. Unhook your safety line or winch line from your trailer to the boat. 6. Lower the front of the trailer until it rests on the carrier wheel and retract your jack. 7. Ease the vehicle forward until the wheel chocks can be removed. Then with someone walking the line back,(or have someone on the boat), back the boat and trailer into the water until the boat floats off the trailer. Pull the trailer forward back up the ramp and pull the boat to the dock. This sounds more complicated than it really is. When my boat is on the trailer the water line is almost 6 feet off the ground. My wife and I can easly launch our boat in about 30 minutes. The complete set-up costs less than having your boat launched one time and you now have the freedom to launch your boat anywhere there is a ramp, not to mention any mid-season haul outs for unexpected repairs. Retreving the boat is just the opposite. I tie a 50 ft line the the winch mast on the trailer and simply push the boat away from the dock and pull it onto the trailer. If you are interested in how to make a carrier wheel for the front of you trailer or have any questions you can email me at 112244.525@compuserve.com. Good luck, Paul Palmer
Bob Launching a fin keel from a trailer is not a big deal if you have the proper set up and take it a step at a time. That is the only way all of us that sail at our lake have to launch our boats. First the set up: 1. Adequate vehicle able to pull your boat up the ramp. 2. Forget any trailer extensions, they will not be anywhere near long enough unless they were custom make for this purpose. I use (2) 20ft nylon tow straps ( not tow ropes) hooked together. They have a loop in each end, no hooks. You may need more or less depending on the steepness of your ramp. They can be bought at any Walmart. Some people use cable but I wouldn't recommend it. Most small cable available is not strong enough. The tow straps are rated for 20,000 pounds. 3. You will need some kind of a wheel to carry the front of your trailer. The small wheel on the trailer crank stands will not work. I built a carrier for my spare tire that mounts on the front of the trailer to carry the front of the trailer as I back down the ramp. The process: 1. Back boat and trailer to water edge. Be careful to line it up correctly because you cannot turn it while backing into the water. 2. Very carefully chock your trailer wheel on both sides of the trailer. 3. Raise the front of the trailer off vehicle and install tire to carry front of trailer. 4. Pull vehicle forward the length of your tow straps and attach your tow strap very securely to the trailer. The straps have a loop in each end. I use two short lengths of chain bolted to the trailer, on the other end of the chains I run a heavy bolt through the end link of one chain, through the loop of the tow strap and then through the end link of the other chain and fasten with a nut. At the vehicle end I have a receiver hitch. I remove the hitch and insert the loop of the tow strap inside the receiver and replace the hitch pin through the reciever and through the loop. This is a very secure setup. 5. We have a dock paralleling the launch ramp so I attach a line to the bow of the boat to walk it along the dock as the boat is launched. Unhook your safety line or winch line from your trailer to the boat. 6. Lower the front of the trailer until it rests on the carrier wheel and retract your jack. 7. Ease the vehicle forward until the wheel chocks can be removed. Then with someone walking the line back,(or have someone on the boat), back the boat and trailer into the water until the boat floats off the trailer. Pull the trailer forward back up the ramp and pull the boat to the dock. This sounds more complicated than it really is. When my boat is on the trailer the water line is almost 6 feet off the ground. My wife and I can easly launch our boat in about 30 minutes. The complete set-up costs less than having your boat launched one time and you now have the freedom to launch your boat anywhere there is a ramp, not to mention any mid-season haul outs for unexpected repairs. Retreving the boat is just the opposite. I tie a 50 ft line the the winch mast on the trailer and simply push the boat away from the dock and pull it onto the trailer. If you are interested in how to make a carrier wheel for the front of you trailer or have any questions you can email me at 112244.525@compuserve.com. Good luck, Paul Palmer
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