Low Water Trailer Launching Ideas Needed
- Thread starter JoyRide28
- Start date
Ok, lets get stupid.
when I first bought my boat, I had no clue, so I was devising ways of getting a trailer deeper into the water and retreiving it without the boat. Consider this,
two to four plastic drums, strapped to the trailer outbound of the keel so they are out of the way. A 2 inch diameter hole in the bottom of each and all are connected to a hose that goes through a PVC gate valve and can be attached to you exhaust pipe, like those inflatable jacks. Back the trailer into the water with the valve closed, you could have upwards of 2000 pounds of bouyancy. Boat gets out there, throw the gate valve, the air is pushed out and the trailer sinks, but not all the way if you simply close the valve before it hits the mud. But say, its in the mud. Put the adapter to the exhaust and let your engine do the work. Done this way, you could strap a motor to the trailer and give the game warden a story to tell. I've done the math. It would work. Fortunately I can launch my Lancer in a patch of wet grass.
when I first bought my boat, I had no clue, so I was devising ways of getting a trailer deeper into the water and retreiving it without the boat. Consider this,
two to four plastic drums, strapped to the trailer outbound of the keel so they are out of the way. A 2 inch diameter hole in the bottom of each and all are connected to a hose that goes through a PVC gate valve and can be attached to you exhaust pipe, like those inflatable jacks. Back the trailer into the water with the valve closed, you could have upwards of 2000 pounds of bouyancy. Boat gets out there, throw the gate valve, the air is pushed out and the trailer sinks, but not all the way if you simply close the valve before it hits the mud. But say, its in the mud. Put the adapter to the exhaust and let your engine do the work. Done this way, you could strap a motor to the trailer and give the game warden a story to tell. I've done the math. It would work. Fortunately I can launch my Lancer in a patch of wet grass.
I have a Hydro Hoist which uses cylindrical fiberglass pontoons to lift my boat out of the water.
http://www.boatlift.com/filesSite/pdf/manuals/L3-4-6-8Manual-2-23-05.pdf
It is like dscribner's description.
It uses a 120 volt compressor to force water out a hole at the bottom of the stern end of each of the two pontoons. It also has a rather elaborate system of four arms which are linked together and attached to finger docks on both sides. The arms are required to keep the hoist level when the pontoons are submerged. The point I am getting to is that stability is lost when the flotation is completely submerged. If you use barrels to float a trailer and want to keep it relatively level you will need something to provide stability. That can be some substantial flotation that never completely submerges or the elaborate arms of a Hydro Hoist.
http://www.boatlift.com/filesSite/pdf/manuals/L3-4-6-8Manual-2-23-05.pdf
It is like dscribner's description.
It uses a 120 volt compressor to force water out a hole at the bottom of the stern end of each of the two pontoons. It also has a rather elaborate system of four arms which are linked together and attached to finger docks on both sides. The arms are required to keep the hoist level when the pontoons are submerged. The point I am getting to is that stability is lost when the flotation is completely submerged. If you use barrels to float a trailer and want to keep it relatively level you will need something to provide stability. That can be some substantial flotation that never completely submerges or the elaborate arms of a Hydro Hoist.
Interesting concept! We would need to use it for many different trailered sailboats. I'm wondering whether the entire (boat lift-type) system could be fitted to a barge, onto which a trailer could be driven and attached. Then, take the barge to deep enough water, submerge the entire thing, launch (or retrieve) boat, then re-float barge… Obviously cost will be an issue. Right now I'm just looking for ideas. And these are the best I've seen so far. Thanks!
re:low water launch
Here in Michigan , on Lk Michigan, with all of the snow, we are all planning to just sail off the cradles come Spring...if there is a Spring!
Here in Michigan , on Lk Michigan, with all of the snow, we are all planning to just sail off the cradles come Spring...if there is a Spring!
Joyride;
Reviewing all the proposals, some are creative, expensive and some unsafe to the equipment not to mention the person while operating it.
What it will boil down to is knowing the lake well enough to make a determination if you can launch. Knowledge of the launch area is very important. A few pointers for you.
First, wood planks have a tendancy to float away which I have seen in the past. Yes I have seen drums used trying to float a boat into a lake but many times in disaster unless you know what you are doing. As for the ground under water, if it is too soft, trailers will get stuck and if winching out, there will be damage, so use caution if going that route. If there is any sandy bottoms and sand beaches, remember that wet sand compacts and is a better area to launch if you can get to it. However, walk the area in the water where to launch that there are no under water obstructions. Again, knowledge of the area plus you know how to do this are two main keys. Over the past 55 years to include as a dealer, I have seen a lot and the most important item, use caution, wisdom and above all else, be safe.
Dave Condon
Reviewing all the proposals, some are creative, expensive and some unsafe to the equipment not to mention the person while operating it.
What it will boil down to is knowing the lake well enough to make a determination if you can launch. Knowledge of the launch area is very important. A few pointers for you.
First, wood planks have a tendancy to float away which I have seen in the past. Yes I have seen drums used trying to float a boat into a lake but many times in disaster unless you know what you are doing. As for the ground under water, if it is too soft, trailers will get stuck and if winching out, there will be damage, so use caution if going that route. If there is any sandy bottoms and sand beaches, remember that wet sand compacts and is a better area to launch if you can get to it. However, walk the area in the water where to launch that there are no under water obstructions. Again, knowledge of the area plus you know how to do this are two main keys. Over the past 55 years to include as a dealer, I have seen a lot and the most important item, use caution, wisdom and above all else, be safe.
Dave Condon
There you go again, taking all the fun out of doing things we shouldn't be doing in the first place. Thanks, Mom. ;-)
Kermit;
Remember when growing up, Moms use to take their son over their knees and paddle them. I remember that expensive jar I knocked over in the candy store trying to secretly grab tootsie rolls and Mom got after me. Ha.
Hope you are doing well old friend.
crazy dave
Remember when growing up, Moms use to take their son over their knees and paddle them. I remember that expensive jar I knocked over in the candy store trying to secretly grab tootsie rolls and Mom got after me. Ha.
Hope you are doing well old friend.
crazy dave
coleman, LOL. Yes we have a local company "Ericson Air Crane". Somewhat cost prohibitive… Crazy Dave, thanks for your insight, much appreciated. All, I am now strongly leaning toward what would amount to metal tracks/mats that can be laid onto the lake bottom and used as a drivable surface for a trailer. We already strap launch so that part of it is understood and doable. The difference here will be 1) the evenness or not of the lake bottom in question, and finding the best location 2) the necessity of a MUCH longer strap or better yet a cable to winch combo 3) the fact that there may not be any dock or way to provide lateral stability (read: side wind resistance) during such a procedure… Now it's time to circle up all the brains involved to see if this is actually a doable endeavor… Thanks Again!