ramp launch

[fox]

I am looking for advice on ramp launching the capri22 fin keel. I finally got my trailer set up with a 30 foot tow strap/tongue wheel. This past week I went to pull the boat and ran into the following problems.1. I could not get the bow of the boat to stay on the bow support--as I pulled the boat out the bow would raise and come off the support. It was off 8 to 10 inches. (maybe the trailer was too deep, too shallow?)2. As a result of number one--as the boat was being pulled the boat was now off the intended position by 10 inches or so and the trailer and boat wanted to tip backwards. The CG was now off. At this point I knew the boat would need to stay in the water until I figured out how to keep the bow in the bow support. The trailer I have is a single axle trailer with 6 pads, and the bow support is straight up--not at an angle as others. Could anyone offer some advice on the problem I have with getting the bow in the correct location. Also, how far should my front pads be under water? One thing I keep thinking about is when the trailer and boat are in the water--the boat is horizontal and the trailer is at an angle. Once the boat is connected to the trailer at the bow--that position of the bow stop will move downward as the boat is being lifted by trailer. The boat must rotate to get in positioned with the trailer. Any advice you can offer would be great.

 

[Wanderer138]

Common problem, especially on steeper ramps

The trick is to get the trailer at exactly the right depth in the water. If done right, the boat has to be pushed slightly into position. Then as you tighten the towing strap, the bow is lifted slightly out of the water and the stern squats onto the rear pads/bunk. She won't move after that.How do you know how far into the water is deep enough? When you first put the boat in, back the trailer very slowly down the ramp and stop as soon as the boat starts to float. Mark the front post of the trailer right above the water level with something permanant like a line of white or yellow paint. Later, when you want to retrieve the boat, just back in until the mark touches the water and you're there. Good luck.PeterH23 "Raven"

 

[R.W.Landau]

differant positions

fox,This is a common problem. I found it the easiest to mark the Bow supports position and then loosen the U-bolts and slide it forward 10 +/- inches. Then put the boat on the trailer and readjust the bow support once it is on the hard. This works well for me but took a couple practice pull-outs to get the location right. 10" may be too much or not enough but it should be close to the distance from the bow support to the bow with no tension on the trailer winch.I am doing this with an O'Day 25 CB.hope this helped.r.w.landau

 

[fox]

right depth?

Peter, When you say get the trailer at right depth-does that mean the bow stop at the correct position realtive to bow of boat? or is trailer just deep enough so front pads are under water? Boat is in water so I am guessing at what depth to get trailer.

 

[Wanderer138]

Right depth - for Fox

By "right depth" I mean the depth of the trailer below water at which the boat will JUST float off. Too shallow and you have to fight the boat to get it onto the trailer (not good for your bottom paint). Too deep and the stern doesn't sit on the rear pads/bunks when you tighten the bow towing strap. As I mentioned earlier, once the boat is on the pads/bunks it won't move any more. At the right depth, the boat goes onto the trailer with the least effort short of floating it in.Since the boat is in the water now, you'll have to find the "right depth" by trial and error. Go to the ramp on a weekday when there's no traffic and take along a friend to help. You'll have to haul the boat and put it back in a few times until you get it right, but once you do, it will be no sweat from then on. All you'll have to do each time you haul the boat is ask someone on the dock to holler at you as soon as the mark touches water. I used to have the same problem with my H23, which has a fixed keel and draws 2-1/2 feet. Good luck.PeterH23 "Raven"