Retrieving my Hunter 18.5

[Peter]

I wonder if anyone else has trouble pulling their H 18.5 out of the water? Mine is very difficult to get centered correctly on the trailer I have. The supports are two 8' 2X4's and it is very difficult to get the boat centered correctly over those with the result that virtually every time I have tried to pull the boat out of the water she is over to one side and I am scared to death that she will fall off the trailer onto her side. I have a couple of ideas for centering her, one being to get trailer guides, but she is far over the 6" allowed by most trailer guides for side movement. I could try these, but doubt that they will work because of that. She is, centered over the trailer, far in excess of the six inches that the trailer guides I've seen allow on each side. The other possibility is to put 2X6 boards on the bottom of the trailer to guide the keel into the center of the trailer. These I've come up with -- does anyone else have other ideas?? Every time I have taken this boat out of the water I have had trouble centering her on the trailer. Two 8' 2X4s don't seem like enough support, but that's what the trailer has. Those of you owning H18.5s, is your trailer similar to mine? I'm not even 100% certain that the trailer is the correct one for the boat. Any ideas will be very much appreciated. Thanks, Peter S/V Katy Kaye

 

[Neil Hurwitz]

Hunter 18.5 Trailer

Peter,My 18.5 is a wing keel design. In addition to the two 2x4 bunks the trailer also has two 2x4's (one per side) running in a "V" from the centerline in the front of the trailer (positioned about on a line with the bunk's front stanchion and held by brackets to the keel platform frame) up and back to the rear stancions.The boards are held to the stanchions with u-bolts. If the trailer is level in the water, the V helps guide the keel into the right position. Hope this helps.Neil S/V Wanderer

 

[MIke B]

h 18.5

There are a number of posts concerning thi s re h 23 in last weeks posts. trailer guides work, I just pkulled out our 23 and installed some upright marker posts over fenders to give ms some idea of where trailer, is,

 

[Dave Condon]

Trailer

If you have not gotten the information to halp you get the 18.5 on the trailer easier, call Gregg Emerson at Hunter to put you in touch with me and I will help you any way that I can. Only in this case I will ask Gregg to do that since I know how hard it is getting that boat onto the trailer. You may get a tickle, but once I luanched my car into the lake and watched it submarine.. Dive Dive Dive

 

[Scott Stupak]

Here's what I've done

My H18.5 has a fixed shoal keel which is a pain for launching and retrieving. I had a piece of tube stock that was 4' longer than the original trailer extension fitted with a hitch. Now I have PLENTY of length to get the boat in deep! I think she tows better too. Replaced the 2X4 with 2X6: I've noticed this helps getting the boat centered. I need better guides, I just rigged some pvc pipe that doesn't do much but show me where the trailer is under the water but that helps too. I've seen LONG guide posts that will work (Bass Boats) but attaching them will take some modifications. As far as a keel guide, remember the trailer is at an angle so you would want your guides pretty tall.A trick to getting the boat off the trailer:Build a three sided crib. Bolt two heavy duty trailer jacks to the back of the trailer: one on each side. These are the jacks with two wheels. Run around and around cranking up the boat. Slip the crib around the boat and throw the beam across the front and lower trailer out from under the boat. Ta Da!ScottS

 

[Dave Condon]

Peter

IF you need help with the trailer, do call. I understood from Gregg Emerson at Hunter you had called. I do not give out my phone number as I am a dealer out of courtesy for this forum and respect to Phil Herring. Happy sailing.