Specific Question for Retrieving an O'day 25

[jdratlif]

I have a question in regards to retrieving my O'day 25 C/B from the boat launch. When I retrieve my boat from the launch, I get the boat centered on on the trailer and I get the keel lined up with where it needs to be on the trailer. I have a winch on the front of the trailer that is the only tie that holds the boat when I retrieve my boat.

The problem is this: when I pull the boat out of the water there is not enough weight of the keel on the trailer and the boat wants slide back when I pull away. When the boat slides back, the winch actually gives slack even though it is in the locked position.

To cure this problem I place three draw straps on the front of the boat and connect them to the trailer after I position the boat on the trailer. I connect two straps to the port and starboard cleats and the third strap to the connection on the front of the boat that the winch connects to. This seems to provide enough hold to keep the boat from slipping as a I am pulling away from the ramp.

My question is, am I doing something wrong? Should the winch be enough support to keep my boat in place as a I pull away from the ramp? I ask these questions because I have looked at a lot of pictures of 25's on trailers and none seem to have the front straps like my boat has.

Help would be appreciated. I have searched the site and could not find any information on this specific problem.

 

[tedsbeds]

Check your winch line. If it is nylon it could be streaching. A better line would be dacron or galvanized or SS cable.

 

[RichBone]

What is the winch weight rating? I agree that it should be a steel cable. Mount a snatch block on the bow eye and run the cable through it then back to the winch. That will double the pulling power.

 

[DeniseO30]

I've seen more then one boat have it's bow eye ripped out. I'd suggest you need deeper water. What many people do is extend or use a dolly under the front with a chain to the tow vehicle so the boat can ramp down more. Works well when launching too. O25 is not a lightweight boat!

 

[Technodad]

Is there a friction surface under the keel or are there rollers?
My trailer has a flat steel bottom that the keel rests on, I keep very little pressure on the 4 pads that support the sides, my keel takes all the weight.
When retrieving the boat the trailer is down at the angle of the launch ramp and the boat is level (on the water). At the start of the drive out the hook is on the bow eye and the front of the keel is resting on the bottom of the trailer, as I pull out with the truck (not winching) the keel bears down on the trailer, as I come out the boat tilts back level with the trailer, bow goes up and the wire rope slackens because the winch which was higher than the eye is now the same height. Conversely, when I launch the boat the bow goes down and crashes into the vee guide. This is why when I put her in I slide the vee guide forward to clear the bow and I loosen the cable to allow the boat to go down at the front as the water lifts the back end up.

I hope you can find something useful from this long winded explanation.

John

 

[justsomeguy]

You're experiencing the winch line slackening on the drum while unloaded, then loaded without regaining tension over the underlying coils. I think..
I've refloated my boat as many as two times to haul in the slack on my bow winch.

I hope this makes sense.