Tilting trailer?

[Drinkmilk]

Bought our C22 last year and sailed her a bunch of times. Loved it! However, we skipped sailing a bigger lake because of a shallow launch ramp. I calculated (using a Mark Twain pole) that I need 3' deep at 15' from the waters edge to float her.

I've been eyeing this lock pin and hinge on my trailer, but never played with it because, well, I like my boat, trailer, and SUV. Does anyone have experience with a similar tilting trailer or know how it may benefit launching/retrieving a boat?

Thanks.

 

[watercolors II]

A sailboat as heavy and shaped like a Catalina 22 must be floated on to its trailer. Using the winch to slide the hull up the bunks and into position puts to much stress on the trailer winch and the eye hook on the bow of the boat.

A tilt trailer would make easy to launch but, winching up high enough out of the water for the hull to push down the tilt part of the trailer is not good. Tilt trailers work well for small light weight runabouts with flat bottoms that will slide very easy.

A tilt trailer with rollers would work because of the less friction between the rollers and the hull.

You can back your vehicle into the water till the water is almost to the center of the wheel without water entering the rear end gearing, a pickup truck can go till the water enters the bed and almost goes to the wheel wells. If you can not do this for any reason then I suggest an extension between the vehicle and the trailer to place the trailer in deep enough water to float the hull on.

 

[Drinkmilk]

Yah, that's kind of what I thought. I need an extension for the trailer for better in/out at the ramp, but it's been okay with just tapping my tires in the water. I usually lock it into 4wd to avoid wheel spin, too. Thanks, WC.

My new mystery is how to build an extension into my trailer.

 

[spartacus99]

U built an extension not to my trailer but to my hitch. It's perfect for launching. 4 foot extension.

 

[caguy]

http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=573983&highlight=timo42 trailer tongueimo42 has a beatiful setup on his mac22 trailer.

 

[watercolors II]

As suggested an extension that fits into the vehicle receiver is the easiest and cheapest way to go and will help you at about 75 percent of the ramps but, if you trailer sail and like to go to different locations then an eight foot extension would help at any ramp. If you have the extension made for the trailer then make sure it attaches to the trailer rather than be a pull out built into the trailer, will be cheaper and be a lot less of a problem over the long haul. Built-ins tend to rust, twist, and bind after a number of uses and cost more to construct.

The hitch and also the trailer extension would cover any situation! Why, launching will tell you the depth of the water and having both extensions available will save time and problems during recovery everytime.

 

[allen-deckard]

Have an extension on my trailer fairly simple system never had an issue with it.

In a nut shell it's a square tube inside a square tube that slides in and out and has a couple holes drilled and a large pin.

I don't have any specific pictures but you should be able to see from this one.