In order to get my 1999 H260, Magic Tilt trailer deep enough to get the boat on and off on "incline challenged" boat ramps, I have detached the trailer from the tow vehicle and, using a 20 foot chain attached between vehicle and trailer, lowered the trailer until it was deep enough for the boat to load/unload. On my last retrieval, the ramp was hard packed gravel which prevented the jack wheel from turning easily. As a consequence, not only was the wheel pretty much destroyed, but the entire jack assembly distorted beyond repair as I dragged the trailer and boat up the ramp on the disfigured jack. As a side line, fortunately I always carry a hydraulic jack when towing the boat and was able to use that to raise and lower the tongue to attach the trailer to the hitch Anyway, I am looking for a very heavy duty, much larger diameter wheel and jack assembly to replace the wimpy one provided with the trailer. If anyone else has run into this problem and can share their solution, I would greatly appreciate it. Fair winds, Tom
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chuck
seen it
Other folks have had this problem, Ive seen several trailers using screw jacks from obviously larger trailers with 10" rubber wheels instead of the crappy small metal or plastic ones. hope this helps.
Other folks have had this problem, Ive seen several trailers using screw jacks from obviously larger trailers with 10" rubber wheels instead of the crappy small metal or plastic ones. hope this helps.
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Bob Schmit
just wondering
Would extending the trailer tongue have worked instead of the tongue jack destroying method or don't the trailers come with that anymore? I know the h26 trailers that were mfg by Hunter had it but luckily I've never had to resort to using that feature.
Would extending the trailer tongue have worked instead of the tongue jack destroying method or don't the trailers come with that anymore? I know the h26 trailers that were mfg by Hunter had it but luckily I've never had to resort to using that feature.
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Tom
Trailer still has extension...
But it was not long enough to get the trailer deep enough to float the boat off. Fair winds... Tom
But it was not long enough to get the trailer deep enough to float the boat off. Fair winds... Tom
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Steve
Tom.. Where is this ramp?
Greetings fellow NH 26 sailor. I was wondering where this ramp was, it sounded like Rye? We find keeping ours in the SE Connecticut are, works well for us, lots of criusing grounds, block Island, long island, Vineyard ect.. We have stayed away from the NH coast due to prices and condtions.. intersted in your thoughts.. Thanks..
Greetings fellow NH 26 sailor. I was wondering where this ramp was, it sounded like Rye? We find keeping ours in the SE Connecticut are, works well for us, lots of criusing grounds, block Island, long island, Vineyard ect.. We have stayed away from the NH coast due to prices and condtions.. intersted in your thoughts.. Thanks..
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Tom
Ramp location (to Steve)
Hi Steve, It is at Savin Hill Yacht Club in South Boston. They have two ramps and I have tried them both at various tide levels. With the tongue extension, the best case was the water was still a foot below the water line and the boat wasn't even thinking about floating. Using a chain works well, but I need a much more sturdy tongue jack/wheel assembly to handle the boat with full ballast coming up the ramp, and a larger wheel would work better off pavement. Boat US offers a heavy duty jack with double 6 inch wheels, but I am hoping to find something with a 10 inch (+/-) wheel diameter. Where do you sail in New Hampshire? To contact me directly... twarneke@cisco.com Fair Winds, Tom
Hi Steve, It is at Savin Hill Yacht Club in South Boston. They have two ramps and I have tried them both at various tide levels. With the tongue extension, the best case was the water was still a foot below the water line and the boat wasn't even thinking about floating. Using a chain works well, but I need a much more sturdy tongue jack/wheel assembly to handle the boat with full ballast coming up the ramp, and a larger wheel would work better off pavement. Boat US offers a heavy duty jack with double 6 inch wheels, but I am hoping to find something with a 10 inch (+/-) wheel diameter. Where do you sail in New Hampshire? To contact me directly... twarneke@cisco.com Fair Winds, Tom
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Russell
Stupid Question
I only ask this because I have experience. Are you closing the ballast tank before launching? I have backed my boat to the water, to only watch it settle back onto the trailer as the tank fills. Russell
I only ask this because I have experience. Are you closing the ballast tank before launching? I have backed my boat to the water, to only watch it settle back onto the trailer as the tank fills. Russell
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MIke B
trailer jack
I have read here about people having drop axles installed on their trailers, would this help ?
I have read here about people having drop axles installed on their trailers, would this help ?
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Rick Webb
Dolly
How about a dolly with a hitch ball on it? A large a wheel as you want on it. We had somthing like that to tow aircraft with I am trying to remember what it looked like.
How about a dolly with a hitch ball on it? A large a wheel as you want on it. We had somthing like that to tow aircraft with I am trying to remember what it looked like.
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Dave Condon
Wrote the book
Tom; In all the years of trailer launching the Hunbter 26 and 260, never once have I had to use a line to launch either boat from a trailer. In fact, I once launched a 23.5 off a beach at high tide successfully. Do not suggest that as I had a few under my belt and I had a bet going to buy the boat. Of course I was living up to my name as being crazy. Now back to the discussion. First if you have to use a line, there are many questions. For starters, get a trailer tongue jack with two big wheels versus one but again coming up an incline, you run the gauntlett of damaging either one unless you have a two wheel dolly with a long tongue extension. When advising my customers, tide and the knowledge of ramps are very important. If at low tide with an incline and the wheel of the trailer are at the end of the ramp and you cannot get the boat off, stop. You will have trouble. I had a customer who purchased a 240 from me and had difficult launching the boat. I traveled to his hometown and observed a 7 foot concrete ramp that even folks had difficulty launching jon boats. Even my wife who I will refere to as Scratchy, even told him the ramp was too short. By the way, he tried to lower a mast during a lightening storm and do not recommend that. If the ramp is shallow as a result of the incline not being too steep, you can figure with the trailer tongue extension out, that you will only need to submeerse your tow vehicle rear tires up to 4 inches only. If you are using a gravel ramp, then it is very difficult anyway you cut the mustard unless you have a 4 wheel drive. For those who have gone too far and the tires of the single or forward of two axle trailers have gone off the ramp, use 2 X 6 boards appx. 4-5 feet long or even shorter, cram then betweet the ramp and the bottom of the tires and you will be able to pull the trailer up. Sometimes I have had to pushe the trailer back just to fiet the boards under the tires at an angle. If you arte still having trouble Tom, call Gregg Emerson at Hunter Marine for my number and feel free to call me so we can resolve your problems. If any one ever meets my wife, call her Scratchy. I figure I will be in the dog house for this one. Oh well, she aint a talking with me right now. You know, little problems. Crazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzy
Tom; In all the years of trailer launching the Hunbter 26 and 260, never once have I had to use a line to launch either boat from a trailer. In fact, I once launched a 23.5 off a beach at high tide successfully. Do not suggest that as I had a few under my belt and I had a bet going to buy the boat. Of course I was living up to my name as being crazy. Now back to the discussion. First if you have to use a line, there are many questions. For starters, get a trailer tongue jack with two big wheels versus one but again coming up an incline, you run the gauntlett of damaging either one unless you have a two wheel dolly with a long tongue extension. When advising my customers, tide and the knowledge of ramps are very important. If at low tide with an incline and the wheel of the trailer are at the end of the ramp and you cannot get the boat off, stop. You will have trouble. I had a customer who purchased a 240 from me and had difficult launching the boat. I traveled to his hometown and observed a 7 foot concrete ramp that even folks had difficulty launching jon boats. Even my wife who I will refere to as Scratchy, even told him the ramp was too short. By the way, he tried to lower a mast during a lightening storm and do not recommend that. If the ramp is shallow as a result of the incline not being too steep, you can figure with the trailer tongue extension out, that you will only need to submeerse your tow vehicle rear tires up to 4 inches only. If you are using a gravel ramp, then it is very difficult anyway you cut the mustard unless you have a 4 wheel drive. For those who have gone too far and the tires of the single or forward of two axle trailers have gone off the ramp, use 2 X 6 boards appx. 4-5 feet long or even shorter, cram then betweet the ramp and the bottom of the tires and you will be able to pull the trailer up. Sometimes I have had to pushe the trailer back just to fiet the boards under the tires at an angle. If you arte still having trouble Tom, call Gregg Emerson at Hunter Marine for my number and feel free to call me so we can resolve your problems. If any one ever meets my wife, call her Scratchy. I figure I will be in the dog house for this one. Oh well, she aint a talking with me right now. You know, little problems. Crazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzy
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Jim Russell
Spare Tire
I have a 340 that I lauch in a similar manner off a three axle trailer. The trailer is designed to have the spare tire act as a tricycle tire. It is mounted on the tongue of the trailer. Incidentally, we use a 30,000 # test nylon strap as it doesn't rust, provides some spring, and is easier to store. If you would like me to email photos, I would be happy to do so. Contact me at jrussell@dtgnet.com Jim
I have a 340 that I lauch in a similar manner off a three axle trailer. The trailer is designed to have the spare tire act as a tricycle tire. It is mounted on the tongue of the trailer. Incidentally, we use a 30,000 # test nylon strap as it doesn't rust, provides some spring, and is easier to store. If you would like me to email photos, I would be happy to do so. Contact me at jrussell@dtgnet.com Jim
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Jim Kolstoe
Try a removable third wheel
Tom, I'm suprised you don't have local examples of solutions to your problem. There are a number of Santa-20 (4' draft) and Wavelength 24 (4'8"? draft) owners in the local YC's (Eugene YC and Triton YC), who trailer frequenly to races. Most of them use a removeable light trailer wheel with an axel welded or bolted on near the front of the trailer. I watched and assisted lauching and recovering these boats many times. Its a slick system. Jim Kolstoe
Tom, I'm suprised you don't have local examples of solutions to your problem. There are a number of Santa-20 (4' draft) and Wavelength 24 (4'8"? draft) owners in the local YC's (Eugene YC and Triton YC), who trailer frequenly to races. Most of them use a removeable light trailer wheel with an axel welded or bolted on near the front of the trailer. I watched and assisted lauching and recovering these boats many times. Its a slick system. Jim Kolstoe
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John Larsen
Extension
My trailer has a ten foot extension that can be pulled out to lengthen the total length of the trailer. You can probably go to a steel yard and purchase an appropriate length and have the hitch welded on. Then attach the extension to the side of your existing tongue and pull it out at the dock. you can probably see one in storage at some marina to get the real idea. You "can't" tow the rig with the extension. It's only for the dock area.
My trailer has a ten foot extension that can be pulled out to lengthen the total length of the trailer. You can probably go to a steel yard and purchase an appropriate length and have the hitch welded on. Then attach the extension to the side of your existing tongue and pull it out at the dock. you can probably see one in storage at some marina to get the real idea. You "can't" tow the rig with the extension. It's only for the dock area.
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