Yesterday I had the opportunity to pull our (new to us)240 out of the water for the first time. Not wanting to risk damage to the keel or rudder, I raised both and attempted to motor the boat onto the trailer. I was successful after two attempts. The problem is that when I put the motor into neutral to coast I lose steering control. My question is can you safely drive the boat on the trailer with the keel down and allow the boards to lift the keel? This would reduce the effect of "Kentucky Windage" trying to steer the boat. The other alternative is to verify enough depth for the rudder and use it for better steerage. Would be glad to hear how others manage this situation when you don't have the luxury of walking the boat onto the trailer from a dock. Bob "Alrightie Then"
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Ron
Keel Up, Rudder Down, Motor Off
My experience is with a H26, but I have never heard of routinely motoring these types of boats onto the trailer with the keel down. You can maintain steerage with the motor and rudder down, but then you have to glide the boat on the trailer with a line. The motor and rudder won't hit since the trailer is deep enough in the stern. Once on the pads, crank it on, and lift the rudder before pulling the trailer out. Wind will make this challenging at times, but motoring might get you in more trouble. Look in the archives on this web site for lots of discussion about how to move the boat onto the trailer easier.
My experience is with a H26, but I have never heard of routinely motoring these types of boats onto the trailer with the keel down. You can maintain steerage with the motor and rudder down, but then you have to glide the boat on the trailer with a line. The motor and rudder won't hit since the trailer is deep enough in the stern. Once on the pads, crank it on, and lift the rudder before pulling the trailer out. Wind will make this challenging at times, but motoring might get you in more trouble. Look in the archives on this web site for lots of discussion about how to move the boat onto the trailer easier.
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Rick Webb
No Problem
On my 23.5 I usually forget to raise the centerboard and it has never been a problem nor has leaving the rudder down. When taking the boat off of the trailer it is a good idea to make sure the center board is secured in the up position. I have gotten stuck twice trying to back out of the ramp, it swings up going forward with no problem going backwards is a different story.
On my 23.5 I usually forget to raise the centerboard and it has never been a problem nor has leaving the rudder down. When taking the boat off of the trailer it is a good idea to make sure the center board is secured in the up position. I have gotten stuck twice trying to back out of the ramp, it swings up going forward with no problem going backwards is a different story.
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Bill O'Donovan
Best advice
Get your brother-in-law to help guide the boat to compensate for Kentucky windage. Do not engage your wife on this project.
Get your brother-in-law to help guide the boat to compensate for Kentucky windage. Do not engage your wife on this project.
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Joe C.
what I usually do
Mine is a 260 but not much difference I don't think. I pull it on from the dock when available, but have motored it on a couple of times. On the 260 as I think also on the 240 the rudder still act as a skeg when retracted to help you have good steerage. I have added a steering link to my out board to allow directional thrust for docking etc. You can keep your draft short and have steerage this way. Hope this helps, Joe C. in NC '01 H260 Windward Passage
Mine is a 260 but not much difference I don't think. I pull it on from the dock when available, but have motored it on a couple of times. On the 260 as I think also on the 240 the rudder still act as a skeg when retracted to help you have good steerage. I have added a steering link to my out board to allow directional thrust for docking etc. You can keep your draft short and have steerage this way. Hope this helps, Joe C. in NC '01 H260 Windward Passage
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Ken Koons
Brother in Law is the key
I agree with the brother in law statement. I pull onto the trailer with motor and rudder and usually do so VERY slowly. I always have the keel pulled up. I usually idle to within about 10 feet of the trailer and then kick the motor into neutral and coast. The first time I had to try this maneuver was at a six trailer wide public ramp. We were lined up in the middle of the six trailers after a thunderstorm, so all the ski boaters were loading up to get off the reservoir. (FYI Lake Monroe in Bloomington Indiana). The Brother in Law was at the ramp ready to catch the bow. The wife thought we were coming in too fast, so she ran forward and jumped in the water to help.....without the bow line and pushing off hard when jumping. The bow of the boat of course shifted about four feet port and was headed straight for the stern of the power boat next to us. Luckily the power boater was at the back of his boat strapping on his tie down straps, or that could have been an expensive day.
I agree with the brother in law statement. I pull onto the trailer with motor and rudder and usually do so VERY slowly. I always have the keel pulled up. I usually idle to within about 10 feet of the trailer and then kick the motor into neutral and coast. The first time I had to try this maneuver was at a six trailer wide public ramp. We were lined up in the middle of the six trailers after a thunderstorm, so all the ski boaters were loading up to get off the reservoir. (FYI Lake Monroe in Bloomington Indiana). The Brother in Law was at the ramp ready to catch the bow. The wife thought we were coming in too fast, so she ran forward and jumped in the water to help.....without the bow line and pushing off hard when jumping. The bow of the boat of course shifted about four feet port and was headed straight for the stern of the power boat next to us. Luckily the power boater was at the back of his boat strapping on his tie down straps, or that could have been an expensive day.
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Bob Kalisz
I've decided to try the keel up, rudder down and slow as possible approach getting the boat on to the trailer. If that doesn't work, then I will try it with the keel down. I have visions of the keel geting jammed by the line used to raise it. By way of note, I was pleasantly surprised how easy the keel retracted using the winch and how easy the mast lowered. I had a Potter -19 and both the mast and keel were getting to be a real pain. Thanks for the advice. Bob Kalisz Alrightie Then
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Ray Bowles
On our 95 H26 we simply extend the trailer
tongue, back the truck into the water until the rear tires are a little less that 1/2 wet and pull the boat up with the bow and stern ropes until we can attach the bow eye to the trailer winch strap. Then we crank the boat onto the trailer. Power loading is a very good way to express your inability to back a trailer far enough into the water to retrieve your boat.
tongue, back the truck into the water until the rear tires are a little less that 1/2 wet and pull the boat up with the bow and stern ropes until we can attach the bow eye to the trailer winch strap. Then we crank the boat onto the trailer. Power loading is a very good way to express your inability to back a trailer far enough into the water to retrieve your boat.
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