I'm going to be pulling my 84 O'day 222 out of the water for the first with the it's original trailer. How much water is needed? It's a Loadrite roller trailer.Any other tips would be a help.
Trailering Question
- Thread starter pjcorb1
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the deeper the ramp, the easier it usually is to load. i would think you want to be able to at least float the boat 1/3-1/2 way up the trailer, or more, if you can before cranking.
some other things to so in no particular order:
1. unplug your lights before you back it into the water.
2. make sure you don't back your trailer wheels off the end of the ramp. have someone watching if you can.
3. i have a two wheel drive so i make sure my rear wheels don't go into the water so they don't slip on the algae and seaweed. four wheel you may be able to go deeper, but you don't want your differental on the rear axle under water.
4. if you are pulling it out with the mast up, check for wires etc all the way to where you are going to park to drop it.
5. remember to take something to wear on your feet in case you have to get wet. i also like to crank out the strap before backing up as it makes it easier.
6. if your rudder is fixed, you may want to remove it so it doesn't hit the ramp on the way out.
7. you may need a long stern line if your ramp has a short dock in order to get it back far enough to back in the trailer.
8. remember to take the mast crutch if the mast isn't down. also, you may want a step ladder and some tools: needlenose pliers, wrenches for turnbuckles ect, hammer and punch for tabernacle pin. plenty of rope, bungees etc to tie things down.
some other things to so in no particular order:
1. unplug your lights before you back it into the water.
2. make sure you don't back your trailer wheels off the end of the ramp. have someone watching if you can.
3. i have a two wheel drive so i make sure my rear wheels don't go into the water so they don't slip on the algae and seaweed. four wheel you may be able to go deeper, but you don't want your differental on the rear axle under water.
4. if you are pulling it out with the mast up, check for wires etc all the way to where you are going to park to drop it.
5. remember to take something to wear on your feet in case you have to get wet. i also like to crank out the strap before backing up as it makes it easier.
6. if your rudder is fixed, you may want to remove it so it doesn't hit the ramp on the way out.
7. you may need a long stern line if your ramp has a short dock in order to get it back far enough to back in the trailer.
8. remember to take the mast crutch if the mast isn't down. also, you may want a step ladder and some tools: needlenose pliers, wrenches for turnbuckles ect, hammer and punch for tabernacle pin. plenty of rope, bungees etc to tie things down.
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Pat -
A couple of other things to consider. Do you have trailer guides to get it centered on the trailer correctly? I bought some guides from a local marine store that work perfectly. Second, make sure the centerboard pendant is attached to the cleat. Third, attach the safety chains on the trailer (I would assume you did this before driving to the ramp) but also the safety chain to the bow before pulling the boat out of the water. Fourth, run all the gas out of your engine before pulling it out of the water. I even pull the choke to get the last drops so as to avoid that gas odor in the truck. Fifth, take a look at the wind direction and ideally park the trailer so that the wind is on the bow so that there is no cross-wind when lowering the mast. I can do this myself pretty easily but if there is a lot of wind, I try to get someone to help.
I have bunks and so I typically get the wheels completely submerged to both float it off, and get it back on.
I'm within a couple of weeks of pulling mine as well. I'm hoping to go sailing tomorrow though.
Dave
O'Day 222
A couple of other things to consider. Do you have trailer guides to get it centered on the trailer correctly? I bought some guides from a local marine store that work perfectly. Second, make sure the centerboard pendant is attached to the cleat. Third, attach the safety chains on the trailer (I would assume you did this before driving to the ramp) but also the safety chain to the bow before pulling the boat out of the water. Fourth, run all the gas out of your engine before pulling it out of the water. I even pull the choke to get the last drops so as to avoid that gas odor in the truck. Fifth, take a look at the wind direction and ideally park the trailer so that the wind is on the bow so that there is no cross-wind when lowering the mast. I can do this myself pretty easily but if there is a lot of wind, I try to get someone to help.
I have bunks and so I typically get the wheels completely submerged to both float it off, and get it back on.
I'm within a couple of weeks of pulling mine as well. I'm hoping to go sailing tomorrow though.
Dave
O'Day 222
If all your rollers are turning smooth and easy, you could back right down till the water is up the trailer's wheel hubs or a little deeper if you like. The best way to load your boat is to tie a 50' line on the bow cleat, and tie your regular stern line on the stern cleat and walk along the dock with the two lines keeping the boat out so that it floats directly toward the center of the trailer. If there is a dock on each side of the ramp, use the windward dock. The wind will keep your boat out and you can control the direction of the boat easier with your lines. Once the boat's bow is into the back of the trailer, the back rollers will hold it in position as long as you can hold the tension of the bow line while you work your way to your winch stanchion. The stern line can be thrown in the boat, or have someone hold it, but it isn't really necessary. Hold the tension on the bow line and take a large bite of the line and bring it around the winch stanchion twice, and tie two half hitches in the line. The boat can be held in place by the line and you can take your time and insert the winch cable hook into the bow eye by holding on to the rope and using it to steady yourself as you walk along the trailer frame. You don't even have to remove your shoes to do this. Remember to put a chalk under the front wheel of your towing vehicle after backing down the ramp, and remove it when you pull the boat out. When you go to launch this boat next year it would be a good idea to install a 12'' roller and bracket on the back trailer cross member so that the bow never comes in contact with it when you're unloading your boat from the trailer. My bow got damaged from hitting that last cross member years ago and after I installed the roller and bracket, I never had a problem after that. To launch this boat, back down the ramp as far as the trailer hubs, tie the 50' line on your bow cleat, release the winch hook from the bow eye, and give the bow a push and she should roll right off that trailer right down to the end of the dock. Have fun!
Joe
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