I have an '86 O'day 192 shoal keel sailboat that I trailer to various local ramps. My problem is I can't get the boat to float off of the trailer without de-coupling it and submersing the trailer. I've set up an additional winch to retrieve the trailer when doing this, but I looking for an easier way (there are no moorings or slips available locally). I came across a product, 'Extend-a-hitch', that mounts below the existing main rail on the trailer, and slides out for an extension while at the ramp. Has anyone used this extension? If so, would you please provide feedback? Thanks.
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Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Matt - I do not have personal experience with the extend a hitch product but I have seen people use them at out ramp. Here in Portland we have ~10 foot tidal change so the ramp is not always usable for normal trailers. People seem to have good sucess with them. Purely anecdotal - hopefully someone who uses the system wieghs in, but from what I've seen I would try it if I were having difficulty launching. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
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Don Evans
Something Similar
Rather than a bolt on additional tongue, my trailor has an tongue extension built into the mainspine. Similar principle but not an additional item. Works great. I can post some pix if you think you would want to incorporate one, as it is possible if you can run one inside your main frame hitch housing. If not than this might be just the ticket. Don
Rather than a bolt on additional tongue, my trailor has an tongue extension built into the mainspine. Similar principle but not an additional item. Works great. I can post some pix if you think you would want to incorporate one, as it is possible if you can run one inside your main frame hitch housing. If not than this might be just the ticket. Don
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Joshua
Have you tried adjusting your hitch level?
Sometimes, if you get a raised or lowered hitch, it will help the boat float faster. It depends on how it sits in the tailer now. I went to a raised hitch and found that my trailer actually has to be in deeper then it did before. Now I carry both, the raised one for towing, the lower one for dropping her in the water. Have you also tried any other launches? Could be that just that launch is shallow... Josh
Sometimes, if you get a raised or lowered hitch, it will help the boat float faster. It depends on how it sits in the tailer now. I went to a raised hitch and found that my trailer actually has to be in deeper then it did before. Now I carry both, the raised one for towing, the lower one for dropping her in the water. Have you also tried any other launches? Could be that just that launch is shallow... Josh
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Matt
launches
I don't think that a raised or lowered htich would help. With the shallow ramps in my area, a have to let the trailer out 6 to 8 feet in order to get the boat to float. The ramps aren't the best, but becasue of that, they aren't that crowded (neither is the water). Thanks anyway for the input.
I don't think that a raised or lowered htich would help. With the shallow ramps in my area, a have to let the trailer out 6 to 8 feet in order to get the boat to float. The ramps aren't the best, but becasue of that, they aren't that crowded (neither is the water). Thanks anyway for the input.
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Matt
Great!
Someone else suggested this to me also. If you could post some pics, that would be great. I have a Trailex aluminum with clearnace in the spine for a 1 1/2" X 3" X 10' extension. Do you have a seperate coupler? If you have more than one pic, you can email me at de_meo@sachem.edu. Thanks.
Someone else suggested this to me also. If you could post some pics, that would be great. I have a Trailex aluminum with clearnace in the spine for a 1 1/2" X 3" X 10' extension. Do you have a seperate coupler? If you have more than one pic, you can email me at de_meo@sachem.edu. Thanks.
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Matt
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RICK APPLING
Trailer Extension
Matt, I have an OD23 on a tandem axle trailer. I experienced a similar problem when lauching my boat at local ramps. In order to get the boat to float off the trailer the rear axle of my truck had to be in the water. I went to a local trailer builder and had a tongue extension built onto my the existing trailer. The extension is made out of 2.5 " square stock, 8'6" long with a hitch/coupler on one end. The extension is stowed under the primary tongue and hitch/coupler. When I'm ready to launch the boat I disconnect the primar hitch, slide the extension out (secured by a hex bolt), secure it, connect to the truck and back the boat in the water barely getting the tires wet. It works great, takes about 5 minutes to switch from primary to extension but, worth the preservation to my vehicle.
Matt, I have an OD23 on a tandem axle trailer. I experienced a similar problem when lauching my boat at local ramps. In order to get the boat to float off the trailer the rear axle of my truck had to be in the water. I went to a local trailer builder and had a tongue extension built onto my the existing trailer. The extension is made out of 2.5 " square stock, 8'6" long with a hitch/coupler on one end. The extension is stowed under the primary tongue and hitch/coupler. When I'm ready to launch the boat I disconnect the primar hitch, slide the extension out (secured by a hex bolt), secure it, connect to the truck and back the boat in the water barely getting the tires wet. It works great, takes about 5 minutes to switch from primary to extension but, worth the preservation to my vehicle.
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Matt
extension
If you don't mind me asking, about how much did it cost? The extend-a-hitch runs about $350.00. Also, why did you choose to use a seperate coupler and not the original which could be extended or detracted when needed?
If you don't mind me asking, about how much did it cost? The extend-a-hitch runs about $350.00. Also, why did you choose to use a seperate coupler and not the original which could be extended or detracted when needed?
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RICK APPLING
Trailer Extension
Matt, The local trailer manufacture charged me $125.00 installed. The primary coupler supports the brake system, so I didn't want to worry about reliability of a quick release brake line fitting. If your trailer doesn't have brakes, then using the existing coupler and running the extension inside the trailer tongue would be the ideal way to go.
Matt, The local trailer manufacture charged me $125.00 installed. The primary coupler supports the brake system, so I didn't want to worry about reliability of a quick release brake line fitting. If your trailer doesn't have brakes, then using the existing coupler and running the extension inside the trailer tongue would be the ideal way to go.
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