Trailer Modifications

[smile0784]

Having used the recovereasy and the l and r latch when launching alone I never took the chain off until the back of the boat was I the water. I would back the boat in remove the winch strap and the chain then climb in the boat a little bit of fwd thrust it would unlatch and I could drive off. When set to retrieve I would back the trailer in then get in the boat drive the boat on the trailer tillit latched then trim the engine up climb out put the safety chain on and then the winch strap drive off.
A normal roller drive on drive off trailer the boat if not secured was only going one way and that was off the trailer, the benefit of having a catch is it reduces the amount of climbing in and out of the boat when launching solo I used to back the boat in start the engine put it in forward gear climb out unhook the winch and safety chain climb back in the boat drive the boat off . Then the same to retrieve the boat.

This sounds like what I'll be doing (plus having a tailgate to stand on makes life a bit easier) Love to hear which one you'd prefer considering you've owned both!

To be honest I preferred the recovereazy for its simplicity the l and r can bend he added a strengthening block later.

Which bit bends?

[Mattblack]

Having used the recovereasy and the l and r latch when launching alone I never took the chain off until the back of the boat was I the water. I would back the boat in remove the winch strap and the chain then climb in the boat a little bit of fwd thrust it would unlatch and I could drive off. When set to retrieve I would back the trailer in then get in the boat drive the boat on the trailer tillit latched then trim the engine up climb out put the safety chain on and then the winch strap drive off.
A normal roller drive on drive off trailer the boat if not secured was only going one way and that was off the trailer, the benefit of having a catch is it reduces the amount of climbing in and out of the boat when launching solo I used to back the boat in start the engine put it in forward gear climb out unhook the winch and safety chain climb back in the boat drive the boat off . Then the same to retrieve the boat.

This sounds like what I'll be doing (plus having a tailgate to stand on makes life a bit easier) Love to hear which one you'd prefer considering you've owned both!

You dont have to reverse back that far.
You should still be able to stand behind your car with dry feet. If you get your feet wet your trailer is probably too far back[/quote

I found some ramps a bit shallow at certain times of the tide due to the incline of the ramp, ie Rhyll at high tide. Having a second person and a latch allows them to release the boat with dry feet then back the boat in a bit further to launch

Recovereasy it is...cheers!
Launching is the easy bit, it's when I retrieve it I get wet as I can only pull the boat 1/2 way up the trailer with a rope, so you need to go nuts deep to hook the winch on. Rhyll is a testing ramp after a couple of beers and a cross wind... I don't think I'll ever launch there solo. I certainly wont be taking off the safety chain/winch strap until its ready to launch...especially at a ramp like Hastings, it's a good ramp, but it's very 'bouncy'.

[Nude up]

Having used the recovereasy and the l and r latch when launching alone I never took the chain off until the back of the boat was I the water. I would back the boat in remove the winch strap and the chain then climb in the boat a little bit of fwd thrust it would unlatch and I could drive off. When set to retrieve I would back the trailer in then get in the boat drive the boat on the trailer tillit latched then trim the engine up climb out put the safety chain on and then the winch strap drive off.
A normal roller drive on drive off trailer the boat if not secured was only going one way and that was off the trailer, the benefit of having a catch is it reduces the amount of climbing in and out of the boat when launching solo I used to back the boat in start the engine put it in forward gear climb out unhook the winch and safety chain climb back in the boat drive the boat off . Then the same to retrieve the boat.

This sounds like what I'll be doing (plus having a tailgate to stand on makes life a bit easier) Love to hear which one you'd prefer considering you've owned both!

To be honest I preferred the recovereazy for its simplicity the l and r can bend he added a strengthening block later.

Which bit bends?

I will post a picture later easier than trying to explain

[purple5ive]

i was going to suggest why dont you guys just go to the bow and hook the winch on like that, and then i realised you guys have cabins hahaha.
something like the above mentioned contraption is quite handy for those kind of situations.

[frozenpod]

Recovereasy it is...cheers!
Launching is the easy bit, it's when I retrieve it I get wet as I can only pull the boat 1/2 way up the trailer with a rope, so you need to go nuts deep to hook the winch on. Rhyll is a testing ramp after a couple of beers and a cross wind... I don't think I'll ever launch there solo. I certainly wont be taking off the safety chain/winch strap until its ready to launch...especially at a ramp like Hastings, it's a good ramp, but it's very 'bouncy'.

"Nuts deep" does sound like you are way too deep in the water.

For winching on there are two solutions to avoid getting wet.

Plank on the trailer so you walk on the trailer to attach the winch strap.

Waders, the thigh height ones are more than enough.

[frozenpod]

i was going to suggest why dont you guys just go to the bow and hook the winch on like that, and then i realised you guys have cabins hahaha.
something like the above mentioned contraption is quite handy for those kind of situations.

You can still do that with a cabin.

It is more a case of how long your arms are and how far the hook is.

[Mattblack]

Recovereasy it is...cheers!
Launching is the easy bit, it's when I retrieve it I get wet as I can only pull the boat 1/2 way up the trailer with a rope, so you need to go nuts deep to hook the winch on. Rhyll is a testing ramp after a couple of beers and a cross wind... I don't think I'll ever launch there solo. I certainly wont be taking off the safety chain/winch strap until its ready to launch...especially at a ramp like Hastings, it's a good ramp, but it's very 'bouncy'.

"Nuts deep" does sound like you are way too deep in the water.

For winching on there are two solutions to avoid getting wet.

Plank on the trailer so you walk on the trailer to attach the winch strap.

Waders, the thigh height ones are more than enough.

Nuts deep for me is about knee depth....they start to sag when you get old. I do sometimes balance on the trailer, but it gets slippery (no mesh or planks on mine)

[Mattblack]

i was going to suggest why dont you guys just go to the bow and hook the winch on like that, and then i realised you guys have cabins hahaha.
something like the above mentioned contraption is quite handy for those kind of situations.

Yep...if I could reach the front, I'd just use the thrust of the motor to hold the boat steady whilst I put the winch on/off....yet another disadvantage of a cabin!

[purple5ive]

Recovereasy it is...cheers!
Launching is the easy bit, it's when I retrieve it I get wet as I can only pull the boat 1/2 way up the trailer with a rope, so you need to go nuts deep to hook the winch on. Rhyll is a testing ramp after a couple of beers and a cross wind... I don't think I'll ever launch there solo. I certainly wont be taking off the safety chain/winch strap until its ready to launch...especially at a ramp like Hastings, it's a good ramp, but it's very 'bouncy'.

"Nuts deep" does sound like you are way too deep in the water.

For winching on there are two solutions to avoid getting wet.

Plank on the trailer so you walk on the trailer to attach the winch strap.

Waders, the thigh height ones are more than enough.

Nuts deep for me is about knee depth....they start to sag when you get old. I do sometimes balance on the trailer, but it gets slippery (no mesh or planks on mine)

ahahahah.
but seriously, get some non slip tape from bunnings and put them on the trailer at least
i think for your solution a good boat catch is going to be a life saver. but then again you will still get wet (pending how close you get the trailer to the ramp) because if you are retrieving solo you still need to get out and drive the car back up the ramp.

[Mattblack]

Recovereasy it is...cheers!
Launching is the easy bit, it's when I retrieve it I get wet as I can only pull the boat 1/2 way up the trailer with a rope, so you need to go nuts deep to hook the winch on. Rhyll is a testing ramp after a couple of beers and a cross wind... I don't think I'll ever launch there solo. I certainly wont be taking off the safety chain/winch strap until its ready to launch...especially at a ramp like Hastings, it's a good ramp, but it's very 'bouncy'.

"Nuts deep" does sound like you are way too deep in the water.

For winching on there are two solutions to avoid getting wet.

Plank on the trailer so you walk on the trailer to attach the winch strap.

Waders, the thigh height ones are more than enough.

Nuts deep for me is about knee depth....they start to sag when you get old. I do sometimes balance on the trailer, but it gets slippery (no mesh or planks on mine)

ahahahah.
but seriously, get some non slip tape from bunnings and put them on the trailer at least
i think for your solution a good boat catch is going to be a life saver. but then again you will still get wet (pending how close you get the trailer to the ramp) because if you are retrieving solo you still need to get out and drive the car back up the ramp.

I think it's a must for me...getting wet isn't that bad, it's manoeuvring the thing around using a rope which is a PITA. You have to worry about which lane you chose, jetty access, other boats. Hasn't been an issue until recently, now it seems I'm launching solo most of the time as my 6 year old has become my #1 deckie. Grip tape is a brilliant idea and I'll be putting some of that on as well :thumbsup: