Driving on

[Pirate Pete]

As some of the newer members have had trouble seeing pics etc on the old site I have copied my info over to the new one.


There have been quite a few people asking how to drive their poly onto the trailer. Here is how I do it with my 5.3

U back the trailer in until the "V" of the trailer is just in the water as per this pic.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee312/Polyboatowner/Trailerinthewater.jpg



This as deep as I ever go & usually its a bit shallower.

Then watch this Youtube Video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6LBdv-W_Jc

It looks heaps faster in the video that it seems in real life.

[Pirate Pete]

We went out again today & got some more video of driving on.

Here is how deep I put the trailer in to drive off

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee312/Polyboatowner/BackingOff.jpg

In this video, I am driving on with the wind coming over my starboard rear quarter & the tide is at right angles to the ram from the left to the right. You can easily see the calm water I make as I back off the pontoon. It would be easier to use the other side of the ramp as the pontoon cuts the current.

I have aligned the boat up with the starboard side skid of the trailer & as I have come in the wind & tide take me to the centre of the trailer. I have to then straighten up the boat on the trailer as the stern drifts toward the pontoon. Then power up. . . . . . . . This time maybe just a bit to much power.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltpl8ViYYIk

[Pirate Pete]

WE went out again today & the wind was 180 degrees out from what the forecast was & about 10Kt stronger.

Again I have driven on on the wind & tide side of the ramp. The other side would be easier as the pontoon blocks the current but that side was being used by 3 tinnys trying not to dent the sides of their soft little boats.

Whit the wind & the tide I have tried to steer to the port side of the trailer & the current this time drags the stern around so I have to apply a little throttle & let the boat straighten up in to the "V". It a thing that you can feel when its in the right spot. Then hit the gas & up you go.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thyb1pOINa4

[Pirate Pete]

Here is another go from today.

The wind was horrible & the tide was coming in so again I am using the wrong (unsheltered) side of the ramp.

Its a bit hard to see but I am coming in at about a 20 degree angle to the trailer.

There is also a pause as the boat ran slightly to starboard as I started up the trailer. You will see the boat slide back slightly & then I power on again. This lets the keel "Pop" into the trench & them up you go.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrikmoQw5-o

I should have realy used the other side of the ramp where the pontoon breaks the current & wind to a lesser extent.

The cross slides in the middle of the trailer do a great job. If you find that the boat is a bit crossed up on the trailer just drop the power & its a real "POP" as the keel drops in.

Then hit it again.

No 2 times are the same I have had to turn the boat around & go again to get it right.