loading and unloading a jet from the trailer. how? [Archive]

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jboehm

10-23-2003, 08:36 AM

ok, i am down the ramp,trailer in the water. how far down? should i simply throw the reverse on and back it off, or just push it off. now loading. one person said i should just push it into position. is this the perfered method? i don't have any type of winch. one advantage of living down in south texas, you can boat and race all year. hardly ever gets really cold and when it does( high 20s') it doesn't last. i should have it ready for the water in a couple of weeks.

Danhercules

10-23-2003, 08:43 AM

I back down till the back of the boat is in the water, then undo the front clip, back down till the boat floats, I start it, in reverse, it somtimes takes a few seconds for the pump to load, then ya will feel the boat pull back. Loading, I drive twards teh trailer, very slow, and when my nose is close to the back of the trailer, I shut it off an put it on by hand. Just the way I do it. I dont think there is a "right way" or a "wrong way". I just try to be quick, and do all my other shit in the parkinglot.

fourspeednup

10-23-2003, 02:36 PM

I back it down until the back of the boat starts to float then undue the front clip and push it off. Sometimes it is necessary to lift the bow a little if it's not in quite far enough. Always guided the boat back onto the trailer, only drive if I have to due to boats blocking the ramp. (Had to swim it over once when I ran out of gas.) Get a friend to help out and it will make the process much less stressful. Make sure they know what to do before the boat gets wet! I launch in a shallow marina full of weeds, so I hate starting it before walking her out to deeper water. Guaranteed to pull up sh!t and clog the intake.:yuk:
The sooner you get off the ramp, the friendlier everyone will be!:D

fourspeednup

10-23-2003, 02:43 PM

Might take some experimentation to see how far you need to back the trailer down. Get a friend to help out the first few times. Once you get it, just remember how far the rear tire was from/in the water. On my rig the tires are just barely in.:D

Jet City

10-23-2003, 03:39 PM

Going out, back in till the boat floats, unhook it, clip rope to bow ring, push boat away from trailer, drive truck away, wife holds boat at dock.
Going in, back trailer to known depth (4-6 inches of fender for mine), jump in boat and drive it on, wife lets me know when boat can be hooked (blip throttle if needed), hook bow ring, drive truck away from ramp.
Driving the boat on is easy with a little practice, just leave enough of the trailer bunks out of the water to stop the boat at close to the right spot. I have yet to see anybody faster than my wife and I at the ramps. Once the wife gets some practice backing up the trailer, we'll be even faster.

DansBlown73Nordic

10-23-2003, 04:57 PM

I have found that when loading I need the tops of my fenders to be just showing.

quiet riot

10-23-2003, 07:49 PM

I unhook everything and make sure I got all the crap in the boat up in the parking lot. Wifey or whoevers with me backs me down and when the ass end of the boat starts to float, I fire her up and drive away. Come back to dock and pick up the vehicle driver when the boats warmed up.
To load I drop off someone at the dock and pull away while they back the trailer in with about 1/2 the bunks wet. then I drive the boat on and let them tow me to the parking lot where I strap the boat down and go home.
I built this trailer to load this way and even if you hit it at a 45 deg when loading, it self straightens and stops when the bow eye hits the bow roller, without any side guides either. don't have to latch the bow eye before pulling it up the ramp either.
For most trailers just follow the prev posts advice, although if you set a trailer up like this, you don't need to take up dock space and waste time hooking and unhooking the boat at the water.
jd
PS. One of the most frustrating things is usually backing the trailer too deep in the water which doesn't allow the bunks or rollers to self align the boat and usually leaves it off to one side or the other. Just experiment with your setup and after a couple tries you should get it figured pretty good. The shallower the ramp, the deeper you need to back the trailer.

fourspeednup

10-23-2003, 08:28 PM

quiet riot

10-23-2003, 08:44 PM

I've always been a little sketchy on unhooking the bow eye before getting the boat in the water. I saw a boat come off it's trailer this summer and the thought of my boat lying sideways on the ramp scared me pretty good. I'm sure that's not the reason it fell off but......
If it has rollers its a definate NO! And bunk trailers also depend on what materials are used (carpeted bunks, plastic, etc and hull material (rough, aluminum, polished gel?,)) Placement of bunks and hull type also affect it. Its always better to be safe than sorry, Unless You Are In My Way At The Ramp!:D Then its better to just stay outta the way. ;)
My boat stays on backing down 30 deg inclines when I make my own boat ramps at certain rivers. So I've tested it to some extreme conditions. I left a latch loosely attached to it to see what I can get away with on steep ramps while hitting the brakes and stuff, but every setup is different. And as far as pulling it out without the bow eye, if the driver guns it, it will slide back an inch or two, but the pickup will spin the tires before it will dump my boat off.
jd

lilrick

10-25-2003, 05:26 AM

is this a real post? It's not even winter yet! This can't be real!

JetBoatRich

10-25-2003, 07:04 AM

Originally posted by lilrick
is this a real post? It's not even winter yet! This can't be real!
Serious answers, it may be a dream:eek:

Jungle Boy

10-25-2003, 07:30 AM

Originally posted by lilrick
is this a real post? It's not even winter yet! This can't be real!
I was thinking the same thing, but was afraid to sound like an asshole by asking. I'm glad that I'm not on the same body of water, if someone has to ask how to put a boat in the water. Very scary, indeed.:eek!:

JetBoatRich

10-25-2003, 08:36 AM

Originally posted by Jungle Boy
I was thinking the same thing, but was afraid to sound like an asshole by asking. I'm glad that I'm not on the same body of water, if someone has to ask how to put a boat in the water. Very scary, indeed.:eek!:
I think they have a harder time getting it back on the trailer, some would think it would be fun to watch.

Danhercules

10-25-2003, 03:20 PM

Comon guys, He might be wanting to know if there is somthing special you have to do with a jet. Dont nock him for it. Its gonna make newbies feel stupid. I have asked stupid questions before, but if you dont konw the answer, dose that make it stupid?
I could have started the thread wrong too, what if he just wants to know if there is somthing specail ya do with a jet. Some people thottle the boats on, He might be asking if this is wrong or can hut a jet.
I know some of the responces would have affected my view of this place if I got that in return. But then again, I can be a little whiny bitch:D

RandyH

10-25-2003, 03:56 PM

Dont know if its mentioned above but when you back it into the water, sometimes it helps to have the reverse bucket up so that the pump gets primed with water. Otherwise you will wonder why your reverse doesnt work. This doesnt happen ever time but it can. Also its been said to dip the pump before you fire it up and pull back out to rinse any road gravel out of the bowl. I can never seem to remember that one.
Good Luck,
RandyH

Jungle Boy

10-25-2003, 04:03 PM

Danhercules,
You're right, I've always told new workers that there is no such thing as a stupid question. I guess I was just wondering on the validity of it.:o

Moomawnster

10-26-2003, 03:30 AM

I have a drive on trailer , I NEVER unhook the boat before it floats off the bunks . When I work alone I push the boat off while I hold the anchor , Drop anchor beside ramp or on it , move truck and gone , 4 min or less depending on parking .........with a competent helper..... 30 seconds .

lilrick

10-26-2003, 07:43 AM

well...I just drive real fast towards the ramp,then right before the water, i hook a great big U-turn winging my boat right off the trailer. Now that is how you launch a jet boat!

fourspeednup

10-26-2003, 01:57 PM

well...I just drive real fast towards the ramp,then right before the water, i hook a great big U-turn winging my boat right off the trailer. Now that is how you launch a jet boat!
Maybe I should just get one of them aluminum beer can river jets. Yeah, I could fire it up at the top and have someone push me down the ramp. Hit the water running you know? No waiting!:idea: :idea: :idea:

HammerDown

10-26-2003, 04:31 PM

Ok, I'll play. Launching my 21 Daytona alone is a real pain...it's to low in the back to ever use a Dock. So if there's no one else around, I float it off the trailer and let it float in a few feet of water, quick park the Tow rig and run back to the Boat. Now this won't work if the winds are to strong.
With a passanger/helper they hold it off the ramp or dock...great Boat but not Dock friendly at all!
PS. I NEVER back it off the beach or trailer under power...that kicks up to much debris that then gets sucked into the pump...I always turn it around by hand and push off the back while steping in...works out just fine.:wink:

Banshee

10-26-2003, 07:05 PM

Install the drain plug(s) before backing it into the water:D