Steep slips

codprawn · 18 April 2007, 14:06

Just wondering about recovery on steep slipways. Launching is easy enough of course...

I assisted a bloke the other day trying to recover a large boat - they made the classic mistake of putting the roller trailer in too deep and floating the boat on. Of couse with a slight crosswind it just meant the boat was drifiting sideways all the time. I politely advised them that if they didn't want the boat to fall off the side of the trailer they should pull forward a few feet and drive the boat on - it worked a treat.

What about on a very steep slip though? The problem then is that the bow of the boat is going into the trailer rather than onto it and the stern is still swinging around no matter what. What is the normal procedure for this???

Milo72 · 18 April 2007, 15:30

maybe start with the rig in a little deeper that ideal, then move the car & trailer forward as the boat drives on to it...?

or,

get a mate with big 'guns' to winch it the whole way on!

vince · 18 April 2007, 15:36

Upright guide posts on the back of the trailer, put the rig in a little deeper, motor up to the snub post, attach winch hook and take up the slack, then pull out with the car. Uprights also good if the slip is prone to crosswinds.

Nos4r2 · 18 April 2007, 16:09

If you've got a rollercoaster it's easy.

Very slightly deeper than normal so bouyancy takes some but not all of the weight.Get the bow on and a mate upwind holding a stern line to keep the boat straight while you winch.

Downhilldai · 18 April 2007, 20:00

Once the hull's between the forward rollers and the bow is winched up to the snubber, it will be lined up straight - no problem.
If the stern is afloat and above the trailer rollers, when she's winched all the way forward, it will drop down nicely into place when the trailer is pulled slowly up the slipway.

BogMonster · 19 April 2007, 11:38

Depending on the state of the tide I sometimes have to recover near the top of the beach where it is very steep and it does make it more difficult but I tend to leave the (bunk) trailer a bit further out of the water than usual so the bunks hold the boat better, and drive it up. Don't always get it right but it feels good when you do and don't have to winch at all just clip the hook on and drive away

codprawn · 19 April 2007, 11:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

Once the hull's between the forward rollers and the bow is winched up to the snubber, it will be lined up straight - no problem.
If the stern is afloat and above the trailer rollers, when she's winched all the way forward, it will drop down nicely into place when the trailer is pulled slowly up the slipway.

I suppose it depends on just how steep the slip is but I would have thought if it was too steep only a small part at the bow will be in place leaving the stern to swing all over the place in a cross wind. Obviously side bars are the answer!!!

Downhilldai · 19 April 2007, 12:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

...Obviously side bars are the answer!!!

Side bars are for fishermen with dories who don't want to get their jeans wet,

but they always end up doing so.

You must have seen them all on the outer slip at B. Port on a nice summer's day?

DGR · 19 April 2007, 14:54

I tried to get some sidebars for my trailer when I was having recovery problems - and struggled to find any. In the end, I pretty much do as downhilldai suggests. I drive the boat slowly onto the trailer until it is resting/leaning on the front rollers - leave it in gear to hold it against the rollers - hook up the winch and take in the slack - neutral and switch off - and then winch it up the last 3 or 4 feet. The engine idling in forward holds the boat nicely in position against the front rollers -

D...

Mugshot · 19 April 2007, 15:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by DGR

I tried to get some sidebars for my trailer when I was having recovery problems - and struggled to find any. In the end, I pretty much do as downhilldai suggests. I drive the boat slowly onto the trailer until it is resting/leaning on the front rollers - leave it in gear to hold it against the rollers - hook up the winch and take in the slack - neutral and switch off - and then winch it up the last 3 or 4 feet. The engine idling in forward holds the boat nicely in position against the front rollers -

D...

Are you doing this on your own or with assistance. If you're on your own do you actually get off the boat with the engine running and in gear, or do you lean right off the front to hook the winch on?

DGR · 19 April 2007, 15:14

I usually have someone to help me!!

I have done it single handed like this (

), but I quickly chuck the painter over the winch post and tie off, and then switch off the engine before hooking up and winching in to secure properly.

The boat tends to lift the nose out of the water quite a bit under power, so when you tie off with the painter and then switch off, although the boat does try to roll back down the rollers it is still held in position quite securely.

So far, anyway......

For peace of mind and just in case, I usually have an extra pair of hands available to help out.

D...

John Kennett · 19 April 2007, 16:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by DGR

I drive the boat slowly onto the trailer until it is resting/leaning on the front rollers - leave it in gear to hold it against the rollers - hook up the winch and take in the slack - neutral and switch off - and then winch it up the last 3 or 4 feet.

Why not just drive the boat all the way on?

John

DGR · 19 April 2007, 16:54

Hi John!!

I don't usually drive it all the way on for a couple of reasons - the main one being that I did some damage to the hull when driving on all the way. The Ribcraft 7.8 metre Offshore is quite a heavy RIB - especially with the Yanmar lump at the back, and I'd rather do things slowly and gently when around my trailer!!

The rollers aren't great on the trailer either (small rollers, big chines), so on balance I'd rather slowly winch the boat into it's trailer position. Personal preference - probably nothing logical - but hey, it keeps me happy!!

D...

codprawn · 19 April 2007, 17:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by DGR

I tried to get some sidebars for my trailer when I was having recovery problems - and struggled to find any. In the end, I pretty much do as downhilldai suggests. I drive the boat slowly onto the trailer until it is resting/leaning on the front rollers - leave it in gear to hold it against the rollers - hook up the winch and take in the slack - neutral and switch off - and then winch it up the last 3 or 4 feet. The engine idling in forward holds the boat nicely in position against the front rollers -

D...

But would this work on a very steep slip? because of the angle the bow will be touching the rollers but the stern will still be floating all over the place.

vince · 19 April 2007, 18:15

It should be fine, as long as no tide/wind to push your bum off course. Maybe the answer would be uprights that you could detach/attach in case you need them?

DGR · 19 April 2007, 18:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

But would this work on a very steep slip? because of the angle the bow will be touching the rollers but the stern will still be floating all over the place.

The back of the boat is never on the rollers when launched/recovered - it's always floating. My slip isn't that steep - but when the boat is held by the rollers and the winch at the front, you pull the boat up the slip a few feet to let it settle/find it's own position/land on the rollers properly and then winch her all the way in.

Detachable bars were what I tried to get - and unless you get them made specifically, you can't. The reason I decided not to bother with the bars in the end was (a) my method seems to work, (b) what's the risk of damaging the tubes on the bars? What would you use to protect the tubes? and (c) I got much better at driving the RIB!!

D...

Nos4r2 · 19 April 2007, 18:32

I much prefer bunks on a steep slip.

Drive boat up bunks til halfway on. Climb over bow, attach strop to bow eye, winch on the rest of the way... Easy!

ian parkes · 19 April 2007, 19:09

They don't get a lot steeper than Penmarlem eh Nos Do they .

I wondered about that slip in charlestown harbour , when I saw it , wouldn't want to get any vehicle on that with a trailer hitched up . Its looks about 45degrees

Kernow Buoy · 19 April 2007, 19:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by ian parkes

They don't get a lot steeper than Penmarlem eh Nos Do they .

I wondered about that slip in charlestown harbour , when I saw it , wouldn't want to get any vehicle on that with a trailer hitched up . Its looks about 45degrees

'Ello Parkesy!

My boys have used Charlestown slip as a slide! The local kids hop in a fish tray and away they go. Never seen a vehicle use it but the gig club launch from there, they back the trailer up to the top of the slip and then put a rubber mat down and slide the gig in.

ian parkes · 19 April 2007, 19:30

Ello Cap'n Kernow

I can just imajine the local kids sliding down that , Bloody Gig must go in like a seal , bows under .

Hoping to launch Loe weekend are you about or has the season allready got you graftin.