Drive-on trailer - windy conditions

[BogMonster]

The major issue I'm having with the Vipermax is launch and recovery.

It's simply not possible/safe to do a drive on recovery on the current trailer (keel rollers and four side bunks) and in our often (usually!) windy conditions here, as I found out last weekend, single handed recovery is a bloody struggle - it took me about 20 min to get the boat back on the trailer by myself as there was a strong breeze blowing onto the stern from an angle and it took several attempts, a lot of sweat and cursing and quite a bit of cosmetic damage to the front of the boat (bow ran up between the keel roller and one of the little side rollers just next to it, doesn't seem to have gouged the gel coat but has left black marks on the hull that won't come off with anything which I am really pissed off about seeing as its only about the fourth outing

Thinking about this over the last couple of days I have decided that if the boat is going to last more than six months and not have a massive accident, I need to either get a new trailer or do something pretty drastic to the current one as it simply isn't working as it is - no fault of either the trailer or the boat and recovery is dead easy when it's calmer, it's just not the right combination for the windy conditions here. Nor is a conventional roller trailer which would rule out drive-on recovery on rocky beaches (rocks through the prop) - it has to be something you can hit with a bit of speed to let momentum do the work and a roller trailer just isn't strong enough.

So ... what are people's thoughts on the best design of trailer for drive-on recovery in windy conditions? My old trailer (photo attached - built by the original owner of the boat) had big wide wooden bunks full length keel and side and was great for this (if there was enough water...) as you could hit the trailer at about 3-4 knots and whizz her up almost to the winch post where it would sit 100% secure while you hopped out and attached the hook, but you could not recover in shallow water and launching was only possible if you had quite a bit of water as well - the boat used to stick on the bunks. On balance I'd rather have that, than what I have now, as it's usually windy and 30 sec for safe recovery is a lot better than 20 min of cursing and ending up with damage anyway.

The best compromise would be easy drive-on recovery in windy conditions, usable shallow water winch-on recovery in calmer conditions (less important) and not too hard to launch from, but it has to support the hull really well travelling on rough roads and also fit the curved hull of the Vipermax which is another issue with the current trailer - 8 nice big keel rollers of which only 3 touch the hull at any one time.

Anybody out there designed a one-off that I could pinch some ideas from? At the moment I might try and modify the existing trailer, I might buy something new or I might get something built locally and perhaps re-use some parts off the existing trailer but something is going to have to be done before the boat gets wrecked and last weekend was getting a bit close to my "and to hell with the consequences" temper limit!

I'm thinking a row of closely spaced keel rollers with solid bunks going right up to the edges of the roller brackets could fit the bill but would be interested to hear any other ideas especially from those who either launch and recover in windy places (especially beaches) and those who have built their own trailers as I think there are a few on here. The bunks would have to fit between the Vipermax hull chines which is another complication, but I think it could be done.

Thoughts please?

Ta

[biffer]

i'll post some pic's of my trailer, basically i've got centre rollers 2/3rd along the frame for support a swinging beam at the back, some rollers either side of the centre roller frame and then some more rollers about halfway along for positioning, seem's like over kill, maybe, but it works, the rear beam and the rollers either side of the center rollers position the boat (even if i get it slightly wrong it holds it in place), once i've steered it straight i give it a handfull on the throttle and she's on, i have no winch on the front just a chain and shackle, at over 8.5m and 2t i've never had a problem

[AVONMON]

Hi have you thought of using an electric winch on the trailer winch post with either radio control or flying lead ? This will allow you to guide the boat onto the trailer keeping her true wearing your chest waders/ dry suit.Probably cheeper and safer than a prppeller driven power recovery.Avonmon.

[Steve_B]

Just seen this, my first thoughts would be so fabricate some uprights either side of the trailer bed, so that it forms a "cage" and not allow the boat to drift off the centre line.
Although I dont have time to search yet, what I have in mind is the sort of thing the RNLI use with their tractor launch/recovery, which can be used in very extreme conditions virtually hands free.
Steve

[BogMonster]

Biffer - that would be great, ta

TBH I don't really want an electric winch (additional complexity and small electric winches are not that reliable - what happens when it packs up) and I don't want to get wet and/or mess around with waders - I could recover my Humber onto the old trailer in a pair of trainers if I had to and not get wet feet, so I want to end up with something I can use in no more than normal wellies.

RNLI - interesting idea... ta what do the boats sit on when they are on the trailer? rollers or bunks?

I'm waiting for prices from SBS for their adjustable keel rollers so that would sort the keel part to support it properly, and they also do some sort of roller bunks for the side so I can see some ideas coming together here

I have to be careful on the throttle as there are no proper slipways to launch from so sucking rocks off the bottom when powering on is a risk at all launching sites.

[Downhilldai]

Sounds like you need to lose the keel rollers 'cos they're too small a target to aim at. It should be okay just sitting on the bunks, as with the yank trailers.

[jambo]

Would cradles not be the answer. You can design how many independent free moving rollers you want on each cradle and they would centre the rib as you go on. It would give you a bigger 'target' to aim for, as DHD suggests. This se-up works for me and I am using in the west of scotland.
Hope it helps.

[9D280]

Agree with DHD on the keel rollers. I've had three trailers under 2 ribs, and none had a keel roller that actually did anything.

You could move the front roller beam assy back, interleaving the rollers with the ones on the swing beam (more rollers - less liklihood of missing), then replace the front one with bunks and you get the best of both. Then add a couple of sturdy uprights with plastic pipe over them (essentiallty a vertical roller) to keep the back end in place.

If you also had a couple of "halfway" verticals you could feasibly have a couple of bits of rope which you can fix one (whichever is o nthe convenient side that day) to a solid point inside to allow you to get forward & clip to the winch?


Also might cost but someone (Bramber or Mersea / Snipe rings a bell?) does blue "non marking" rollers.....



BTW, what's your current trailer?

[bedajim]

Originally Posted by 250kts

Just seen this, my first thoughts would be so fabricate some uprights either side of the trailer bed, so that it forms a "cage" and not allow the boat to drift off the centre line.
Although I dont have time to search yet, what I have in mind is the sort of thing the RNLI use with their tractor launch/recovery, which can be used in very extreme conditions virtually hands free.
Steve

I used a set of these made from 1" bsp tube covered with hose worked a treat always recovered single handed

Jim

[tim griffin]

If the slipway is wide enough could you not just Jack Knife the trailer so the end is pointing into the wind so you get blown on to the trailer.

My prefered method is drive it onto the trailer ala Biffer either way both methods are cheap.
Ta Tim

[martini]

Sounds like similar problems to what I had when I started out with the Arctic, the trailer being designed more for craning the boat on and off.

My suggestions would be:

modify/adjust trailer so the boat sits higher on the trailer giving more clearance for your props. Being able to safely apply a fair amount of thrust is quite important for power loading which you can't do if the motor's tilted right up.

Extend the drawbar to compensate for the above, putting the boat and trailer back in sufficient water depth.

Fit docking arms. I've nearly always got a crosswind and a surge across my slipway and I could be there for hours trying to line the boat up correctly.
Since fitting docking arms I have no trouble at all.

Attach some sort of wings with rubber etc to the winch post to catch the bow as she comes in and direct it to centre. These need to be as long as poss to catch the boat early.

All the above would be much easier than making a full frame like the rnli trailers and still do the job. My docking arms are removable, can't remember if I put photos on my build thread but if you want to see more the trailers just down the road, I can get some more.

I'd be wary of suggestions of doing away with keel rollers, it's the one part of the hull thats designed to take the weight of the boat. Larger diameter ones with plenty of width could be handy, the big diameter bringing the top of them away from bits of metal where they are mounted. Extra width is handy because as you'll never get the boat to sit exactly dead centre.

[Channel Ribs]

You have probably got enough suggestions to be going on with, but I cant resist.

We too have very poor slips and a charming combo of wind and surge.

Keep the keel rollers, but ensure you have enough guidance to get lined up on them every time.

Banks of rollers at the end of the trailer can help a lot, then use big bunks for the boat to rest on.

[Downhilldai]

Originally Posted by martini

I'd be wary of suggestions of doing away with keel rollers, it's the one part of the hull thats designed to take the weight of the boat.

Good point, but many RIBs of this size sit on roller type trailers, where the keel isn't supported and the entire weight of the RIB rests on rollers having a much smaller surface area than the bunks on bogmonster's current trailer. My own Vipermax 5.8 is fine supported on (32) hull rollers alone.

[Razorbill RIBs]

Originally Posted by BogMonster

RNLI - interesting idea... ta what do the boats sit on when they are on the trailer? rollers or bunks?

For interest....some pics here scroll to the last post I made http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?...um+cage&page=2

Not suggesting these would be of any use to you, but shows how the 75 trailers work....roller at each end and bunks in the middle.....

The new 85 trailer has a pair of rollered gates to guide you in to the trailer mouth (haven't seen one in the flesh)....wheres the fun in that

Dan

[Chris]

I dont know what the issue is with a roller trailer.

I regularly use mine to recover on shallow rock strewn beaches. As long as you judge it right once the bow is in between the two sets of rear rollers its easy to power the back round to straighten up and then a quick burst of power gets it onto the trailer. I just make sure that the trailer is deep enough in the first place.

Once I am almost all the way on I leave a little bit of power on then go up front and clip on the winch. Power off, engine up and winch on.

Done !

[BogMonster]

Thanks for all the replies

The trailer is a SBS R2-1800B which I think will lend itself fairly well to modification as it has a good solid ladder frame layout (one of the reasons I opted for it over a roller trailer).

I think as a temporary measure I may just remove all the keel rollers and fit a single long curved wooden bunk right the way down the keel and a banked V to guide her in, this will allow me to use it much like the old one. Anything complicated means I'll have to order in any other bits (probably even down to getting the right sized U bolts etc) which will be a couple of months coming unless I spend a fortune on DHL and I've also got a problem with not having anywhere really safe to keep the boat in the water while the trailer is being modified though I might be able to scrounge a telehandler and strops to lift her off for a while.

Will be interested to see Biffer's pictures.

I have a couple of bent props in the garage that testify to a good burst of power not being the answer for loading on this particular site there are 2 beaches one slopes off to flat in about 4ft of water and the other one drops off at 45 degrees down to about 20ft just below the low tide mark

[9D280]

Originally Posted by Chris

. I just make sure that the trailer is deep enough in the first place.

I find the opposite - too deep in and the bow doesn't fully engage with the rear roller banks, and ends up on the p!ss by the time it's halfway on.

[IBWET]

For a lot of years, I've had similar problems. Now I've copied this example accurately;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DGL1QhoGWk

Apart from substituting his warn 4500 for a superwinch terra 4500. There is far more power than is needed.

I've used Wichards on both shackles.

The remote means connecting the line while pulling it tight on to the boat with the other hand (this is enough even in quite strong cross winds to keep the hull in line. as soon as the line/winch takes the load, the whole rigs straightens on the rollers.

single handed in most conditions (keep some perspective here) is simple..

From a safety point of view, it betters the standard system we all use in a significant way; if you watch cars pulling heavy ribs up slips it's nearly always only the winch strap holding the hull on the trailer, this always looks a little iffy to me, with this new setup, there is much less chance of the initial inertia causing a boat to depart from the trailer...

I think (and I've done it many times) Using the engine at the point of recovery is full of potential issues....this system means it's off as soon as you hook on. It all works better if you keep it a little shallower,power is no longer an issue and your bearings will last longer.

[Razorbill RIBs]

Originally Posted by IBWET

Now I've copied this example accurately;

Including playing the dodgy 70's porn music on the RIBs soundsytem during the launch?

[Steve_B]

Whilst this is OTT, this is what I had in mind on my first post.
Steve