Bow lifting bar to aid launching sib fitted with transom wheels.

[kaman]

Came up with this add on several years ago to aid me when launching my Sib single handed off of the transom wheels.
Works a treat.
With outboard mounted on rear the weight actually works in your favour to pull tge stern down and tilt / lift the bow up.
I walk forward facing the stern of the Sib with the bar at waist height when launching,
I walk with my back to the bow with the bar at the base of my back for retrieving the Sib from the water.
Although there are numerous handles and ropes in the Sib none of them lend themselves to getting as good a leverage / grip on the Sib for launching as this.
I use a galvanized steel bar with foam pads duct taped at the ends to assist hand grip and comfort.
Two carabiners clip onto the side eyelets rope goes through centre of bar.
Pictures explain it better.
Clips on and off in 30 secs!
Something similar probably been posted on Ribnet before.
Though I would post mine.
Might be useful to someone out there as a cheap but effective modification for the start of the new season.

[stray]

Nice idea, it'll be useful when there's 2 of us to drag the boat.

I'd like some of these to help me drag the boat to the water when I'm by myself;



or I'll have arms like an orangutan by the end of the summer.

[kaman]

Originally Posted by stray

Nice idea, it'll be useful when there's 2 of us to drag the boat.

I'd like some of these to help me drag the boat to the water when I'm by myself;

or I'll have arms like an orangutan by the end of the summer.

I find that by shifting most of the stuff to the back of the Sib and by having the engine(s) on the transom there is little or no felt weight at the bow.
It's almost like a bike wheelying due to the rear end weight.
As I only pull mine a couple of feet out of the water then winch it onto the trailer this set up works well for me.
Certainly would have orangutan arms not to mention shoulders like a bison after dragging it any great distance up an inclined shingle beach a few times tho ha ha ha!
Certainly raises a few eyebrows amongst the traditional boaters when I emerge from the water towing the Sib behind my back then dry recover it on the beach onto the trailer whilst they are all up to their arm pits trying to get their boats onto their trailers in the brine!
That's why I love the flexibility of the old Sib.
Happy Boating.

[stray]

Yes, we put everything at the back, then rearrange it all at the waters edge. It's just that it's about 400 yds, then a small slipway and beach to the waters edge, a mobility scooter has been suggested.

[kaman]

Lol!
I would need a mobility scooter if I dragged mine 400 yards on my own.
I unfortunately succumb to the dreaded trailer after two spinal discs prolapsing - caused by wrestling a sib up a beach single handed.
Otherwise I would have not bothered with a trailer.
Happy Sibbing.

[stray]

I unfortunately succumb to the dreaded trailer after two spinal discs prolapsing - caused by wrestling a sib up a beach single handed.

Painful.

I knackered my back digging worm on the beach, I got the worm and six weeks on the sick. The Dr signed me off on Christmas eve and I was back on nightshift that night.

But that was a long time ago.

[kaman]

Yep it sure was painful!
I was off work for 8 months and in hospital every week for traction.
Not a pleasant experience.
Im all for trailers and 4x4s now.
Gutted I had to say bye bye to my sporty hatchback tho.
You live and learn as they say.
I only ever pull mine couple of feet out of the water now.
Reverse trailer right up to Sib and connect the winch.
I use a piece of heavy rope strung between two eyelets mounted on the transom to connect the winch hook to.
Having a trailer on those little Halfords trailer type 8 inch wheels makes it fine and low so the Sib with its transom wheels just pulls straight onto the carpeted bunks no hassle.
No more burst blood vessels or shouting profanities trying to pull the sib off of the beach.

[kaman]

You can just see the stainless m12 eyelets I mentioned in earlier post in attached picture.
I use a strong piece of rope on stainless carabiners to attach to the eyelets creating a horizontal piece of rope on transom on which to attach my winch hook.
Does the job lovely and no back strain.

[The Bass Stalker]

Can you explain more how you get boat on when dry? I tried with mine which is heavier and found it really difficult. Its an extreme trailer with ply bunks. All was dry when I tried which may not have helped. I only bought trailer as was cheap but I find it easier with a muck truck and transom wheels. Been hoiking it 200 yards until this year but was getting fed up with that.

[The Bass Stalker]

Can you explain more how you get it on dry? I've tried and it was really hard. Everything was not wet though. Can't understand how you winch from transom and lift bow up. Thanks

[The Bass Stalker]

Sorry, double post, thought I had deleted it!

[Nightfisher]

I have spent so much time trying to learn how and where to mount my electric trolling motor! Now I know! Thanks.

[kaman]

Hi Bassstalker.
They key to getting mine on is my low trailer and hi towbar.
I have a swan neck on my CRV which is high off the ground, combined with low carpeted bunks and high winch post the Sib almost drives onto the trailer with launch wheels deployed.
It's a a home made trailer - made from a B&Q Duuo collapsible camping trailer with a lot of mods. I can stand on the box platform and lift/ pull the bow of the Sib a little onto the carpeted bunks.
I then attach the winch to my transom rope and winch it on fully.
As the beach I normally launch on is on an incline that helps get the Sib on without any hassle.
I have in the past disconnected the trailer from my old Mondeo put down home made wooden choks to hold in place raised the nose of the trailer up with the jockey wheel thus lowering the rear of the trailer further.
Winched Sib on till it's on enough to push the trailer nose down-lower trailer and reattached to car.
I've attached the best photos I have of the trailer to see if it helps explain.
Cheers.

[The Bass Stalker]

Thanks. So does the rope go over top of boat? So you only start winching when boat is on front?

[kaman]

Yep Wiinch strap goes over bow tube. It connects to the rope that I have attached to the transom eyelets. I have another small piece of rope that goes between the two lifting rings inside the sib, basically a short rope horizontally straddled between the two tubes near the bow.
Put winch strap under this rope to help lift the bow of the sib up when it is being winched on,
It's hard to explain in words but really simple in practice,
I will post pics the next time im out.
My bunks are only 19 inches off of the ground which is the key to allowing me to dry launch and recover.
I have also used a rope extension from the winch strap to pull the Sib accross soft sand when I had my mondeo and didn't fancy getting it stuck.
Hope this helps.

[kaman]

Cheap and nasty old blue nylon type carpet on the bunks and a wet Sib bottom helps reduce friction when sliding Sib on / off. If your trailer is too high your always going to struggle doing it dry.
My electric arr attached to trailer do mine can't go into the brine,
Found another old pic of sib and trailer from when I built trailer.

[kaman]

Took some pics of sib sitting on trailer to illustrate how low at the back mines is. As the wheels are so close to the rear it is virtually impossible to scrape it off of the ground unless you lift the nose 5 ft in the air!