Easiest Method of launching / taking out of saltwater

[PHamily]

Hello,

I was wondering if you guys could give some advice (or a video) on the easiest way to get a SIB back out of the water and back into your car? I've been looking at just dropping the boat in off a dock, which is easy, but having a hard time coming up with an easy way of getting back out of the water. Do you just unload everything, then drag it back onto the dock.

Launching/Coming out from the sand requires i lug almost 200lbs across the sand (boat, motor, gear, etc). Trying to see how you guys are tackling this in the saltwater.

Bought a SiB, but have not been able to use it yet due to this issue (multiple surgeries, so there's no way i'm lugging 200lbs across the sand )

Thanks for any advice fam

[Wazzajnr]

Transom wheels and a bow dolly?

[Steve509926]

Transom wheels and using a slipway is probably the easiest if you've got health issues, or why not a trailer.

[PHamily]

Oh, i knew about the transom wheels, but didn't know about the bow dolly. I"ll take a look at that. Thanks for that tip!

[PHamily]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

Transom wheels and using a slipway is probably the easiest if you've got health issues, or why not a trailer.

Is a slipway just the same thing as a boat ramp? If so, lol i did try to use one on my buddy's dinghy last year and it was really slippery and tough to drag the boat back up the ramp when trying to leave. How do you combat that?

[Poly]

Yes a slipway is what Americans would call a boat ramp.

Slimy/weedy slipways/ramps are an issue in the U.K. too. The big stuff like seaweed you can pull out the way, the green slime throwing some sand/gravel from a neighbouring beach on it can help. In winter I keep a shovel in the back on my car for snow anyway so you can use that (where I am slime is worst in the winter when virtually nobody uses the slip).

It may be safer to use a rope (plenty of advice on launching/recovering with a rope on this site). It has its own issues!

[roger dodge]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

Transom wheels and using a slipway is probably the easiest if you've got health issues, or why not a trailer.

I could not agree more , I have used transon wheels , bow wheels etc ( which i still used ) but the trailer is the best fix in the end.

[paintman]

Rope & trailer on slippery slip/boat ramp.
Vehicle drives away towing the trailer up the ramp using the rope until you're in a position to hook it up properly.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8dC4JRVekY

Originally Posted by Jon Tallis

That's a really good video for anyone who's not done this before ....just a few things I would add....
* Be aware of the breaking strain of the rope you're using Vs the weight of your rig / gradient of slipway etc. If you catch a rock/pothole on the slip on the way back up you don't want to snap your tow-rope.
* Don't rely on just your winch-strop when pulling back out. Always back it up with the painter or some form of backup. Winch catches DO fail.
* Don't let anyone (including passers-by) walk behind the trailer until you're on flat ground or secure.
* If you have an un-braked trailer, or if you have a braked trailer and have to transfer from rope to tow-hitch on a slope, make sure you securely chock the trailer. Trailer brakes are auto-reverse and are not reliable in reverse, even with the handbrake on.
* If you can, keep the rope attached at both ends until your trailer is on the hitch. But don't reverse over the tow-rope

ETA. I wonder if transom wheels & bow wheels could be used carefully the same way?

[Poly]

Originally Posted by paintman

I wonder if transom wheels & bow wheels could be used carefully the same way?

Almost certainly but you'd want to be VERY gentle and careful. Its one thing being a bit rough with a steel trailer and proper bearings its another when you are pulling on the fabric and some very simple plastic bushes.

If there's no trailer a separate winch connected to the car may be a better option - it will be slower but that is better for the wheels/bearings and you will have more feel for the strain on the fittings etc. It would be very easy to get a transom wheel stuck in something and not notice before the car pulled the front off. With a manual winch I think you'd notice it was harder work than usual.

[essex]

The slipways/ramps in UK can vary in how steep they are. It's of course easier at high tide. I take everything out the boat first except the outboard. Good grip on your footwear helps with the slippy moss and seaweed

[909]

Easiest way is to get a lighter boat and do this.

[909]

Second easiest : make 2 new friends