Floatem Poles

[Bournemouthroyal]

Thinking of purchasing these for my SBS trailer, to aid with single handed recovery (6.5m rib) when there are currents/wind etc.
Any thoughts/experience of these would be appreciated.
Thanks

[Nasher]

They are very useful, and as you say really help with single handed recovery.

However I feel they are too short.
If you are using a steep slipway and your rib has a Deep-V hull that means the boat sits high on the trailer anyway, it's likely the poles will be completely underwater or at least too low to reach the tubes.

I made some much longer ones and they work fine.
https://www.rib.net/forum/f49/guide-posts-56409.html

[Bournemouthroyal]

But the poles rise as you enter the water to make them always visible. From the picture below, looks like they would never be completely underwater?

[Old seahorse]

I had Flotem poles on my last boat trailer. Launching, and in particular, recovering , became less challenging. It makes recovery in a cross wind or current much easier, and safer. Once the bow is between the poles, it gives you more control, and time to throw a line to crew on sure, or for attachment of winch strap. I never had issues with top of poles being under water, but every slip is different. Never regretted buying them. It reduced stress levels!

[mhill]

Had them on my previous boat trailer and on my current, would defiantly recommend them and purchase again.

[beerbelly]

have them on my trailer and yes the tops do float but mines never been that deep in the water .very handy recovering just line up and power onto the trailer my rib usually stops about a foot from the snub and easy for an accomplice to hook the winch on

[ShinyShoe]

£240 a pop? But there seems to be similar available for a lot less (maybe don't float)

[paulhe35]

Probably twenty years ago I had a 3500 kg SBS trailer with carpeted bunks for my 25 ft sports cruiser and bought two pairs of docking arms from SBS that must have been at least 5 ft high. I put some narrow drain pipe over each pole that span when the boat bumped into them rather than rubbing up against the steel poles. Worked a treat!

[YellowPeril]

I used to launch recover a boat from Calshot and there was frequently a cross current or wash to contend with.
The Floatem poles made recovery so much easier, both visually (you could tell where to aim for / where the trailer was), plus they helped guide the boat onto the rollers. I highly recommend them.

[gtflash]

I had sbs poles on a hard boat at calshot after I put a hole in the thing. I found you had to use them and drive into them midship then wait for the settle before steering nose. As a consequence I decided it was too risky on a tubed boat and went back to random hand signals from the land support crew whilst driving on trailer.

[Limecc]

Originally Posted by gtflash

I had sbs poles on a hard boat at calshot after I put a hole in the thing. I found you had to use them and drive into them midship then wait for the settle before steering nose. As a consequence I decided it was too risky on a tubed boat and went back to random hand signals from the land support crew whilst driving on trailer.

Here are the very ones. Many thanks! I slipped some UPVC tube over them as rollers. Not sure I'll keep the blue chequer tape.

[gpsguru]

Originally Posted by Bournemouthroyal

Thinking of purchasing these for my SBS trailer, to aid with single handed recovery (6.5m rib) when there are currents/wind etc.
Any thoughts/experience of these would be appreciated.
Thanks

On a bunked trailer, then yes they are a useful indicator. Make your own using galv electrical conduit and some 22mm pipe lagging

If you have a roller trailer with a swinging rear beam, then single handed recovery is a doddle as the swinging rear beam makes the trailer and boat self aligning.


I launch and recover a Ribcraft 585 single handed , often into a 6knt tide flow at 90 degrees to the slip.