getting rib in and out of water alternatives!!

Dino89 · 08 April 2008, 14:30

hi
looking for a way to get rid of my 4wd frontera sport as i only really use it for towing and launching, need to cut back ! but still launch my 4m searider with a kia sedona the areas i launch was thinking of getting an electric winch to hook on tow bar but not sure if this will work on steep slips or how efective they are or what one to get
would like some ideas from anyone launching wiyhout the benifit of 4wd
thanx

Nos4r2 · 08 April 2008, 14:39

You could probably recover an sr4 with a fiesta up a steep slip if you tried. Mine was so easy it was unbelievable. At the worst you'll need a long bit of rope.

C2 RIBS · 08 April 2008, 17:16

I have used one of the following for a 6.5 Ribeye with 150 Hp on the stern on steep slope.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Powerful-12V-E...QQcmdZViewItem

It is very slow but get the weight right and it is simple. Only used it when slope was slippery and left van at top of slop and then just stood back and let the winch take the strain. Need to use leads to battery or through cigar lighter for powering it. The unit sits on a tow hitch when you need it or else stored in car.

Dino89 · 08 April 2008, 17:57

i like the winch idea lazy man option LOL does this hook over the tow ball or do you have to fit the plate
thanx

C2 RIBS · 08 April 2008, 19:04

the plate just hangs onto the towball and then the winch slots onto that plate, No screws or bolts just slots on

MarkM · 08 April 2008, 20:07

The winch mentioned above is useless. I had one before.
Power Winch is the one and only. With a strap is very handy. They do cost a lot, but I got mine from the USA.
The one in the picture is "Power Winch ST712".

Bigmuz7 · 08 April 2008, 23:36

Watch out for the Kia's gearing, its a bit high, you'l murder its clutch on a slip way if you use it regulary here,.. where you have to slip it a lot Diesel is better but petrol

(as some one else said on this forum recently a compatriot I believe) dont ask me how I know

bobbyjoeufb · 09 April 2008, 22:18

I had a cable electric winch for lauch and recover on steep slips and uneven ground, was so slow and cable did not strech very far I ended up selling it and man handling the boat which is alright if as its light enough.

An alternative to the electric winch would be a suitable block and tackle conected from your towball to the trailer.

nickd · 10 April 2008, 10:10

When we're launching small yachts we use a long towing strop. No reason it wouldn't work for a rib - it would get the car up the slipway away from slime/weed/water and possibly onto more level or solid ground. If you're using a front wheel drive car you can also attach the strop to the towing eye at the front, so you're more manoeuvrable, can see where you're going, and if you're on a steep slip you've got more weight over the driving wheels. Also reverse gear on some cars is lower than first, if so its more controllable pulling the boat out.

Nick

Trickdog · 10 April 2008, 10:58

I recently purchased a 15 metre long 5 tonne capacity webbing strap (same stuff as ratchet straps are made of), blank on one end and claw hook on the other, with the intention of using it as Nick suggests above. I have not tried it yet but I think it will do the trick. Only cost me £8 + VAT from Robert Hardwood Trading http://www.rhtltd.co.uk/

nik · 10 April 2008, 14:00

Hi,
I used to launch and recover my boat single handed on a shingle hard (pictured below) using a passat. When it got tricky, I used a 30 metre length of rope to get the car on the level. It was a doddle.
Nick

thomas · 29 April 2008, 12:00

You dont need a huge 4x4 to tow a small 4 meter. I have a mini cooper s with a detachable tow bar. That pulls the thundercat fine, when towing a 4 meter searider witha 50hp yam on the back, it would be ok too. But you just need to be careful on slippery steep slipways. always air on the side of caution. and not tow for hundreds of miles

AndrewH · 29 April 2008, 16:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by nik

Hi,
I used to launch and recover my boat single handed on a shingle hard (pictured below) using a passat. When it got tricky, I used a 30 metre length of rope to get the car on the level.

Nick - just curious - I know the long rope trick works fine for recovery as you already have the trailer detached from the car and can pull away with the car on the dry. However, what did you do for launching. Did you leave the trailer hitched on the basis that it was lighter coming out of the water than going in? Or did you use the rope on launch, and if so when did you unhitch (on the flat or on the slope using trailer brakes till the car took up the load in the rope).

Thanks in advance

nik · 29 April 2008, 19:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndrewH

Nick - just curious - I know the long rope trick works fine for recovery as you already have the trailer detached from the car and can pull away with the car on the dry. However, what did you do for launching. Did you leave the trailer hitched on the basis that it was lighter coming out of the water than going in? Or did you use the rope on launch, and if so when did you unhitch (on the flat or on the slope using trailer brakes till the car took up the load in the rope).

Thanks in advance

I would launch with the trailer attached to the car. I did sometimes have problems if the trailer wheels hit a shingle bump or a another lump that I could not get over and I could not get enough traction to move forward. I would then detatch the car and deploy the rope. It takes a bit of thinking about how you proceed and not let the rig shoot down the slip, but I always got the job done.
On one occasion I got home and found a stone in the tyre from the hard, tried to lever it out, got a hiss, took it to the tyre shop, tyre shop said it cant be repaired. 90% of the stone was inside the tyre.

Nick

AndrewH · 29 April 2008, 22:24

Thanks Nick

Bummer about the tyre tho'

Searider · 30 April 2008, 13:31

Used to tow, launch and recover my 4m with a 205GTI.

No problems using the shallow gradient slip at Hamble.

When launching if I was at the flattest part of the slip I would tie a long rope to the car and trailer and just push the trailer down until the boat came off, then pull the trailer back up on the rope.

When recovering would put the trailer in far enough, back the car up to the water and tie the two together. Winch the boat onto the trailer and then pull out using the car.

On a steep slip - once used the steep concrete one in Salcombe, there was no need to unhitch the trailer. I don't remember having any problems getting up the slip.

The 205 towed fine. Hamble to Salcombe and back wasn't a problem.

I'm now looking at getting rid of my Discovery - which is only used for the boat (6.5m Scorpion) with someting a little more daily friendly. Thinking of an XC70 diesel Auto. Need to save some pennies though as even the cheapest are about £10k.

gotchiguy · 10 August 2009, 22:38

How about upgrading to a Sealegs

9D280 · 11 August 2009, 09:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dino89

! but still launch my 4m searider with a kia sedona

http://www.kia.co.uk/New-Cars/Range/...ification.aspx

Petrol Sedona is a 2.7L V6 with 2 tonne braked towing weight? I doubt you'll have a problem! (I do admit that I may not be aware of a smaller engine'd version that they don't make any more.....)

I launch / recover / tow a 5m with a car rated to a lot less than that & batrely notice it's on the hitch...... (Focus estate).