Seen a grown man cry?????

[G-man]

To add to my post, yes it happened on the way down the ramp. Another three feet down the ramp and it would have floated. It only took about 45 years of being around ski boats and ramps to do something so stupid. The lesson is don't be in hurry loading or unloading. About six of us picked up the front of the boat and floated it out. And some think forgetting to put in the plug is bad.

[MNSuperAir]

It was not my boat, since I have a Nautique. It is a friend of a friends boat. Long story short, I have always backed my boat unhooked from the trailer. Not any more.

I wonder if the dealer did put some lubricant on the bunks?

[crowmobe540]

i think it has something to do with how you drive. I unlock mine every time, but back down the ramp slowly. if you come to a fast stop then there is a chance that it could slide off. Also, I drove 20 miles up and down hills one time with the boat unlached. (got to thte lake unlactched and then realized my friend forgot the key so went back to get it and forgot to relatch the boat). That was luck on my side, but I'm not to worried about it coming off the trailer like that. Just take things slowly and it should stay.

I feel sorry for that guy

[MNSuperAir]

Friend of the friend I guess talked to MC (not sure if this was a dealer or corporate) but they recommended taking it off before the boat is in the water.

[superair055]

the dealer usually recommends taking the hook off because a lot of the ram lin trailers have a turn buckle hook in addition to a winch. This turnbuckle quite frequently gets "jammed" against the boat when launching. Or if you're retrieving the boat and tighten the turnbuckle while in water, when you pull the boat out it puts too much tension and holds the bow down. I would recommend never lauching or retrieving with a turnbukcle style hook

[NautiqueJeff]

I've used the Ram-Lin turnbuckles for years without any problems at all.

[jhiestand]

Sounds to me like that instead of recommending unhooking prior to launching, that dealer maybe should gravitate toward giving instructions on properly using the Ram-Lin turnbuckle, instead.

[todda]

I am wondering if it has a bit to do with the design of the bunk setup on the trailer. On my DHL, I have noticed that the bunks slope up toward the stern of the trailer, kind of cradling our SN. The bunks on my older DHM trailer for our old Ski Brendella were pretty flat toward the stern, making me think that it would be more likely to slide off easier. Of course, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure...so I think regardless of our trailer, I am going to make a habit of now keeping hooked in while launching after seeing that pic.

Todd

[Andrew]

i unhook mine depending on the situation. steep ramp, i hook the winch up. otherwise i unhook it before i back down the ramp. and same with pulling out. since i've got a winch and a turnbuckle, its a lot easier to do. i use the turnbuckle when towing, but added the winch for those situations where the engine doesn't wanna turn the prop.

[88mars2001]

anyone noticed that great water he missed out on! Poor guy!

[redelf75]

I have trailered for 24 years combined with our '82 SN and '04 216. I always detach the turnbuckle before backing down the ramp and often pull out and drive on a bumpy dirt road a few hundread yards before getting to paved road where I hit the the brakes firmly to let the boat slide forward to the bow stopper. Call me a thrill seeker! 8-)
Both boats are on Ramlin trailers and I think this must make a difference. Sometimes the boat is four inches behind the bow stopper and I still feel the boat is secure.

But I think MC's automated hooking system is ideal.

[Andrew]

yeah, i do the brake stomping thing too. how does MC's system work?

[auskier]

My experience with the mastercraft system is that the ramp has to have the perfect angle for it to work. Otherwise you end up using the winch anyway, and then it's really hard to get the boat to the right spot. I love the simplicity of the bow stops with a turnbuckle. I only have the winch incase I can't crank the boat.

The mastercraft system has a springloaded bolt that will activate when the front u-bolt is in place. When it works it's great, set the springload clip, back the trailer into the water, boat driver powers the boat onto the trailer and up into position, when the boats in the right place the clip releases and the bolt holds the boat inplace.

[MNSuperAir]

Only problem with the bow stops is that some ramps here in MN are "No powered loading" ramps. Not too many, but I had to do it anyway with my '91.

[redelf75]

I think you're right that the MC system doesn't always work, but at least it's a step in the right direction.

As I don't have a winch, loading at a "No power" ramp would be a real pain. But I did get it done once...WHEN MY IMPELLER FAILED! :x