Tips for recovering a G23 onto its trailer?

[chpprpilot]

I've had my G23 for about a month now. I've had a tough time loading the boat correctly onto the trailer. I've tried various trailer depths but have the same problem. The boat loads easily but when winched all the way up with the bow of the boat against the trailer bow guide and the strap tight, as the boat comes out of the water the stern sets down on the stern end and leaves about a one inch gap between the bow guide and the boat. This allows the boat to rock back and forth on the trailer. I've tried going shallow but the boat is too heavy to pull all the way up. Too deep and it maxes out against the bow and then sets back.
I've worked it out by going into and out of the water in several steps but it's a pain and wastes a lot of time. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

[nukemustang]

Sometimes, it is also a factor of ramp angle which is unfortunately unchangeable. Have you just launched and loaded at one ramp?

[JoeA]

You might also look at your tow hitch. It may be too high.

[NautiqueJeff]

What brand of trailer is this?

[chpprpilot]

It's a Boatmate trailer, double axel. Tried it in several boat ramps, same problem. If I go shallow enough to hand crank the boat up to the proper position then the boat is too heavy and won't pull up into place.

[Paxdad]

Just deep load it. You will want to make sure that the guides on the back have the pvc pipes and bumpers that float up when you back in deep. Then pull all the way up to the bow stop and snug up with winch. When you pull out of the water the guides will keep the boat centered and it should not slide back.

[xrichard]

It's not that the boat slides back. If you load deep and pull the bow against the crash pad stops, you'll typically end up with the boat sitting an inch or two back from the crash pads when you pull out of the water. It's just a function of the angle of the boat relative to the trailer when the boat is pulled tight against the crash pads while the boat is in the water and is not resting on the bunks. The steeper the ramp, the greater the gap. The only way to avoid this is to load shallow...which requires pulling the boat up with the winch or power loading (e.g. driving the boat up to the crash pads).

Having an inch or so gap typically isn't a problem, but it depends on the design of the trailer. If you have a separate bow roller that is placed to prevent forward movement (e.g. like a typical boat trailer), then the crash pads aren't important. If your boat is rocking when off the crash pads by just an inch or so, it'd make me wonder if your bunks and bottom bow roller are placed properly.

[Tallredrider]

This does not happen to me, but maybe my ramp is more shallow. I have the same trailer and boat as you.

With my other boat, it would sometimes happen. If all else fails, then while going about 2 MPH, hit the brakes hard and the boat will slide forward.

[NautiqueJeff]

I agree with Tallredrider. The quick stop sounds like your only option, although really it is no better than power-loading, and maybe worse.

Ram-Lin trailers have a normal bow roller that prevents this issue from happening. That's why I was asking the brand.

[nyryan2001]

brake check on a downhill slope with wet bunks will snug up a boat pronto

[xrichard]

Brake check works fine if you're just slightly back from the crash pads. I've done it dozens of times over the years. But just a word of caution particularly if the gap is large: my last boat was once about 4 inches back after loading on a very steep and tilted dirt/rock ramp at Shasta...I did my standard brake check and the boat slid forward. It gained enough momentum that it bent the crash pad assembly. No damage to the boat...just a couple of hundred dollars for a new crash pad assembly. But it was a pain. The G23 is a much heavier than my last boat..

[samndawn]

I know I am a late reply to this but had same issue. To fix you need to crank an additional time around on the winch handle till you can see the eyelet of the tow strap completely under the bow roller. Then it will not slip back when you pull up. Make a big improvement in how trailer rocks.

[JGordon210T]

Chpprpilot, I have had this same problem since day 1 also. I spoke with Boatmate a long time ago and their response for this is that Nautique requests the front bow push up bunks to be lower causing this issue. I've had 5 boatmates in the past and they were all phenomenal trailers. I personally think this one is the biggest pain. A low speed brake check like an older Ram-Lin works the best for me.

[ST3]

Chpprpilot, I have had this same problem since day 1 also. I spoke with Boatmate a long time ago and their response for this is that Nautique requests the front bow push up bunks to be lower causing this issue. I've had 5 boatmates in the past and they were all phenomenal trailers. I personally think this one is the biggest pain. A low speed brake check like an older Ram-Lin works the best for me.

Thankfully my dealer went to the boat ramp with me and showed me the trick for proper loading. We back the trailer in so that about 3in of the bunk is above water. (Pretty deep in the water but not so deep that you can fully float on). Then, instead of cranking the boat on the trailer we fully power it on to the bow stop.

Hope this helps.