Launching

[George DeAmicis]

Last year I would have problem once in awhile recovering my PT175 from a river. It seem when loading the bottom rib would end up on one of the bunks making to launch and try again. It seems like you don't have much space either side of the bunks to be right on. Anyways I'm experimenting by adding a short 2x4 up front of the side bunks and a 3/4" board in the rears. This makes a tight fit, so tight that I had a problem getting it off without floating it and that means the top of the tires are under water. Driving on was a cake walk. So I was wondering what has everyone else done?

 

[samr russell]

I'm glad I'm not the only one. I thought I'z just getting old.

I have a 03 Pro-Crappie and it seems like it takes two of us to get it on the trailer straight if any wind or current is present. I put another roller guide on the rear but that don't seem to help much. My next step was gonna be adding side bunks that were so tight that it had to go on straight or not at all.



Tell me about your progress.

 

[Keith Wilson]

I just put it on, pull it out and then if I have to slide the PT175 to one side I loosten the winch strap so there is about 18" of slack and move the front in THE OPPOSITE direction I want the back to go then walk to back and give it a nudge nad it slides right in place. You may have to rock it more then once depending on how far over it is. It's easy. No trailer modification ncecessary. By the way. I'm not a big guy. I'm only 145 lbs. Try it.

 

[samr russell]

I'm gonna try this suggestion. I'm not a big guy either (165) and 64 yrs old. I'd rather not keep adding stuff if I don't have to. And... I go fishing by myself more than I take other folks. .... Hey, its my job. Pay is lousy but working conditions are great. hehe

 

[Paul Ritter]

Bassace. I had the exact problem with my PT175 until I started driving it up onto the trailer. The trick is to have about 6 inches of wheelwell out of the water which is probably a little higher than you are backing yours into the water now. When you power it up with less trailer in the water it centers itself and won't float off to one side.Step off of the bow and use the winch to pull it up snug and it should work every time. It used to drive me nuts getting it offcenter so often but havn't had a misload in the last 50 retrieves or so. Good luck, Twopars PS make sure to trim your motor up some if you're in shallow water- don't want a dented prop!

 

[Ronald (BigRon) Kane]

Like TwoPars says - the trick is finding the right water level for your trailer. You have to power it onto the trailer, not float it on. You should be able to see aleast part of the bunks in the front when it is right. Trial and error until you figure it out. Good Luck!

 

[Carl S]

I agree with Twopars. I have had the same problem until I started leaving the trailer higher out of the water on my PT185. I just back it in until the top of the metal wheel is just about equal with the water level. Had a lot less problems since. I also added full width and full length pieces of UHMW over the carpeted bunks. This stuff is like a white polyethylene material 1/2" thick. It is not cheap, but the boat sure slides on and off a lot easier. Also, if your off center I just raise the motor and grab the lower unit and give it a tug a few times and it falls right into place. A lot less friction than the carpet.

Carl S.

 

[Brian Feist]

I have to launch/load my PT175 most of the time by myself. When the weather is nice, I wear shorts and carry a pair of sandals. When the water gets colder, I have a pair of hip boots. Launching is no problem. When I load, I keep a relatively long mooring rope on my boat. I put the trailer into the water so just about 2-3 inches of the bunks are out of the water. I then crawl into the water and use the long rope to guide my boat in. It moves well on to the trailer with that much of the bunks exposed. I pull the boat up as far as I can then attach the winch strap. I then start cranking. If it looks a little crooked, I put tension on the strap and then push on the sides a little to guide it into position using the water to my advantage. After I crank it all the way in, I then get in the truck and pull up the ramp. If it's just a little off, you can push the side where you are off center on the wet bunks. While I have not loaded from a river, I have loaded with some pretty good wake from numerous boats and from high winds. After you get the hang of it once or twice, you can be off the ramp in about 2-3 minutes.

 

[Bruce Freeman]

I made some guide poles for the back of my trailer When I put it between the poles the trailer does the rest.. The main reson I went this route was I could not see my trailer with out the boat made backing up a real pain.. I think altogether they cost me about $20.00?

BF