loading problem Cape Cruiser 23

takukla

New member
I'm having a problem loading my CC 23 on occasion. I pull the boat onto the trailer, bow snug to the bow roller, pull the trailer out and "lose" 4 to 6 inches of "snugness" to the roller with the change in vertical position of the bow (in other words, the bow rises when we exit the water). I leave about 3 feet of the bunks out of the water when backing the trailer in.
Would appreciate solutions.
 
Do you use a lot of the strap, like 10-15 feet? if so, try bringing the boat farther up so you only use 3 or so feet of the strap. It may be the winch strap just not taking out all of the real slack. We float the boat right up to within a foot or so of its final position. I cinch ours tight against the bow eye. But if it loosens, as has been suggested, just pull it tight against the eye while the bunks are still wet.
 
I noticed the same thing when I first started towing and solved it by first winching the bow in tight then using the bow tie down vertically to the trailer to hold the bow into the chock. Didn't slip back any more on the way up the ramp. I use a Tie Down brand bow strap anytime I tow. This way there are three things holding the bow. The winch strap, safety chain and bow tie down.
 
We bring the boat right up to the boat eye winch it tight as we drive off sometimes it loosens up I just hit brakes real hard and boat comes right up to boat eye winch it in tight and then put my tie down straps on and then good to go. Check out my trailer in jennykatz pictures not sure what kind of trailer you are using ? Jim
 
I would think you might be backing your trailer in the water to far. When you pull the boat out of the water the stern settles down and this leaves a gap that requires you to have wind up to close the gap. We never left out more than three feet or so of our winch strap. This helps prevent the slippage when the strap gets under tension. Just my 2 cents
D.D.
 
Its a geometry issue . When the boat is floating it changes the angle relationship of boat to trailer . When you pull the boat out it drops at the stern and moves back. Most folks subscribe to the "bigger hammer" theory of loading ,meaning if I put the trailer in further its got to be better . Usually 1/2 the fender submerged is just right . Jim Widdmann has the right idea with the brakes , although it takes a certain amount of "huevos" to do it, it works well !
Marc
 
Thanks for all the replies. I think backing in too far has been my mistake. With previous boats three feet of dry bunks has worked fine....time to experiment. I've used the hard braking trick with success. But feel it is too hard on the equipment, plus for some strange reason my wife doesn't care for the drama involved?.....women are funny.
 
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