Trailer adjustment advice---need help please.

[xgamehoss]

Bought a 1959 StarCraft boat with a home-altered 1973 trailer. Bought it from my neighbor (didn't know him well at the time). His fishing buddy had passed away and he has back and leg nerve problems so severe he cannot use it himself. Promised him when I bought it that I would take him out in it.

Five years later....we are great friends, wonderful neighbors, and serious fishing buddies. He cannot walk down the ramps, so he has to be in the boat when we launch. He cannot pull the start rope on the engine to help propel boat off the trailer. I cannot hit brakes hard as that will trigger excruciating pain for him that will take days and lots of meds for him to recover. I also take a ladder with us for him to get into boat at top of ramp while still on level ground.

I usually have to wade almost chest deep in water after backing my rear tires to the very edge of water. Always scared I will go too far, hit the algae and slide my truck into the water. I have to push and pull on the bow to eventually get enough buoyancy to push it away....flip the rope over the trailer lights and pull him over to the floating dock.

What adjustments can I make to make the boat come off the trailer more easily? Bunk bolts are positioned so that I can only lower them about an inch on the ones closer to the bow. The bunk bolts near the stern are already bottomed. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[golfprocrappieman]

Is your buddy in the very rear of the rig? That'll raise the bow a little... How bout contacting a real good welder to see if he can lengthen the trailer tounge ? On public ramps there is seldom enough time for alge to build as to loose that amount of traction in ur truck.... If that were the case... No way you could stand up waist deep and push boat off anyway....slick stuff!

[Cray]

One thing to look at is how are springs mounted. If on top of axle you may be able to mount them under the axle thus dropping trailer a couple of inches. Extend the tongue of trailer. Like Golfpro. Find you a welding shop have them make a new tongue of square tubing with a sliding tube that goes inside. Make it about 3 ft long. Slide it in and pin for towing, slide it out and pin to launch and retrieve boat. Mount dolly on frame back of the extension.

[xgamehoss]

Thanks Charlie,

Yes, he sits in the stern while we launch. And yes, I am holding on to the truck or trailer to stay upright and still almost go for a dip every time. Would raising the bow end of the bunk rails help? I was thinking lowering them the remaining inch might gain buoyancy, but am old enough to realize the exact opposite may be what works in actuality.

[jaxsprat]

Thanks Charlie,

Yes, he sits in the stern while we launch. And yes, I am holding on to the truck or trailer to stay upright and still almost go for a dip every time. Would raising the bow end of the bunk rails help? I was thinking lowering them the remaining inch might gain buoyancy, but am old enough to realize the exact opposite may be what works in actuality.

Yes look at above info but also look a your bunks Two choices a- replace with rollers maybe $$ and b- either lubricate your bunks or put glide stiks -plastic strips (cabelas/Bass pro) on top of bunk material this should make boat slide like crazy just never never unhook boat from trailer til u got boat in water. Also one of my boat trailers came with bunk boards mounted about 4 inches high off of trailer, I just remounted the bunks with shorter brackets and lowered the boat by a good 3 inches, made a big difference at low water ramps. I did this cause I fell at a boat ramp stepped in water with boots and didn't know the bottom covered with moss/algae a foot or so from shore. I have learned I have to do everything I can to protect my back as it has 2 operations already and a 3rd could mean steel rods to support my spine, would be end of fishing(& probably walking) if that happens.........Also when looking at how your springs are mounted it may or not be cheaper to just buy a used trailer that is lower take unit to a dealer(ask his opinion also) and compare how similar boats sit on trailer, may get some cheaper ideas, another pair of eyes never hurts just cost gas of trip.

[Rees Guide]

You can raise the bow with the hitch if you are using a receiver hitch style, I prolly got 10 different ones that I change around between two trucks.
Lemon pledge will make them bunks slicker, heck I used the off brand. Just spray the bunks down good when you unload and park and again before you load up. Do it a couple of times and it will make a big difference

[wannabe fisherman]

change the bunks to roller bunks and DO NOT take winch line off bow until in the water.

[Jim C.]

When you get the trailer in the water tie a long rope to the front of boat make sure the back of the boat is in the water tie the rope to the front of the trailer unhook boat and then back the boat in till it floats pull the truck up so you can get the rope with out getting your feet wet. Then pull the boat over where you can tie off to the dock safely. Go park truck.

[Rees Guide]

I unload this way when fishing by my self, works well.

[skeetbum]

I use the long rope method as I fish solo a lot. The glide sticks are a good option, but the rollers might add height and cost depending which ones are applied. You can make your own glide sticks from cutting boards too.