Problem Launching and Retrieving Boat

I have a Tracker 175 with a 75hp 4-stroke Mercury motor. The trailer has bunks instead of rollers, which is good. Even on the "shallowest" of ramps, I have to keep the boat secured to the trailer winch or it will slide off the trailer onto the ramp. Once the boat & trailer are in the water I have to be careful when I release the winch strap from the bow eyelet. The boat wants to slide off the trailer before I release that winch strap. I sometimes have to use another rope thru the bow eyelet and secure the other end to either the trailer or truck in order to hold the boat in place as I release the winch strap. Then I have to hold onto the rope as I slide the boat off the trailer. In fact, the boat is constantly trying to slide off the trailer on its own and I have to hold onto that rope to control the launch.

Retrieving the boat is a challenge and is dangerous. I drive the boat onto the trailer and have an immediate problem. If I put the motor in neutral the boat begins to slide off the trailer. I have to put it in gear and give it a little forward throttle to hold it in place while I walk up to the bow, step onto the trailer, grab the winch strap and put it on the bow eyelet, and winch it up a little. Then I have to get on the boat to turn off the motor.

The cause of all of this is the weight of the motor (it's really heavy) and more weight is added by the gas tank.

Any ideas on how I can more safely launch and retrieve before I kill myself?

It is easy when I have a buddy with me.

Putting the boat on the trailer & leaving it in gear to hold it .... how about an extra long piece of cord (or even fishing line) attached to the kill switch lanyard, then pull the kill switch once you get the boat winched up ?? That'd be cheaper than one of those automatic boat latch thingies (Ramp-N-Clamp or Drotto Catch/Release) @ $200-$300

Not sure what to tell you about your launching solo problems ... other than a 50ft ski rope tied to a cleat or bow eye & your vehicle, back the trailer down to the point where you can barely get to the winch & release the boat winch rope, then get in the vehicle and back up & brake to push the boat off and clear of the trailer ... pull up and get out, then pull the boat to the ramp float/dock, then tie it off and go park the vehicle. :dono

Maybe put some carpeting or coating on the bunks that offers more slip-resistance than the current bunks.

Has it got the starboard material on the bunks

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this might be the answer to your problem !!!!

Drotto | Drotto Boat Latch | Boat2Trailer | Boat Loading Latch | Drotto Latch

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Drotto | Drotto Boat Latch | Boat2Trailer | Boat Loading Latch | Drotto Latch

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X2

Works well, especially if you have dock access for deeper V boats.

Step into the the boat and just pull the rope when you are ready to launch.

To retrieve the boat, just use the motor power to push the boat up into the Drotto assembly and you can hear/ feel the system latch close around the eye bolt and now the boat will not slide back down the trailer.

Piece of cake easy.

Is the hitch on your vehicle too high? It shouldn't slide off the trailer, especially with bunks.

Also check the keel rollers, the bunks should be holding almost all the weight.

Is the trailer right for the boat? The bunks should extend past the transom.

I would be changing the material on the bunks. It sounds like to me it slides way to easy! The Drotto looks promising too!

I changed to synthetic bunks and then installed the drotto, makes launching and retrieving a non event, still playing with depth vs angle of ramp because the ramps I typically use are all different angles. I think the Drotto system is worth every penny and highly recommend it.

I want to think everyone for their responses, Atimm gave me several things to check and they appear to be ok. Thanks. It looks like I'll be buying a Drotto. Didn't know there was such a thing, but after watching several videos it looks like that is exactly what I need! I'm excited about installing it on my trailer and it looks like my problem will be solved. Hurray!!!!

I have never seen the drotto but it looks nifty. I too have a Tracker 175 and don’t have or have never experienced the problems you describe. I drive my boat onto the trailer and lean over the bow and hook it up. My bunks have the carpeting on them that came with the trailer. Good luck in your efforts. Are the ramps you launch from very steep? The ones I launch from at the lakes I fish aren’t super steep but I could see it possibly causing a problem if the ramp was steep. Good luck with the Drotto.

I have a Drotto on a 175 and will never own another trailer without one. Back in until the back end floats, get in the boat and pull the rope to release. Pull back on the trailer and it latches.No leaning over the bow to hook up. I let my tailgate down and launching step over in the back of my truck and just step over on the bow of the boat and loading let it latch and step over onto the tailgate and never have to climb on the tongue or get my feet wet. Easy for a 70 year old that fishes by himself all the time.

Very interesting Buckeye. My bunks also came with the trailer, I purchased the whole outfit three years ago. What size engine do you have> Mines 75 hp, 4 stroke. It is very heavy. Ramps are not that steep. But that boat wants to fly, and I mean fly off the trailer. I ordered the Drotto about 3 hours ago. Have high hopes.

Happy to hear that. I ordered the Drotto 3 hours ago. I'm 79 myself; but, despite a quadruple heart by-pass 4 years ago, am able to do just about everything--no, Ill change that to say I can do everything and feel quite blessed. Hope I didn't just jinx myself! I'll let you know about the Drotto.

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Originally Posted by Gansett

Happy to hear that. I ordered the Drotto 3 hours ago. I'm 79 myself; but, despite a quadruple heart by-pass 4 years ago, am able to do just about everything--no, Ill change that to say I can do everything and feel quite blessed. Hope I didn't just jinx myself! I'll let you know about the Drotto.

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What are those bunks covered with?

If it has the slick plastic bunk covers, may want to get rid of them and just go with carpet.

I had a tracker 175. Had problems loading and unloading. Added 2 bunks making 4. Solved my problem. I added 2 on my current boat, triton ctx. 4 bunks make loading and unloading much easier.

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Originally Posted by Atimm693

What are those bunks covered with?

If it has the slick plastic bunk covers, may want to get rid of them and just go with carpet.

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Carpet bunk covers. They are getting thin so will replace.

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Originally Posted by jp2

I had a tracker 175. Had problems loading and unloading. Added 2 bunks making 4. Solved my problem. I added 2 on my current boat, triton ctx. 4 bunks make loading and unloading much easier.

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t.


That's a very good idea. I'll try thanx

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Originally Posted by Gansett

I have a Tracker 175 with a 75hp 4-stroke Mercury motor. The trailer has bunks instead of rollers, which is good. Even on the "shallowest" of ramps, I have to keep the boat secured to the trailer winch or it will slide off the trailer onto the ramp. Once the boat & trailer are in the water I have to be careful when I release the winch strap from the bow eyelet. The boat wants to slide off the trailer before I release that winch strap. I sometimes have to use another rope thru the bow eyelet and secure the other end to either the trailer or truck in order to hold the boat in place as I release the winch strap. Then I have to hold onto the rope as I slide the boat off the trailer. In fact, the boat is constantly trying to slide off the trailer on its own and I have to hold onto that rope to control the launch.

Retrieving the boat is a challenge and is dangerous. I drive the boat onto the trailer and have an immediate problem. If I put the motor in neutral the boat begins to slide off the trailer. I have to put it in gear and give it a little forward throttle to hold it in place while I walk up to the bow, step onto the trailer, grab the winch strap and put it on the bow eyelet, and winch it up a little. Then I have to get on the boat to turn off the motor.

The cause of all of this is the weight of the motor (it's really heavy) and more weight is added by the gas tank.

Any ideas on how I can more safely launch and retrieve before I kill myself?

It is easy when I have a buddy with me.

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Sounds like your trailer is too deep I have the same boat, I use the rope thing too, to load leave about 2 inches of the fenders out of the water drive it on should stay until I get the hook on it. UNLESS the ramp is too steep


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Originally Posted by Gansett

Happy to hear that. I ordered the Drotto 3 hours ago. I'm 79 myself; but, despite a quadruple heart by-pass 4 years ago, am able to do just about everything--no, Ill change that to say I can do everything and feel quite blessed. Hope I didn't just jinx myself! I'll let you know about the Drotto.

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Update needed. Did new bunks and the Drotto help?

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Originally Posted by USMA65

Update needed. Did new bunks and the Drotto help?

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It takes from 2 to 4 tries for me to drive the boat

Instead of adding 2 more bunks, I replaced the existing bunks with 2 x 6 boards (carpeted). It has helped some. I think I should have added two more bunks as suggested. The Drotto did solve my problem in launching the boat!!! Am having a little problem retrieving my boat back on to the trailer. It takes me 2 to 4 tries to get it to latch onto the Drotto.

I ended up putting the trailer deeper so I have less of an angle to hit the latch. I have guide ons on my trailer that help with alignment

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Originally Posted by ozarks ranger

Sounds like your trailer is too deep I have the same boat, I use the rope thing too, to load leave about 2 inches of the fenders out of the water drive it on should stay until I get the hook on it. UNLESS the ramp is too steep


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This was my thought that trailer was backed in water too far.

You guys are all great. My problem is solved, just fine-tuning my retreival onto trailer and latching.