This sucks - NJFishing.com Your Best Online Source for Fishing Information in New Jersey

briansnat · #1 06-02-2014, 11:44 PM

Went fishing on the local lake tonight. I live in Fayson Lakes and usually fish West Fayson because it's heavily stocked with trout and has a good holdover population. South Fayson gets far less pressure though and usually seems to have bigger bass, but the boat ramp there is a pain to use (which is probably why it gets less pressure). It's at a bad angle and kind of hard to get the boat in. Also the ramp is short and if your trailer's rear wheels go off the end it can cause problems. I bent the trailer on my old boat when I did that a few years ago and friend of mine did the same with his.

Anyway, in the dark it's even harder so when taking out I always detach the trailer, wheel it over to the ramp then back my car up and reattach the trailer. Did that tonight. Backed the car up, got out and looked and I was still a few feet away from the trailer so I got in and backed it up a little more and felt a tap, then heard the sound of the trailer rumbling down the ramp. Ouch!

I got out and all I could see of the trailer was was the part with the winch sticking out of the water. Egads! I tried for about 10 minutes to pull it out but the ramp is so thick with algae that it's like walking on ice and the entire trailer is off the lip of the ramp. Tied up the boat next to the ramp, threw all of my gear in the car and drove home. I'll go back and see what I can do tomorrow when it's light out, but I think this is at least a two man operation.

saxmatt · #2 06-02-2014, 11:54 PM

So if I have a trailer hitch, a buddy, a head lamp and google maps I can get a new boat for free? Sweet!

flatcreek · #3 06-03-2014, 12:01 AM

That does suck. If I wasn't across the state I would come and help you in the morning. Maybe a come along would do the job. Good luck.

briansnat · #4 06-03-2014, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saxmatt

So if I have a trailer hitch, a buddy, a head lamp and google maps I can get a new boat for free? Sweet!

Be sure to wear metal cleats.

saxmatt · #5 06-03-2014, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by briansnat

Be sure to wear metal cleats.

Thanks for the heads up. I'll throw my ice fishing cleats in the truck.

briansnat · #6 06-03-2014, 11:33 AM

Well this was the scene 6:30 this morning. I couldn't really see the situation in the dark last night. The trailer wheels had gone over the lip of the ramp so pulling it straight up was out. I came up with the idea of tying a rope the the front of the trailer, passing it around the hitch on the car to use it as a pulley then getting in the water and lifting the back of the trailer while pulling on the rope. Unfortunately the rope was too short and the muck to thick to get much leverage.

I stared at my predicament for a while hoping someone would walk past and offer a hand, and when that didn't pan out I started thinking about who I could call once my friends got home from work this evening. In frustration I grabbed part of the trailer frame and lifted and the wheel on that side came up. I was able to work it back onto the ramp, tied it in place with the rope so it didn't slip back off the ramp, then did the same with the other side. BINGO! I even got in a little fishing figuring I was out there already. The only damage is that one of my "waterproof" WalMart tail lights is out. The one that always had bubbles coming from it when I put her in the water.

gwl2oneida · #7 06-03-2014, 02:47 PM

I feel your pain. I launch my 12' from a honda fit. Everything is a hassle when you're alone, especially when its dark. Glad it all worked out.

jimmythegreek · #8 06-03-2014, 02:48 PM

IMO u should never unhook a trailer at the boat ramp, its a bad idea no matter how short the ramp. What I would do is modify the bunks so the trailer sits closer to the bunks. I have a 17' lowe which is my little boat and can launch that on the edge of a puddle if need be. The best way is to setup bunk guides in the rear w pipe or the pre made ones and power launch the boat w 3-4 foot piece of rope in the eye. U just start backing down all unhooked front and rear except the rope to the winch stand and nail the brakes early of the dip. Boat slides off and the trailer tires barely get wet. U do the reverse going up, use the TM full blast and power load the boat the best u can w the front of bunks out of the water. Jump out and walk the tongue and winch her up, once u get the system it takes less than a min to load or unload by urself

bigfishy · #9 06-03-2014, 02:51 PM

That's one way of adding structure to ur favorite lake....
Live and learn...At least now you know to chock ur trailer before hookin her back up....Did ya catch any this morning as a concelation fer ur troubles???
Ya should a fished ur new structure before pullin her out

briansnat · #10 06-03-2014, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmythegreek

IMO u should never unhook a trailer at the boat ramp, its a bad idea no matter how short the ramp. What I would do is modify the bunks so the trailer sits closer to the bunks. I have a 17' lowe which is my little boat and can launch that on the edge of a puddle if need be. The best way is to setup bunk guides in the rear w pipe or the pre made ones and power launch the boat w 3-4 foot piece of rope in the eye. U just start backing down all unhooked front and rear except the rope to the winch stand and nail the brakes early of the dip. Boat slides off and the trailer tires barely get wet. U do the reverse going up, use the TM full blast and power load the boat the best u can w the front of bunks out of the water. Jump out and walk the tongue and winch her up, once u get the system it takes less than a min to load or unload by urself

I hear ya on not unhooking the trailer. Problem is that it's not the length of the ramp, it's the angle you have to approach it at. Ramp is directly across the street from a house and the street is very narrow. You have to back down a side street, make a sharp turn right, then immediate sharp left onto the ramp. You need precisely the correct angle and sometimes even someone really good at backing up a trailer needs a few tries. Add to that, you are blocking a well used road during most of the operation.

I can do it in daylight with the boat on, but at night with no boat it's darn near impossible. There are no street lights so though you can see the trailer in your tail lights, you can't see the ramp, or where the house's property begins, or the street sign. After scraping against the street sign on the corner a few times and sending the trailer into the homeowners bushes once the only realistic way to accomplish it alone is to unhook the trailer and walk it down.

But next time I chock it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigfishy

That's one way of adding structure to ur favorite lake....
Live and learn...At least now you know to chock ur trailer before hookin her back up....Did ya catch any this morning as a concelation fer ur troubles???
Ya should a fished ur new structure before pullin her out

Not the best way to add structure, kind of expensive

. I prefer old Christmas trees. Got a nice bass this morning. Only fished for a while though.