Getting a 201 PRO XL back on the triler on steep ramp

[Electro]

Hi, everyone.

I am having a problem getting my 201 loaded on the trailer on a steep ramp. I have posted the two messages below on the trailer forum and have received varying advice. I am interested if any other 201 owners have run into similar problems.

My original questions/response below. I am purposefully leaving out the responses so that I might get someone with a fresh perspective.

Thanks
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Hi, everyone.
I have owned boats since I was in my late twenties. I will be fifty two next month. I have owned a lot of different boats. I have put boats in and out of ramps that many wouldn't touch.
Here is my problem.
Since I have purchased my 201 PRO XL last year, I have no problems with shallow ramps (which make everyone look like a pro - drive off, drive on), but some of the steep ramps that I have frequented lately are to the point of nightmarish when I try to load the boat. It is, of course, never hard to get a boat into the water. These places are two of my favorite spots - or used to be. Since they are on the river, shallow landings are not available.

Some of the landings are steep and not level side to side. Those are serious fun.

I have yet to find a "sweet spot" on the trailer that I can gauge for a water line when the trailer is in the water ready for the boat. The last few times out, I have had to have my wife connect the winch, while I applied power to hold the nose of the boat close to the trailer, and have her winch it up to the eye.

If I put the trailer higher in the water, the nose of the boat *undershoots* the winch roller. If too low, the boat simply slides back off the trailer.

I am at a loss since I have never had this problem with another boat. Besides all that, I look like someone that has never seen a boat before, and we all know how important image can be....
Tell me I am missing something obvious, please.

Electro

Hi, folks.

Tried everything except the silicone spray today. Different angles, depths, wet bunks, whatever we could think of. The only thing that works is to get it most of the way up and have my wife winch it while I add power. Any other position and the bow undershoots the winch.

I will try the silicone spray next.

This is my favorite landing and I AM going to find something that works.

Also, the bunks are already "turned up" at the front.

I used enough power to move my truck today and I still didn't get up on the trailer. Move it deeper into the water and the bow is again, under the winch. Arghhhhhhh.

Electro.

[Oldgeezer]

Not sure if I have the correct answer, but I just went through the same thing with my 21XL. I found that I needed to leave the trailer shallower than normal to avoid riding the nose under the winch roller. After getting the nose over the roller, I loosely winched the eye and then moved the trailer deeper. Seemed to be the ticket. Hope that this makes sense. I was sweating bullets since I did not know if I would be able to get the boat on the trailer. Ramp is real steep with quick, deep water drop off.

[AB]

We have one steep ramp here, and as posted above, is just how I do it....Put the trailer in shallow, so that the bow just barely goes above the roller before the boat doesn't slide anymore, then hook it to the winch, back the trailer in deeper, then winch her the rest of the way up...only solution I have found so far....

[CaymasRodney]

I have found over the years if you will have the short bunks wet except about a inch at the front end, the boats will load about perfect every time. We dont have that many steep ramps up here but it seems to work fine for me most of the time.

[Electro]

That all makes perfect sense guys, and thanks for telling me of your experiences.

It is amazing the difference that the guys with three foot shorter boats makes. Basic geometry though :)

Long boat, steep ramp, different technique.

Oh, and to add insult to injury, backing the boat in, I ran over a long piece of "L" shaped (bent) re-bar which promptly stood up and left a three foot long white scratch in my black hull at the transom.

I guess that took the "precious" right off of my baby. If anyone knows how to convert a white scratch in fiberglass back to black, please let me know.

Thanks, all.

Electro

[Jason Phillips]

"Sharpie"

[AB]

Yep, a black sharpie will cover them up very well....

[Bassin Billy]

BY the way - DO NOT use the silicone spray or you will chance dumping your boat the next time you unhook the bow strap and back down a ramp.

[Electro]

Hi, Bassin Billy.

I never undo the strap anyway. I saw a boat sitting on the ramp one day, about two foot short of the water.

Interesting thing about leverage, even your wife can push the boat off the trailer once it is sitting ready to launch. Doing it by yourself just requires that the motor be trimmed down. It is also easy to push yourself off and take the quick three steps to the drivers seat.

Getting into the water has never been a problem for me. just getting out on steep ramps.

Remind me to tell you about the rattle snake one day. It was the day I found out they like to swim.

David

[Bassin Billy]

You can have the rattlers you want!! Killed one in my driveway about 3 weeks ago. Wife and 7 y/o daughter came home and it was in the driveway. only about 18 inches long, but could have easily have hurt someone. We watched turtles share that snake in a pond behind the house. Very interesting to watch!!