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Old 06-14-2021, 07:37 AM
Fr. Frank Fr. Frank is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Shalimar, Florida
Posts: 2,265
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Listen to Denny! He's absolutely correct!
The type of trailer needed depends upon the launching conditions. For steep launches, only a roller-type trailer will do.
I love my drive-on type trailer, but I'm in Florida, where a 10% grade ramp is considered very steep. I've seen boat ramps in New York, Rhode Island and Massachusetts that had to be 14% grade or more. To drive on a 20' Seafari onto a bunk-type traier up a ramp like that would take 300 hp!
I helped a friend recover his 23' SF in RI after he was towed a different ramp than the one he launched from. That ramp was about 15% grade, and with a blown motor, his strap-winch could not pull his boat up onto his bunk trailer. We were eventually assisted by another boater who had a 4x4 with a 9K bumper winch which we ran through a snatch block at the base of the winch stand.
There are lots of steep ramps in the NE, for which roller trailers are ideal. But the advice about not dunking the trailer and letting the rollers do the alignment work is good advice, as well.
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Common Sense is learning from your mistakes. Wisdom is learning from the other guy's mistakes.

Fr. Frank says:
Jesus liked fishing, too. He even walked on water to get to the boat!

Currently without a SeaCraft
(2) Pompano 12' fishing kayaks
'73 Cobia 18' prototype "Casting Skiff", 70hp Mercury
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