Launching off boat ramps

[SVT8]

any of you guys launch boats/jetski or pwc's? Usually i do it with the 4 wheeldrive so i never have any issues slipping etc.

Any tips with using a a rear wheel drive car?. I had a crack yesterday at tootgarook boat ramp with my car hooked up with the jetski, put the trailer in the water enough so you could push the jetski off at least. Had no dramas slipping when trying to get out. Went in deeper so we could at least drive the jetski off the trailer instead of pushing, annnndd couldnt get out. Just kept slipping back, slowly going in.

Usually i brake load up stall a bit a slowly move. Mate said to try hand brake and accelerate and car came out first go. Yeh, so just want to know what others do with there falcons when launching and retrieving at boat ramps.

[misk]

lol fark
how far did you go in?
and howd you get out?

[Gunns]

20 foot boat = 2tone dry wieght on trailor.
Tow car was my EA and now use either a Patrol or a VE comonhore.

With the EA it was hand brake and slowly slip the clutch and feed the hand brake off.
Patrol and VE are auto so bit of rev and feed off the hand brake.

Never had an issue.

[Steady]

Reverse in, drive out, never had an issue launching 1800 odd kg of boat and trailer.
Even with clapped out ED plus single spinner.
Shit tyres or shit ramp?
It's only a jetski, ski and trailer would weigh less then a decent tandem ski boat trailer on it's own.

[misk]

jsut out of curiousity, how did you guys go towing with the early Es?
i have to tow a 1300kg car with my 3spd EA, wasnt sure if it'd handle it too well lol

[donno]

Don't back the thing so far in, especially in salt water. The water should only come up to about 1" below the axle. It differs a bit from trailer to trailer, but beleive me you will have plenty of water beneath it. (Note this is for a non-drive on trailer only)

To launch don't remove the safety chain until the trailer is in the water, leave the winch attached, and slowly unwind it as someone else pushes it off. Once the weight comes onto the tilt at the back of the trailer, stop pushing and just ease it down into the water with the winch. It may take an extra 2 minutes this way, but you won't knock a hole in the hull if you drop it onto a rock, or only notice you forgot the bungs as you watch it sink, panicing to re-attach the winch.

Upon retrieval its the opposite of the above. Back the trailer in the same amount, leave a chock behind the rear wheel. Hook on the winch and don't forget the ratchet so you can have a break with a heavy boat. Once its up on the trailer, attach the safety chain BEFORE ascending up the ramp. The cables are well known to snap. In the car hand brake off, stall it slightly on the foot brake and easy does it. Leave the chock there until the car is moving, and get a mate to remove it for you.

[Steady]

jsut out of curiousity, how did you guys go towing with the early Es?
i have to tow a 1300kg car with my 3spd EA, wasnt sure if it'd handle it too well lol

3spd will be gay
EA-EDs tow really well.
As long as car is balanced on trailer you shouldn't really have an issue.

Don't back the thing so far in, especially in salt water. The water should only come up to about 1" below the axle. It differs a bit from trailer to trailer, but beleive me you will have plenty of water beneath it. (Note this is for a non-drive on trailer only)

Depends on the ramp too.

[misk]

lol the 3spd is gay anyway, but i was thinking it might overheat the box with the 2.77s
and its on gas with a bottom end nock lol!

[Steady]

I wouldn't tow far with it, put it that way

[misk]

umm 37km to be exact, 99% of it highway
sorry to hijack the thread btw lol

[ed40]

I used to take my old mans boat (18foot half cabin) out all the time before he sold it. Used to tow it in his 3.9 CFI EA 3spd wagon. It towed OK. 90km/h was the fastest I would ever go. Was a 60km round trip from home to the ramp. Never had an issue with getting up the ramp, obviously the condition of the ramp surface plays a huge part. Just used to stall it up ever so slightly and crawl up the ramp.

[misk]

cool, makes me feel more confident
cheers

[donno]

Don't back the thing so far in, especially in salt water. The water should only come up to about 1" below the axle. It differs a bit from trailer to trailer, but beleive me you will have plenty of water beneath it. (Note this is for a non-drive on trailer only)

Depends on the ramp too.

And right you are sir.

[krisisdog]

As mentioned it really depends on the ramp. We've got some shitty cement ramps about the place, and theres a couple that are very smooth - the ones you'd avoid unless you've got 4wd. I've seen a few people back their cars down, and need a tow out, and the ramps not even on that much of an angle.

On the other hand theres a few rough asphalt ramps as well, on much more of an angle, and to my knowledge no ones had any dramas.

SVT8, loading up on the stall would probably be the worst thing to do, as you've got the engine trying to over come the front brakes n tyre (burnout styles).
Using the hand brake means youve got the engine trying to overcome only the rear brakes, with no resistance from the front end.

[Dezza]

cool, makes me feel more confident
cheers

Several weeks ago, I was talking to my uncle and he was saying his old EA S-pack 3 speed was a better towcar than his current EL! He used to tow motorbike trailers loaded with a couple of motorcross bikes and a lot of spares.

We've always used the Rodeo 4WD to tow the boat and it's always done quite a good job despite the lack of power.

[misk]

well its looking like i may be able to get it moved for around $100, and seeing as i live in a bullshit tight estate full of townhouses, im not keen on driving through with a car trailer, so will just get a truck to do it.

but thanks for the info, restored a bit of faith in the old EA
again sorry for hijacking the thread

[serial_fool]

The old 3 speed would be alot stronger than the 4 speed aswell. Just ask any person who drove a Falcon taxi in the early 90s.

[holmsy]

i had no problems back when i used to do it when i was 16-17 with our boat
in either bf ute, ba xr6, au wagon or el sedan all auto tho.

musta been a shit ramp and or tyres.

[travs ea-xr6]

if its really spinign just get someone to jump on the draw bar it works well forces a bit of preasure on the back wheels wich hellps the tyers grip.ive seen a fair few do it now down mordy boat ramp

[russ]

Atleast you got yours out... No joke a guy came into my work and he backed his ba into a boat ramp, tried to get out and it slid striaght back into the water boat, boat trailer and BA Falcon :O OUCH
Had just put a set of 18's on it too.

[Rollin]

SVT8, loading up on the stall would probably be the worst thing to do, as you've got the engine trying to over come the front brakes n tyre (burnout styles).
Using the hand brake means youve got the engine trying to overcome only the rear brakes, with no resistance from the front end.

I was about to say that exact thing - getting on the brakes would be hampering the engine's efforts to drive the car up the ramp.

Also, as Trav says, get someone/some people to stand on the draw-bar up near the tow ball, it helps.

[Hybrid34]

I've been backing in my boat 7mlong ever since i could drive..
It all depends onthe boat ramp, one up at nagambie isn't so bad, I have my car with the wheel in half way, pulls the boat out fine..
Best thiing to do is have a rope tied fromt he tow bar to the boat trailor, use that works a dream if the rampis shithouse..

- Ash

[russ]

True hybrid apparently the guy with the ba was using one of those gravel ramps which are useless. Our one has inch high small blocks to grip better seems to help. hurts to walk on tho

[Rollin]

I've been backing in my boat 7mlong ever since i could drive..
It all depends onthe boat ramp, one up at nagambie isn't so bad, I have my car with the wheel in half way, pulls the boat out fine..
Best thiing to do is have a rope tied fromt he tow bar to the boat trailor, use that works a dream if the rampis shithouse..

- Ash

I feel sorry for the next owner of your car!

[Hybrid34]

I've been backing in my boat 7mlong ever since i could drive..
It all depends onthe boat ramp, one up at nagambie isn't so bad, I have my car with the wheel in half way, pulls the boat out fine..
Best thiing to do is have a rope tied fromt he tow bar to the boat trailor, use that works a dream if the rampis shithouse..

- Ash

I feel sorry for the next owner of your car!

Nah the back end isn't fully into the water...waterline is up to the tip of the exhaust.
But using a tow rope hooking from the tow bar to the trailor is thebest way, just a pain in the ass to set up

[Boogar]

*sigh*

our Navara hauls out our 26ft/6t ali boat on a 500yr old jincher trailer that we modified from a couple of old Dodge axles and some shitty steering box without any issue.

Moral of the story - falcon's aren't meant to launch boats. That's what 4wd's are for. It doesn't matter what sort, the added traction of the front wheels will drag almost anything out of the water, more than a falcon ever will. If the ramp is a nice one with the chocolate blocks for better bite, if the tide is up so there's no black slippery shit, if the weather is good AND is going to be all day then a falc is more than enough for it of course... but a lot of people expect far too much from a car not designed for the purpose.

It's like trying to undo a bolt with a filter strap. Wrong tool for the wrong job = fail.

At least (so far) you guys all seem to have your heads screwed on about it all. Plenty of fair-weather recreational boaties have come unstuck and it's been idiots from the Sea Rescue groups like me who've had to come and fix their cock-ups because they didn't think before they acted. I also know of people who have lost digits and limbs from the standing on the drawbar trick. From the winch cable breaking to the drawbar collapsing and taking off part of a leg, and it's not pretty.

So that others who do the same part as me around the country don't have to put up with as much crap as myself and my group, take note and pass the message on to your friends too. Don't get me wrong, volunteers are there and are trained to help people out, but hearing the phone ring and seeing the emergency number on the screen is a shithouse feeling. BTW as well as a volunteer I'm also a professional 'boatie' haha, which is why it annoys me to see people who clearly just don't understand and act without thinking.

Peace be with you all.

[Hybrid34]

yeah im a professional boatie as well...been waterskiing since i was 2and a half yrs old...seen alot of dikheads out on the water who dont have a clue about boating and the dangers that come along with it..people need to be more aware..rather than just buying a boat and wanting to have a good time...

[Boogar]

Where abouts do you work mate? Offshore/bluewater/harbours & rivers/coastal?

Either way good to find another blue oval fan in the industry, there aren't many from all the guys I've met over the years!