Lets hear about how you launch your boat. Non Precision boats welcome too

[pgandw]

I don't leave my motor on to trailer.  When I had the ODay25, I had a Chrysler Sailor 250 (9.9hp 2 stroke with electric start and alternator) which weighed about 80#.  For long distance tows (Great Lakes, Key West) I believed I needed the motor off.  The weight would be a bear today, but I was so much younger then.

Fast forward to today on my 19ft Mariner with an Epropulsion Spirit electric motor.  No way am I leaving that motor on while towing distances (NC to CT and similar), even though motor itself is only 23lbs (battery is 19lbs).  I've had the mast jump off the crutch with some of the roads the way they are - I have to specifically lash the mast vertically to the 2 supports.  Since the 2 motor pieces are easy to carry, one in each hand, mounting/dismounting the motor is no issue.  And no issues with gas or oil leaking in the car.  The Mariner, being relatively low freeboard, and sitting between the wheels with no stub keel, the mount is low and easy to reach, even for a short guy like me.  I do leave the motor on when the boat is on the lift, with a cover.  But battery is in the garage.

Fred W
Stuart Mariner 19

[Riggerdood]

Mine have holes in the ends too and I tried out a padlock we had lying around and it fits. The storage buildings should be locked but better safe than sorry.

Tom, I do remove the padlock when sailing or motoring. Otherwise the saltwater spray just kills it, even when well oiled. Nothing worse than a locked up lock! You probably wouldn't have an issue in freshwater though.

[tjspiel]

Mine have holes in the ends too and I tried out a padlock we had lying around and it fits. The storage buildings should be locked but better safe than sorry.

Tom, I do remove the padlock when sailing or motoring. Otherwise the saltwater spray just kills it, even when well oiled. Nothing worse than a locked up lock! You probably wouldn't have an issue in freshwater though.

Other than in Winter storage, that motor won't spend a lot of time on the boat. Maybe a weekend here or there if I bring it to a bigger lake. Gas engines aren't allowed on the smaller city lakes where my boat is most of the time and I prefer a trolling motor for that anyway.

[Brian N.]

For the first year or so I trailered with the motor on the spring loaded bracket. I figured the Honda 2 HP only weighs about 30 pounds. Once I had my Subaru Outback, I now trailer with the motor in the back bed of the car. This is more for convenience than necessity. I don't think the 30lbs on the motor mount while traveling would be a big deal, but, I don't trailer far.

[tjspiel]

I'll let you all know if I make it to the storage facility tomorrow without the stern falling off.

Good chance for a brief shot of heavy snow tomorrow morning and it was nearly 80° yesterday. Guess that means the season is really over.

[Quantico Frank]

Wow, great advice. Sorry I'm late to the party, but I was the one on the happy hour who had the sad tale about struggling to get my boat lined up correctly with my trailer for recovery. I actually thought about goalposts last year but then forgot about them during the offseason. I'm thinking again that they may help me, and I'm adding them to my offseason to-do list this year. I also will add to my launch/recovery checklist visually inspecting the guide bunks for my bulb keel before I back the trailer into the water to make sure they are exactly the way I want them. I carry the tools I need to correct them in the toolbox I keep in my Subaru. I just didn't think about the alignment a couple weeks ago when I had the problem and spent a couple hours in the Potomac trying to manually wrangle my half ton boat onto the trailer. Great core workout, but it wasn't so great that my key fob decided to sleep with the fishes. $621 bucks.

Oh, and I always take the motor off for trailering. It's only 30lbs, but I don't like worrying about it back there.

[Riggerdood]

I'll let you all know if I make it to the storage facility tomorrow without the stern falling off.

Better than having the front fall off Tom. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m5qxZm_JqM

[tjspiel]

I'll let you all know if I make it to the storage facility tomorrow without the stern falling off.

Better than having the front fall off Tom. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m5qxZm_JqM

Ha, well nothing fell off except a little bit of snow that managed to collect on it before I left.

Good thing a wave didn't hit it, all bets would have been off.

[Riggerdood]

<GASP> No, not a wave! What are the odds?! 

[Captain Kidd]

$621

OUCH!

Ruined a cell phone once. Can't remember what it cost to replace. I capsized. Had the phone in a zip lock baggie. That was a no-no. Immediately went out and bought a water-proof box.

[Riggerdood]

Yeah, those fobs are no joke. WAY overpriced IMO.

[Quantico Frank]

OUCH!

Ruined a cell phone once. Can't remember what it cost to replace. I capsized. Had the phone in a zip lock baggie. That was a no-no. Immediately went out and bought a water-proof box.

I had it in this really great (no kidding) triple-sealed plastic pouch since I always have to get in the water to launch and recover my boat. It decided to go for a swim anyway, and I have little doubt that the fob remains fully functional somewhere in the Potomac mud. With the replacement pouch for the replacement key fob, I'm using the lanyard now. I'm hoping that goalposts will reduce the amount of time in and the depth of the water I'll have to get into to recover my boat in the future.

[Riggerdood]

I had it in this really great (no kidding) triple-sealed plastic pouch since I always have to get in the water to launch and recover my boat. It decided to go for a swim anyway, and I have little doubt that the fob remains fully functional somewhere in the Potomac mud. With the replacement pouch for the replacement key fob, I'm using the lanyard now. I'm hoping that goalposts will reduce the amount of time in and the depth of the water I'll have to get into to recover my boat in the future.

When you think about it Frank, what drawbacks are there, if any, to at least trying the posts? If they don't work or you don't like them, just take 'em off, right?

[Quantico Frank]

That's how I'm looking at it, Tim. At least for as long as I'm using the free ramp that I'm using right now, which I'm suspicious may be part of the issue.