Re: M_Boats: Trailer tongue extensions
Hi Deena & Harvey I launched my Bolger MICRO and the ComPac16 using an old anchor rode as a trailer tongue extension: 10 feet; 15 feet; whatever was needed. The problems are: Lack of directional guidance when launching. My Admiarable would push and pull the trailer tongue to get things lined up properly. It takes longer: You back down. Put blocks under the trailer wheels. Undo the hitch. Pull forward. Get rope out of car trunk. Tie rope to trailer tongue and to car hitch. Take up slack. Remove blocks in back of trailer wheels. Start launching. Retrieving were the same set of problems only in reverse. It works; the rope trailer tongue extension is highly variable; but you soon discover that about 8 feet is all you need to keep the back of the car out of the water. So, I had a trailer tongue extension built by my welding shop for the M15. It consists of a 2" x 2" tube x 8' long. The front end has a normal receiver welded to it. On the bottom side of the trailer, under the tongue, the welder added one "U" strap The aft end of the trailer tongue extension slides into this "U", and is then locked in place by a trailer ball that is welded to the top side of the extension. Now you just hook up the end of the extension to the ball hitch on the car, and you are ready to manoeuvre your boat down the ramp under perfect control. It's a worthwhile addition to your trailer. Makes launching and retrieving much simpler; and keeps the car dry! When not in use, the extension sits on the trailer frame. The front end is held in place with a "U" bolt and the aft end with a bungee cord. It rides nicely that way. Connie Connie ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/.
Connie, Since reading the description of your topping lift and comparing it with mine, I have decided to copy your set-up. It is seems much safer and easier to adjust the topping lift from the comfort of the companionway rather than trying to adjust it from the end of the (possibly thrashing) boom. I finally got my tiller extension socket installed this week. It should be a great help when singlehanding. Joe Kidd M15 #207 "Poco A Poco"
participants (2)
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Conbert H Benneck -
Joe Kidd