Trailor question

[Sean R]

Between my dad, brother and myself we have had a few boats and PWC. But when I launch my 2020 212S I have to submerge the trailer fenders about 3 or 4 inches under water. Ever other water craft i have launched, regardless of ramp the fenders are 2 or 3 inchs above the water line. Is this normal?

 

[Babin Farms]

Sounds normal. Just remember, each ramp is going to be different when launching & retrieving, same goes for different trailers & watercraft.
Launching my 09 AR230 at our local marina I believe my trailer fenders are at least 6" under the water before I can float off the bunks.

 

[Sean R]

This time of year water level is high so Iam not to worried about it. In the fall the Army Cor starts dropping the water level. And I've seen a video or two with trailers dropping off the end of the launch. I don't want to be that guy.

 

[HangOutdoors]

@Sean R Front Fenders 2 -3 inches under water is what we do every time so you are spot on. When I load I make them a bit less under water so I can winch the last couple few feet.

 

[Sean R]

Thanks fellas, its just different than I am used to.

 

[212s]

Between my dad, brother and myself we have had a few boats and PWC. But when I launch my 2020 212S I have to submerge the trailer fenders about 3 or 4 inches under water. Ever other water craft i have launched, regardless of ramp the fenders are 2 or 3 inchs above the water line. Is this normal?

I agree with the others, but I have a slightly different process and it varies by ramp - some ramps have steeper angles and the boat will float right off. But less steep angles and I need to do this:

I back in to dunk the bunks and get them wet. Then I pull forward a couple feet, unhook the boat, then back up two feet and stop - the boat slides right off and my wife pulls it to the dock to tie off while I park. When I load the boat, I dunk the bunks to get them wet again, and pull up a couple feet to get the fenders a few inches out of the water. This puts the bunks high enough to help guide the boat onto the trailer - we hand load with dock lines as power loading is prohibited due to environmental reasons. I winch it most of the way up, then back the trailer in to dunk the fenders and winch up to the bow stop. Done.

As you said about water levels, we're fairly consistent around here as it's part of Lake Ontario, but there are some ramps where power loading has washed away the seabed at the bottom of the ramp (concrete isn't long enough) so it drops off 1-2 feet. We won't use those ramps at all as I've seen people get stuck and can't pull their trailers out as the wheels have fallen off the end. That's part of the reason why power loading is prohibited here, but people don't care and power load anyway.

The really long concrete ramps are not an issue for us, but I bet some of the people who trailer their 42' Fountains or cruisers might have issues.

 

[Sean R]

The launch i use is pretty deep but in the late fall lake Allatoona GA, the lake I'm on, drops 12'. I've never dropped my trailer but I've seen it happen. Like your idea dunking the bunk boards ?