Hauling Out A Sailboat With A Trailer... Is Tricky Business !! | E48

It is a sad day when the sailing season is over in October, here in Michigan City, Indiana on Lake Michigan. So it's time to haul out my O'day 25 and store it back on the trailer for the long winter. Thanks for all your help Terry, and Trail Creek marina for the ladder since I forgot mine!
Music ~
1. Powerful Dream - by Rymdklang Soundtracks
2. No Time For Drinks - by Martin Landstrom, Gustav Lundgren
Used by permission of Epidemic Sound
3. Duck in The Alley - by Track Tribe
Used by permission of Audio Library

[@mboyer68]

You have the trailer in too far. With trailer out more, the front of the boat will lift on the rollers and the d ring will go between the bumpers. Plus, it's a lot easier to power up onto the trailer with your engine, but some places frown on that because it undercuts the concrete ramp. You've probably already learned the perfect depth to put the trailer so the boat centers itself automatically. Believe me, I've spent a lot of time doing exactly what you were doing there!

[@doughoffman9463]

Side stand aluminum bars with PVC rollers are an immense help to guarantee having the boat centered on the trailer first time every time. You can buy universal fit side rollers for not much. Makes it a 1 man job, and I'm old.

[@karlsawesomeadventures9608]

Thanks for the info! Will definitely get some side bar rollers.

[@robminch8592]

Thanks Karl. I’m getting ready to haul out my 25 on a trailer for the first time. I didn’t know about a tongue extension. That looks like it’s the way to go.

[@karlsawesomeadventures9608]

Yes, I wouldn't be able to do it without the extension, because the back of the tow vehicle would be too far in the water. I had to make this one. I wish it was about four more feet longer, or 9 feet total. I have two previous videos on how I made this one, and another one that didn't work. Check them out if you want some ideas.

[@robminch8592]

@@karlsawesomeadventures9608 Thanks. I did watch the making of video, which I found very helpful. I'm concerned too about keeping the rear of my Suburban out of the water. I was thinking about using a 10' section of tubing, reinforced in the same manner as yours. I can do all of the fab work myself. What paint did you use. I was planning on using a cold galvanizing spray, but the black looks nice.

[@karlsawesomeadventures9608]

Rob, It's Rustoleum Professional high performance Enamel in a spray can . www.menards.com/main/paint/spray-paint/all-purpose-spray-paint/rust-oleum-reg-professional-high-performance-enamel-spray-paint/7548838/p-1444453046966-c-8050.htm It seems to cover very well.

[@craigtourtellott7639]

To help on haul out, keep your bow line over the bow support on the trailer so you avoid pulling the boat towards the dock. You also need to have the trailer out of the water more at first so it keeps the boat aligned on the bunks. As you need to bring it closer to the bow support you then can back into the water more.

[@karlsawesomeadventures9608]

Craig, good idea on keeping the bow line centered with the bow winch support. I am planning to make some keel bed guides this year on the trailer to help get the boat on straighter. So yes having it up a little higher in the water would help also at first. Thanks for the tips!

[@fishhuntadventure]

If you winch on the trailer and not go so deep it will settle onto the trailer as you winch it.

[@craigtourtellott7639]

@@karlsawesomeadventures9608 If you plan on adding keel guides can I suggest you think about making them higher near the back of the trailer. I made my guides even with the water level when the trailer is in the water at the ramp.

[@johncartelli]

Ive yet to put my 26 in the water. so far Ive seen this is what I need. 1. at least an 8ft tongue extension. 2. side guides mounted to the trailer to ctr the boat on the trailer.

[@karlsawesomeadventures9608]

John, Yes and Yes! I need a longer extension. And the guide rails for the keel bed are on my project list now. Good luck with your trailer projects.

[@svwatercolors1291]

Now that the boat is on the trailer, prepare trailer for the next time you have to recover boat. First: use a wood 2x10 by 10 feet long TREATED, cut off two each 6 inches long and then cut rest in half so you have two lengths 4.5 feet long. mount on one end at an angle, approx 45 degrees, one of the 6 inch pieces, on each length With deck screws mount on each side of trailers keel bunk, at the keel location, with the angled pieces towards the back of the trailer as guides to center hull on trailer, first time and every time after. The angles will help guide the keel onto the trailer perfectly. Modify your winch set up to only one bow chock. The center bolts that holds on the double chock bracket, remove and take one chock and mount on one long bolt through this centering bolt holes. raise or lower the whole winch set up with the two U-bolts holding it onto the post to make the hulls eye bolt just touch the bottom of this one chock for perfect positioning every time.

[@karlsawesomeadventures9608]

Jerry, Thanks for the keel bed guide instructions. I plan on making some next year when it gets warm enough to work outside again. Interesting idea for one bow chock on the front winch setup. Looks like you have a beautiful place to sail. Counting the months until spring.... Fair winds to you: )

[@bullhippo9023]

Our Oday 25 was in the water when we bought it , no trailer. I had one made for it so I could bring it home to rebuild the transom. I had to fit the boat to the trailer at the ramp. Of course a cold rainy day and everyone wanted to help ( in the way ) . After about 2 hours of it will not fit , this trailer isn't made for this boat , etc. all the help left, which was okay with me. I accessed the issue and kept cutting the bunk post and loading the boat on the trailer. After about three more hours the boat was on the trailer sitting on the bunks and keel. The former currious help would come by during my time alone working the issue and cast their words of doubt and doom . My trailer has a permenant extension welded on , it makes handling it tight places much harder. I like your roller trailer, easier to paint the bottom. I have 16 ft bunks and I have no way of painting under the bunks. I know there are ways , but our boat is on a sandy hill leaning downhill on the port side. If it were on level concrete I may attemp to lower the bunks while supporting that side. Your boat looks nice . I repainted the hull and the lower stripe look like a drunk did it.

[@karlsawesomeadventures9608]

Thanks! My trailer was set up all wrong when I bought the boat. The boat was kept in a slip all year, then trailered in the winter at the marina but never towed on the road. Had to do a lot of roller adjustments, move the axles, new bearings, new wheels, new brakes. He actually had three 14" and one 15" wheel on it!! Basically refit the whole thing. It was a lot of work, but worth it now.

[@sailingcitrinesunset4065]

That was kind of painful to watch. Reverse your trailer to line up with the boat, keep tension on a stern line as you winch the boat straight onto the trailer, use a A frame instead of a gin pole and you'll have it all done in under 30 minutes. I do it single handed.

[@macnabit.1]

Lowering the mast to aft. Yup I did that the first time with my 25 ft Oday, went to far down and the mast rested on the hatch cover, it acted like a lever and snapped my mast bolt heads clean off. That wont happen if you lower it to the bow.

[@crunchycrispybacon]

I trailer an Ericson 25. Two tips: Get some trailer guides, and have your buddy stand on the stern in order to get the bow eye into place. Good job though.

[@fishhuntadventure]

6:11 trailer way too deep always entertaining at the ramp

[@timwebb8153]

You'll get the hang of it Karl. Launching is pretty straightforward. Retrieval is much more nuanced ... ;~P Now, let's try to get that mast lowering time down a bit! No worries, you'll develop a solid system for both.

[@karlsawesomeadventures9608]

Thanks for the encouragement Tim! This is really my first full year sailing. I have learned a lot, and hopefully things will get easier the more times I do them. Fair winds to you. 😎

[@kevinphillips150]

The commentator sounds like the French Drain Man from Michigan. A good guy.

[@karlsawesomeadventures9608]

I just listened to the French Drain man. I guess I do have a bit of a northern accent, Lol : )

[@nobskafriend]

A roller trailer doesn’t need to be backed that deep into the water, the boat will better self-align if she is being winched onto the rollers, not floated on. Might have been much easier unstepping mast if you used the original instructions from O’Day and lowered the mast forward as designed.

[@karlsawesomeadventures9608]

I have seen the original instructions to lower the mast forwards with the boom. I might try that sometime. I have tried pulling the boat up on the rollers with the winch but it is too heavy and won't just roll on. That is why I try to float it on. I have also made some keel bed guides this year, and when I hauled it out in October it lined up the first time much better than in this video. Thanks for the tips!

[@flpalacios9633]

No lo tienes claro

[@sailingeden9866]

You should check out channel, Sailing Dachaidh.

[@karlsawesomeadventures9608]

I have watched them before. Great couple sailing from Lake Michigan to the Atlantic.

[@sailingeden9866]

@@karlsawesomeadventures9608 I just discovered them a week ago. Their channel has me thinking about shifting my summer boating away from Lake Erie to the western side of Lake Michigan.

[@karlsawesomeadventures9608]

@@sailingeden9866 I am planning on exploring the Eastern side of Lake Michigan next year hopefully. Either side is beautiful I would think!