SoCal Jet Boats
Discussion => The No Wake Zone => Topic started by: steves86ta on June 28, 2013, 09:06:32 AM
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Hi Guys,
My trailer does not have a winch it does however have one of the floater bar setups. I was wondering what you guys use to hold the boat to the floater bar? Im using a typical hitch pin like this:
(https://www.socaljetboats.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv643%2Fsteves86ta%2FWL2600_zps9d579378.jpg&hash=166f8f901e7d0edc92a7b0d27645098f133657e9) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/steves86ta/media/WL2600_zps9d579378.jpg.html)
And they keep bending on long trips. What do you guys recommend to replace it with?
thanks
steve
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Both my nephew and his buddy had that set up, i made a winch post and roller bracket and welded them to the trailer
Much easier to load and launch
Sent from my iPhone using SoCalJetBoats mobile app
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Try a master lock
A boat that size should have a winch/v-block setup.
Some of these trailers flex pretty crazy with a floater bar.
Dan'l
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Both my nephew and his buddy had that set up, i made a winch post and roller bracket and welded them to the trailer
Much easier to load and launch
Sent from my iPhone using SoCalJetBoats mobile app
I really want to convert over to a winch/roller setup however i really dont want to weld on this trailer since it is really nice and in great shape. And im 99% sure it is powdercoated.
Its pretty damn easy to launch/load about 30 seconds total but are there any laws/regulations requiring the winch setup?
A last question, my boat/trailer does not have the tie downs for the back of the boat either. The only thing holding it on the trailer is literally the floater bar. I usually run a tie strap across the back and over the drive when i go long distance. But is this even legal?
thanks
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Try a master lock
A boat that size should have a winch/v-block setup.
Some of these trailers flex pretty crazy with a floater bar.
Dan'l
Thats a good idea i will give that a shot. That will probably work a lot easier too. (unless i forget the key haha)
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They make bolt on wench set ups if you don't want to weld on the trailer
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I really want to convert over to a winch/roller setup however i really dont want to weld on this trailer since it is really nice and in great shape. And im 99% sure it is powdercoated.
My thoughts- safety VS. pretty- Its your boat, do you want it to pass you going down the highway? smaller bubble deck type Comp. trailers flex quite a bit @ 70mph, Enough for me to switch to a winch, No more flex or worries. Heres my set-up, on a Competitive trailer, ( 21' Eliminator, fifth one down, 37 years old 8) ) The river is 18 miles away, so I don't have any straps on the rear, If I travel like to Parker or Powell, I use transom tiedowns.
http://www.socaljetboats.com/trailers/switching-to-winchlt-lets-see-your-trailers/msg106079/#msg106079 (http://www.socaljetboats.com/trailers/switching-to-winchlt-lets-see-your-trailers/msg106079/#msg106079)
Its pretty damn easy to launch/load about 30 seconds total but are there any laws/regulations requiring the winch setup?
Yeah, 30 seconds on a nice flat/smooth launch ramp. Try it at the Avi in the current, and you wont feel the same way, or on a shallow ramp like Temple Bar, Lake Mead
A last question, my boat/trailer does not have the tie downs for the back of the boat either. The only thing holding it on the trailer is literally the floater bar. I usually run a tie strap across the back and over the drive when i go long distance. But is this even legal?
thanks
I don't now the law EXACTLY, However the CHP requires a load over 8' long to have two straps, and every 8' thereafter. on a 21' boat, LEAGLY you should have 3 straps/tiedowns (think like a load of drywall or lumber)
They make bolt on wench set ups if you don't want to weld on the trailer
Corey's got it :thumbup: But I'd rather have a weld on one. My bubble deck was a bolt on deal.
That's all I got
Dan'l
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My thoughts- safety VS. pretty- Its your boat, do you want it to pass you going down the highway? smaller bubble deck type Comp. trailers flex quite a bit @ 70mph, Enough for me to switch to a winch, No more flex or worries. Heres my set-up, on a Competitive trailer, ( 21' Eliminator, fifth one down, 37 years old 8) ) The river is 18 miles away, so I don't have any straps on the rear, If I travel like to Parker or Powell, I use transom tiedowns.
http://www.socaljetboats.com/trailers/switching-to-winchlt-lets-see-your-trailers/msg106079/#msg106079 (http://www.socaljetboats.com/trailers/switching-to-winchlt-lets-see-your-trailers/msg106079/#msg106079)
Yeah, 30 seconds on a nice flat/smooth launch ramp. Try it at the Avi in the current, and you wont feel the same way, or on a shallow ramp like Temple Bar, Lake Mead
I don't now the law EXACTLY, However the CHP requires a load over 8' long to have two straps, and every 8' thereafter. on a 21' boat, LEAGLY you should have 3 straps/tiedowns (think like a load of drywall or lumber)
Corey's got it :thumbup: But I'd rather have a weld on one. My bubble deck was a bolt on deal.
That's all I got
Dan'l
Dan'l
Thanks for the information i will be switching over to the winch style more than likely. where did you get yours at? I like the way yours is setup and i have since saved the pictures for ideas when it comes down to changing mine.
Ill be adding the transom eyelets when i do my through transom exhaust as well for now ill just use the swim steps.
i have taken the boat to laughlin once and it did pretty good however i did notice a lot of bouncing on the front so im sure a winch will eliminate that
thanks!
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Dan'l
Thanks for the information i will be switching over to the winch style more than likely. where did you get yours at? I like the way yours is setup and i have since saved the pictures for ideas when it comes down to changing mine.
thanks!
It looks like Competitive trailers did it back in the day (1976 or so) Trailer is original for the boat, as far as I know...
A trip to the steel yard would do it.
Dan'l
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Search floater bar. I did one and also used a winch. You can see how I built it.
T.J.
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Use an bolt and nut with some washers works pretty good just make sure to carry a couple of small crescent wrenches
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I haven't had an issue with mine in 30+years of river trips quite often at 80 mph+ with a trailer that gets air born a few times on the way, but I just have a little youngblood I'm towing, maybe you're heavier? no idea
I found some locking pins for the towing chingas on my truck that lock the trailer hitch and chingas that clasps around it onto my car, but nothing special for that pin.
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Yeah, 30 seconds on a nice flat/smooth launch ramp. Try it at the Avi in the current, and you wont feel the same way, or on a shallow ramp like Temple Bar, Lake Mead
Has Temple Bar changed the ramp any? the last time I was there was in the 90's and everyone was launching off the left side of the ramp (facing the water) at a screwed up angle because it was deeper.
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Also, here is a hybrid floater bar set up , just another idea...
[attachimg=1]
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Has Temple Bar changed the ramp any? the last tome I was there was in the 90's and everyone was launching off the left side of the ramp (facing the water) at a screwed up angle because it was deeper.
Sounds like its the same, but with the water level down that 'left side' flattens out. My crew cab's front wheels were touching the water just to get the boat to float, May '11.
Dan'l
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I bought my Bahner one morning last July ..... played on the River for the day, then loaded up and headed home..... 1600 miles later, no problem and no problems since. It's got a floater bar and it rides very good.... No tie downs.
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I'd rather not make my boat a structural member of the trailer, so no winch black. I also don't like floater bars because I've had one flip on me on a steep ramp. I just use tie downs. One forward from the bow eye and one backwards from the bow eye, then strap the stern down. It's worked flawlessly for 5 years.
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When I got mine it had a dinky pin holding it... New tie downs for the rear and I got an old trailer hitch pin, drilled another hole for a second clip and it fits perfectly! Figured that pin is good enough to hold a receiver in it'll hold my boat
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That's a really interesting idea, using nylon straps instead of the floater bar...I might actually become a convert to that because on steeper ramps my hull bumps the dang floater bar bracket.
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Hook the 1 forward strap to the bow eye, yank it outta the water, the add the rest once you're in the parking lot. After having dealt with pins and winches for years, I'll never go back. Looks kinda ghetto, but works well.
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I think you could also use the types of straps that have a rachet and help pull the boat that way
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That's what was on my trailer when I got the boat. When I use the ratchet to pull boat it pulls eyelet on boat at wrong angle so I leave it at the length it needs to be and back in boat til it floats and pull it forward enough to remove strap and same when putting boat on trailer. That way the boat is always in the same place on trailer.
sent from my mobile wireless thingy
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Here on the east coast they do not know what floater bars are. I used both winch and floater bar. Here is the link.
(https://www.socaljetboats.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tjsperformance.com%2Fimages%2Ffloater_bar_13.jpg&hash=bd9ae85943f978d00693306077eedcf07a27f5d7)
http://www.socaljetboats.com/trailers/how-its-made-floater-bar-the-t-j-way/msg135729/#msg135729 (http://www.socaljetboats.com/trailers/how-its-made-floater-bar-the-t-j-way/msg135729/#msg135729)