Launching Ranger 620 question?

[rangerpig250]

First off, I'm NOT new to launching boats. This is my 5th boat, the first 4 were bass boats. I have a new to me, 07 620, that I took out for the first time two days ago. Put in on a ramp that I've launched out of 100's of times. Its fairly steep, never had a problem though. Well, on this occasion, halfway down the ramp, my boat starts sliding off the trailer. My partner sees this in the rear view mirror, and ups the truck speed so I dont slid off onto the ramp. Is this common?? whats the best method?? I launch alot by myself ,and am a little nervous now. Im also nervous about keeping bow strap on since the ramp is steep, and I'm afraid I wont be able to get it unhooked. Not sure if it matters, I've got a 250 and a 9.9 on the back, just wondering if all that weight is pulling it off the trailer faster than Im used to? Just thought I'd mention that there is NOT anything mounted to the bunks like those easy slider things.

[Snowking]

You are taking a risk launching any boat that is not Hooked up. One step on the brakes to hard could lead to a major problem. What if you just loosened the winch strap a small amount. If the boat moves you can crank it up and then get the winch strap off. If the boat does not move you would have a loose strap already.

[Hot Runr Guy]

By some chance is this one of those Ranger trailers with the low-water launch option, that has a set of rollers that get cranked-up, to lift the hull from the bunks?
HRG

[rangerpig250]

Originally Posted by Hot Runr Guy

By some chance is this one of those Ranger trailers with the low-water launch option, that has a set of rollers that get cranked-up, to lift the hull from the bunks?
HRG

nope, just a standard Ranger Trail trailer.

[Modog]

Is it possible that the previous owner sprayed the bunks down with silicone?
Were the bunks already wet when this happened?
Was it raining on the way to the lake?
Is the boat stored outside?
I've had a couple of 620's ('03 and a '07) and I have been on some pretty steep landings but never has the boat moved on it's bunks. When the landing is really steep, I do leave the strap attached until I'm at the water's edge just in case.

[tbob101]

Not a chance that I would unhook my bow strap until my trailer tires were wet. Big deal, you just now need to get out of the truck when you're almost all the way down, can't understand why you'd unhook earlier given your boats propensity to slide . . .

[rangerpig250]

Originally Posted by Modog

Is it possible that the previous owner sprayed the bunks down with silicone?
Were the bunks already wet when this happened?
Was it raining on the way to the lake?
Is the boat stored outside?
I've had a couple of 620's ('03 and a '07) and I have been on some pretty steep landings but never has the boat moved on it's bunks. When the landing is really steep, I do leave the strap attached until I'm at the water's edge just in case.

I dont know if the previous owner sprayed something on it, I suppose its possible. Bought it from a dealer, so I cant ask the owner. And the boat is stored inside, the bunks were bone dry, sunny nice day.

[rangerpig250]

Originally Posted by tbob101

Not a chance that I would unhook my bow strap until my trailer tires were wet. Big deal, you just now need to get out of the truck when you're almost all the way down, can't understand why you'd unhook earlier given your boats propensity to slide . . .

until this launch, my FIRST with this boat, I was unaware of its propensity to slide.. and as far as WHY I'd unhook it prior to getting to the bottom of the ramp, as I stated earlier, this is my first 620, my other 4 boats were bass boats, with bass boats, you can float them right off the trailer, preventing a traffic jam at the ramp. I learned after this FIRST launch of my new boat, there is a difference, so I figured I would ask the guys that are familiar with this style boat if there are any tricks, obviously leaving the strap attached is an option, I was thinking that once I hit the water, there would be alot of tension on the strap, making it difficult to unhook it since at that point the boat would be at a much steeper angle.

[Shep]

My guess is that the bunks were sprayed. Dry doesn't matter, because the silicone spray does not stay wet, but it does stay slippery. I leave the strap on at steep ramps, and then when the boat is in the water, I'll lean over the bow and unhook it. Once the boat is semi-floating, there isn't a great amount of tension, and unhooking is easy.

[Juls]

Originally Posted by rangerpig250

until this launch, my FIRST with this boat, I was unaware of its propensity to slide.. and as far as WHY I'd unhook it prior to getting to the bottom of the ramp, as I stated earlier, this is my first 620, my other 4 boats were bass boats, with bass boats, you can float them right off the trailer, preventing a traffic jam at the ramp. I learned after this FIRST launch of my new boat, there is a difference, so I figured I would ask the guys that are familiar with this style boat if there are any tricks, obviously leaving the strap attached is an option, I was thinking that once I hit the water, there would be alot of tension on the strap, making it difficult to unhook it since at that point the boat would be at a much steeper angle.

I agree...the bunks have been sprayed. We've launched 620's and 621's for years now (different boats every year) and never left he strap hooked...even on steep launches, and never had a boat slide yet. We always floated them off, like you did your bass boats.

We've never sprayed our bunks. So, unless you recarpet your bunks, it looks like you'll have to keep her strapped until you reach the water. The results if you don't is not an option.

Juls