How much harder is it to launch a larger boat?

[colt100]

I have been thinking of up grading my boat to a larger one. Mainly because I wish to have the stability of a wider boat along with extra room and an option to tow skiers.

I currently have a mirrocraft 16 ft boat which is maxed out with a 40 hp. The boat is nicely geared for 2 people but is narrow and space is limited. I have almost no problems launching this boat by myself, unless for some reason it is really windy at the launch, and then only sometimes might have a small problem getting the boat back on the trailer. When I say problems, it is mainly from the wind catching the boat when trying to float it onto the roller trailer. I mainly fish alone.

How much harder would going to a bigger boat be to get back onto the trailer? I looking at either an alumacraft, lund, or crestliner in the 17 -18 ft range, maxed out with a 150 engine. Width would increase to somewhere in the 90's, depending on which boat I would choose. I wish to stay with a roller trailer.

For anyone that has gone larger, how much more difficult is getting the boat back on the trailer been by yourself? I'm in my 30's so i don't have problems winching or possibly man-handling the boat slightly.

[mrwalleye5]

I'm considerably older than you. I switched from a 17 ft 75 hp boat to a 20 ft, 150 hp boat. No difference. You use what ever system you get used to that and as long as you keep to that system you will not have a problem.

[luveyes]

A properly set up boat and trailer no matter the size of boat is always easier to load. I also feel larger boats "often" are easier to load; especially in imperfect conditions. They are less prone to being blown around at the ramp, and are more stable in the water making it easier to load. This is my experience with boats from 14-21 ft. No clue larger than that.

[ffishman]

The biggest I have launched was a 28'er. No differnce than my current 18'. Biggest problem was steep ramps. I needed 4 wheel drive to put it out.

[NMG]

I went from a fairly light 16 footer with a 50 to a fairly heavy duty 18 footer with a 135. Observations:

- Moving the larger boat at the ramp by hand was obviously harder, but not that big of a deal. I never drove my boats on the trailer and instead prefer to position them by hand prior to winching them up. The only time loading this way with the big boat was a pain was if the wind had really picked up and I had to try and work against the waves to re-position it. Then the extra weight was detrimental.
- Backing up with the larger boat was actually much easier. The extra width made it easier to see the boat/trailer and make small adjustments as required.
- Hand winching either boat in was never a problem. I think the bigger boat was actually a little easier because it had a better gear ratio in the winch.
- The smaller boat I could launch in much shallower water, just due to the fact that I needed more water to float the bigger boat (deeper hull and trailer height).

Honestly, if you can handle your current boat I see no reason why you couldn't handle the bigger one. I thought it would be much more difficult than it was and like I said, in some ways it was actually easier.

Good luck!

[Shellback]

In windy conditions, I think you would be better off with a bunk trailer, if you are able to power load. I guess a roller trailer would be okay if you left the motor in gear, or had someone to snap the winch cable on. I used to like roller trailers, but now I like the idea of the boat sticking to the trailer as I finish snapping the bow hook on.

[colt100]

Originally Posted by Shellback

In windy conditions, I think you would be better off with a bunk trailer, if you are able to power load. I guess a roller trailer would be okay if you left the motor in gear, or had someone to snap the winch cable on. I used to like roller trailers, but now I like the idea of the boat sticking to the trailer as I finish snapping the bow hook on.

Bunks are really out of the question for me as many of the launches I use are not deep enough/in good enough condition to get a boat on/off. Some are but many are not so instead of not being able to fish some of my favorite lakes, I think I'm going to stick with a roller. Also, I thought that it would be harder to load on a bunk if by your self? Everyone I see loading a bunk at the ramp normally has two people, one to drive the boat on then one to drive the vehicle out of the water.

What I do to get my boat back on the trailer, which I mostly do by myself, is to land the boat on the dock or if their isn't one, lightly (slowly) beach it in the sand on the bank. After I get my truck, I then hook up a rope, push the boat out and pull it onto the trailer so I can then hook the winch strap to it myself. I haven't found a better way to do this yet and it works slick for me.

Sounds like I'm not going to have any problems if I go bigger. Thanks guys.

[NMG]

Originally Posted by colt100

What I do to get my boat back on the trailer, which I mostly do by myself, is to land the boat on the dock or if their isn't one, lightly (slowly) beach it in the sand on the bank. After I get my truck, I then hook up a rope, push the boat out and pull it onto the trailer so I can then hook the winch strap to it myself. I haven't found a better way to do this yet and it works slick for me

That's pretty much how I've loaded my bunk trailers. Just make sure that roughly 1/2 of the bunks are under water (throw some water on the rest to get them wet), push the boat out, pull it up between the bunks as far as it will go, hook up the bow line, winch it up, dry off legs, hop in truck and pull away, LOL

[lou gill]

Buy a Ranger, very easy, best made and fit trailer for loading and unloading by yourself.

Lou

[Shellback]

Originally Posted by colt100

Bunks are really out of the question for me as many of the launches I use are not deep enough/in good enough condition to get a boat on/off. Some are but many are not so instead of not being able to fish some of my favorite lakes, I think I'm going to stick with a roller. Also, I thought that it would be harder to load on a bunk if by your self? Everyone I see loading a bunk at the ramp normally has two people, one to drive the boat on then one to drive the vehicle out of the water.

What I do to get my boat back on the trailer, which I mostly do by myself, is to land the boat on the dock or if their isn't one, lightly (slowly) beach it in the sand on the bank. After I get my truck, I then hook up a rope, push the boat out and pull it onto the trailer so I can then hook the winch strap to it myself. I haven't found a better way to do this yet and it works slick for me.

Sounds like I'm not going to have any problems if I go bigger. Thanks guys.

I can understand about the shallow launches, a roller trailer is the only way to go. I'll often load my bunk trailer the same way you do when at an electric only lake. If you have a cross wind, it can be a real pain. It wouldn't deter me from moving up a few feet though.