Boat Launches

[nicobeck]

Any issues with boat launches, being electric motors back there, as sometimes, especially shallow ramps, I have to back in reasonably far.
My current vehicle is a Ram 1500, and I have had to occasionally back in until about 70% of the rear tires are in the water. Is that doable without any problems?

I do it regularly for the past year, launching in salt waters, and haven’t had any issues. But I do hose off my wheels and other parts that got wet when I get home.

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[RickKeen]

Just pulled a boat out tonight. Was about hub high on the back axle. I like to put the bunk trailer in deeper so as not to have to power load the boat.

Power loading messes up the launch. Typically a big hole with a lip where the concrete ends that serves as a trap for any trailer axle that is backed in that deep later in the season when the water is low. Also, a shallow bar builds up out where you would expect it to be deeper, just waiting to feed rocks into your prop.,

Living on the lake, trailering the boats are more of a seasonal thing, but so far no problem.

 

[bmw325_num99]

I barely got up to the bumper and in fresh water but no issues for what that is worth.

 

[OES414]

Just pulled it out of the lake...zero issues...only issue is my driving! Drove so smooty that I forgot I was towing a boat! I set up back up assist...about you to use it to back down the driveway. Calibration was fine once i found a lot where i could make full right and left turns...range cut down by a third but i think it is being cautious...very impressed!

 

[RickKeen]

Sad time of the year here in MN when its a little too cool to enjoy the Seadoos any longer.
Hauling them out with the f150 Lightning is light work. Even with the super short tongue on my trailer, only need to back the truck about 1/3 of the way up to the hubs to get these smaller boats onto a bunk trailer.

 

[Maybe Going EV]

From the manual...

LAUNCHING OR RETRIEVING A BOAT OR PERSONAL WATERCRAFT

When backing down a ramp during boat launching or retrieval:
• Do not allow the static water level to rise above the bottom edge of the rear bumper.
• Do not allow waves to break higher than 6 in (15 cm) above the bottom
edge of the rear bumper.
Exceeding 6 in (15 cm) could allow water to enter vehicle components, causing internal damage to the components and affecting driveability, emissions and reliability.
Note: Disconnect the trailer wiring connector before backing the trailer into the water.
Note: Reconnect the trailer wiring connector after removing the trailer from
the water

Thanks to all of you for your input.
And thanks Rick for this, I am all but certain that up to the bumper is deep enough.

I saw discussion of unplugging the trailer, which is something that I have always done, and continue to do. Out of curiosity about how well it tows, we hooked up our enclosed trailer this weekend, and pulled it 71 kms, leaving us impressed by how well it tows, but it does eat up power in a hurry, and the trailer was empty.

 

[Maybe Going EV]

I do it regularly for the past year, launching in salt waters, and haven’t had any issues. But I do hose off my wheels and other parts that got wet when I get home.

Thanks.
99.9% of our boating is fresh water, haven't taken our boats to the ocean in 6 years, and that was the boat before this new one.

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