Older trailers

[smsunman1]

I found a way for the guys with older trailers to get the bar on the bow eye. (I may be late in this observance) When hooking up in the water if you cant get the bar on only hook it up with the strap but not too tight. When on flat ground tap the brakes the boat should slide foward enough to get the bar on works every time.

[BriEOD]

I hate that dam bar!! I replaced mine a few years ago with a boat buddy. Problem solved.

[Zach S]

Curse that $%O#@_#ing bar. Being an engineer, I would like to find the guy that designed that thing and kick him in the bag. :rant:

[BriEOD]

I was told that it is actually a Correct Craft idea MC borrowed. I agree though I'd like to use it tp club the retard that invented that bloody thing.

[zberger]

Curse that $%O#@_#ing bar. Being an engineer, I would like to find the guy that designed that thing and kick him in the bag. :rant:

:purplaugh:

[alecams]

where do you find a boat buddy to place the bar?

[BriEOD]

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jhtml?id=0001975011046a&type=product&cmCat=search&returnString=hasJS=true&_D%3AhasJS=+&QueryText=boat+buddy&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jhtml.22&N=4887&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=boat+buddy&noImage=0&returnPage=search-results1.jhtml

[BriEOD]

after.....

[alecams]

i assume you had to make and weld the sq tubing to attach the buddy to? If so did you simply guess at the dimensions and height?

[BriEOD]

No, took it to a trailer shop and had them guess at the dimesions and the height. All and all I think it was about $200 start to finish project. Also, WELL worth every penny.

[Cloaked]

I hate that dam bar!! I replaced mine a few years ago with a boat buddy. Problem solved.Trusting aren't we??? :D Remeber the pic of my boat lying in the ditch??? :eek:


Nice looking guess job though... :toast:

[BriEOD]

No, I must have missed that one. It's been on there for the 4th year and has made a few long trips without the first hiccup.

[Cloaked]

Curse that $%O#@_#ing bar. Being an engineer, I would like to find the guy that designed that thing and kick him in the bag. :rant:What designed purpose does it not satisfy, besides your preferences?

All that bar is there to serve is to keep the boat from coming up your rear end in the event of head-on impact or braking. And you want to kick an Engineer for a poor design??? :eek:

[EFiles]

Could you post a front on shot of that sometime? I have got to get that bar off my trailer, too!

[AirJunky]

All that bar is there to serve is to keep the boat from coming up your rear end in the event of head-on impact or braking. And you want to kick an Engineer for a poor design??? :eek:
Ever tried to hook that bar up? It's hard when the boat is 1/2 floating at the ramp & people are waiting. And even harder when the boat & trailer are on dry land. Other trailers found a better way to make the trailer safe. The engineer who designed that one took the easy way out.
My brother had an '88 & that was one of the first things to get modded.

[Cloaked]

I found a way for the guys with older trailers to get the bar on the bow eye. (I may be late in this observance) When hooking up in the water if you cant get the bar on only hook it up with the strap but not too tight. When on flat ground tap the brakes the boat should slide foward enough to get the bar on works every time.Your methodology does indeed work just fine. An alternative suggestion if I may, Mr. Sunman??

The Ms. stays in the truck while I load the boat onto the trailer. That's our deal. She backs in and pulls out.
With that being said, I usually run the boat up beyond the bar's length by an inch or two (easy to do once you determine the sweet spot). Boat in neutral, I step over the windshield, reach down to the bar, and slide it over the bow eye. I'm usually always too far forward (as described above), so I wiggle the nose while kneeling on it and the boat slides right back into place with the bar slipping over the eye. Clip the snap hook...Done deal. One smooth and effortless motion.

I hate to see a grown man :cry:

:D

:twocents: :popcorn:

[Cloaked]

Ever tried to hook that bar up? It's hard when the boat is 1/2 floating at the ramp & people are waiting. And even harder when the boat & trailer are on dry land. Other trailers found a better way to make the trailer safe. The engineer who designed that one took the easy way out.
My brother had an '88 & that was one of the first things to get modded.I'm proud for your brother.

I never said there wasn't a better way. Topic is "Older (MC) Trailers."

Each to their own my friend.... And yes, I have tried to hook that bar... more times than I could count. :D

And I do not allow someone waiting to control my actions on a ramp or otherwise... Experience comes with time.... ;)

[alecams]

i see. SInce i work at a fab shop we could probably take dims as it sits with the bar and make the post. So this buddy thing actually graps the bow and sucks it up until the it gets to the eye....?

[BriEOD]

Well I'll tell you what that bar is a POS. I've still got it somewhere in the garage. I had more trouble with that thing. You want to talk about easy, try the boat buddy. You pull onto the trailer smoothly, listen for the click of the pin and snap on the winch clasp. It literally could not be any easier.

[Cloaked]

i see. SInce i work at a fab shop we could probably take dims as it sits with the bar and make the post. So this buddy thing actually graps the bow and sucks it up until the it gets to the eye....?Full description of the Boat Buddy...

http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.CFPage?&mode=article&objectID=28914&cat=Gear&subcatID=0&objectType=article

[BriEOD]

i see. SInce i work at a fab shop we could probably take dims as it sits with the bar and make the post. So this buddy thing actually graps the bow and sucks it up until the it gets to the eye....?

It's a piece of plastic. Basically the boat hits this plastic pad and pushes the nose of the boat (and 3" bow eye) up into the channel. The bow eye guides through the channel and eventually hits a striker plate which releases a spring loaded pin through the bow eye locking the boat onto the trailer. You can hear it when it engages. My wife and I have it so that we are on and off the ramp in less than 2 minutes. I love that thing.

[Cloaked]

Well I'll tell you what that bar is a POS. I've still got it somewhere in the garage. I had more trouble with that thing. You want to talk about easy, try the boat buddy. You pull onto the trailer smoothly, listen for the click of the pin and snap on the winch clasp. It literally could not be any easier.Yes, Sir, I know 100%. I have tried one in the past. It's each to their own. :cheers:

I just don't trust the BB for structural integrity. Easy? Yes! Very easy, just like the other guy who took the easy way out to design the bar..... :D

Once you lose a boat off of a trailer and see it carsh, one will think somewhat differently. But again, the setup you have is impressive. It works just fine I'm sure. My point is merely keeping on topic and address the Gentleman's issue with the bar......

Don't be jackin' his thread.... :D :D

[smsunman1]

how about some of the nautique trailers with chain and no winch at all.
The bar is better than nothing. From there stand point that trailer is so simple. I can't help but to think this was the criteria behind the design.

[Cloaked]

It's a piece of plastic. ..... I love that thing.

Just be careful about how it's tied down (front and rear) my friend...

.

[Zach S]

[QUOTE=Sporty]What designed purpose does it not satisfy, besides your preferences?

I guess it is just a matter of preference. Thats why I no longer have a black and white TV with no remote.

[BriEOD]

Just be careful about how it's tied down (front and rear) my friend...

.

2 ea 5k lb tinsile strenth cargo straps do the trick. ;)

[pilot02]

Boat buddy's definitely the way to go. Makes it so easy to launch and load!!

Not sure the copied link will work but we'll see. Still learning how to do this board thing.

http://www.tmcowners.com/teamtalk/attachment.php?attachmentid=4357

[AirJunky]

I just don't trust the BB for structural integrity. Easy? Yes! Very easy, just like the other guy who took the easy way out to design the bar..... :D

Um, I think someone needs to read the directions again. Your not supposed to be towing with the Buddy locked..... and certainly not with ONLY the Buddy locked!

[RickDV]

Once you lose a boat off of a trailer and see it crash, one will think somewhat differently.
:D

Seems to me I read on a previous thread that you should use the BB for loading only and not rely on it for traveling.

The recommendation is to release the BB once out of the water and for traveling to use the wench strap at the front and a strap at the stern too.

[jimmer2880]

Seems to me I read on a previous thread that you should use the BB for loading only and not rely on it for traveling.

The recommendation is to release the BB once out of the water and for traveling to use the wench strap at the front and a strap at the stern too.

or, you could keep the boat buddy engaged, just take the pressure off of it with the winch strap. That way it's acting like a "backup" device.

[BriEOD]

wench strap

I gotta get me one of those!! Does she wash the boat to? All I have is a winch strap. Fetch me a beer wench!!

[Kevin_M]

I've got an extra boat buddy (replaced a black one with a new grey one) - if you want it, email me and its yours for shipping costs. Thought it wasn't working, turned out my buddy just didnt realize how to set it right (set it in the lock mode every time). mcpullsme@sbcglobal.net

[cdewet]

So all this talk about the BB still hasn't solved the initial problem. I cannot seem to find an easy way to load the boat and get her tide down. We are not allowed to "power load" so all I can do it float the boat on, loosely tie the bow strap, ease out of the water and then do the "brake trick". This doesn't always work, since sometimes the boat goes up too far, sometimes not far enough. Most times I just leave the bar unhooked for the 2 mile drive to my house. Also, when I tie the bow strap the thing gets so tight when I come out of the water that it creaks. Don't think that is good. The incline of our launch is pretty steep which definetly doesn't help the issue.

[cdewet]

I'm thinking of adding a pulley type contraption above the winch, about at the top of the bow level, so I can run the bow strap over the pulley and down to the bow hook when I winch the wench :) in. That way my bow would be lifted up and possibly let the boat slide easier over the rails rather than pulling it down, thus increasing the friction load on the rails.

[J. Patterson]

My boat has a boat buddy and it works fine on a gentle to moderatly sloped ramp. On a steeper ramp you have to know exactly how deep to place the trailer. At our lake house's steep ramp, I have to back till the yellow fender marker lights are right at water level. Then I can power on. If I go deeper the bow will end up under the boat buddy. My friends 88 TriStar has the bar. Even worse! Good way to lose a finger while one person throttles and the other places the bar.
I had a 78 Nautique with the trailer tower and the turnbuckle. Didn't need a winch ! Just nose her up to the tower and pull out. Hook the turnbuckle in the lot, and away you go! I still miss that . I have seen one Mastercraft trailer with the Nautique tower added. I wish I had one.

J. Patterson
Trussville, AL

P.S.
This was a GREAT weekend at the lake. The crowds of jet skis and pontoons are diminishing and we actually had some flat water on a weekend. Hated to leave this morning. I need to retire while I can still ski.

[seaforth]

Interesting thread.

I would be interested in other techniques for boat loading and engaging that damed bar.

My method is somewhat ridiculous, but I offer it none the same so someone can point out how silly it is and recommend a better way.

After loading the boat on the trailer, and having tried to power it up to the right spot, and having the boat slip back or in the process of powering shift on the bunk I give up, attach the winch and pull the boat out. I then turn the whole rig around so the truck is on the ramp facing toward the water ( can't do this on a busy day ) or I find a slight incline. We then, with the boat angled bow down a few degrees we proceed to push the boat forward the remaining couple of inches hurniating my tired old after skiing all day back until we have it.

So bottom line I need an incline. If I dont have one, i think the bar does not go on.

There must be a better way?

Brad :eek3:

[BriEOD]

That's crazy!! Replace that stupid bar with a boat buddy. You can do it for about $200. Then you won't be doing 180's on the boat ramp on busy Saturdays.

[H20skeefreek]

I think the bar is a bad design, but I still use it, and I don't have to do a 180 on the ramp. my biggest issue, is that if you lose power, you can't get the boat on the trailer w/ the location of the winch. The winch pulls down instead of forward. I purchased a winch stand to solve the issue, but haven't put it on yet

[89PROSTAR]

I hate that bar also. My wife powers the boat on while I'm holding the bar with one hand and protecting my self from the boat with my other. She can hear the bar when it goes over the eye. It only takes like two seconds but it's still a crazy idea.

[BriEOD]

Yeah, well my wife can hear the click of the boat buddy and I'm standing back just in case something should go wrong. It's a lot safer than standing their with someone powering up a boat. That's just not safe.