boat rope question

[glenn57]

anyone got any advice on what would be a good rope for replacing the rope on the crank on the trailer rope????? my stepdad bought a boat and is leaving it up at the cabin to use. its a bunk trailer.......gawd i hate them things,  its a 14ft boat a bit heavy with a new 15 horse welfare motor  , mercury. i'll admit its a really nice outboard!!!!! 

the rope that is currently on that is off the top of my head one of them standard maybe 3/8 round ropes.???? anyway its not bad loading it when the landing is deeper where you can float most of the boat on the trailer, but on the shallower landings its a pain and that rope has snapped 3 times on me.

anyone with suggestions????/

[LPS]

3/8 is pretty nice rope on a boat.  Maybe new stuff will be stronger.  Or a cable.

[glenn57]

3/8 is pretty nice rope on a boat.  Maybe new stuff will be stronger.  Or a cable.

i should of measured it when i was up there,  never thought of it. i kinda cringe at the idea of cable  broken strands usually ends up with cut and bloody fingers!!!

was thinking, depending on how wide the gizmo is it gets wrapped up on, maybe a nylon strap like on some bigger boats.. i'll have to measure it first.  i figured i best as permission first, not my boat. i also got permission to put in my locator. 

i entered serious negotiations with my wife about getting a new, different locator for my boat, and i succeeded!!!! i want one of them hummingbirds, think its a helix 5, that is lake chip capabile!!!! i used my buddy's last year and fell in love!!!!!

[mike89]

strap

[Gunner55]

We have had straps on ours for a long time, much stronger. L & M has 'em the right width in different lengths for around $20. I actually have 2 old boat trailer winches with straps bolted to short posts that slide in the posts for the axle to our roll in dock to help raise & lower it. Loosen the bolts & I can raise & lower it while I'm standin on it.

[LPS]

Yup pretty hard to beat a strap. 

[Gunner55]

Just looked, glenn, & L & M has 20' of 3/8" winch rope rated for 1200#'s for $7.99. The also have an aftermarket 2" strap that's 20' long that's rated for 2600#'s for $15.50.  A no brainer for me.

[glenn57]

  thanks Gunner.  I don't get to rapids much anymore but if I should.... Maybe I can get the union to by lunch for me again. 

I'll need to get up there and measure things up before I buy, not a fan of buying and having to return it because it's not right 

[Gunner55]

  Almost all boat trailers & winches are pretty standard so they can be used for different rigs so both will work unless it's a cheap homemade job. Did you make it?     Brother buys extra stuff he probably isn't going to need at L & M just because they're so good about returns. Never a question, even if we buy it in the fall & don't return it 'til Spring. 

[glenn57]

Almost all boat trailers & winches are pretty standard so they can be used for different rigs so both will work unless it's a cheap homemade job. Did you make it?     Brother buys extra stuff he probably isn't going to need at L & M just because they're so good about returns. Never a question, even if we buy it in the fall & don't return it 'til Spring.

  no i didnt make it, but with my union ingenuity i can!!!!!!!!! he bought the boat used.

[Gunner55]

  Well yeah then, it might not be on the original trailer.

[Jerkbiat]

Get the winch strap and skip the rope. You will thank yourself.

[glenn57]

Get the winch strap and skip the rope. You will thank yourself.

pretty much thinking thats the route i'm going!!!!!!!

[HD]

Yup, I don't have any ropes or cables anymore. Just straps.

[Boar]

ropes are 4 anchors

[glenn57]

ropes are 4 anchors

not my boat and it's what it came with. I have permission to do whatever I see fit however.

Maybe should get a much larger landing net too 

[Gunner55]

             Why?                         

[glenn57]

            Why?                         

for ALL the BIG fish i catch!!!!!!

[snow1]

Come on glenn,get with the program,bunk trailer's are for driving your boat up on the trailer,good grief sunshine,why bust your ass trying to winch your little boat up on a bunk trailer?,just trim the motor up a tad if at all and let-r buck all the way up to the cradle,with the bunk she'll stay right there till you hook the saftey chain up.

[LPS]

If it is too hard to winch it on you haven't backed in far enough. 

[Gunner55]

See a lot of 'em over at the resort used that way. A lot of those heavy glass boats with the $50-60K price tags over there at times. I imagine there's a pretty nice washout hole on the bottom of that ramp. Good way to bust an axle on the trailer if your not paying attention. An aluminum, Crestliner, & a roller trailer here.

[glenn57]

snow...........this is a small 14 ft boat with a heavy 15 horse motor. there is no trim other then my back. i am also not a big fan of power loading....especially after on of my really young grandkids stepped in that hole once. good think i was close and he had a life jacket on.

LPS.......i beginning to figure that out. some of the accesses i have had it in to alsmost i was stepping into the lake getting out of the truck.

[Gunner55]

If it is too hard to winch it on you haven't backed in far enough. 

Sis & BIL have a 30 year old heavy glass boat with a roller trailer & it's a beast to load. Our access can get rough if the wind is from the wrong direction, SE or NW, & we'll back that in a bit more after we start loading it. Sometimes even a couple times.

[LPS]

Once you figure out where the tires on the trailer have to be to load the boat easily remember that position.  The next time back in further and then pull back out to your wheel location that works best.  Now the bunks are wet so your boat will go on easier.  Some guys actually spray the carpet on the bunks with silicone spray a couple of times a year.  They fish a lot.  I've never done that. 

[mike89]

Once you figure out where the tires on the trailer have to be to load the boat easily remember that position.  The next time back in further and then pull back out to your wheel location that works best.  Now the bunks are wet so your boat will go on easier.  Some guys actually spray the carpet on the bunks with silicone spray a couple of times a year.  They fish a lot.  I've never done that.

Glenn won't do that!!  might have to buy the silicone spray!!! 

[roony]

Just get a strap and be done with it already.

[Gunner55]

Have always had aluminum boats & trailers with bogey wheel type rollers. Even then there's a sweet spot for how deep the trailer should be so it loads best. Usually we shoot for the trailer tires to be in over the axle, ~ 2/3 covered is what works for us. I agree with glenn  on bunk trailers.