Look Out!

Mee-n-Mac · 05-25-2006, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by upnorth

My trailer has surge brakes that are deactivated when I put the vehicle in reverse. (Apprarently, there is some sort of solenoid valve in the surge brake system that is energized when the back-up lights come on -- the wire from the trailer plugs into a lead that is tapped into the reverse lights).

So, I think I need to keep the trailer plugged in so I can back up. Unless the advice would be that given the trailer clearly should be urged away from the truck once I'm at the ramp so that the brakes shouldn't come on (i.e., heading down away from the truck), it would be ok at that point to unplug the trailer??
Thoughts?

Well the advice to unplug the trailer so the hot lights won't pop if exposed to cold water is sound but in your case perhaps you have no real choice. Most of the time the light bulb is (should be) sealed off from the water. If it isn't then you run the chance that the bulb will pop. In your case I say bring spare bulbs and a screwdriver and let them pop. Leaky housings should be replaced anyway (when you get a chance) and I'd replace them with LED taillights, which you don't have to unplug.

lfm · 05-25-2006, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by upnorth
My trailer has surge brakes that are deactivated when I put the vehicle in reverse. (Apprarently, there is some sort of solenoid valve in the surge brake system that is energized when the back-up lights come on -- the wire from the trailer plugs into a lead that is tapped into the reverse lights).

So, I think I need to keep the trailer plugged in so I can back up. Unless the advice would be that given the trailer clearly should be urged away from the truck once I'm at the ramp so that the brakes shouldn't come on (i.e., heading down away from the truck), it would be ok at that point to unplug the trailer??
Thoughts?

My trailer is equipped with a solenoid that locks out the surge brakes when the vehicle is in reverse. (Its activiated by a lead off the back up lights). However, there is a pin that can be inserted in the coupler to manually lockout the surge brakes. Just make sure that once you are going to pull instead of push your trailer, you remove the pin so that the brakes are active.

Btw my trailer is a Four Winns, but I'd check and see if you can disable the brakes if you're lights aren't sealed and you want to extend their life.

upnorth · 05-25-2006, 08:52 PM

Duh! Of course. I almost forgot, (but would have remembered when I saw the set up -- after all, its been 6 months)

. I too have a four winns and yes I can use the pin.

Thanks for the "reminder"

tbutler · 05-26-2006, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mee-n-Mac

Well the advice to unplug the trailer so the hot lights won't pop if exposed to cold water is sound but in your case perhaps you have no real choice.

He probably still does. The brake lockout isn't particularly important when
backing down a ramp, where there will be little or no pressure on the
coupler to push the boat/trailer.

That being said, if the lights are sealed, there's no reason to unplug them.
I never unplug mine. Nor have I ever needed to use the manual brake
lockout on my trailer. I expect I would if I were to back up a hill though.

jbess · 05-31-2006, 05:26 AM

After a ton of reading here, we went and picked up our GX185 on Saturday. The tech at the marina was very helpful and patient with us as we had many questions. Got her back to the camp and spent the rest of saturday reading and turning things on and off, making lists of things to get. Man that day went by fast!

Spent Sunday morning at church, had some lunch, then it was off to Parafunalia for "stuff". Went down the street a few miles and took a look at Ames Farm Inn. As mentioned earlier in this thread, it is a nice, wide, quite spot for the first timer to launch. Get back to camp, put all of the "stuff" away in the boat, do some more reading.

Monday comes. Uncover the boat. Stow everything. Load up a cooler with soda and lunch. Invite the in-laws to join us (they do), take off for Ames Farm. Get to the launch, take off stern straps, check bilge plug, disconnect lights, brief wife and father in-law how I think its supposed to work, hand wife bow line, put daughter and mother in-law in boat (shes a bit skeptical at this point) and back down the ramp. Father in-law lets off winch strap, hmmm, nothing. try to give it a push, nothing. Back in another foot or so, and it slid right off. Parked truck, loaded up, and were off! Man we had a blast. My daughter tried out her new tube (I thought the water was kind of cold) and loved it. In-laws loved just tooling around. Headed down towards Alton bay and back. Back at the dock, getting back on the trailer was pretty easy. Backed the trailer in, walked boat over with bow line, and pulled her up enough so I could hook up winch strap, and cranked it up tight.

Was I nervous launching and recovering? Beyond belief

!! But with the advice of many here, we just took our time and no one got hurt. All in all it went smooth, but there is still a bit of practice needed. Can't wait to get back in the water! Thanks again, Joe

Dave R · 05-31-2006, 07:33 AM

Congrats! Sounds like a great day on the lake.

I would like to offer one bit of advice, always use two lines when launching the boat, you cannot fully control a boat with just a bow line. A stern line as well will make the boat vastly more easy to control on a windy day.

JTA · 05-31-2006, 09:30 AM

Congrats Joe (and family). If everyone did your amount of prep the lake would be a better (and safer) place. Now that you were successful, the only thing that is likely to screw you up is wind.
I assume that you observed the temporary 600' no wake declaration when you did your tubing?

LIforrelaxin · 05-31-2006, 11:10 AM

Glad to hear your first day of boating went well......Just remember it only gets easier....and never be afraid to ask for help....Pretty much anybody I have ever met at a ramp or on the water is willing to help out.......And just remember no matter what happens it has happend to someone else before.....

ossipeeboater · 05-31-2006, 11:20 AM

I also launched my boat for the first time at Ames Farm and the ramps there are great to use. You definately get used to the trailer in fact I can put my 24 foot boat in places easier than my jet ski trailer. Have a great summer out there.

05-31-2006, 05:26 AM	#5
jbess Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Waterbury, Ct~Laconia, NH Posts: 31 Thanks: 4 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Well we did it! After a ton of reading here, we went and picked up our GX185 on Saturday. The tech at the marina was very helpful and patient with us as we had many questions. Got her back to the camp and spent the rest of saturday reading and turning things on and off, making lists of things to get. Man that day went by fast! Spent Sunday morning at church, had some lunch, then it was off to Parafunalia for "stuff". Went down the street a few miles and took a look at Ames Farm Inn. As mentioned earlier in this thread, it is a nice, wide, quite spot for the first timer to launch. Get back to camp, put all of the "stuff" away in the boat, do some more reading. Monday comes. Uncover the boat. Stow everything. Load up a cooler with soda and lunch. Invite the in-laws to join us (they do), take off for Ames Farm. Get to the launch, take off stern straps, check bilge plug, disconnect lights, brief wife and father in-law how I think its supposed to work, hand wife bow line, put daughter and mother in-law in boat (shes a bit skeptical at this point) and back down the ramp. Father in-law lets off winch strap, hmmm, nothing. try to give it a push, nothing. Back in another foot or so, and it slid right off. Parked truck, loaded up, and were off! Man we had a blast. My daughter tried out her new tube (I thought the water was kind of cold) and loved it. In-laws loved just tooling around. Headed down towards Alton bay and back. Back at the dock, getting back on the trailer was pretty easy. Backed the trailer in, walked boat over with bow line, and pulled her up enough so I could hook up winch strap, and cranked it up tight. Was I nervous launching and recovering? Beyond belief !! But with the advice of many here, we just took our time and no one got hurt. All in all it went smooth, but there is still a bit of practice needed. Can't wait to get back in the water! Thanks again, Joe

05-31-2006, 09:30 AM	#7
JTA Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Fort Pierce, Florida Posts: 233 Thanks: 34 Thanked 25 Times in 21 Posts	Good job! Congrats Joe (and family). If everyone did your amount of prep the lake would be a better (and safer) place. Now that you were successful, the only thing that is likely to screw you up is wind. I assume that you observed the temporary 600' no wake declaration when you did your tubing?

05-31-2006, 11:10 AM	#8
LIforrelaxin Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas, Lake Ray Hubbard and NH, Long Island Winnipesaukee Posts: 2,870 Thanks: 1,037 Thanked 892 Times in 524 Posts	Glad to hear your first day of boating went well......Just remember it only gets easier....and never be afraid to ask for help....Pretty much anybody I have ever met at a ramp or on the water is willing to help out.......And just remember no matter what happens it has happend to someone else before..... __________________ Life is about how much time you can spend relaxing... I do it on an island that isn't really an island.....

05-25-2006, 08:52 PM	#3
upnorth Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 64 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Duh! Of course. I almost forgot, (but would have remembered when I saw the set up -- after all, its been 6 months) . I too have a four winns and yes I can use the pin. Thanks for the "reminder"

05-31-2006, 07:33 AM	#6
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,984 Thanks: 246 Thanked 743 Times in 443 Posts	Congrats! Sounds like a great day on the lake. I would like to offer one bit of advice, always use two lines when launching the boat, you cannot fully control a boat with just a bow line. A stern line as well will make the boat vastly more easy to control on a windy day.

05-31-2006, 11:20 AM	#9
ossipeeboater Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 157 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	I also launched my boat for the first time at Ames Farm and the ramps there are great to use. You definately get used to the trailer in fact I can put my 24 foot boat in places easier than my jet ski trailer. Have a great summer out there.