30 plus Sea Ray loading and unloading from a trailer

Jaxmike

New Member
Jul 15, 2019
2
Boat Info
290 amberjack 2001,
Engines
5.7 Mercruiaer w/ Bravo III outdrives
Like some info from experienced sea ray owner that trailer their 30 plus boat and loading and unloading from a trailer
 
What kind of info are you looking for? Essentially, it's the same idea as a smaller boat. But a 30-footer is nowhere near big enough to worry about - as long as you have a properly setup trailer it's pretty straight forward. What IS different is that the boat's beam is wider than what is legally permitted in most (if not all?) states... and there are sometimes some stipulations on when you can trailer it based on day of the week and/or time of day and possibly a permit is needed. You'll need to contact your state's permitting dep't for a wide load permit - and all states that you pass through, if needed.
 
I usually launch at high tide so I dont have to back in as far with bunk trailer. I put wheel chocks under truck tires just in case. Otherwise, it just floats off and I park the trailer.
 
I don't find that it's any harder to unload than any other boat I've owned. Loading isn't any different either. After you have loaded it a few times, you will get the hang of it assuming the trailer is set up right. I have a two speed crank so it's a few more turns vs. a smaller boat, but I often beat smaller boat out of the water. I take more time once it's on the trailer to load the wide load sign and flags. Down the road you get used to looking for signs, trees or other hazards that an 11 foot wide, 12' 6" high load might hit. I keep the boat at home and prefer that to a slip because I'd HATE going to the same place every week. Just got back from Lake Pend Oreille, Lake Coeur d'Alene and Priest Lake in Northern Idaho the last two weeks. The San Juan's are another destination we hit as well.
 
Speaking specifically to loading and unloading. When I bought my boat the PO drive it to the dock and the mover walked it on the trailer. The mover had a rope on each front cleat that he used to position the boat. Once he liked where it sat he told the driver to begin pulling forward. Took three tries pulling in and out, only getting the back floating each time, to get it where he wanted it. Later last summer I drove it onto the same trailer to have my props changed, and then back off when relaunching. From my perspective as wheel man, it didn't feel much different than my old 21' open-bow, just more money attached to the steering wheel. There are no lifts where I boat so its all trailer hauling/launching. Definitely a two man job at least. When I am launched this spring I hope to be there with my GoPro. These guys had a hydraulic trailer with a car that caught the bow and rolled forward. I can imagine if you have a bunk trailer you would have to back deeper into the water.
IMG_1590.JPG
IMG_1587.JPG
IMG_1595.JPG
 
Last edited:
I load and unload my 290 at least twice a year and have a bunked trailer, secret is you need a electric winch. It is at least a two man job but we have 3 people, one driving truck, me driving boat till its on trailer close and one hooking up winch cable to hold it on trailer. With trailer 1/2 way in water get boat up to and on bunks and now I get off boat and start pulling boat on to trailer with winch as driver slowly backs the trailer into water till its completely on trailer. Now the tricky part,, with safety chain on slowly pull out of water but you have to let out cable as you pull out of the water because the boat is level and the trailer is at a angle and as the trailer comes out of the water the front of the boat lifts up so you have to give it slack or you'll break cable or strap, screw the winch and front of trailer up or rip eye out of the boat. Boat stays on trailer as the front of boat and bunks are out of the water so it stays there just raises up. Once you do it once or twice its as easy as pulling my 20' out which also has a electric winch. Thinking of getting a 2002 320DA and getting a trailer for it also so I can pull it and move it around when I want, just need a bigger winch. Me personally I think a bunked trailer is easier to load and unload a bigger boat with because the boat stays put you just have to back in deeper with trailer when unloading.
 
I have been launching large boats in my job from trailers for many years, 28 footers, 32 footers, and currently a 45 footer.
All the above techniques and advice sounds great.
My only addition would be that when you are loading a twenty thousand plus pound moving object on an angle, safety is critical. A rocking motion of a few inches port/starboard can crush a finger or two. The load strains on the winch lines, cranks, tie downs, etc create high risks for stripped gears, parted lines, and sheared bolts.
Yesterday, we were loading our 45 foot fire boat on the the trailer for hull cleaning when the boat slid back on the trailer a few inches coming out of the water. The driver throttled a little too much coming out of the water. The secondary bow line we connect (of three) took the load because the winch cable slipped on the spool. The secondary line snapped. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Noteworthy is that this line is 1/4 inch Amsteel doubled with a large pulley. Very strong stuff. The forces we deal with when we trailer large boats are very dangerous.
Assume everything will break. Position your fingers and body expecting it.
Have redundant lines on the bow. As a last measure, we have a large chain hooked to the trailer in case of a total failure of the trailer winch post.
Oversize all the hardware.
Make sure the driver pulling the boat out of the water pulls very slow to keep the boat from sliding back down as the trailer is coming out the water.
 
I have been launching large boats in my job from trailers for many years, 28 footers, 32 footers, and currently a 45 footer.
All the above techniques and advice sounds great.
My only addition would be that when you are loading a twenty thousand plus pound moving object on an angle, safety is critical. A rocking motion of a few inches port/starboard can crush a finger or two. The load strains on the winch lines, cranks, tie downs, etc create high risks for stripped gears, parted lines, and sheared bolts.
Yesterday, we were loading our 45 foot fire boat on the the trailer for hull cleaning when the boat slid back on the trailer a few inches coming out of the water. The driver throttled a little too much coming out of the water. The secondary bow line we connect (of three) took the load because the winch cable slipped on the spool. The secondary line snapped. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Noteworthy is that this line is 1/4 inch Amsteel doubled with a large pulley. Very strong stuff. The forces we deal with when we trailer large boats are very dangerous.
Assume everything will break. Position your fingers and body expecting it.
Have redundant lines on the bow. As a last measure, we have a large chain hooked to the trailer in case of a total failure of the trailer winch post.
Oversize all the hardware.
Make sure the driver pulling the boat out of the water pulls very slow to keep the boat from sliding back down as the trailer is coming out the water.

And always stand to one side or other of the winch when using steel cable cause when it breaks it flies and will cut you up!!
 
And always stand to one side or other of the winch when using steel cable cause when it breaks it flies and will cut you up!!

thanks for adding that in. I forgot to mention to never “ride the trailer” out of the water like we do with small runabouts. Get completely off the trailer and out of the way.
As atrick said, do not ever stay in line with any rope, line, or cable under a load. If the line snaps, the stored energy can whip back and cut down anything in its path. Any hardware attached will be a missle.
 
We trailer our boat all over the place. We can unload and load faster than most guys with small fishing boats. It makes life much easier loading and unloaded having a custom trailer fitted for your boat. Make sure to be aware of your height and width. Every state is different as far as permits go. We have found Wisconsin Wide load permits to be a piece of cake with very little restrictions. Michigan is kind of a pain in the butt in comparison to Wisconsin.
upload_2019-12-20_9-47-39.png
20180513_131710.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: TTG
Another thing to remember is trailers will only be about 8'6" wide so a boat with a 12' beam will have almost 2' hanging over each side. That can create some instability issues. I was looking at a Four Winns 328 that had a custom trailer but we couldn't make a deal. Anyway, there was quite a bit hanging over each side of the trailer. Kind of like an elephant on a tricycle
 
We trailer our boat all over the place. We can unload and load faster than most guys with small fishing boats. It makes life much easier loading and unloaded having a custom trailer fitted for your boat. Make sure to be aware of your height and width. Every state is different as far as permits go. We have found Wisconsin Wide load permits to be a piece of cake with very little restrictions. Michigan is kind of a pain in the butt in comparison to Wisconsin.
View attachment 78047View attachment 78048
Awesome setup you got there.
Improvement could come with a Chevy up front, however!
 
Awesome setup you got there.
Improvement could come with a Chevy up front, however!


lol , I get board with vehichles very quickly so I have pulled this package with a chevy 2500 6.0, ram 2500 6.4, and a Titan XD 5.0 Cummins.

Both the Chevy and the Ram were very similar. The ram had a little more power. The best of the bunch however is the Nissan. That truck is way underrated. It pulls and handles better than the Ram and the Chevy. I did however need to put a weight distribution hitch on the trailer as the Ram and Chevy had a little stiffer suspension and heavier duty hitch.
upload_2019-12-31_10-49-44.png
 
Here’s my 3470 setup from this summer. Just sold the boat and looking for something larger.

But I feel if the trailer setup is good it’s not hard to load. Make sure bunks are adjusted accordingly and go slow. Wife pulls boat out with truck in 4low. No problems. As mentioned above getting permits for WI is easy. I do it all online. After the first time the state website evens saves all data.



089DC02A-8297-4805-A229-9C490795CE94.jpeg
 
Here’s my 3470 setup from this summer. Just sold the boat and looking for something larger.

But I feel if the trailer setup is good it’s not hard to load. Make sure bunks are adjusted accordingly and go slow. Wife pulls boat out with truck in 4low. No problems. As mentioned above getting permits for WI is easy. I do it all online. After the first time the state website evens saves all data.



View attachment 78339

Awesome setup! We are looking to upgrade to either a 340da or a 3470 in the next few years. Curious if you had the height to the top of the arch?
 
lol , I get board with vehichles very quickly so I have pulled this package with a chevy 2500 6.0, ram 2500 6.4, and a Titan XD 5.0 Cummins.
I wouldn't doubt the Titan pulls better. The other two were gassers, right? Sort of an apples and oranges thing. Once you go diesel, you don't go back! Now, what you should do, is go try a newer Chevy/Ram/Ford full size with THEIR diesel... you'd be surprised AGAIN at the difference between the 5.0 Cummins and the bigger boys. It's amazing what these engines are putting out, now.
 
Awesome setup! We are looking to upgrade to either a 340da or a 3470 in the next few years. Curious if you had the height to the top of the arch?

With my setup as shown above is 13’2”. If I remember correctly, over-height in WI is 13’6”. I only have my stern light and a TV done style antenna on the arch. I turn the light down and remove the TV antenna completely—just unscrews. When I pull permits I only do it for over width. No issues so far but I only tow within the state of WI a few times of the year. Tows really well on the trailer. Brakes on all axles. Good tongue weight (have a scale built into the hitch).
 
Here’s my 290DA on her tri-ax trailer. Pull her with my 2002 Chevy 1500HD with no issues at all. I’m thinking the entire setup is around 13,000 with some gas/water in the tanks. We put about 2000 miles per year on the trailer.

I am a little worried about the class III hitch. Anyone ever upgrade that?

Also, Michigan now has a "Single Combination Miscellaneous Annual Permit" available for people like us with boats that we tow all over the state. It costs like $30 per year. I bought it last year and it's good through October 2020.
 

Attachments

  • A7498DDA-91C7-43AC-8A2B-33F387D47A84.jpeg
    A7498DDA-91C7-43AC-8A2B-33F387D47A84.jpeg
    266.3 KB · Views: 321
  • 84E4D010-B9CF-4193-84DF-E798C4426D39.jpeg
    84E4D010-B9CF-4193-84DF-E798C4426D39.jpeg
    269.3 KB · Views: 284
Last edited:
I replaced the hitch on my f350 with this class 5 hitch.
It was super easy on my truck.
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_20200107-123321_Amazon Shopping.jpg
    Screenshot_20200107-123321_Amazon Shopping.jpg
    60.8 KB · Views: 232
Last edited:

Forum statistics

Threads
112,943
Messages
1,422,703
Members
60,927
Latest member
Jaguar65
Back
Top