On a previous boat (one that's not listed in my signature), I bought a longer PVC pole from Home Depot for the reasons mentioned above. I didn't have a "boo-boo" to begin with, but they just didn't look long enough to me to avoid that exact scenario. Every once in a while I "think ahead"... :smt001
KHE, you can, of course, do the same trick with winch it on, back the trailer in a little, winch it on, etc. without the engine running. Remember when you adjust those PVC poles for width that your boat is widest at the windshield. But, you don't need to adjust them that far out - the poles have some flex in them. I would adjust them so the poles are almost touching at the stern and they fine tune from there, if need be.
KHE, you can, of course, do the same trick with winch it on, back the trailer in a little, winch it on, etc. without the engine running. Remember when you adjust those PVC poles for width that your boat is widest at the windshield. But, you don't need to adjust them that far out - the poles have some flex in them. I would adjust them so the poles are almost touching at the stern and they fine tune from there, if need be.