Boat Launch Idiots (BLI's)

[Pomoxis]

I have to respectfully disagree - The forces at play, their vector and quantity don't change moving the trailer from the bottom to the top unless only the stern is attached with the bow free to float/pivot.

The Trailer will pivot UP on the ball (at extreme example would be like the letter "V") thus the only factors the truck places is the rate at which the boat/trailer enter the water AND the incidental angle of entry as created by the boat ramp.

In other words, If you backed up slow enough to allow the boat to flow and overcome the friction point at the trailer hitch the boat/trailer should float up to the point the hitch got into a bind thus exerting down pressure on the trailer adding to the load.

If you backed into the water very quickly then it's likely the boat couldn't float fast enough to overcome the inertia of the boat/trailer/truck with a force vector that goes into the water and below the surface.

Should be easy enough to prove ..just not sure I want to back my truck into the water THAT much..too worried I'd hang the trailer wheels off the bottom off the ramp before it all floated.

I could be wrong but the way I explained it makes sense from a physics/statics view.
Jer

There is a big difference here. The load rating is simply that a load sitting in the boat not under it. I was talking about the trailer only attached to the transom via straps. The force of the truck backing the boat/trailer back and down (you know the gravity thing) will pull it (the transom) under if not only for a few seconds. Now if the trailer were sitting on top of the boat and you slid the boat down the ramp if would be ok. Things work differently depending on how they are situated. Like a live jacket - if worn properly it will stay afloat and keep you up. Now, if you sit on it the life jacket will go right under. Bouyancy works in many different ways. A truck backing down a ramp is **pushing the trailer and boat** down the weight of the truck has to be factored in as well. The load rating is negated, it was never ment to have a trailer under it and truck attached. Of course this all depends on the type of boat. A rather large fiberglass while be more bouyant than a metal material or smaller fiberglass boat.

[sparky]

Well I don't know all the physics part but the tv program mythbusters did one of those shows where they left the trailer hooked to the boat and were out driving around the lake with the trailer attached. They had 3 people in the boat which looked like a 15 footer or so.

[fishinRod]

Well I don't know all the physics part but the tv program mythbusters did one of those shows where they left the trailer hooked to the boat and were out driving around the lake with the trailer attached. They had 3 people in the boat which looked like a 15 footer or so.

I like that show, and I'll bet if they proved it can be done then it can be done, they always go to the extreme to see what it would take to make the myth true if were busted.......did they try to sink the boat? if so what did it take?

[Pomoxis]

I like that show, and I'll bet if they proved it can be done then it can be done, they always go to the extreme to see what it would take to make the myth true if were busted.......did they try to sink the boat? if so what did it take?

hehe..I'm hoping they rigged it up with C4 and blew it up
I love that show.

[duc hntr]

I have floated my trailer and boat on several occasions while duck hunting, my boat has froze to the trailer and would not come off, therefore floating the trailer, however, I did not go ahead and unhook the trailer from the truck and go hunting, I went home. (sulking)

[Hanr3]

Doesn't really matter where the flaotation is located. It will float a specific weight, past that weight and she will sink.

The only way I see you being able to fill up a boat at the ramp is by leaving the plug out, or attempting to launch on a horendous angle. Irregardlous, once the boat is in the water, even full of water it will still float provided teh combined weight doesnt exceed the weight limit of the boat.

Ever try to sink a basketball in the pool? Same principle at work. You physically have to exert more pressure on the ball to sink it than the amount of floatation the ball has. Same principle as a toy boat in the bathtub.

[wish4fish]

When I was in a high school a few years ago I ran around with a bunch of guys who all had boats. We would all go fishing together, sometimes has many as 6 or 7 flat-bottoms all leaving from one ramp, so naturally we would help each other launch, if you built up enough speed backing your buddy down the ramp a huge wave of water would flow over the transom, often getting your buddy wet and putting a little bit of water in his boat. Normally he was mad, but every one else had a good laugh, and of course you would normally get paid back sooner or later.

[slimeyslab]

When I was in a high school a few years ago I ran around with a bunch of guys who all had boats. We would all go fishing together, sometimes has many as 6 or 7 flat-bottoms all leaving from one ramp, so naturally we would help each other launch, if you built up enough speed backing your buddy down the ramp a huge wave of water would flow over the transom, often getting your buddy wet and putting a little bit of water in his boat. Normally he was mad, but every one else had a good laugh, and of course you would normally get paid back sooner or later.

[albright1695]

Several years ago I backed my 16 foot aluminum polarkraft into my local lake and forgot to take off the transom straps.My boat floated the trailer and actually didnt sit much deeperin the water.Im thinking it depends on the boat/trailer combo.Possibly the weight of each.

[Johnny Jugz]

Have you ever watched Bill Dance? His bloopers are hilarious!!!!