YM1500 to launch a boat ?

[mjdupre]

Anyone have any experience or advice on using a YM1500 to launch a boat?

I've read all the posts regarding rear roll overs using a 3 point drawbar so I'm planning on using the fixed drawbar below the axle.

The boat is a 18' Alumacraft Jon boat with a 90 hp Merc. total weight with trailer is probably around 2500 pounds.

Any thoughts, is this doable or am I nuts (very likely) ?

 

[svcguy]

Our local marina uses a Kubota tractor for all their work around the yard and on the launch, but admittedly it is a larger unit, about 35 - 40 hp and 4WD. They handle some big boats though (like 40' sailboats). Try pulling it around on the flat and make sure it's stable and handles fine. If it does, try it on the launch. I would have a friend on standby with a 4WD pickup and a tow strap just in case it doesn't feel comfortable once you are backing down into the water.

 

[VT_Hokie]

I don't think the launch would be much of a problem but the pull out is obviously the issue. Things to consider are steepness of the ramp, ramp composition (how smooth), trailer tires on the ramp during retrieval (in the mud or a hole) and the type of tires you have on your tractor. I get a kick out of our local launch where someone in a 2wd S-10 tries to pull out and ends up spinning all the way up. In the first five feet when the boat settles down on the trailer and things get heavy you hear their nervous factor increase as the engine starts rev'n and the tires screem. I don't think that the tractor would bog down in low gear on the pull, if anything it would be tire slip first.

VT

 

[Underwaterdog]

I have a 21 foot bow rider, with a 200HP Yamaha engine and fiberglass boat and dual wheel trailer. The boat weights in about 4000lbs fully loaded. I used my YM2500 with a 3 point mounted draw bar with ball to move it around all the time. I used the hydraulics to lift the front up high when washing the boat out. There was about 160 lbs of counter weight on the front of the yanmar and never had a problem with the front wheels being even bouncy. I even launched it in my dirt bank pond to test run it. Its definitely doable. A lot will depend on how well the trailer is is balanced. There really shouldn't be that much weight on the tongue. Now that I have a 3110D, it is definitely not a problem. As far as backing down a ramp, as long as it is not to steep it should be OK as long as it is properly counterweighted. As others said, do some test and familiarization on the flats first.

 

[California]

Do you have a ROPS on that thing?

If the boat is too heavy to pull up the ramp and you don't lose traction, it can climb right over backward and kill you.

A friend told me that is how his father became disabled - he was on a small crawler and couldn't move a big trailer with stuck brakes. He couldn't get the clutch in in time.

I suggest a whole lot of front ballast - and the ROPS.

 

[2manyrocks]

How steep is the ramp?

Is there anything you might hang a trailer tire on that would cause any sudden resistance to rolling like potholes, mud, ....? Is this a concrete ramp, dirt, gravel?

Tandem axle or single axle boat trailer?

Not to be nosy, but why would you want to use a tractor for this instead of a vehicle?

Aren't we talking about a 1500 LB tractor pulling a 2500 lb boat/trailer up a ramp?

I think the caution flag needs to go up.

 

[BruceR]

Mount the hitch on the front of your 1500, will greatly reduce the "pucker" factor.

Bruce

 

[mjdupre]

All good comments.

No I don't have a ROPS, yet. I'm seriously considering one.

To answer some of 2manyrocks questions:

- It is a concrete ramp, in pretty good shape.
- Single axle trailer.
- The reason for considering using the tractor is that the tractor and my boats are at my lake house, about 400 miles from my primary residence. With the price of ga$ it would be nice to drive a more economical vehicle to the lake then use the tractor to launch the boat than my Tahoe.

Thanks for all the replies

 

[Jagmandave]

Years ago I used to use a Ford (9n? 8n?) to pull boats out at the Marina I worked at, and it did fine. Just stick her down in a low gear and it will walk it right out

 

[California]

You have plenty of torque and gearing. Now all you need is to ballast the tractor up to the weight of the boat so you don't slide back down the ramp.

I do like the idea of saving $100 per trip.