Trailer

Hello!

just recently bought a 95 Ski Nautique and had some questions about the trailer. It came with the stock Ram-Lin trailer with the turnbuckle. I was wondering if i could install a winch in the place of the turnbuckle. If anyone has replaced it let me know thanks everyone!

At my local ramp, I need to back the trailer deep in order to set the bow of the boat in the crash pad, which leaves the boat floating above the fenders. My boat will then land on the fenders if left to itself when pulling out. If I don't back deep enough, then approaching the trailer with speed and power loading is the only option, Since power loading is a felony at my local ramp, my solution is to stand in the water and guide the boat down into the bunks in between the fenders, hoping my toes don"t get mashed in the process. In a usual year, the boat gets hauled only once.

I have never found a thread on the topic, so I have looked a pictures on the web of trailers with winches and the trailer of a local friend who has a good welder friend. The Ramlin and retrofit approach seems to be to cut square holes on the front and back side of the post, attach the winch on the car side of the post and run the strap through the holes at the level of bow eye. I have never explored the cost of the retrofit vs. buying a winch post from Ramlin if it is even available.

This is the best trailer set up I have seen. This came with my boat. It is well built with a clean design. The guide poles at the rear of the trailer are a must. The only issue I had with the trailer was the guide poles from the factory were only about 8 in. taller than the rub rail. When you backed the trailer in the water the top of the poles were below the rub rails, thus not doing their job. I had some 1.5 in. pipe from another project and cut new poles 10 in. longer than the originals. Placed the PVC rolling pipe back on the guide poles and now it is better than new.

Marty Mabe, change out his crash pads on his 93 for a newer year that had the crash pads with the wench. A dealer or someone had one that he picked up so he has the best of both worlds on his Ramlin. You may want to try to contact him. He is found under decal selling threads.

Donald

The metal edges of the slot don't fray the winch strap? Neat setup!

jbear wrote: nice car in the background JD....280Z? john

Thank you, to check out the Z car google JD310z.

I too noticed the Z in the back ground    I sold a 69 2ooo roadster a couple of years back.   I miss that thing being in the garage, but am glad someone is likely using it more than I was.   a lot of the fun was in the building stage.