These old boats.....
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Category: General Correct Craft Discussion
Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Discription: Anything Correct Craft
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=48990
Printed Date: March-05-2025 at 12:59pm
Topic: These old boats.....
Posted By: MourningWood
Subject: These old boats.....
Date Posted: July-03-2020 at 12:15am
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At nearby lake (McClure, in Sierra foothills near Sonora, Ca) with life-long friend, we launch his '83, my '82 Nautiques. Lot's of compliments, curious looks, etc. Trouble-free day, come back to ramp. There we see a 'new' Nautique full-bodied wake-shaping six-figure boat, with young crew. I recover mine, then buddy recovers his, both simple drive-ons (been doing it for decades). Well, the 'new' boat and crew are still struggling to get their's onto the trailer. The just look, slack-jawed as we drive-on and go. Ahhhh.....something to be said for the simpler days!! ------------- 1964 Dunphy X-55 "One 'N Dun" 'I measured twice, cut three times, and it's still too short!" |
Replies:
Posted By: Nautiquehunter
Date Posted: July-03-2020 at 9:19am
| There was a time when I saw an inboard and knew the owner was experienced and knowledgeable . Today every ding dong with a decent credit score is out there ripping it up without a care or knowledge of boating laws and educate. Surfing is the flavor of the day, six figure boats are what the manufactures are building . The truth is they will loose more in the first year than my 08 cost new?? |
Posted By: SNobsessed
Date Posted: July-03-2020 at 9:44am
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We would tie up the ramp for all of 3 minutes. Other people would take 15 or 20. I guess I was a risk-taker but just left it under power until wife started to pull up. No hooking up the turnbuckle until later. ------------- “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” Ben Franklin |
Posted By: 63 Skier
Date Posted: July-03-2020 at 11:48am
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The boats don't have to be that old to still be drive-on easy to load. The trailer has a ton to do with it, my Ramlin is so forgiving, a bit deep or shallow, no problem, the bunks catch the bow perfectly and when you hit the crash pads its on and close enough to centered. I think what you saw was more inexperience and sheer size and weight. My guess is if you drove that wake boat to get familar with it you could probably drive-on load it pretty smoothly. When we were loading the other night at the ramp next to us was a good sized I/O loading. I wouldn't say they were struggling, just taking some time, we had a pleasant banter back and forth. What I realized after a minute was they were letting their son, maybe 15-ish, get the boat lined up and crank it onto the trailer. I thought it was great that they were patiently letting him figure it out and complimenting him when it was loaded, he'll know how to load boats when he's old enough to take them out himself! ------------- '63 American Skier - '98 Sport Nautique |
Posted By: Mpost
Date Posted: July-03-2020 at 7:08pm
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Used to love the looks we would get at the landing when my wife would drive the 84 SN straight on the trailer first time, Hit the bow stop and out we would go. And she would smile while the guys trying to get a 17 foot fishing boat on the trailer were on the third attempt.  ------------- 84 SN Sold 98 SN Lund Pro V 1975 Alumacraft |
Posted By: deadlander
Date Posted: July-06-2020 at 11:28am
| My wife and I used to launch at the power plant intake at the Anclote River in Tarpon Springs. My wife learned to drive a trailer at an empty boat ramp and became quite proficient. When the power plant was on there was a 10 knot current that would run perpendicular to the docks. We would watch folks with 80k boats ram them into the dock while the husband yelled at the wife who would be holding the bow line. When in fact it was his fault for not compensating for the current. I would drop her off at the dock and idle in the channel while she get into the truck and quickly slide the trailer into the water and I would then drive on the trailer and she would drive us up without an issue. We loved the dirty looks we would get from the other boaters who had more wallet than nautical sense... Good times! |
Posted By: rebel skier
Date Posted: July-06-2020 at 1:02pm
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You guys drive up the ramp without putting the turnbuckle on? ------------- Hotty Toddy lets go skiing! |
Posted By: MourningWood
Date Posted: July-06-2020 at 1:23pm
On ninth Nautique in 38 years...nothing gone wrong so far. As was mentioned, smooth operation of both tow and boat, bit of pushing by the boat until prop clears water, no sudden moves, Not so much about the earlier boats drive-on capability, or my own experience, just an interesting, often amusing contrast.... ------------- 1964 Dunphy X-55 "One 'N Dun" 'I measured twice, cut three times, and it's still too short!" |
rebel skier wrote: