Print Page | Close Window

101 Launching & retrieving off the beach.

Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: General Forums
Forum Name: The Boat Shed
Forum Description: Discuss all things boating.
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=48569
Printed Date: 13 Jun 2026 at 3:53pm


Topic: 101 Launching & retrieving off the beach.
Posted By: Breakaway
Subject: 101 Launching & retrieving off the beach.
Date Posted: 24 Dec 2009 at 10:04am
< ="-" ="text/; =utf-8">< name="ProgId" ="Word.">< name="Generator" ="Microsoft Word 11">< name="Originator" ="Microsoft Word 11">

I have been holding back on this one but I’ll live with the embarrassment as this episode might save someone else form the situation I got into.Embarrassed



Decided to go out fishing with workmates in two boats and the decision was made by other boat owner to launch from Manly beach. Originally the plan was to launch from Gulf Harbour (which I wasn't entirely happy about, so the change in plans suited me for that reason).

I have only done one beach launch prior to these events. Although apprehensive about it, I was keen on getting more experience (I got it in spades!).

 

The vehicles in this story are 1996 Isuzu Wizard, Haines Signature 520C on single axle trailer.

Tide was still going out at time of launching. The Isuzu and trailer was duly backed down into the waters edge with just a bit of water over the rear two cross members of the trailer and we slid the boat off without any problem at that stage. Went to move Isuzu and trailer off the beach only to find the rear wheels of the Isuzu had sunk a bit into the sand whilst launching.

It took a couple of attempts to free Isuzu (in 4WD low mode) out of the hole now dug. Should have taken this as an omen, but conveniently put the retrieving to come later out of my head.

On the day it the wind was northwest about 15 knots when we launched. We took off to do our days fishing.

On returning to the beach, I started to think about the retrieval process and delegated jobs for the crew.  One would grab Isuzu & trailer and back into water while I just hovered off the beach.

This was duly done and said Isuzu & Trailer were backed into nice position and I drove the boat onto the trailer. Only then did the problems begin.....

Mate in Isuzu went to move and couldn’t budge. The tyres had sunk in wet sand to the hub centres. Realising we were in trouble (tide two hours away from high) small choppy waves in the mix we scrambled to get the boat off the trailer to lighten the load so the Isuzu and trailer could be freed.

Easier said than done!  About this time I had visions of being another "sucker" with a mug shot on the local rag..Wink

Me mate took off and woke up a guy dozing in the car park who had a 4WD ute. Fortunately I had a bit of foresight a while ago and brought a 4WD recovery strap which I keep on the boat. Thinking I would help someone else (as I have in the past) never thinking I would be the poor sod needing help.

We duly attach said strap around the push bars of my vehicle  (I was sure I had a front hook, but I don't.) and around the towbar of the ute. In a nice straight line (herein lies the problem) power applied and my 4WD was going nowhere, just spinning his wheels and digging a hole for himself. The tide coming in a bit quicker and water was lapping the running boards, wheels buried over half way, I’m starting to think the worst at this point.

The guy in 4Wd freed himself and got off the beach, at this point a another good Samaritan Thumbs Up who had been watching took pity on us and said he’d get his 4WD (Prado) and get us out and this is when I started to learn some stuff.

First off he came onto beach and took up a position on about a 45 deg angle and instructed us to turn the steering wheels on an angle (which could not be done).

 

Said disconnect the trailer which we would recover next. Okay another problem here. I am paranoid that some cretin will try and steal my trailer while I'm away in the boat or just parked at home. I have a heavy duty chain plastic wrapped with a big padlock on it. Guess where it was sitting right at this point. Yep, buried in the sand and now sand had penetrated lock so getting the key in was an exercise in it's own right as it had to be done by feel alone since water was covering the hitching point by now and lapping the exhaust pipe too.

Managed to unlock the lock and pull the chain free, disconnected the hitch and remembered to pull the trailer light plug out, but in the confusion I forgot about the safety chain Question (couldn’t see it and didn’t think about it). Said we were good to go and Prado took up strain and started to pull the Isuzu out and I see that trailer is moving too! Censored I thought but need not worry as both came out and onto firmer sand.  yeeha!!

Our rescuer  in the Prado tells us where we went wrong and has seen it plenty of times. He says you need to back the trailer into the water on an angle that is in line with the wave direction (coming from the north west ) and have the towing vehicle on a angle 45deg plus to the trailer which makes it easier to break wheels out if the ground (sand) is soft.Lamp

Also trailer does not need to be in the tide so far, just enough so that the bow is not too far off the rear roller. Then use the winch on the trailer to haul it up. So, this was tried. Actually had to back in a little bit more when the winching was tried.

I was thankful that I had put another keel roller on the rear cross-member and also a plastic keel guard. Worth every cent it cost. Thumbs Up

 

The tyres of the Isuzu were slowly sinking in the sand, but not as quick as before.

Now, that we had the boat on the trailer I drove off with no drama at all. Technique is the lesson learnt. But man, did I feel like  a Muppet for a while.

Dragged up into the carpark, managed to say thanks to the rescuer and shake his hand before he drove off.

At this point, sorted boat out for tow home and released the bung to find petrol pouring out!! Thumbs Down

That is another story, which I have already posted about fuel filters.





Replies:
Posted By: Wide Load
Date Posted: 24 Dec 2009 at 10:20am
All good in the end - with a lesson learnt too!
Thanks for the post.


Posted By: CEEBEE
Date Posted: 24 Dec 2009 at 10:28am
Yep seen it many times, if vehicle starts to bog or even sinks alittle ALWAYS unhitch trailer early, and get vehicle out first, then reverse to angle on the trailer then pull at this angle to break away first wheel as you now know. I have beach launched my Ramco 555 with a 3L front wheel drive car for the last 12 years with out incident and seen 4WD's get stuck where I have retrieved from!!!
Like a weight lifter, alot is technique not so much sheer grunt!!!


-------------
I STARTED THE DAY WITH NO FISH AND I STILL HAVE PLENTY LEFT


Posted By: fozzie
Date Posted: 24 Dec 2009 at 10:32am
Easily done, all had our horror moments launching and retreiving, couple of weeks a go we had to drag a near new XR6 out of the incoming tide at Stanmore Bay where the same thing happened to a family trying to retreive a boat, my advice Breakaway, if you are a local in the area join the Boat club at Stanmore Bay, $235.00 a season to use the club tractors for beach launches and retreivals is a cheap price to pay.

-------------
Dont take life too seriously.....no one gets out alive any way.
http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow">


Posted By: Busted!
Date Posted: 24 Dec 2009 at 10:34am
Another way around that we've used for a while is to push the trailer in by hand to launch and retrieve and use a long snatch strap to retrieve the trailer. 
 
For this to work you have to have an economy-sized inner-tube type trailer jockey wheel, and a lug or pull point somewhere around the tow hitch.  A strongly welded landing plate under the hitch is a good start...  Another option is a trailer sled, a little device like a ski that connects to the trailer's hitch via a towball on it and allows you to slide the trailer in and out.  They come with pull points on them.
 
Benefits of doing it this way are:
 
1) if you get stuck you can often stay above the high water line or at least give yourself a few hours to sort things out
2) Most of the time you dont even get to the soft sand to get stuck
and 3) you can still launch and retrieve with a tidy vehicle if there's wind chop or wave action, without getting the tow vehicle wet.  Saves a heap in potential corrosion repairs if you don't dunk the tow vehicle in salt every time you launch.
 
Good write up though, interesting how such simple looking jobs can have so many hidden little tricks!


Posted By: Finatic
Date Posted: 24 Dec 2009 at 11:11am
We learn from these testing timesLOL

Found out that Murrays Bay can be a right bugger to retrieve from at low tide even with a tractor.

Have launched the boat a couple of times now from beaches with my Prado and haven't struck any problems yet *touching wood*. Also carry a 5 ton recovery strop just in case. Have seen anchor ropes and all sorts used. Most snap and the consequences could of been severe.


-------------
What's the cheapest type of meat? Dear balls. They're under a buck.


Posted By: Reel Deal
Date Posted: 24 Dec 2009 at 11:55am
haha. But thats the way to learn, thanks for passing it on...


Posted By: Spearsniper
Date Posted: 24 Dec 2009 at 1:55pm
Use busted's method every weekend, and carry a 10 meter 9 tonne snatch strap to pop the trailer out of the inevidible hole it makes for itself in the soft sand.
Snatch straps work by stretching, and the effect of the strap contracting again is what pulls the trailer out. My point - don't start with the strap tight as you will just just bury the tow vehicle. Give it enough slack so you can get about 10km/h before taking the slack. If it does not budge, back up and try again at a different angle.


-------------
http://spearfishingreview.info" rel="nofollow - www.spearfishingreview.info
"If at first you don't succeed, reload and try again"



Posted By: FreshOffTheBoat
Date Posted: 24 Dec 2009 at 9:30pm
I had a similar experience but problems with launching at Maraeitai, not retrieving... Launching the boat at low tide...  I never tried beach launching with the Subaru Legacy AWD.. so I had the addage "whats the worse that can happen" and "if I dont do this ill never know"

Managed to get the back tyres sinking into the sand when reversing.. a thought poped into my mind.. "hang on... somethings up here"..  got the boat off and the trailer unhitched... legacy wasnt going anywhere.. all 4 tyres stuck in the sand..

Lesson 1: Don't back in a straight line down the beach...  approach the water at a 45 degree angle.. so you can drive across the beach rather than up it...

Luckily there were a few spectators chuckling while this was all happening so managed to get a few hands for a push... got the car out, trailer out by hand and boat in the water..

Being low tide only had less than knee deep water.. got into the boat and took off.. when I got to the ramp later on the fin on my new outboard was all worn Unhappy

Lesson 2:  Dont tilt the engine right down when operating in low waters

Retrieval was a breeze, again retrieving just after low tide, unhooked the trailer, pushed it into the water... tow rope around the trailer and the back of the legacy, pulled it out of the water..  No problems on the way out.

Needless to say I dont think a Legacy is up to scratch for beach launches, wheel diameter is just too small, road tyres dont cut it on the sand..  Retriving at low tide is no problem, but launching... I think ill wait till I have enough water on the concrete ramp..  

Anyone think about doing it?  heres a good article
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10482502&pnum=1 - http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10482502&pnum=1

Also, if you plan on doing it, do it during daylight hours, theres always some Samaritan willing to lend a hand. 

Regrets? none.. just another lesson in life Smile





Posted By: Wanda_Ra
Date Posted: 25 Dec 2009 at 3:37pm
 "$235.00 a season to use the club tractors for beach launches and retreivals is a cheap price to pay." 
Would easily pay for itself in  a worryless launch and not having the car rust out from saltwater and sand etc.


-------------
If you think you are too small to make a difference,try sleeping with a mosquito in your tent.


Posted By: Breakaway
Date Posted: 25 Dec 2009 at 5:22pm
I was told Stanmore bay was a concrete ramp and went out a fair way, and that there is a layer of sand over it?

I usually launch from Stillwater, but thought that Stanmore bay would be a better option to getting into 40m of water quicker.

I'ld pay $235 if it means peace of mind. Can anyone use tractor if member or is it something that has to be arranged before going?

Might just see if they have aweb site after this post.

Merry Xmas folks.. I want to go out tomorrow on boat...but fishing reports don't bode well..


Posted By: Brooook
Date Posted: 26 Dec 2009 at 10:28am
LOL Breakaway. It's easy to laugh at other peoples mistakes but harder  to admit to mistakes.
 
Thanks for sharing.
 
Now, if I told you the stupid mistake I made at the launching ramp yesterday with everyone looking...   Confused


-------------
Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day.............Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat all day drinking beer,


Posted By: Double Shot
Date Posted: 26 Dec 2009 at 3:43pm
Hey breakaway,
 
Stanmore bay isn't too bad, I launch my 6.5 HT there...haven't had any issues apart from wind doing what wasn't forecast turning N/NW at 25knt creating a nice litlle wave, but all was good.
 
I looked at the boat club and first year you have a joining fee membership then the tractor fee, came to over $300, if you do it right and take your time you'll be fine...
 
Good luck next time...


-------------
70ml of 90deg C water pressurised through 13g of roasted finely ground tamped coffee for 25sec's to make a distinguishing sensory hit called a Double Shot    


Posted By: fozzie
Date Posted: 26 Dec 2009 at 11:23pm
[Quote Breakaway]

I'ld pay $235 if it means peace of mind. Can anyone use tractor if member or is it something that has to be arranged before going?

Might just see if they have aweb site after this post.
[end quote]
 
Once you are a paid up member you have full access to the tractors, and yes, they have a web site, look under Hibiscus Coast Boat Club.



-------------
Dont take life too seriously.....no one gets out alive any way.
http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow">



Print Page | Close Window