Trade-A-Boat — February 2018

A

cross Australia there are
many places where the
beach is the only suitable
location for launching a
boat. Unlike a ramp, beach
launching can be quite challenging,
and so many boaters would never
consider getting onto the water in this
way. Of course, these areas are often
less frequented by boaters, so they can
produce some spectacular fishing.

NOT WHAT YOU’RE USED
TO
Beach conditions can vary enormously.
Sand can be slightly undulating and
hard, or steep and soft. Wind and
seas can be calm and glassy, or strong
with significant swell, while tides can
vary from less than 2m exchanges to
massive 8m tidal movements.

While there are many variables when

it comes to beach launching, the one

common theme is that many people

come unstuck (or stuck, as is often the

case) when attempting to launch or

retrieve their boat from these sandy

domains.

There are many different trailer, boat

and vehicle combinations suited for the

task, and there are a matching number

of systems and techniques. The system

I am about to describe is known as

the jockey wheel system, and it works

well on the swell-savaged coastline of

south-eastern Australia.

SETUP AND LAUNCHING

The ultimate launch vehicle is a

dedicated 4WD tractor. These are used

by many regional fishing clubs and

launch clubs to launch conventionally

set-up boats and their trailers from

beach locations. Unfortunately, the

average person doesn’t have the luxury

of a tractor, so this story is primarily

about beach launching with registered

4WDs.

A hub and wheel bearing assembly is

mounted on the drawbar of the trailer

so that the trailer can be detached from

the vehicle and rolled into the water.

The lower the first roller is mounted at

the rear of the trailer, the easier it is to

winch the boat onto the trailer when

it’s not attached to a vehicle. A 20-30m

rope attaches to the trailer to pull it

from the water so as not to drench the

vehicle in saltwater.

It’s important to remember that

launching should only be attempted

from areas widely recognised as

suitable for the task. These are

SCOTT AMON EXPLAINS HOW TO AVOID MANY OF THE HAZARDS THAT

CAN SNAG BOATERS UNFAMILIAR WITH BEACH LAUNCHING.

The art of beach launching

STORYSCOTT AMON

36 tradeaboat.com.au

feature

THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BOATS

Beach Launching