Boat Buddy

[ragboy]

Does anyone have one of these, and do they work as advertised?

Boat Buddy

I can see something like this coming in handy, when I don't have my whole crew.

[zad0030]

I know someone who has it for his Supra. Its nice you just set the pin, drive it up and then you can pull away and set the saftey straps. And launching the same way you usually do, just dont forget to unhook the pin.

[flackpack]

I put one on my Extreme trailer a few years ago. It is a great tool at the ramp, you just drive on, and as the bolt snaps shut, you are set to pull out of the water.

I do suggest you trailer with the winch strap or a chain on the bow eye as well. The bolt on the Boat Buddy is fairly small, and is only sufficient to pull the boat out of the water.

You won't believe how many people will just stare at you as the trailer backs in, the boat drives on, and then the truck pulls out without anyone getting in the water. We can retrieve the boat and be in the wipedown area at our launch in about 30 seconds.

If you order one for your trailer, buy the larger of the boat buddy sizes. You also will need to have the boat backed off to replace your roller with the Boat Buddy. I did mine in the parking lot at the launch ramp while my family was getting in their last set of runs for the day. A good wrench and about 5 minutes is all you will need.

[ragboy]

thanks for the input, I think I will get one.

[CP3]

I like the idea. I know mc uses them on almost all of their trailers. I just wouldnt be able to trust that thing. I have a friend with an mc and even though he has it, he still hooks up the winch before pulling out...

[ragboy]

I just realized it won't work on my boat anyway. I have the big stops in front of my boat that I drive up to, and the winch hooks up free underneath. I am not unhappy, I love the way I can just drive til I touch those things, it just would have been nice on days when I was short handed.

[da.bell]

Short handed???? Have you looked at how many children you have and how many want to go out on the boat lately??? I don't think you could be short handed anytime soon.

[ragboy]

lol, well a good example was this weekend. On friday, I wanted my kids to get practice at Lake Yosemite before Worlds. But my 2 girls had their physics lab and couldn't get out. So I only took RJ, and Maddie (9) and Thomas (6). So I had no extra driver. I saw a boat buddy, and thought, that would help.

But yes, most of the time, this is not an issue for me. Even my 2 yr old chases me outside "Are we going swimming? Are we going on the boat?"

[CP3]

Short handed???? Have you looked at how many children you have and how many want to go out on the boat lately??? I don't think you could be short handed anytime soon.

HEHE

[dogbert]

Even my 2 yr old chases me outside "Are we going swimming? Are we going on the boat?"

We were going out 4-5 times a week this summer so I'd get the phone call around 3 PM each weekday, "Dad, are we going out on the boat today?"

[ragboy]

I know, I just took my boat to the shop, for its 150 hour service. And as we are leaving the boat, my son RJ says to me: "Does this mean we aren't going out today?"

He wakes up every morning and asks me if we are going to make it on the boat.

[dogbert]

I'm at 150 since Memorial Day weekend. Now that we have no more soccer, I suspect we'll be pushing 200+ before Thanksgiving.

The last time my boat was in the shop, I calculated that I had actually saved money doing the repair.

[ragboy]

Yeah, I am thinking 200 for us this season also. I have a local guy that I really trust, and have known for years. He is very reasonable, and I like letting him do the work, so he can stay in business, and I always know he is there. Much better than a dealer. I just take the Tige checklist to him, and he signs it, and I mail it into Tige.

[zad0030]

I just realized it won't work on my boat anyway. I have the big stops in front of my boat that I drive up to, and the winch hooks up free underneath. I am not unhappy, I love the way I can just drive til I touch those things, it just would have been nice on days when I was short handed.

You are supposed to replace those with the boat buddy.

You are talking about this right?

[CP3]

Yeah, I am thinking 200 for us this season also. I have a local guy that I really trust, and have known for years. He is very reasonable, and I like letting him do the work, so he can stay in business, and I always know he is there. Much better than a dealer. I just take the Tige checklist to him, and he signs it, and I mail it into Tige.

pics???