Boat Launching 6m Reef Runner or similar

 Is a Carribean Reef Runner or similar 6m  glass boat able to be retrieved solo onto a well set up multi roller trailer in a marina with a stong sea breeze and say 1.5 to 2m swell offshore. I am just wondering if this will be a struggle or maybe I should get a 5.6m boat for mainly solo trips. Any  thoughts from those with experience would be appreciated as I dont want to buy a 6m boat only to find out its just to hard to retrieve by myself.


scubafish's picture

Posts: 962

Date Joined: 15/08/12

Try

Thu, 2019-08-22 15:55

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ajrwuv7aCLw

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Posts: 2080

Date Joined: 16/05/09

If we had a marina up here

Thu, 2019-08-22 15:55

If we had a marina up here would have been more than happy to launch my now sold 7.0 metre boat. Well set up trailer and no issues.

ranmar850's picture

Posts: 2702

Date Joined: 12/08/12

I have no trouble launching/retreiving my Reef Runner, solo

Thu, 2019-08-22 20:03

 As long as you have somewhere to tie it up while you park/recover the trailer, naturally. I have an L&R Boatlatch--I use this for retrieval all the time. Just back the boat down to get the trailer in the water the right amount, drive it on until it latches. Swing over onto the mudguard, wade up the ramp and drive off after hooking up the safety chain. I don't use it for launching so much-I just find it easier, at my ramp, to push it off and walk it out to the end of the finger to tie it up before going back to park the trailer. It's easier to manage drive-on than regular winching by yourself in strong winds--you may need to back off a bit to line it up. the heavier boat actually works better in this respect--not blown quite so much by the wind, get it lined up early ,minimal steering input, and just knock it out of gear before you hit the trailer, momentum will carry you up. Wait for it to settle in the centre-well set up trailers do this for you-then power up until it latches. Done right, it isn't the massive rooster-tail efforts you see some do. 

Posts: 48

Date Joined: 19/02/09

go the reefrunner

Thu, 2019-08-22 20:47

 I also have a reefrunner and launching and retreiving is no problem. Just need to think about ropes and tie off points to hold it on the trailer while you hook up the winch line. A 5.6 will behave the same and you will enjoy the benefits of the bigger rig. If the wind is a real pain then vertical guides can be mounted on the trailer to keep it centered at not much cost

Posts: 23

Date Joined: 21/03/19

Reef Runner owners

Fri, 2019-08-23 18:51

 Can I ask what you do for boat storage, I mean do you use a boat cover and if so what brand or model cover are you using. I think it needs a carport with about a 2.8m clearance or a cover , just of interest as to what  storage solution others use to protect it from the sun.

ranmar850's picture

Posts: 2702

Date Joined: 12/08/12

I bult a large carport with high clearance

Sat, 2019-08-24 11:58

 I have a 2-story house, sloping block, with a carport under the verandah on the low side. Everything else I have owned would fit under, just. Not a hope with the Reefrunner, you  can only back it under as far as the back edge of the canopy. So I had  an 8 x 3 carport built, with height under on approach  of 3170. This gives plenty of clearance, and room to concrete the drive, which is currently blue metal. Backed right in, the sun never gets on the front of the boat, once the sun has cleared the trees to the east, it's too high to hit the front.

Posts: 23

Date Joined: 21/03/19

Carport

Sat, 2019-08-24 19:05

 I was thinking about a carport but as it would be 3m tall and would be at the front of the property but to the side I did wonder what it would look like. I have a width of 3.2m I can use without obstructing a window, was thinking of a rear ward sloping flat one as the gutter can go at the back where as a gable one the gutters are on the side taking up usable width as gutters count in the width from boundary.. The other option is a cover, think that might be a pain to put on and off.. Looking at some sun baked boats and it seems the sun does take a toll on boats that are not covered.

ranmar850's picture

Posts: 2702

Date Joined: 12/08/12

It really depends on the aesthetics and legalities

Sun, 2019-08-25 18:25

 ( is that how it is spelt? ) What I mean, size of block, arrangement at front of house, what is the setback, building regulations-all sorts of things.  I did a building application, and it had to be over 2m back from the front boundary to qualify.    I was lucky to be good for all of that, lots of trees and cover, the front of our block is a jungle, due to plenty of bore water.  The only time it gets any sun is this time of year, briefly in the morning--as it is to the north, the LHS of the foredeck gets a bit, briefly. Full time exposure to the sun helps nothing. Annual waxing will certainly help, but it all adds up. And a full cover will be hard to handle on a boat of that size.

Have you considered shade sails?  Would that work for you? 

Posts: 23

Date Joined: 21/03/19

Carport

Sun, 2019-08-25 19:34

 I was not keen on the full cover, I can see a few issues with that and you have confirmed what I suspected it will be difficult to handle. I think the flat roof carport may be it in the end. Can put it up myself, will fit between the 500mm  neighbour boundary and the first bedroom window without obstructing it. Maybe pull it down at some later stage for resale purpose if its not the best look but its more or less to the side of the house. Council allows the structure to come out 7.5m to the boundary at the front of the house which is probably just enough. Not sure if I can put shade cloth screens on the side yet.

Shade sail is probably better than nothing and is a option. I think it would look better but surprisingly not cheap. The sun tends to come in at a angle so would need some side shades I would think. I should speak to a professional to see what actually could be done at what cost but I think its in line with the flat carport.. Gable carport  looks better and may be able to squeeze it in but the gutter takes 150mm away from the width plus the width of the pole from the internal width on the neighbour boundary side...... trying to avoid obstructing the window if possible.

Anyway appreciate you taking the trouble to reply. You have given me some confidence in being able to launch it solo and some inspiration as to a storage solution as I do want to keep the sun off it.

Darren253's picture

Posts: 570

Date Joined: 23/07/16

I have a cover for my Reef

Mon, 2019-08-26 15:21

I have a cover for my Reef Runner but I’ve used it less than a handful of times. Its too hard to get on and off over the hardtop and rocket launchers.

We've just moved to a new place and I’ll be looking for a skillion tyre carport or shade sail as soon as i have some coppers back in the bank.

Posts: 23

Date Joined: 21/03/19

Carport

Tue, 2019-08-27 00:09

 Thanks Darren good to have some first hand feed back on a cover. I was aprehensive about the idea  as I did notice a large boat with a cover on when I drove past but never saw it on again. I think I need to investigate the sail or carport further. The sun baked boats that I have inspected convinced me its needed as they looked tired. 

 

"Copper back in the bank " does this mean a reef runner will make me poor " Its a very nice boat.

Darren253's picture

Posts: 570

Date Joined: 23/07/16

No, new house has made me

Tue, 2019-08-27 11:27

No, new house has made me poor...

I would much rather drop $$$$ on boat bits than carpet, concrete, paint & blinds etc!