www.iFourWinns.com

Hi Guys

Has anyone retrofitted an automatic trailer latch to their trailers? I had one on my Mastercraft which was the Boat Buddy and it was brilliant. Glide onto the trailer, nudge the latch trigger with the bow eye and "click", locked onto the trailer and out you go. Neither the boat or car driver got out of their seats... Made pulling the boat out so fast and easy. Only pain was it left marks on the hull which needed to be polished out occasionally, and if you hit it too hard it bent and needed to be hammered back..

Mastercraft has now changed to the Ramp N Clamp system who have a retrofit system to fit most trailers. I am about to order one and fit it to my trailer along with some stainless Boat Buckle retractable transom tie downs.
In the USA they are cheap at US$150, by the time it gets to me in Australia with the exchange rate and freight I am looking at AU$300. Not cheap but worth it if it works as well as they advertise....

http://www.ramp-n-clamp.com/category-s/1477.htm

Let me know if you have fitted these and have any experience with them.

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Cheers

Mark
Melbourne
Australia

Boats:
Current: 2004 FW 190
2001 Mastercraft X5
1998 Malibu Response
1999 Sea Ray 180
17 ft Scimitar Barefoot (200hp Yamaha)
16ft Scimitar Ski (Yamaha 115)
1988 Ski Nautique ( Called Ski Antique)

I've seen those and i think you have to swap out your bow eye to a longer one so that it can be attached to your winch.

I personally feel it is $150 waste of money. as i have no issues un clipping the winch and backing off. And return i drive on the trailer and leave in gear running and clip the winch. I figure if i have to walk up to unlatch it to hit the water that is the same work as removing the winch strap. and vice verse.

The only plus i see it taking out the water. Someone can be in the car like the wife, and you drive on click and raise drive and pull boat out water. MAY save 30 seconds or so on a busy ramp day.. but hell what is 30 seconds.. $150 buys me beer and fuel for the boat. i cannot justify the use compared to the potential risks and failures. the last thing i want is to be backing down the ramp and that thing fail and my boat slide off the trailer.. or i forget to do the winch strap once on land and it fails on the open road.

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Not Penny's Boat

1993 190 Horizon 5.0L EFI
http://www.smwebhead.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=11136
1977 14' CMF Skiff SOLD
2015 Emotion Stealth Angler 11