Automatic tow ring latch on trailer...... ?

jedsterr · Soul Rider Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 291 City: Star Idaho

I know that many early 90's MC's had an automatically latching hook where the bow of the boat meets the trailer.

They're available in a Bass Pro Shop catalog someone had here at the station & I was wondering if anyone who has used one has any NEGATIVE feed back about them.

I need to replace that front roller & for $20 more I could get that auto latch which seems like it would be awesome. The only thing that I can guess might be a pain is releasing the latch when you arrive at the lake. Trailering might create some tension against the pin & make it stick.

Anyone with experience? Share it!

-J

skicrave · Criminal Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 76 City: Portland

Opinions of the Boat Buddy seem to be divided into two camps. The people that have had good experiences with it absolutely love it, while those that have had it fail hate the thing.

Most of the failures I've heard about seem to be related to the difference between the Boat Buddy and a bow block. The Buddy is quite a bit more fragile, so it's important to treat it as such. If you load at the same ramp most of the time, and you get used to how it works, I think you'll be really happy with it.

It's important to note that under no circumstances should you tow with the pin through the bow eye. That is when damage occurs which will result in failure of the system. Load the boat, and pull it out of the water. As soon as you get onto level ground reattach the winch strap and release the pin so it's not through the eye. Most people complain of a bent pin that won't release properly, and towing with the pin engaged seems to be the leading cause.

west coast boarder · Addict Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 558 City: Nor Cal

I have the boat buddy for my mastercraft and I really like it. I like how I can just back the truck down the ramp and my buddy pulls the boat on the tailer and it is done. No one has to get wet trying to put the winch strap on before we drive up the ramp to the parking lot.

jedsterr · Soul Rider Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 291 City: Star Idaho

west coast boarder, Do you release it before trailering? How many years have you been using it?

-J

Phaeton · Addict Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 572 City: Redding

I had a boat buddy. It scratched the front of the boat and tried to rip the rub rail off every time we unloaded the boat. A spring fell out of it so I ended up throwing it away and replacing it with a roller. Better system for us.

west coast boarder · Addict Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 558 City: Nor Cal

Jedsterr, i don't release the pin before trailering but I do winch down the strap pretty tight so that the boat buddy pin can move back and forth through the bow eye. I have been using it for 3 years and have never had a problem with the pin bending. I really like it.