Email info@boatcatch.com Phone 0400 222 824
Email info@boatcatch.com Phone 0400 222 824
The device comes in two sizes of the same design. The small size may be fitted to aluminium boats up to 6 metres long, and light duty fibreglass boats up to 6 metres. The large unit will accommodate a vessel as small as 5 metres and a boat any length and having a maximum weight of 8 tonne.
All boat bows and trailer bow posts vary in size and angle, so a universal mounting bracket comes with the device. The bracket has an adjustable head that can be set to match many angled trailer bow post.
The special polished eye that bolts simply to you boat bow, is made for a boat bow with a angle that measures between 37 degrees to 43 degrees in from the vertical (reference image) If your bow is beyond this range, a special 5 degree spacer is also included in the kit. This if used will then allow for a vessel that has a bow angle between 32 degrees and 48 degrees in from the vertical, to be fitted with a Boatcatch.
Most handymen who own a drill and some basic spanners can fit the Boatcatch. The device is clamped simply and directly to the trailer bow post with "u" bolts and nuts. The most technical job is cutting the metal universal mounting kit "tube" to length with a hand saw or similar tool.
The drill is needed for two things:
Because (Suggestion - As) boats come in many shapes and sizes, exact locating instructions can are should that be can not not given. A small amount of your own judgment may be needed with exactly where you fit the 2 components.
Many pictures will be posted on our website and can be a helpful guide when fitting. If you do not feel up to the job yourself, your local boat yard or car mechanic or trailer repairer could do it for you. The device does come with thorough instructions and diagrams and pictures can be seen on the web site. Templates for drilling are also included.
All trailer beds are suitable for drive off and so the Boatcatch will be a wonderful addition to your boating experience with the launch feature alone. Most boat trailers, especially modern designs are excellent for drive on boats. The thing to remember is; your boat has a "v" shape underneath.
This matches the "v" shape in your trailer bed. Your boat will try to settle into the "v" and therefore automatically centre you on your trailer, providing that you do not have the trailer too deep in the water, and, if you drive on slowly to let the boat settle centrally by its self.
As an extra assistance, several Boatcatch users add a final pair of rollers or Teflon skids in a sharp "v" shape, towards the front of the trailer, in the location where the lower boat bow takes its shape just under the water. This can be very inexpensive and assures a central entry onto the trailer even in rough weather. Over 90% of trailers in the USA have "guide on posts" on the rear corners thus guaranteeing central entry and location of the boat. See our gallery for images.
One or two people can be used to launch and retrieve with a Boatcatch. The two person method chosen by most operators is where you have an operator for the boat and a driver the car and trailer.
When well practiced this makes for a speedy ramp work. The one person method has a single person operating both car and boat and moving between them as needed. Be sure to look at our gallery for pictures of simple front trailer steps.
Ski boats often have very shallow bow angles as high as 60 degrees. They can also have a more blunt bow width. While the Boatcatch could certainly be fitted. These two things could make the job a little more complicated and a more highly skilled handy man would be needed to adapt the supplied stainless bow eye to the front of the vessel. You would need to make or adapt a spacer to take up the gap because a standard bow eye is for a 45 to 55 degree bow.
Multi hull boats have three small issues to work with when fitting a Boatcatch. Because of these it is not a simple fast fit up. Some of the mounting components supplied will not suit or will need to be adapted. We will be fitting devices to cats soon so check our gallery for pictures then.
The first issue is adapting the bow eye to the front shape of a cat. The second issue is adapting or attaching the coupling to the trailer. The third is relevant if you mount the device in the centre of the bow, and that is, that pulling the release lever in the correct direction can be difficult.
Boatcatch has been rigorously tested both in real life situations and with state of the art design and destroy software. Breakage without gross abuse or due to an accident is not normal.
If a breakage occurs, send an email or post a letter with proof of purchase and a description of your problem and attach a picture. Boatcatch will consider your application. For your first claim, Boatcatch usually posts you a replacement part free of charge anywhere in the world. Also refer warranty.
Because every boat and trailer combination is different, Boatcatch supplies bolts and brackets that can be adjusted or inserted or shortened to adapt to most people’s needs. It would be wasteful and uneconomical and not possible to provide every combination of parts for every boat in existence. We do however do our best. (Refer both sketch gallery and photo gallery for more detail.)
Some combinations of boat and trailer are extremely simple and ready for Boatcatch fit up. In the perfect case like this where you only have to add the Boatcatch in above your front V and winch, expect to take an hour or two to fit the Boatcatch.
However not every job is that simple. You may need to tweak the position of the V or the winch or move a cable eye or even adapt a supplied spacer post to your bow post. These jobs can add hours and if you have a "not so simple" set up. It is recommended you allow enough time to think and work the job through.
Remember extra thought and planning before you start will pay dividends.
