Bryan, I launch my Express every summer @ Huntington Lake and previously did so with an Olson 30. Not hard if you are prepared.

I use a rope from trailer to vehicle (strap would work) remember the weight is increased because of the water drag coming out so allow plenty of strength. Be sure you have a secure connection to the vehicle at the hitch( I have seen trailers running free down the ramp from people who didn't).

Attach the rope on the trailer low near the tongue to keep the trailer from raising up. I have a winch (like on a power boat trailer) mounted at the top of the mount where the bow of the boat sets in the rubber v chock on the trailer. When comming out of the water I put a small rope in the toe rails and make a loop that I can attach the winch rope to. I crank that up tight so the bow is in the v chock tight. I also run some long dock lines from the trailer tongue up and back to the aft winches and tigten up before coming out. This arrangement keeps the boat up tight and forward on the trailer and centered. There is usually a dock at the ramp and I tie a line to the stern and help keep the boat centered as it comes out as I walk on the dock. When it is on the trailer and not quite out stop and check how it is setting and if centered. If not, easy to back down at this time and readjust.

I had adjusters instaled on the four pads coming out of the trailer stands so I can easily adjust the height of each pad with the boat on the trailer. I assume you have this also as it seems a retrofit I see on most railers and I highly advise it.

Over all a simple process. Raise the mast on the trailer, back the the trailer to then waters edge, block, disconnetct the vehicle and drive forward until the extention rope is tight. Release the blocks and back down till boat floats (my wife drives and I guide the front of the trailer to keep it straight by pullling on the rope). Release the boat and tie off to the dock, pull out the trailer and reconnect. Sort of everthing in reverse to haul out.

If you do this a lot you may consider placing your trailer lights on a quick disconnect on the electrical wires and remove them before you go in the water. I did so and my lights never see water and get rusty and quite working. I leave the trailer lights off in the boat yard when I use the hoist and only put them on when trailering on the highway. No more broken trailer lights and they work everytime.

Hope that helps, and enjoy.

Garry

:: Hi all,
::
:: I was thinking of joining a friend of mine who is
:: setting up some week-long water-skiing/boating junkets
:: to various lakes around northern california and Lake
:: Powell.
::
:: Obviously, using a ramp to launch an e27 is a lot harder
:: than a ski-boat (I've always used a hoist) and I started
:: wondering if there was a resource someplace that details
:: how deep the ramps go at various lakes. I've seen a
:: tongue extender used to launch a much bigger boat- a
:: Soverel 33.
::
:: Have you ramp-launched an e27? Which Lake(s)? Did you
:: need a tongue extender? Know of any ramp-guide or
:: resource I could use?
::
:: Thanks,

:: Bryan