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Thread: Formosa Tow Catch anyone

  1. #16
    Ausfish Platinum Member


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    Re: Formosa Tow Catch anyone

    Quote Originally Posted by NAGG View Post
    If anyone goes down the boat catch path just be aware that it's "shiny" & subject to theft

    Chris
    Serious Chris.... is that the best ya got ??. FFS.
    .......

  2. #17
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    Re: Formosa Tow Catch anyone

    Quote Originally Posted by blacklab View Post
    I hear you Corry, but it's not as simple as that, the boat catch is designed for that, its the ONLY positive lock system, un like all the hook only systems. I've used mine like that for more than 10 years. If the boat catch pin is locked in, it wont/can't jump out, period, its the failures of the boat latch type systems which has people sceptical.
    I hear what your saying, I used the wrong terminology between catch and latch. Yes the Boat Catch is the ultimate set up, for me, I fish 99.9% on my own so need to get out of the car and into the boat every time I launch anyway, and if I am with the missus, she doesn't drive the boat or the car, so I'm still doing it on my own. So either way, I'm at the trailer and can attach the winch and chain really quickly before driving the car up.

    Quote Originally Posted by blacklab View Post
    Ya spend the extra coin and you get what you pay for with these systems, otherwise there's no real reason or benefit as Dig's is seeing, might as well drive boat on trailer, keep engine revving to hold the boat while you get out and hook it up. But, each to there own.
    I used to retrieve this way 15 years ago, leaving the boat running in gear while hooking it up, it sucked, cause then you've got to climb back into the boat to shut it down. I ended up connecting a length of hutchie cord to the deadmans pull cord so I could pull it from the front of the trailer, but this wasn't ideal.

    Overall for me, the L&R system works perfectly for how I launch and retrieve.
    A question that I would ask, for anyone who is looking at one, is, are there any mods needed to fit it? The L&R system doubles as the front tie down and winch point as well as the latch, do you have to mod the boat or the winch post to fit the Boat Catch? Only asking so if anyone is looking at one there's no surprises. It looks like you have the Catch system as well as another 'D' on the boat for the winch, just something to keep in mind.
    Cheers
    Corry

  3. #18
    Ausfish Platinum Member


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    Re: Formosa Tow Catch anyone

    Yeah, the catch system bolts straight onto the winch post, no alterations needed, unless your post was small and not enough room for existing stuff, it fitted my standard winch post, but I went above my winch D, you can go under on some applications.
    Yes, you have to fit the catch part of the system, like fitting a new Bow eye, could probably adapt it to use existing, I didn't, in my boat, inside was a sealed area up front which proved to be a bugga.
    But, I wouldn't expect it would work when hauling the boat up the ramp unless it was such a system using a through hull D, especially with the large boats that use the Catch. Aluminium would be a fair bit easier, welding it on, just like the Latch system I guess ???.
    I have mates with the L&R system, they work great, BUT, chains and or strap must stay attached. They all comment when there out with me that the boat catch is in another league to there's and the u-tube disasters we see, are all driver fault, not the latches fault, they try to use it like a Catch system, so the L&R system do get an unjustified bad wrap. I've seen 3 or 4 examples in person at ramps in Vic when I lived there, whether they watched me or other Catch owners and thought Yep, I can do that too, then disaster !!!.

    When I go to Cairns a few times a year, I go out with a bloke and his charter, have done for 15 odd years, he runs a tinny, decent size, he's swapped over to a boat catch, mainly for safety he says, especially in some places he launches with all the sharp tooth critters in the dark and less than experienced punters he takes, who have no water sense when jumping aboard. He was running the latch, but I showed him a video of my set up and he was impressed.
    Every boat aid has it's pluses Corry, for sure, in Dig's case, one less job to worry about, would mean the hardest part of it all would be climbing in and out safely, and he would be assured that the boat is hooked up, safe and not have to lean over or panick about getting it secured, better if there's a pontoon or jetty to hop out onto, plus no need to get feet wet on slipper ramps to secure chain etc. That's why I suggested the Boat catch as an option for him, with my worn back, I recon I should be able to keep my boat to the end rather than down sizing ( hopefully)...
    .......

  4. #19
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    Re: Formosa Tow Catch anyone

    Quote Originally Posted by blacklab View Post
    Yeah, the catch system bolts straight onto the winch post, no alterations needed, unless your post was small and not enough room for existing stuff, it fitted my standard winch post, but I went above my winch D, you can go under on some applications.
    Yes, you have to fit the catch part of the system, like fitting a new Bow eye, could probably adapt it to use existing, I didn't, in my boat, inside was a sealed area up front which proved to be a bugga.
    But, I wouldn't expect it would work when hauling the boat up the ramp unless it was such a system using a through hull D, especially with the large boats that use the Catch. Aluminium would be a fair bit easier, welding it on, just like the Latch system I guess ???.
    I have mates with the L&R system, they work great, BUT, chains and or strap must stay attached. They all comment when there out with me that the boat catch is in another league to there's and the u-tube disasters we see, are all driver fault, not the latches fault, they try to use it like a Catch system, so the L&R system do get an unjustified bad wrap. I've seen 3 or 4 examples in person at ramps in Vic when I lived there, whether they watched me or other Catch owners and thought Yep, I can do that too, then disaster !!!.

    When I go to Cairns a few times a year, I go out with a bloke and his charter, have done for 15 odd years, he runs a tinny, decent size, he's swapped over to a boat catch, mainly for safety he says, especially in some places he launches with all the sharp tooth critters in the dark and less than experienced punters he takes, who have no water sense when jumping aboard. He was running the latch, but I showed him a video of my set up and he was impressed.
    Every boat aid has it's pluses Corry, for sure, in Dig's case, one less job to worry about, would mean the hardest part of it all would be climbing in and out safely, and he would be assured that the boat is hooked up, safe and not have to lean over or panick about getting it secured, better if there's a pontoon or jetty to hop out onto, plus no need to get feet wet on slipper ramps to secure chain etc. That's why I suggested the Boat catch as an option for him, with my worn back, I recon I should be able to keep my boat to the end rather than down sizing ( hopefully)...
    Going with the shiny one which once installed wont be shiny.
    Chris, a spray of lanolin and throw some dust at it and it'll look pretty ordinary. Also there are ways of securing bolts that aren't easy to remove. There's more to worry about than a loss of catch, here they take the whole trailer.

    Another issue that I don't understand is that it is cheaper to buy from Perth than on the East Coast, I've bought a few things from WA in the past year as they are often cheaper even when freight is added, in this case nearly $60 difference, go figure.
    One of the sad signs of our times is that we have demonized those who produce, subsidized those who refuse to produce and canonized those who complain.
    Thomas Sowell

  5. #20
    Ausfish Platinum Member


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    Re: Formosa Tow Catch anyone

    LOL, or Taking the 2 or 4 wheels and leaving the frame..

    Dig's, are you talking about the Boat catch being cheaper from WA ??
    Have you tried Moose marine, he frequents here occasionally, not sure if he stocks them, but he may be able to tinker with the price, maybe...

    I'm in the same place as you, in un-mounting the boat at the ramp, my regular ramp has a double sided jetty, super easy to jump out, but other ramps I visit don't.
    Since flicking my old boat tow er, which was single cab tray back, I would simply step off the bow and a small drop to the tray, but my new Ranger has a full canopy, so that options out.
    I was actually looking at steps, ( on line in the states) found some prefabricated ones on line, adjustable step position, which was made up of 2 or 3 steps, mounted just off the bow, a bit like how a spiral stair case is. I would still go up thru the hatch, then using the bow rail, step down safely to Terra Firma...
    Lost the link to it, but saw enough to have a think about it and have a try and weld something up myself, I think every boat would be different, but same same if you know what I mean.
    Probably a winter job for me, but I like you, need to do something, when O'l mate down the road comes out for a fish, you near need a 3rd person to help get him out of the boat LOL.
    .......

  6. #21
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    Re: Formosa Tow Catch anyone

    Forgot about Moose as I hadn't seen him on here for a while, already ordered. I looked at the steps but figured they would get in the way unless they were mounted from the side, I saw some that were made from recycled plastic also from the US. Most of the steps are made for bass boats which have low sides so finding the right ones is not always easy as they often don't give measurements.
    I own a Station Wagon so stepping off wont work for me plus it would be a rather big step as the trailer that's under this boat is for a 20 ft boat so plenty of room, first time I don't have to be careful on opening the rear door. I'm looking at modifying the spare wheel bracket and moving it forward so I can use it as a step, suggested by someone on an earlier post, please forgive me for being lazy and not checking who but thank you.
    My ramp here has a pontoon and as usual in Qld the cheap option was used, hard plastic sides, not rubber so lovely and scratchy, I use fenders but there were plenty of scratches on there already, might get a vinyl wrap at some stage. There are a couple of ramps further down that the jet skiers use but there is very limited parking so I stay with this one.
    One of the sad signs of our times is that we have demonized those who produce, subsidized those who refuse to produce and canonized those who complain.
    Thomas Sowell

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