Boat Launching Options in Asuncion

Quote: Originally posted by drzura

Good day. I hope to bring my 17' Gregor aluminum boat to Asuncion this summer for the fishing. What are the launching options there? Is there a launch ramp there? If not, where is the best place to put the boat in the water. I plan on taking it out of the water everyday after fishing. Thanks..

get a set of these for your trailer...

even if the boat is out the water when launching or loading
you can get it on and off the trailer

just bolt them to the wood trailer bunkers...
you can take them off when traveling if you want

it'll be the best money you'll spend on your boat

Good Question

drzura,
Everything Ross said and just remember you will be sharing the two "easy" launch sites with the commercial fishermen and there's one lane traffic in and out of the locations. You will need the extra hands to handle the boat while you park the tow rig and trailer. When you arrive spend the time to survey the sites prior so your launches will be smooth and seamless.

Have fun,
Lionel

The question was about loading or unloading a boat trailer in BA.

What does that have to do with a loading exemption?

Quote: Originally posted by MrBillM

It would be interesting to know if the "Loading/Unloading" exemption is written down in legal terms somewhere. It does appear to be a widely-held interpretation. Many years ago when there was a widespread increased enforcement effort, we were informed by the management @ Rancho Percebu that such was the only "legal" exemption, but Quien Sabe ? That said, Law Enforcement in Mexico is sort of "in the eye of the enforcer" rather than the pen of the legislators.

Quote: Originally posted by Udo

The question was about loading or unloading a boat trailer in BA. What does that have to do with a loading exemption? Quote: Originally posted by MrBillM   It would be interesting to know if the "Loading/Unloading" exemption is written down in legal terms somewhere. It does appear to be a widely-held interpretation. Many years ago when there was a widespread increased enforcement effort, we were informed by the management @ Rancho Percebu that such was the only "legal" exemption, but Quien Sabe ? That said, Law Enforcement in Mexico is sort of "in the eye of the enforcer" rather than the pen of the legislators.

Quote: Originally posted by BajaRat

drzura, Everything Ross said and just remember you will be sharing the two "easy" launch sites with the commercial fishermen and there's one lane traffic in and out of the locations. You will need the extra hands to handle the boat while you park the tow rig and trailer. When you arrive spend the time to survey the sites prior so your launches will be smooth and seamless. Have fun, Lionel

Hi Drzura,

We have been launching a 16'6" Bayrunner off of the Asuncion beaches for a couple of years, probably half-a-hundred launches and retrievals. Your Gregor likely weighs at least as much, if not more than ours (425# including motor); you will not be able to drop it on the sand and drag it into the surf to launch unless you enlist half the village to help.

For a boat this size, launching is easier than retrieving. Back up while dodging the million pangas parked haphazardly on the beach.
You'll need to push the boat off the trailer as you won't be able to float it off unless you have about a 20' extension. Have someone go park the car. These aren't boat ramps, they're beaches, so even with an extension, you may have to go in further than you'd like or dump the boat halfway off the trailer and then pull the trailer out from under it. No problem in benign conditions. Throw in some wind and waves and it becomes less simple (picture your boat half-off the trailer with the transom low and shore break coming over the transom).

We usually retrieve by backing the trailer into the water and just dipping the rear tires of the car. When arriving onshore, bring it near the beach but not onto. Shallow-water drive for the motor so you don't stick the skeg in the sand. Drop one passenger. That person gets the car. The other holds the boat holds the boat away from the beach break (either by motoring back out or with a long line). Back the trailer down - again, you can't really float on. You can get the bow on (maybe), QUICKLY attach the winch strap, and winch it on. A keel roller is absolutely necessary here. When it's calm, this is by far the easiest way to get the boat in.

However, sometimes the best (or only) option is to run up on the beach and winch it onto the trailer. You really need to be set up to do both. Tides change, wind waves change, and you might not be able to back in without sinking your car (or having your boat thrown into the back of it). A tilt trailer would help a lot but it can be done with a strong winch and strong back. In this case just gun it up onto the sand and hope you don't hit anything hard (a real issue at the coop launch at low tide).

We had a little mishap last week - first one in several dozen launches. Misjudged the conditions and decided to load in the water. Throw in a few miscommunications about who was doing what, and it did not take more than a few seconds to end up with a couple of waves over the transom. Had to winch it up with more than several gallons of water in the back. Luckily we have a 2,500# winch and similarly-rated strap.

Of course this only happens when you have an audience, right rossman?

A smaller boat (13-14') which weighs only a few hundred pounds is much easier to launch and retrieve as you can do all the important bits from the safety of the sand and then just drag it into the water (or winch it onto the trailer) when you're ready. We had a 14'er before this one and it was far easier to deal with. However, it felt real small 6-8 miles out or whenever the wind came up even a bit.

Though the roller bunks and slide bunks are handy (we have the Ez-glide version of the latter) and do help a lot with unloading as well as moving the boat forward on the trailer in the loading process, they don't help a bit with the critical moments of getting the boat started up onto the trailer. You will want a large self-centering keel roller or other smooth bumper on your rear trailer crossmember.

I'll second BajaRat's comment - though the locals here are AWESOME about helping with any issues you may have, please try to stay clear of their launches during their departure and unloading times.

[Edited on 2-6-2018 by chavycha]

[Edited on 2-6-2018 by chavycha]

Quote: Originally posted by chavycha

Hi Drzura, We have been launching a 16'6" Bayrunner off of the Asuncion beaches for a couple of years, probably half-a-hundred launches and retrievals. Your Gregor likely weighs at least as much, if not more than ours (425# including motor); you will not be able to drop it on the sand and drag it into the surf to launch unless you enlist half the village to help. For a boat this size, launching is easier than retrieving. Back up while dodging the million pangas parked haphazardly on the beach. You'll need to push the boat off the trailer as you won't be able to float it off unless you have about a 20' extension. Have someone go park the car. These aren't boat ramps, they're beaches, so even with an extension, you may have to go in further than you'd like or dump the boat halfway off the trailer and then pull the trailer out from under it. No problem in benign conditions. Throw in some wind and waves and it becomes less simple (picture your boat half-off the trailer with the transom low and shore break coming over the transom). We usually retrieve by backing the trailer into the water and just dipping the rear tires of the car. When arriving onshore, bring it near the beach but not onto. Shallow-water drive for the motor so you don't stick the skeg in the sand. Drop one passenger. That person gets the car. The other holds the boat holds the boat away from the beach break (either by motoring back out or with a long line). Back the trailer down - again, you can't really float on. You can get the bow on (maybe), QUICKLY attach the winch strap, and winch it on. A keel roller is absolutely necessary here. When it's calm, this is by far the easiest way to get the boat in. However, sometimes the best (or only) option is to run up on the beach and winch it onto the trailer. You really need to be set up to do both. Tides change, wind waves change, and you might not be able to back in without sinking your car (or having your boat thrown into the back of it). A tilt trailer would help a lot but it can be done with a strong winch and strong back. In this case just gun it up onto the sand and hope you don't hit anything hard (a real issue at the coop launch at low tide). We had a little mishap last week - first one in several dozen launches. Misjudged the conditions and decided to load in the water. Throw in a few miscommunications about who was doing what, and it did not take more than a few seconds to end up with a couple of waves over the transom. Had to winch it up with more than several gallons of water in the back. Luckily we have a 2,500# winch and similarly-rated strap. Of course this only happens when you have an audience, right rossman? A smaller boat (13-14') which weighs only a few hundred pounds is much easier to launch and retrieve as you can do all the important bits from the safety of the sand and then just drag it into the water (or winch it onto the trailer) when you're ready. We had a 14'er before this one and it was far easier to deal with. However, it felt real small 6-8 miles out or whenever the wind came up even a bit. Though the roller bunks and slide bunks are handy (we have the Ez-glide version of the latter) and do help a lot with unloading as well as moving the boat forward on the trailer in the loading process, they don't help a bit with the critical moments of getting the boat started up onto the trailer. You will want a large self-centering keel roller or other smooth bumper on your rear trailer crossmember. I'll second BajaRat's comment - though the locals here are AWESOME about helping with any issues you may have, please try to stay clear of their launches during their departure and unloading times. [Edited on 2-6-2018 by chavycha] [Edited on 2-6-2018 by chavycha]

Quote: Originally posted by Rossman

I didn't think your retrieval was all that bad Scott. Excellent teamwork was the thought I came away with. Just wish I could have helped a bit, but I was wearing my Sunday shorts and flipflops. Asuncion is not exactly the entertainment capital of Baja Sur but when there are folks in town with a 20+ foot Parker or the likes of, I like to time my mid day siesta so I can get on the bluff overlooking the ramp with my beer and beach chair when they try to get it back on the trailer. The Three Stooges can't hold a candle to some of the slapstick I've seen down there.

You're too kind. We had dinner at the Loncheria the next day and rumor of our escapades had already spread.

Speaking of chitshows, here's a nice video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV0XRZqDBWs


[Edited on 2-7-2018 by chavycha]

"Y" launch site

Quote: Originally posted by chavycha

Speaking of chitshows, here's a nice video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV0XRZqDBWs

Quote: Originally posted by chavycha

Quote: Originally posted by Rossman   I didn't think your retrieval was all that bad Scott. Excellent teamwork was the thought I came away with. Just wish I could have helped a bit, but I was wearing my Sunday shorts and flipflops. Asuncion is not exactly the entertainment capital of Baja Sur but when there are folks in town with a 20+ foot Parker or the likes of, I like to time my mid day siesta so I can get on the bluff overlooking the ramp with my beer and beach chair when they try to get it back on the trailer. The Three Stooges can't hold a candle to some of the slapstick I've seen down there. You're too kind. We had dinner at the Loncheria the next day and rumor of our escapades had already spread. Speaking of chitshows, here's a nice video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV0XRZqDBWs [Edited on 2-7-2018 by chavycha]

Great videos

Quote: Originally posted by chavycha

Quote: Originally posted by Rossman   I didn't think your retrieval was all that bad Scott. Excellent teamwork was the thought I came away with. Just wish I could have helped a bit, but I was wearing my Sunday shorts and flipflops. Asuncion is not exactly the entertainment capital of Baja Sur but when there are folks in town with a 20+ foot Parker or the likes of, I like to time my mid day siesta so I can get on the bluff overlooking the ramp with my beer and beach chair when they try to get it back on the trailer. The Three Stooges can't hold a candle to some of the slapstick I've seen down there. You're too kind. We had dinner at the Loncheria the next day and rumor of our escapades had already spread. Speaking of chitshows, here's a nice video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV0XRZqDBWs [Edited on 2-7-2018 by chavycha]

Quote: Originally posted by Rossman

Hmmmm. Wonder who else saw your retrieval. It was such a non event for me that I never even thought about it, let alone talked about it until you mentioned me as a witness in your original post.

I'm not sure whether it was the retrieval or the only-slightly-less-disastrous launch, but Tomas was apparently watching from up the hill. The locals always seem entertained at the prospect of someone without cojones participating in a boat launch

Sounds like you had a good day out there today!

-J

here on the bay we get pretty low tides in the winter so I had the welder make us a extension bar...works great

this pic is from todays launch

Quote: Originally posted by Bob and Susan

here on the bay we get pretty low tides in the winter so I had the welder make us a extension bar...works great

Quote: Originally posted by chavycha

Quote: Originally posted by Bob and Susan   here on the bay we get pretty low tides in the winter so I had the welder make us a extension bar...works great Neat, but no chance that'd work in Asuncion. Launches way too congested and accesses way too steep and narrow.

Thanks for the info