Tow, Tow, Tow your boat and keep fingers crossed.

Looks like the boat is off the trailer. If this is the parking lot at the boat ramp, they probably only put that hitch on to launch and retrieve the boat. That way they don't have to back the car into the water? Just a guess on my part.. Mitch

....but by the looks of that rear hatch, I'd say it's been underwater a time or two!

MitchF150 wrote:
Looks like the boat is off the trailer. If this is the parking lot at the boat ramp, they probably only put that hitch on to launch and retrieve the boat. That way they don't have to back the car into the water? Just a guess on my part.. Mitch

I would guess that when the boat is on the trailer, they flip down the wheel to take the weight. that would be some extreme torque if not.
bumpy

That contraption will eventually fail and possibly injure an innocent bystander.....brilliant.

Kinda hard to tell for sure, but it appears the hitch has two or three holes in it for what I suspect are different length positions. Maybe they extend the hitch for launching and retrieving the boat and then move it to the shorter position for transport? Just a thought...

MitchF150 wrote:
Looks like the boat is off the trailer. If this is the parking lot at the boat ramp, they probably only put that hitch on to launch and retrieve the boat. That way they don't have to back the car into the water? Just a guess on my part.. Mitch

Thought the same.....good for a few laughs though....I can see pulling forward while the trailer remains in the lake. BTW part of that abortion appears to be 2" perforated square tube repurposed from a road sign.

I've seen more than one of those extensions. Usually on sailboats, but it would also make sense on a shallow ramp. The trailer looks like it is for a pretty small boat, I bet it works just fine to launch or retrieve the boat.

Could also just be one of those 12' aluminum fishing boats and not a whole lotta weight to begin with? The spare tire on it looks like a 10" or so wheel, so not gonna be a 20' Ski Nautique ski boat.. :)

But yes, I do see the 'stop sign' type of square tube! Those are meant to 'break away' pretty easy when used as a sign post!

But, seems to be working so far!

My answer to the rust already on the rear door, they probably did immerse the rear of the car/minivan into the lake and this is the resulting "fix" for that! :) Mitch

All I know is every time I see the title of this thread I start singing Row Row Row your boat in my head LOL

Sailboat trailer parents had as a teen had a 10-12' extension built into it. This was you could float it off the trailer. As I would/could not roll off. Especially on shallower grade ramps. Would swag this is a fix for a float off boat, on a longer shallow water ramp.

Marty