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I have a new roller trailer under my 18'CC and the rollers work great, perhaps too good. Normally I would back down the ramp before making any changes to the winch settings. Then I would unhook the safety chain and crank the winch until the tension is off the cable. At that point I could usually shove the boat off or perhaps have the driver back the vechicle and bump the brakes and off she goes. Well with my new trailer it's like the boat is in full reverse as soon as I start to release the cable tension. The winch handle started spinning like crazy and I ducked for cover as the boat accelerated off the trailer and floated freely. How do I put the brakes on this situation? I must have done something wrong. Sure would appreciate some advice to keep it under control.
Sounds like you don't have the boat far enough into the water when launching.
I've started getting the trailer further in the water so that the boat is basically floating before I unhook it. This way I can hold onto the bow rail, letting the winch out a couple turns so that I can unhook it and the safety chain before giving it a shove while holding onto the rope.
This works well at the marina where I keep my boat. I launch it with a Jeep Wrangler (too small to tow with, but works for launching), so I have 4wd if I had problems with having the back tires in the water (which isn't a problem).
edit: Other than that, maybe just hang onto the winch. Remember that it takes less strength to hold onto it to slow your boat launching than to crank on it to load it up.
Alternative, is to not lose control of the winch handle if you have a bi-directional winch. With an electric its easy to control speed with the hand op clutch.
I often am not crazy about fully emersing the brake drums twice on each launch/recovery in salt water. I usually back right in to the bottom edge of the metal on the wheel rim, then control launch from there. If it's fresh water who cares, it can use a good rinse.
I don't know if it helps or not but I figure I don't need 2 coats of dried salt to wash off at home.
Alternative, is to not lose control of the winch handle if you have a bi-directional winch. With an electric its easy to control speed with the hand op clutch.
I often am not crazy about fully emersing the brake drums twice on each launch/recovery in salt water. I usually back right in to the bottom edge of the metal on the wheel rim, then control launch from there. If it's fresh water who cares, it can use a good rinse.
I don't know if it helps or not but I figure I don't need 2 coats of dried salt to wash off at home.
Chris
Actually the second dunk would wash off the first dunks salt and leaving new salt in it place.
There are tme when you just HAVE to get into the water to load/unload your boat. When launching I can do it without getting my feet wet, I back the trailer in so I can step onto the trailer tounge and reach the winch handle and saftey chain. At this point, at the launch I use, If the boat came off the trailer at that point it would be safe and roll into the water. But it never has yet. (knock on wood)
Picking up the boat is another story. I back in so I can JUST get out of the truck without getting my feet wet. I step out, take off my socks and shoes, roll up my pants and step into the (55 degree) water, step up onto the trailer tounge and hook up the winch cable. By the time I pull the drain plug, put on the safety straps, raise the outdrive, make sure all the electronics are off, etc etc etc, my feet are dry and I put my shoes back on.
I have to laff at people doing the "trailer toungue dance", doing all they can to avoid having to take off thier shoes and get thier feet wet. Ive seen many people wipe out and land a55 first in the water. Almost as embarraing as dropping your boat on the launch.
:D
I had the problem of the boat wanting to go into the water too soon and keeping tension on the strap so I couldn't unhook it. I solved the problem by moving the front set of rollers further apart so the front of the boat would sit lower on the trailer. After a couple tries I got it to where the boat would sit on the trailer for me to unhook the strap and then a slight push would float it.
You might have to move the rear set closer together also. Examine how the boat sits on the trailer and take some measurements to see if you could do this.
if you always have a partner to help you unload, have the guy on the dock take your front dock line and wrap around the pylon (it works better if you have a mid ship cleat). have him hold the line against the pylon while you release the winch clip. the dock line will hold the boat on the trailer. release the line and may have to give the boat a shove or not, and you don't get your feet wet. that's what we've found works well.
I had the same problem with my setup. I swear that thing would slide off the trailer on level ground. I prefer to keep the trailer brakes out of the water so backing in further was an unfavorable solution. I ended up going with a winch with a brake. I ride the brake to keep the boat launching speed where I want it. As a side benefit, the winch strap is always pulled out for retreval later. The strap also keeps the boat at the end of the trailer when launched. This is a good thing if you launch alone and need to drive the boat from the trailer to the dock (most of my ramps). This could be a bad thing if you have someone else to drive the boat to the dock or don't need to drive it as it requires walking the trailer to unhook.
It's easy to handle the problem. Simply attach a bow line to the boat. Then take 3 turns around your winch post. With 3 or more turns around the post you should be able to let the line go and work the winch until the tension is off the cable.Release the cable from the bow eye. Then take one turn at a time off the post. You should be able to ease the boat in with control of the line.
if you always have a partner to help you unload, have the guy on the dock take your front dock line and wrap around the pylon (it works better if you have a mid ship cleat). have him hold the line against the pylon while you release the winch clip. the dock line will hold the boat on the trailer. release the line and may have to give the boat a shove or not, and you don't get your feet wet. that's what we've found works well.
This is basically how I do it. While launching with another person I just have them hold a line on the dock and I use a second line on the pulpit cleat wrapped twice around the pylon. This allows me to remove the safety chain and let out enough strap to get it unhooked and then I can let out the bow line until shes floating. It helps that I have a pick up and can use the tail gate to stand on if needed.
If I'm alone I just tie off one line loosely on the stern to hold the boat and run the launch the same way as above.
mine has a brake in forward and reverse but i usually dunk the boat till she is floating on all except the front roller and i just unhook and shove her off the last roller . i then tie the boat off and pull the trailer out of the water
Thanks for the response, what a great forum this is. I'm often handling this task alone and I try to minimize dunking the trailer too much. I suppose the rollers will slow down as the trailer starts to fall apart from salt water exposure.
Unloading roller - too fast! 
