Baller jetpilotg4 Posted March 5, 2020 Baller Share Posted March 5, 2020 So........ I am on my 3rd Nautique in 10 years, 2004 had a Ramlin trailer Loved it 2012 Boatmate Hated it , 2019 Boatmate hate it even worse! when I got my 2012 200 I was told it was more or less a float on/ float off trailer Meh okay, made the best of it and ended up with a few good work arounds and had the boat without too many issues.... Got a 19 Nautique in August and been fighting with the trailer since day one. Example Sink trailer to top of fenders drive on and off and the torque scrubs the nose chine to a point where the gelcoat wears off. Float off/on, the deeper you put the trailer on, the more force it puts on the bow of the boat or the bow rides up above the bow bumpers on the trailer. So far through my local dealer has added a bow roller, and replaced the worn out RH bunk. They (local dealer) at my cost, recently replaced the carpet with the low friction rubber covering ( yet to be tried ). So Im asking the guy that works at (local Dealer) what next, and he said Boatmate said find another ramp to Launch on .... Really?? WTF !!!! I wonder if those big wake surfing boats have similar issues launching? I know where I ski theres a few new Nautiques and I have done what everyone else is doing but why on the world can't they get a frggin trailer to work with the Boats they sell us? any other viable workarounds to make this work? Usually Launch the boat solo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller PatM Posted March 5, 2020 Baller Share Posted March 5, 2020 Welcome to the club. Unfortunately most people with Nautiques that have Boatmate trailers have similar issues. I just installed a roller for my 2018 200 to stop the bunks from wearing off the gelcoat. Have not tested it out yet so hopefully it works. I have the advantage of dumping my whole trailer in the water at my ramp, but others can't do that. I have heard nothing but nightmares with these trailers. I believe Nautique has cut ties in 2020 with Boatmate and I see Phoenix trailers being sold with the new boats. I wish someone would just adopt the Ramlin design and be done with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller GregHind Posted March 5, 2020 Baller Share Posted March 5, 2020 Australian made easytow trailers are excellent. They are much heavier duty. You’d never see a Nautique on a single axle easytow. Every American trailer imported to Australia that I’ve ever seen has been crap in comparison. The Aussie dollar is low at the moment probably a great opportunity for somebody. They make great trailers here for your boats..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller skierjp Posted March 5, 2020 Baller Share Posted March 5, 2020 WD40 or tire shine on the carpet from the axel forward. Caution !!!!!!!!! Do not unhook bow strap until the boat is in the water. I think if I was you I would have selected the Bunk Boards option. Composite plastic boards ( something like Trex Decking ) no need for carpet. I have had 4 19 Ski Nautiques. 3 had Boatmate and the trailer I have now is a Phoenix. So far so good, carpet still looks new. FYI, the Phoenix is 2 inches lower then the Boatmate. Looks better and seems to load better. All trailer have been tandems. I do have a work around for the Boatmate inner bow bunks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jjackkrash Posted March 5, 2020 Baller Share Posted March 5, 2020 The hull of these boats make getting a trailer to fit difficult. My dealer is installing a roller near the bow of the trailer on all the new ones now and indicated this is helping a bunch, although I am not sure if he is using boatman trailers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller RAWSki Posted March 5, 2020 Baller Share Posted March 5, 2020 We are actually looking for a used trailer for a Ski Nautique 200 is anyone wants to get rid of their BoatMate ( @jetpilotg4 ) PM me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller BlueSki Posted March 5, 2020 Baller Share Posted March 5, 2020 Sell the trailer and buy a Phoenix. You’ll save the hit you take in depreciation by avoiding fiberglass repairs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jhughes Posted March 6, 2020 Baller Share Posted March 6, 2020 What is a reasonable expectation for how a static frame trailer is supposed to load in all situations? Every trailer I've had on 5 ski boats has sucked in some way for loading depending on the ramp. On 3 generations of SNs, NWZ->TSC1->200. Oh and that 83 MC, that MC trailer was a real PITA at times. Multiple trailer manufacturers and configurations. By this definition (loading perfectly on all ramps and never rubbing on the boat hull) the 2016 RamLin for my 200 "sucks". I made extended guide poles that I slide on and off for deeper ramps so I can float it on. Still doesn't go on right because the angles with the water and the ramp make it physically impossible, of course. It is not physically possible for the trailer to be 45 degrees angled down under water, then have the boat perfectly set on it at 0 degrees on land. When it unloads the weird reverse chines on the front hit the bunks, reverse on load. And whatnot. Loading depends so much on the angle of the ramp and the depth of that vs. the position of the car at the top of that ramp combined with hitch height/suspension which affects relative hitch height, etc. I'd imagine the primary mission of the trailer is to be a roadworthy chassis to make a boat move around on land behind a car. That is what the trailer is ideally supposed to do. It's a metal frame with wood and carpet on it with some wheels, any way you cut it, no matter what. What reasonably is this frame with wood and carpet on it supposed to magically do at the ramp particularly with today's hulls? How is it also supposed to "not rub" on the bottom of a boat? Additionally I'd bet the majority of tourney ski boat owners don't use their trailer more than a couple times per year, if at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jayski Posted March 6, 2020 Baller Share Posted March 6, 2020 '19 200 and MC trailer, just had to shim a couple spots on the bunks and it fits awesome...another option is EZ Loader, they make trailers for ski rugs, had one for my TXI and it was awesome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Orlando76 Posted March 6, 2020 Baller Share Posted March 6, 2020 Which Boatmate do you have (because there’s really two Boatmates). Have you gone to Ramlin for help? Since you’re in FL I suggest calling Tito at Ramlin, you’ll have to leave a voicemail as they are very busy but he will get back to you, tell him of your concerns. They are GREAT people there at Ramlin and they’re topnotch. Some have the impression that Ramlin is out of the trailer business. Not at all so, they just “didn’t agree on terms” with Nautique/CC corporate and /or the dealers. So Boatmate is the “dealer choice” for Nautique now which IMO is a lesser product to say the least. I’m a Ramlin customer for life. I’m not saying they make the best trailer, but I haven’t found a better one yet. Inevitably all my trailers that weren’t Ramlins, I ended up taking to Ramlin and had them correct my issues. Last week I was at Ramlin and I saw 3 truckloads of brand new Nautique trailers there. I look closely and saw they weren’t Ramlins and were of another manufacturer that rhymes with Floatbait. I ask what’s up with this? The man I know pretty well there says some Nautique dealers send trailers from “the other” manufacturer (brand new) to Ramlin for Ramlin to cut on them and reweld to make the other trailers work appropriately. I get it, in my line of work I’m always to expensive upfront but in the end I’m not too expensive to fix the other guy’s problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitecaps Posted March 6, 2020 Share Posted March 6, 2020 Tongue height on the vehicle can totally change the loading and unloading aspect of your trailer. Try small increments. But then weight in your tow vehicle changes your tonque height. But then weight in the boat (ie fuel level )changes and thus it affects loading and offloading again in another way. I dont think it is necessarily the trailer manufacuters fault. Certain hull designs and certain ramp angles are more likely to make it difficult to get a boat on and off of trailer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jetpilotg4 Posted March 6, 2020 Author Baller Share Posted March 6, 2020 Thanks @Orlando76 you have contact info on Tito? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Orlando76 Posted March 6, 2020 Baller Share Posted March 6, 2020 407-851-1144, extension 1. Different 851 number will call you back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller PatM Posted March 6, 2020 Baller Share Posted March 6, 2020 @Orlando76 I would do what you suggested if I were in Florida. Unfortunately most of us are a 1,000 miles from there so that is not an option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller skierjp Posted March 6, 2020 Baller Share Posted March 6, 2020 @Orlando76 . Ramlin receives the trailers from Boatmate then does the final assembly before delivery to Nautique Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller UWSkier Posted March 6, 2020 Baller Share Posted March 6, 2020 Kindof surprised to see all these issues with Boatmate trailers with the Nautiques. I've heard very few complaints about them over the years when they were a primary supplier for Malibu and others. Maybe it's the hull, not the trailer so much? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Carl Posted March 6, 2020 Baller Share Posted March 6, 2020 Anybody know if Boatmate offers the crash pads like the Ramlin trailers.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller PatM Posted March 6, 2020 Baller Share Posted March 6, 2020 @UWSkier My ski partner has a Boatmate with his TXI and he has no problem. The hull on the Nautique is a different animal and was never addressed correctly from the start with Boatmate. I know they admitted that the hull presented them with an issue, but there was alot of denial first and then nothing done about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller DavidN Posted March 6, 2020 Baller Share Posted March 6, 2020 @Carl Yes, they do. My 2019 Boatmate trailer has the tilting crash pads. It’s a pretty nice feature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller skierjp Posted March 7, 2020 Baller Share Posted March 7, 2020 The tilting bow stop is AWESOME Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller hammerski Posted March 10, 2020 Baller Share Posted March 10, 2020 My awesome dealer, Active Watersports in Portland OR, took my ‘19 SN back in. Boatmate redid the front with a roller and wider bunks up front, loads/unloads sooo much better! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brucetheshark Posted March 15, 2020 Share Posted March 15, 2020 I'm looking at a MC Prostar 2014-2019 w/o a trailer; what trailer do you guys suggest I get? Do I have to go through a MC dealer? TIA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller dbutcher Posted March 15, 2020 Baller Share Posted March 15, 2020 The Mastercraft trailer that I had under my 2014 Prostar was excellent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller dave2ball Posted March 16, 2020 Baller Share Posted March 16, 2020 @brucetheshark spend the extra money and by a MC trailer. It’s produced bu MC so it will fit the boat correctly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller RAK Posted March 16, 2020 Baller Share Posted March 16, 2020 @hammerski have you any pictures of the setup I have tried some extra rollers on my trailer but still not perfect 200SN on boatmate trailer on quite a steep slip way, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller hammerski Posted April 12, 2020 Baller Share Posted April 12, 2020 Here you go RAK ps this is for a 2019 SN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Broussard Posted April 13, 2020 Baller Share Posted April 13, 2020 @brucetheshark MasterCraft manufactures their own trailers (you would have to go through a MasterCraft dealer to purchase one). Boatmate also makes ProStar trailers. I believe that neither MasterCraft nor Boatmate are currently building trailers. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller PatM Posted April 13, 2020 Baller Share Posted April 13, 2020 @hammerski I received the same fix from Boatmate except for the bunk change. My boat is a 18 200 so it is bunked differently. The one thing I had to do was take the fix to a local welder and cut the ends off and weld it directly. The clearance for the tracking fins were not enough and it chipped the front fin. After welding it no problem. This was done at the end of the season so I’m anxious to see if this will be the long term fix for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller RAK Posted April 13, 2020 Baller Share Posted April 13, 2020 @hammerski Thanks for the photos does it work well for your hull. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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