Tricks for launching a Montgomery 17 in shallow water?

[KTP]

Hi all,

We are taking a break from outfitting our PSC34 and want to bring our Montgomery 17 to a small lake where we and a group of our friends will be camping. The lake is about 3/4 mile wide by maybe 4 miles long and quite deep for the most part (80 to 270 feet deep in most areas) except for the boat ramp launches at each end. It looks like the pool (I think that is the correct term) is 6 or 7 feet down from full and the boat ramps level off for about 50 or 60 feet. I estimate that at the northern ramp I could get the Monty/trailer in about 2.5 feet of water...*maybe* 3 feet if I really bury our 4x4 truck's exhaust underwater. We have an extendable trailer but that estimate is probably with it extended.

I have never tried launching that shallow...I usually get the trailer bunks almost completely underwater and she floats off.

Give up or is there some trick? I was thinking wild ideas like tying some tractor inner tubes under the transom. It is such a pretty lake, right in the mountains.

If only I had a helicopter...

[Sparx]

All my trailer sailboats are set up using keel rollers on the trailer centerline. Bore a hole in the plastic roller and fill with grease so it spins well even under load. I never submerge the axles. A decent winch is needed to crank them up onto the trailer .

[psk125]

Sailboat Data shows the Montgomery 17 draws 1'8" with the board up. Shouldn't 2'6" be plenty to launch in? You can also launch by detaching the trailer from the truck if you have to. Just make sure you have a strong line or wire to be able to winch it back up if it gets stuck!