My Ranger and the Drotto

I have a 2017 Ranger Angler 1880. Added a Drotto boat latch since I launch solo a lot. I am having a problem when I launch. When I put the boat in the Drotto roller hits the Minkota trolling motor. I actually jarred the side plate loose and stripped one of the bolts securing the side plate. The ramp I use often is not particularly steep. Drotto folks have told me that I am putting the boat too far when I launch. I have tried various depths but you gotta have some water under the boat or you launch or it won’t off the trailer. My frustration level is growing and I’m running out of bolts for the side plate…
Any ideas??

The Skeeter retractable slide bracket is a good possibility of resolving the issue. We use it on several different brands for launch clearence.

I use spray silicon on my bunk carpet. Makes the boat slide off a lot easier without having to have the trailer in as far. I put a coat on once or twice per year after launching – by the time I get back to the ramp it has had a chance to dry.

Post a picture of your winch post. I had to adjust mine so it was angled more.

I do not see where the Drotto would even help on a bunk trailer. If you back the trailer 3/4 way into the water the front of the boat still is held in place by the bunks, you get in and power back. I have a Drotto on a roller trailer and I see what it was designed for. I put my trailer 1/2 way in pull the handle and off I go. I just do not see where it helps on a bunk trailer?

The boat will slide back on a bunk trailer if it isn’t latched or strapped when you pull the boat out. It won’t slide all the way off like it would with a roller, but none the less it does slide, and you can’t crank it forward with the winch once it is out of the water.

bigcrappie wrote:

I do not see where the Drotto would even help on a bunk trailer. If you back the trailer 3/4 way into the water the front of the boat still is held in place by the bunks, you get in and power back. I have a Drotto on a roller trailer and I see what it was designed for. I put my trailer 1/2 way in pull the handle and off I go. I just do not see where it helps on a bunk trailer?

So for loading you drive the boat on the bunk trailer, boat stays in place because you have the front of the bunks out of the water and it holds the boat while you get out walk to the front of the boat clip on your strap and crank it tight, put on the safety chain and go.
Guess I would have to have a bunk trailer to get it. LOL

mojogunter wrote:

The boat will slide back on a bunk trailer if it isn’t latched or strapped when you pull the boat out.

Dean Marshall wrote:

The Skeeter retractable slide bracket is a good possibility of resolving the issue. We use it on several different brands for launch clearence.

A few years ago I got the retractable bracket from the Boat Center and put it on my Ranger Reata. Worked great!

bigcrappie wrote:

So for loading you drive the boat on the bunk trailer, boat stays in place because you have the front of the bunks out of the water and it holds the boat while you get out walk to the front of the boat clip on your strap and crank it tight, put on the safety chain and go.
Guess I would have to have a bunk trailer to get it. LOL

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mojogunter wrote:</div>
The boat will slide back on a bunk trailer if it isn’t latched or strapped when you pull the boat out.

Yep you would need a bunk trailer to get it. Drotto is a lifesaver when you are by yourself.

bigcrappie wrote:

So for loading you drive the boat on the bunk trailer, boat stays in place because you have the front of the bunks out of the water and it holds the boat while you get out walk to the front of the boat clip on your strap and crank it tight, put on the safety chain and go.
Guess I would have to have a bunk trailer to get it. LOL

I bought and installed a drotto on a bunk trailer, as well. So far, love it. Also, I wouldn’t recommend power loading your boat on to dry bunks any day. Good way to scuff your finish and wear the carpet faster.

I dunk mine so all bunks are submerged and pretty much pull right on to the trailer until the drotto latches, step up to clip the safety chain and step out. I’m with b-curtis. Awesome for solo trips especially.

Sorry OP. Not helpful to you, but I did need to move the winch post back slightly. I can see where you have an issue though. When you pull the lever on the drotto the boat drops quickly at the bow and slides off.

The winch post is not adjustable on the 1880 as far as I can tell. Not sure if that would help anyway.
I love the Drotto when I load because it grabs the boat and holds it tight. No more cranking on the strap in the parking lot because the boat slid backwards on the trailer after you pull it out of the water.
I’m just confounded by how nose heavy this boat is causing it to bounce the troller off the Drotto roller.

I have the same boat and usually launch solo. I don’t see any advantage to a drotto. I usually winch the boat on with the motor in gear to hold it in place. Another option is when You pull the boat out just Give the brakes a little extra push right when you stop to prep for going down the road. I hit my trolling motor one time when I backed in way to far.

MnPat1 wrote:

I don’t see any advantage to a drotto. I usually winch the boat on with the motor in gear to hold it in place.

I would see this fact alone as an advantage, no need to leave the motor running in gear unattended, while one gets out of the boat to crank on the winch.

Obviously the extra climbing in an out of the boat is not an issue for you.

My tournament tiller ain’t going nowhere, till shes floated off the bunk trailer. Tie a rope to the boat and trailer drive forward slow. DK.

the stern is rising, which causes the bow to drop. I agree that you need to adjust how far in you back the trailer…. or get the slide mount for the bow mount

Something isn’t right I agree backing in to far. But like dean stated retractable tm bracket would make it fool proof. I know plenty of guys with a drotto on a ranger.

Huntindave wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>MnPat1 wrote:</div>
I don’t see any advantage to a drotto. I usually winch the boat on with the motor in gear to hold it in place.

I would see this fact alone as an advantage, no need to leave the motor running in gear unattended, while one gets out of the boat to crank on the winch.

Obviously the extra climbing in an out of the boat is not an issue for you.

I have a step built into my trailer so no getting in and out is not an issue at all.
Hitting the brakes once you pull the boat out is pretty easy to take up the slack if the boat did slide an inch. Mine will only slide if the landing is really steep or you backed the trailer in to far which is the original posters entire problem.

Huntindave wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>MnPat1 wrote:</div>
I don’t see any advantage to a drotto. I usually winch the boat on with the motor in gear to hold it in place.

I would see this fact alone as an advantage, no need to leave the motor running in gear unattended, while one gets out of the boat to crank on the winch.

Obviously the extra climbing in an out of the boat is not an issue for you.

I run a glass boat on a bunk trailer and fish a considerable amount by myself. It seems many people make the process far too difficult or over think it. I don’t use a drotto nor do I think one would make me any more efficient.

I kick the boat just into gear to get on the trailer. Nudge the throttle slightly to get close to the winch post. Turn off boat (none of this leaving in gear stuff). Walk to the front. Clip strap and chain. Tighten up the last 4-5″. Climb out and drive away.

If you’re boat is floating around on a bunk trailer and you’ve got to keep it in gear, your trailer is in too far. I’ve never understood how the drotto saves climbing in and out of the boat as some people state? I get out of my boat once. Unless you live inside your boat and have a driver, you will have to get out with the drotto as well.

I like the droto for unloading. I back in, jump in the boat, pull the handle and it’s unhooked and away I go.

On some boats the eye to hook the strap is really low so you have to hang way over the front to hook it up. The Stratos 385 I had was like that. If you have the steps then it isn’t as big of an issue. The ranger eye isn’t as far down as the Stratos but is still quite a reach. The drotto makes it much easier.

buckybadger wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Huntindave wrote:</div>

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>MnPat1 wrote:</div>
I don’t see any advantage to a drotto. I usually winch the boat on with the motor in gear to hold it in place.

I would see this fact alone as an advantage, no need to leave the motor running in gear unattended, while one gets out of the boat to crank on the winch.

Obviously the extra climbing in an out of the boat is not an issue for you.

I run a glass boat on a bunk trailer and fish a considerable amount by myself. It seems many people make the process far too difficult or over think it. I don’t use a drotto nor do I think one would make me any more efficient.

I kick the boat just into gear to get on the trailer. Nudge the throttle slightly to get close to the winch post. Turn off boat (none of this leaving in gear stuff). Walk to the front. Clip strap and chain. Tighten up the last 4-5″. Climb out and drive away.

If you’re boat is floating around on a bunk trailer and you’ve got to keep it in gear, your trailer is in too far. I’ve never understood how the drotto saves climbing in and out of the boat as some people state? I get out of my boat once. Unless you live inside your boat and have a driver, you will have to get out with the drotto as well.

buckybadger wrote:

I’ve never understood how the drotto saves climbing in and out of the boat as some people state?

Buckybadger,

Yes I get out of my boat ONCE, to get in the truck and drive away from the ramp. You will have to ask MnPat1 how many times he gets in and out of the boat. He is the one who states he is leaving the motor running in gear, not I.
Persumably he gets out of the boat to winch the boat tight. I assume he does not leave the engine running in gear when he pulls the boat out of the water, therefore he gets back into the boat to take the engine out of gear and shut it off. Meaning once again he must get out of the boat to get in the tow vehicle to drive up the ramp.

MnPat1 wrote:

I usually winch the boat on with the motor in gear to hold it in place.

How else would you explain his process?

buckybadger wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Huntindave wrote:</div>

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>MnPat1 wrote:</div>
I don’t see any advantage to a drotto. I usually winch the boat on with the motor in gear to hold it in place.

I would see this fact alone as an advantage, no need to leave the motor running in gear unattended, while one gets out of the boat to crank on the winch.

Obviously the extra climbing in an out of the boat is not an issue for you.

I run a glass boat on a bunk trailer and fish a considerable amount by myself. It seems many people make the process far too difficult or over think it. I don’t use a drotto nor do I think one would make me any more efficient.

I kick the boat just into gear to get on the trailer. Nudge the throttle slightly to get close to the winch post. Turn off boat (none of this leaving in gear stuff). Walk to the front. Clip strap and chain. Tighten up the last 4-5″. Climb out and drive away.

If you’re boat is floating around on a bunk trailer and you’ve got to keep it in gear, your trailer is in too far. I’ve never understood how the drotto saves climbing in and out of the boat as some people state? I get out of my boat once. Unless you live inside your boat and have a driver, you will have to get out with the drotto as well.

Your method won’t work on an 1880. The problem is 2 of the heaviest trolling motor batteries made are in the front of the boat and it’s bow heavy. Winching by hand will only happen when your way too deep with the trailer. If done correctly you don’t need to touch the winch but since I’m not handicapped and old I take 10 extra seconds and make sure it’s right before I pull it out.

Which size Drotto is needed for the Ranger 1880? 3″ or 3.75″?