The author’s catwalk.Martha Bryan

The author’s catwalk helps him stay dry-footed and secure while launching or retrieving his 18′ launch.

My present boat, an 18′ launch, is the first boat I have owned that lives continually on a trailer and is launched and retrieved for each use. When I first used the trailer, I found it inconvenient to stand on the tongue underwater while releasing the winch strap, and difficult to balance on the trailer frame while climbing aboard the boat. During retrieval, it was even more awkward to step from the boat to the trailer to attach the winch strap.

My solution has been to add a catwalk to one side of the trailer. The attachment is meant not only to keep the boat centered on the trailer but also to make it easy to get in and out of the boat. It has been an unqualified success.

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