How many of you drive your boat onto the trailer?

[_chris_]

I never do, I always shut off and raise the outdrave and pull it up by hand. I am too paraniod about being crooked and dinging my fiberglass but I see that alot of people at the dock drive them up, some are good at it and some are horrible and bang into everything. I had a guy in front of me at the dock trying it and it took him 17 minutes(I clocked him) to drive it up straight and tie it off. I had mine on my trailer and out of the water in a minute and five seconds from the time I put the truck in park.

How do you do it?

 

[mla2ofus]

Re: How many of you drive your boat onto the trailer?

Being a pontoon owner and I just built and installed some guide posts on the back of the tlr and it also has inside guides toward the middle of tlr, I just drive it on w/ no problems.
Mike

 

[esobofh]

Re: How many of you drive your boat onto the trailer?

Depends on the situation...

Some of the ramps we go to don't have the wharf/dock along the side to facilitate pulling the boat off with a rope, so you must drive it on/off.

Some ramps are so busy with boats parked all along, it's not always possible to lead the boat to the trailer, and it must be driven on/off again.

But, where I can, I always opt to pull the boat along with my bow line, and get my feet in the water to get it on the trailer.

Thinking back to any of the times where i've goofed up, or looked like an idiot loading the boat, it was always through driving it on... wind, waves, current.. if you can avoid it, do so.

 

[109jb]

Re: How many of you drive your boat onto the trailer?

I drive on at idle speed all of the time. At the launch I use most often there are 4 ramps and only one has a dock next to it. That dock also has a railing on both sides including between the dock and ramp. That particular ramp at this launch is the busiest and you could be waiting an hour or more on the weekend to get that one. Not real conducive to walking the boat on unless you don't mind getting wet or waiting a long time. I do mind since most times I am out there alone fishing. I just use one of the other 3 ramps and drive on. I know how deep thhe trailer has to be and idling it on plants it on the bunks where I can reach over the bow, hook up the winch strap, and take out the slack. The boat at this point is far enough on that I can pull it out of the water and winch it the rest of the way in the area set up for prepping the trailer for road travel. Driving on does take practice and judging the currents/winds, but once used to it is fast and easy. BTW, I usually launch and load in the Illinois river so there is always a current to contend with.

 

[marlboro180]

Re: How many of you drive your boat onto the trailer?

I usually idle up to the rollers on the trailer close enough to get the winch line hooked and shut her down. I don't mind getting wet feet to pull her up the rest of the way. Part of boating as far as I'm concerned... The WI DNR has a lot of info out in opposition to power loading. Digging holes at the bottom of the ramps, especially at the less improved launches where they don't have concrete far down if at all, is a real pain when the trailer drops in or you wreck a prop on the hump behind the hole.

I've seen a lot of guys power load very successfully but I now chose not to unless absolutely necessary. Then again , I've seen a few bows whacked on the front of the trailer. No, I've never done that

 

[ezez]

Re: How many of you drive your boat onto the trailer?

I have never driven any of my boats onto the trailer. I see folks do it all the time but I also see folks do lot's of things I don't attempt. I guess i would just rather take my time and make sure it loads correctly.

 

[jasper60103]

Re: How many of you drive your boat onto the trailer?

Good thread. I was curious about this as well.
The place where I boat has a dock, so I walk the bow to the rollers,
connect the winch, then crank it on.
Being a newbie I found this easy, and the boat
loads nice and straight on the trailer.
I recently bought one of those trailer walk planks to
avoid taking a dip, but I really don't mind getting my feet wet
if necessary.

edit: FYI. I have a light weight tinnie utility boat

 

[Flying Sushi]

Re: How many of you drive your boat onto the trailer?

As long as power loading is permitted at ramps I have been power loading all the way for last 12 years?.. Never faced any issue yet....

 

[salty87]

Re: How many of you drive your boat onto the trailer?

drive on at all the ramps around me. don't think i've seen anyone winch it in a very long time.

 

[_chris_]

Re: How many of you drive your boat onto the trailer?

You guys make me feel like a novice, I have been boating since before I can remember and have never driven any of my boats onto the trailer. I was taught to always shut it down and hop in the water and pull it up. It only takes me a minute or so and never hit anything.

 

[rbh]

Re: How many of you drive your boat onto the trailer?

side gides are a must especially if you have wind or current your fighting.
rob

 

[StoutMann]

Re: How many of you drive your boat onto the trailer?

Walk on, walk off. If any part of the boat is forward of the back edge of the trailer, the engine is off and tilted up.

 

[cwhite6]

Re: How many of you drive your boat onto the trailer?

Driving it on and power loading are two different things to me. I drive mine up on the trailer, but do not powerload. I get enough a head of steam and I shut the motor off when it hits the bunks and the boat scoots on up the bunks. Then I reach over the bow and clip the winch on. Jump off onto the front of the trailer and tighten the winch up. Takes 20 seconds.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: How many of you drive your boat onto the trailer?

Jon boat: yes/no, depends on conditions

Old tri-hull: nightmare trying to powerload as the guide-ons would catch the outside hulls, 2" of clearance each side,,, was like trying to thread a needle.

I did see 1 guy trying to powerload a 20'er into the back of his truck... He gunned the engine and the bow rode up over the bow stop 3-4', transom hooked the trailer framing.

Now that's what I call powerloading

 

[skargo]

Re: How many of you drive your boat onto the trailer?

I don't power on or off. I have a fairly heavy boat(4K lbs.) and I can launch, and retrieve without getting wet, and am faster than the cool guys who power on.
I did have the boat get away from me because I didn't have it tied off when I launched, and I jumped in after it. It was way over my head because of the power loaders The end of the ramp was blasted away, but further down the dock, it was only 4' deep.

I get my trailer just right, and pull it up to within 2-3' of the bow roller, takes me 20 seconds to finish cranking it on, if that. I also launch in the Susquehanna river right before the Chesapeake bay, and have no problems with the wind and current.

 

[Bilgamesh]

Re: How many of you drive your boat onto the trailer?

"How many of you drive your boat onto the trailer?"

Only one, but the trailer must be in the water!

Sorry, I'm bored today...

 

[204 Escape]

Re: How many of you drive your boat onto the trailer?

I always have. Has always worked so far for me anyhow.

 

[shorts&chanclas]

Re: How many of you drive your boat onto the trailer?

Power most of the way and then winch remainder to cleanly line up with bow roller. Never had a problem. Seen a couple of over eager throttle users do damage. Even had to yell at a guy that his Durango (with paper plates) was still in reverse while he was winching his Bayliner cuddy. just wasn't his day.

 

[sbbamafan]

Re: How many of you drive your boat onto the trailer?

I don't think I have gotten wet or used the winch (other than about the last 6 or 8 inches) in about 25 years. I always drive on/off. My idle speed seems a bit faster than other boats even though engine speed is not. I attribute this to the dual prop setup - not sure. Going on, I do it slowly - bump in an out of idle, but going much slower than idle. The outriggers really make the difference. You can see them here. Best thing to ever put on a trailer...next to bearing buddies.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/sbbamafan/DSC01053.jpg?t=1249502553

 

[jkust]

Re: How many of you drive your boat onto the trailer?

Roller trailer barely touches the water and I winch it up. That is how mine is intended to work. This weekend a guy at the ramp with a Cobalt and a bunk trailer said after he saw how easy it was to get my boat on the trailer, he wanted to go back and get a roller. Best upgrade ever IMO.