Power Loading

[109jb]

I was at the boat launch the other day and saw these 2 guys loading a big jon boat onto its trailer. By big I mean it had a 90 HP outboard and was probably 18 feet long. Anyway, they proceed to drive the trailer on and then OMG they pour the coals to it to drive the boat up the bunks. I've never seen that much power used for power loading before. They could have easily backed the trailer up about another 4 to 6 feet and not had any of this. The kicker is they both had these patches on their jackets and stickers on their boat and truck that said "Illinois Department of Natural Resources".

 

[_chris_]

Re: Power Loading

Just because they got the job doesn't mean they know what they are doing. The Sherrif's on my lake can barely get their boat back on the trailer, and they do it almost every day. Sometimes I want to give them a hand but am scared to make them look bad.

 

[AZSenza]

Re: Power Loading

We dont have any problems coasting our 22ft larson onto the trailer. the wife knows where the fenders should be in the waterand i know how fast i need to be going to get it on the trailer before shutting down and coast. We see people ALL the time with NEW 20+ foot boats just hammering the throttle to get them on the trailer. It make me cringe. Trailer+ramp+waves=engine off! The winch strap can be your friend, the concrete ramp is not!

 

[JimKW]

Re: Power Loading

The guy I bought my boat off of power loaded it when we went on my test ride with him. I loaded it that way the first two times I was out. Not much power, but a little to get it up as far as possible on the trailer. One time it went all the way to the stop and the other we had to crank it in less than a foot.

Since reading this forum, I have started lining it up and more or less drifting in with the boat running a little above idle. That usually gets me about two feet from the stop and we crank it from there. I remembered that was the way I did it 20 years ago when I previoulsy owned a boat, but it had a trailer with rollers.

 

[marlboro180]

Re: Power Loading

Apparently never passed the test.

http://www.boat-ed.com/mn/course/p2-4_trailering.htm

 

[LIQUID PROZAC]

Re: Power Loading

my wife pulls the boat onto the trailer at a coast and i winch it up whether it's 6 feet or 2 feet--about the dnr-i guess when it's not yours you just don't care

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Power Loading

Power loading is illegal in MI.
And if you get caught you get a "certificate of apperication"..

Takes me about 1 minute to crank mine on the trailer and i never get my feet wet. I really dont see the need to power load.

 

[xxturbowesxx]

Re: Power Loading

Power loading is legal in FL and I admit that i do it sometimes. I don't back my trailer down far enough to float the boat onto it because it will sit crooked at the rivers(current). I trim my motor up as far as possible and the thrust is aimed upwards so i don't see the harm. I have a drive on trailer and its designed to be used this way and also its much faster than winching. Simply drive up to the bumpstop and clip the winch.

 

[109jb]

Re: Power Loading

I just found it funny that the DNR tells boaters to not power load due to the damage it can cause to ramps has 2 employees out there doing just that. I guess it is "do as I say, not as I do".

 

[oshkoshboating]

Re: Power Loading

It could be that since its state property (boat) they just want to beat the crap out of it.

Personally I just roll the boat up to the end of the the first roller and winch it up.

 

[gss036]

Re: Power Loading

I power with an electric POWER WINCH ;-}

 

[5150abf]

Re: Power Loading

Power loading is really bad for the ramps and I try to not do it too much.

I will try to hit the trailer fast enough to get up on it then if I need to I will blip the throttle btu I have seen some guys just nail it and sit there, seems like it would be hard on the boat too.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Power Loading

i idle load all my boats. i said IDLE, if you set up your trailer properly, guide ons, self centering rollers, and back in to the proper depth, there is no reason to need any more power than idle. true self centering rollers and guide on are not cheap. but in the long run the will pay for themselves. they save the ramp, and scuffs on the hull.

http://www.iboats.com/Self_Centerin...93958477--**********.844598620--view_id.56624

 

[Rogue427]

Re: Power Loading

I just idel on and crank it by hand a little.

 

[skargo]

Re: Power Loading

Power loading is for people with skinny arms.

 

[mike343]

Re: Power Loading

Some boat/trailer combos are hard to keep centered if the trailer is in deep enough to get easily crank the bow all the way to the stop. My solution is to run the boat onto the bunks and snug it up a little and then back in a little further for the last couple of feet. No big deal.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Power Loading

Some boat/trailer combos are hard to keep centered , properly set up as i said in my post, solves this problem.

 

[xxturbowesxx]

Re: Power Loading

Power loading is for people with skinny arms.

Its more of a lazy thing with me and when its winter I don't like to get wet

 

[skargo]

Re: Power Loading

Its more of a lazy thing with me and when its winter I don't like to get wet

I was just joking really.

I can load and retrieve my boat without getting wet at all, and I walk it on, and winch it up. My trailer is set up for my boat, and I know where the sweet spot is as far as how deep I sink my trailer.
To stay dry I have to climb into the pickup bed over the wheel, and then walk up the tongue of the trailer.