First time boater? Two Part Question on how to pull your boat onto your trailer?

[heckmonkey]

Hey just recently got a 19 ft bass boat, took it out the other day, winds got up to gusts of 35 mph? and steady at 15 to 20? Got crazy so I started heading back in, backed my trailer in, pulled the boat up to the trailer (or at least tried) wind was blowing directly on my starboard side, and it was just blowing my boat all over the place and I couldnt seem to line it up to get it on the trailer?

So I guess my question is two parts?

1st: how far or deep do you back your boat trailer in?

2nd: if you are facing serious winds like this, how do you get your boat on the trailer so I am spending as little time on the launch as possible and doing so w/ out getting blown all over the place?

I felt like a idiot, cause my control shifter got stuck in saftey neutral and I ended up using my trolling motor to get me next to the trailer, hopped out and just pulled my boat by hand up to the trailer, then used the wentch? Lucky it was on a very slow day at the lake, probably cause of the crazy wind! Just dont want to look stupid and also dont want to destroy my bass boat or others next to me?

Thanks!

 

[cribber]

Re: First time boater? Two Part Question on how to pull your boat onto your trailer?

I ended up using my trolling motor to get me next to the trailer, hopped out and just pulled my boat by hand up to the trailer, then used the wench? Lucky it was on a very slow day at the lake, probably cause of the crazy wind! Just don't want to look stupid and also don't want to destroy my bass boat or others next to me?

Thanks!

Practice that and you'll be golden at the ramp... Someone posted here launch deep and retrieve shallow. I've taken that to heart and added one slow approach will get you there quicker that a fast approach and missing your mark. It happens to all of us but it happens less when I slow down my approach and compensate for the wind.

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: First time boater? Two Part Question on how to pull your boat onto your trailer?

Trailer guide on's will make you look like a salty pro!

http://www.iboats.com/Boat-Trailer-Guides/dm/*******.719998935--**********.615477412--view_id.238441

Happy boating!

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: First time boater? Two Part Question on how to pull your boat onto your trailer?

trailer guides are an excellent idea. Also, I leave about a 3rd of the front of my bunks exposed out of the water as about the right placement of the trailer in the launch. Any deeper, and the boat will float off the bunks.

Of course, with a more shallow hull you may leave a bit more exposed so when you ride up on them, they'll position on the bunks nicely. Find a quiet day, grab a friend to drive the truck/trailer and experiment with the right retrieval depth.

Someone on iboats told me this a few years back. Never spent more than 2 mins to trailer/retrieve my boat since.

hope it helps

 

[SNye45]

Re: First time boater? Two Part Question on how to pull your boat onto your trailer?

As so many ramps are different, it is really trial & error. The general rule of thumb is launch deep, retrieve shallow.

As for dealing with wind at the launch when retrieving, you could try putting your trailer in at a slight angle -downwind, it is always easier to go against the wind than with it. You can then gently motor onto the trailer, letting the wind push you back if you go too far upwind. Once the boat has "beached" itself on the trailer, hop out and use the winch to pull the boat up the rest of the way up.

Just a suggestion

 

[TahoeQ4Pilot]

Re: First time boater? Two Part Question on how to pull your boat onto your trailer?

Not trying to hijack the OPs thread, just curious about how the old salts recover using the retrieve shallow method? I have been a self-learner from the get-go last year, and I had been practicing the technique of launch deep, recover deep.

Meanwhile last recovery I had a trim switch malfunction and the boat now sits on the trailer about a foot from the forward roller.

So if the trailer is shallow do you drive the boat under power all the way up until the bow is on the forward roller? I had been getting it close and winching it on the last few feet. BTW, I think I partially stripped out the winch, so I obviously dont have it figured out yet.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: First time boater? Two Part Question on how to pull your boat onto your trailer?

idle on to the trailer... little blip of throttle, shut it off and winch on the rest off the way.... if your winch stripped get a new/bigger winch

 

[H20Rat]

Re: First time boater? Two Part Question on how to pull your boat onto your trailer?

So if the trailer is shallow do you drive the boat under power all the way up until the bow is on the forward roller? I had been getting it close and winching it on the last few feet. BTW, I think I partially stripped out the winch, so I obviously dont have it figured out yet.

That is called power loading. Illegal in many places, and not a way to make friends! It destroys ramps by washing out the end of the pavement, and building up a sand mound further out. You should NEVER use more than just a blip of throttle to help position.

Also, if you winch shows ANY signs of failure, replace it. They are cheap, and a broken one can send parts flying at you at incredibly fast speed.

 

[Low dsrt jon]

Re: First time boater? Two Part Question on how to pull your boat onto your trailer?

That's the same way that I've done it in the past. Embarassing but it worked for me LDJ:redface::redface::redface:

 

[skargo]

Re: First time boater? Two Part Question on how to pull your boat onto your trailer?

I walk my 5000 lb or so boat on every time. No need for powerloading if you figure out proper retrieval depth.

 

[superbenk]

Re: First time boater? Two Part Question on how to pull your boat onto your trailer?

I've tried power loading a few times, but I find it incredibly frustrating. Maybe it's my lack of piloting experience, trailer depth being wrong, boat being difficult (no power steering, old, not the smoothest operating thing), or a combination. Regardless, I've never been able to get it right & I always end up out of the boat winching. Some of the small lakes we go to don't have docks right next to the ramps so there's no easy way to guide the boat onto the trailer with the dock lines without getting waist deep in the water.

Is this something that's just inherently easier to do in newer boats or is it just one of those things that requires lots of practice?

Note, I never gun it pulling on to the trailer. Idling or just above, nothing more.

 

[109jb]

Re: First time boater? Two Part Question on how to pull your boat onto your trailer?

With practice at piloting, trailer depth, etc., you will be able to drive the boat on the trailer. I'm not talking power loading here, just using the forward momentum of the boat to glide up the bunks to "stick it" to the trailer. Then just winch it up the last little bit. As I said it takes practice with your rig. I can glide up the bunks on my trailer and only winch about a foot or less and do this without having to cram the throttle forward like you see some people do.

Whenever I launch at an unfamiliar ramp, I make a mental note when launching of how deep the trailer has to be to float the boat off. I back in very slowly while watching the back of the boat to see where it starts floating. Actual launch may require backing in farther because the bow is still stuck too hard but where the back end floats off is what I use for my mental note. BTW, I have guide bunks so I don't have to worry about the boat floating off and swinging 90 degrees to the trailer. I highly recommend guide boards/bunks/posts/whatever. Once I see how deep the trailer is by looking at the water level in relation to the fenders/wheels of the trailer, I use that to determine how deep I back it in for retrieval. For my rig, I back in for retrieve until the water level is a bit shallower than where the boat floated off. The actual difference in water depth varies a bit depending on the slope of the ramp and how steep it is but is generally around a 2 inch difference on the trailer fender. This works for me. At the ramp I normally use I know from experience how deep to back the trailer in.

In choppy conditons it becomes a bit more difficult but I have only had a few occasions where I couldn't drive on the trailer.

 

[roscoe]

Re: First time boater? Two Part Question on how to pull your boat onto your trailer?

Proper trailer set up will help.
Having the correct trailer for the boat.

 

[jrampey]

Re: First time boater? Two Part Question on how to pull your boat onto your trailer?

Loading with a crosswind requires patience and practice. I back my trailer in until approx 1/3 of the bunks are still out of the water. When loading the boat with a crosswind I start about 75 or 100 ft back and about 30 degrees downwind with the boat in forward gear at idle. Aim at the upwind rear corner of the trailer. Keep the boat under power so the wind won't grab the bow and swing it downwind. In the last 10 to 15 ft turn the wheel so the bow swings into the middle of the trailer just as it meets the trailer. Keep the power on until you definitely have enough momentum to beach the boat on the bunks. Jump out - hook the winch up and pull it the last 2 or 3 ft. Oh! - remember to trim up the stern drive to prevent bottoming out. I HATE SHALLOW RAMPS!!!

 

[JimS123]

Re: First time boater? Two Part Question on how to pull your boat onto your trailer?

The only issue with wind is which side of the dock you retreive from. I can launch or retreieve either port or starboard. I go on whichever side will allow the boat to be pushed toward the dock..,Then I don't have to worry about it floating away from me.

The trailer is backed in just far enough to wet the last roller. I pull out the winch line and fasten it on a u-bolt that I mounted on the fender. Then I manually pull the stem up on the last trailer roller, stand on the fender and attach the cable to the bow eye. The U-bolt position is perfectly placed for the correct amount of line. The keel is now pretty well stuck in the crease in the roller, so the boat can't move side to side. Then walk to the winch stand and crank her up.

The most time consuming part of the whole ordeal is talking to the guy on the next dock, who is hollering that I didn't back in far enough.

 

[JaseBosto]

Re: First time boater? Two Part Question on how to pull your boat onto your trailer?

As so many ramps are different, it is really trial & error. The general rule of thumb is launch deep, retrieve shallow.

As for dealing with wind at the launch when retrieving, you could try putting your trailer in at a slight angle -downwind, it is always easier to go against the wind than with it. You can then gently motor onto the trailer, letting the wind push you back if you go too far upwind. Once the boat has "beached" itself on the trailer, hop out and use the winch to pull the boat up the rest of the way up.

Just a suggestion

Thats what I also recommend. I learned this a few years ago when my boat got pushed right off the trailer as i was pulling out.

 

[heckmonkey]

Re: First time boater? Two Part Question on how to pull your boat onto your trailer?

Hey thank you all for your responses. I will certainly be practicing allot more and hopefully not destroying my boat in the mean time.

Just wanted to say, this is by far one of the best sites! I appriciate everyone being serious about my question, its great to have insite from everyone that is long time boaters for us first timers! I am sure to have plenty more questions down the road, so its awesome to have a site that allows for people like me to ask questions!

Thank you all! IBOATS RULES!

The Heck!