Best way to trailer boat... (in ur opinion)

[lepper]

What do you all think is the best way to put the boat on the trailer? Pull it up and then crank it on? or power on it (for the lazy users) <br /><br />Personally, I pull it up and crank it up on.<br /><br />Any tricks out there you would like to share with the world on methods you find that work the best to trailer the boat?

 

[88spl]

Re: Best way to trailer boat... (in ur opinion)

I do the same....crank it up, I have seen alot<br />who drive it up, and I guess thats OK, but just last week I saw one lady nock completely one of the red lights that are on each side of trailer and stick up about 3 ft, also (same day) a guy was driving the boat onto the trailer, man did he stir up some wake, finnaly got it all the way up....I think he should have had the trailer down alot more on the ramp...but hey....anyway he gave the sign to pull her up.....ooops forgot to rase the motor, it was dragged about 4 ft befor giving the WOW yell. Then after trying to raise by hand, which didnt work, had to backup and scrapped the motor again. I guess the angle of the incline put alot of presure on the motor and the only way to release it was to back track. I guess to each his own, I personaly have seen alot of waisted time of those driving onto trailers and some do it so precisly that it looks really swift. Saw a man yesterday driving onto his trailer that had 5 people on it, three of which were seated up at the bow, and he woundered why his 90hp wouldn't pull up to the rubber thingy, poor guy had to crank it up with 4 people in it....stupid!

 

[mako]

Re: Best way to trailer boat... (in ur opinion)

I haven't docked a boat in years and am a master at loading and unloading the boat. In some 20+ years of trailering boats I have never powered a boat onto the trailer. I might slowly power to the trailer gently till the bow touches the first roller and then have my buddy hook her up and crank her in. I also always have a power winch. Alot of times I go fishing alone and load her myself in which case I lead the boat to the trailer with the bow line, line her up and winch her up. It is really quite easy to do, but lots of people make a major chore of it and spend 20 minutes or better loading their boat.

 

[shane1]

Re: Best way to trailer boat... (in ur opinion)

I've owned a boat (21' pontoon) for about three months now. I always power mine on. It's a bit difficult in the wind but it's managable.<br />You guys that winch it up....how do you stay dry in the winter time?<br /><br />Shane

 

[88spl]

Re: Best way to trailer boat... (in ur opinion)

I like Mako use a bow line, dont get me wrong, and as I have said, to each his own, If I had a pontoon boat I would definatly power it up....jeees. Some trailers are designed with no margin for error, and some, you just cant go wrong. Its those guys,day after day, they are determined to power it up and miss and miss and miss, hold up the ramp, cuz thier to lazy to crank it up.

 

[newt]

Re: Best way to trailer boat... (in ur opinion)

My town boat ramp doesnt allow you to power on....too much erosion from the prop wash!

 

[skier]

Re: Best way to trailer boat... (in ur opinion)

I always drive my boat on the trailer. I trim the motor up so that I don't hit bottom, I also only have about 1 - 1 1/2' of thte bunk under water. That way I don't get the wheel berrings wet. I use silicone spray on the runners every year and it's like I have rollers. Doesn't take much power to drive it on, but I have a little 16' Glastron GS160 that only weighs 1050#. I was able to move the boat forward and back on the trailer on level ground before I screwed up my second shoulder.<br /><br />Craig

 

[lepper]

Re: Best way to trailer boat... (in ur opinion)

one of these days after I get my guides put on my trailer I want to power up on it. Just to say I did it... but then again I would probably screw something up. I have seen some people that are relly good at it just fly up and be out of the water in under 30 sec. and some guys really screw it up and put a nice hole in there fiberglass bottom. if and when i try that there will be no one around.. and my boat is aluminum so it is a little more durable......

 

[JB]

Re: Best way to trailer boat... (in ur opinion)

Howdy Lepper.<br /><br />It depends.<br /><br />On a shallow ramp with no waiting line it is safest to winch her on the trailer.<br /><br />On a crowded or steep ramp with impatient jerks or drunks waiting to launch or load it is nice to be able to drive the boat on, hook up and drive away as promptly as possible.<br /><br />Steep ramps can test an old man's back if he is trying to hand winch his vessel onto the trailer, too. Power winches are very handy at steep ramps where power loading is forbidden, like Sturgeon Bay, WI. (I had drunks and jerks cussing me to heck and I was sore for a week.)<br /><br />I recommend that you have the ability to do either and know how to do it.

 

[Guido]

Re: Best way to trailer boat... (in ur opinion)

The manual for my boat (17' Starcraft fiberglass bow rider) says to drive the boat up, not to use the winch. The winch is there to secure the boat. I usually drive part-way up and use the winch the rest of the way.

 

[blifsey]

Re: Best way to trailer boat... (in ur opinion)

Guess a lot depends on design of trailer. Person I bought mine from said it is a "drive on" and he had always driven it on WITHOUT revving engine and churning water, almost a "coast on". I'm not that good yet, I get to about 4 to 6 inches from bow stop and then winch it up 80% of the time and make it all the way on the other 20%. Trailer had a V type bow stop that needed replacing and I was getting pretty aggrevated with it (it would flip over). I installed a stoltz bowtie roller and it is much better. I sat at dock watching a guy try to load a trihull and I think I could have picked the boat up and carried to the trailer quicker and easier than hs drive on. He had to have hit 3000rpm's trying to get on the trailer.<br /><br />BL...

 

[CatCruzer]

Re: Best way to trailer boat... (in ur opinion)

I power my boat on all the time, cause I can't winch it on cause I boat in the river with lots of current so you can't winch it on.<br /><br />CatCruzer

 

[mbb]

Re: Best way to trailer boat... (in ur opinion)

I always drive on, unless some reason not to. The more bunks you have, the easier it is. You can rig any trailer to be self centering to prevent screwups, if you take time to do so.

 

[6MISFITZ]

Re: Best way to trailer boat... (in ur opinion)

I am used to launching and recovering my boat and know just how far to submerge the tire fenders into the water. My wife knows the magic level to and lets me know if I can't see well enough in the mirrors.<br /><br />One person holds the rope at front and back. I then float the boat onto the trailer with about 2 feet max to winch. I don't take the chance of driving on, because the ramp I sometimes use on the Canadian side of the upper Niagara River is very prone to the big wakes that are produced by the bigger 30 to 40 footers that never slow down.<br />If I drive on I take the chance that the boat would sit sideways if hit by one of these wakes.<br />With the ropes held by a person and the nose aligned by me, my wife can warn me about any wake that I would not see if I were driving. <br />We are out in less time then I have ever seen anyone who has tried driving on. <br /><br />We do it this way because I had to help a boater who was hit by one of these wakes push his boat back in the water after it sat sideways on his trailer while my wife took our kids back to our van to wait.<br /><br />We have done it this way since last August and it works at other ramps just as quickly without the wake problem.

 

[sandy]

Re: Best way to trailer boat... (in ur opinion)

The Bass boat I presently have and the one's I've had in the past have all been powered on. It does'nt take a lot of rpm's to do this if your lined up right and know what your doing. Do what your comfortable with and thats the answer. I think the admiral of the high seas had the correct reply, have the ability to do both and know how to use it.

 

[marty_scher]

Re: Best way to trailer boat... (in ur opinion)

If there is a pier, I'll just walk my 16.5 Lowe up the trailer enough to attach the winch hook.<br /><br />No big deal.<br /><br />If no dock, I'll power on. Don't want to get my feet wet

 

[Keith1]

Re: Best way to trailer boat... (in ur opinion)

I think a lot depends on your trailer set-up, like someone said, there are trailers you just can't go wrong with and some you have to hit just right. I put my trailer in where I could glide on (slower than at idle) and the friction of the carpeted bunks stops me about 12-18" short of the stop, from there I just give it a little throttle and up to the stop she goes. It doesn't take many rpm's to take it to the bow stop, I think some people who power load leave the trailer too shallow - stops them if they come in too hot before they smack the stop. It's like I tell my wife when she brings it to a dock "no such thing as too careful or to slow when docking or loading on the trailer".<br />I have also "walked" it on the trailer with lines attached to the bow a few times but for me it takes longer and why get wet?

 

[DJ]

Re: Best way to trailer boat... (in ur opinion)

Ditto JB.<br /><br />If your trailer is set up correctly "floating on" is a snap. Some competition ski boats do not even have a winch. I have motored on the trailer at ramps that do not allow power loading and had no trouble with the Park Ranger watching me.<br /><br />He said there is no problem floating on as long as one doesn't "goose it" trying to get the last foot or two. In these cases, I'll use the winch to snug it up.<br /><br />JB is right, know how to do both.

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: Best way to trailer boat... (in ur opinion)

U-bolt some pressure treated 2x6's to your trailer frame, walk on them to hook up your boat and power winch it in. This is quick, dry and minimizes potential damage. I also agree that you should know the alternate ways to get it on because someday you'll orobably have to use them.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Best way to trailer boat... (in ur opinion)

Set the trailer up with all the bunks in the right places.. 2 long all the way up the middle,2 more outside at least half as long.. Then drive it on up.. Heck my old ski nautique trailer did'nt even come with a winch, it had a turnbuckle....