Cross winds while trailering

[ttownguy]

So the girlfriend and I decide to head back to the ramp and call it a day Sunday afternoon. As we pull up we can see that the dual ramp is pretty busy with folks coming and going. One side frees up and its finally our turn and the girlfriend backs the trailer down next to someone elses trailer. This dual ramp is fairly narrow and I'm always concerned about trailering within 6 feet of another boat. Sunday was especially concerning with a 10 knot quartering tail-wind.

I let the other boat (a high sitting pontoon) go first since they were down the ramp first. I even waved my girlfriend to pull the trailer out of the water. Good thing I did. That guy had a heck of a time and was all over the place. You could tell he was inexperienced as well as his buddy who backed the trailer in too deep. The pontoon ended up backing into a boat that was docked nearby and also running over where my trailer had been...not to mention bottoming the motor out on some rocks, but ignoring it and advancing the throttle to get off the rocks. Heck, he even tried to throttle the pontoon up onto their truck once.

Eventually I asked if I could go ahead and he let me. He tried to load next to me and I waved him back. I told his driver to pull up a few feet and they were able to get it trailered (after we pulled up). Of course a crowd of bystanders were watching, half of them were waiting to load or launch their boats. Some ol' fart had told my girlfriend to back in and hurry up...he was waiting to launch. I had a boater waving me to "go ahead'.

The guys in the pontoon had been drinking heavily as I later found. Loading and unloading in windy conditions can be tricky, but take your time, be safe and don't let people rush you...and of course, don't get trashed. Its also good to be able to communicate with the person backing your trailer...a pair of walkee talkies is a good investment.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Cross winds while trailering

I cringe every time I come back to the ramp and there's a pontoon trying to retrieve. It always takes forever for them to get the awkward thing on the trailer and off the ramp.

The lake I boat on has a narrow two-lane ramp, with just short courtesy docks, and a pontoon always is wide enough to pretty much close both sides of the ramp.

The last time I came in to load up and leave and there was a pontoon trying to retrieve, I just said to heck with it and went back and did some more fishing. Who needs the aggravation? When I came back half an hour later, the pontoon was finally getting pulled up the ramp by the tow vehicle.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Cross winds while trailering

Back in the early 80's there were very few drive on trailers in Minnesota. I had taken a fishing trip to Dixie and saw the way they recovered their boats, so when I got home I pulled the rollers off my trailer and set it up as a drive on trailer...... for a 16', 20 hp Quachita flat bottom boat. The bed was a half dozen carpeted 2x6's, and the wind boards were 2 more carpeted 2x6's. It looked like a corn crib.

My fishing buddies gave me a lot of chit about that trailer, until the day we fished a tournament in Wisconsin, and a cold front came through giving us about 25 mph cross wind at the landing, along with white cap waves.

They all were in the lake up to their chests, with boats all goofed up, including completely cross-ways on the trailer, and I just watched.

When it came to be my turn, my wife backed the trailer in, I eased the nose between the wind boards, swung the stern into the wind, straightened out the engine and gunned it on. It took 15 seconds to load.

They never laughed at my corn crib again.

It's pretty hard to beat a well set up bunk and windboard trailer.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Cross winds while trailering

**deleted**

 

[j_martin]

Re: Cross winds while trailering

and about a year later people started wondering why there was a big hole at the end of the ramp. Your method of loading is actually illegal in many areas and frowned upon pretty much everywhere else. The ONLY ramps that can withstand powerloading are the really long ones used on lakes or tidal areas that have water that fluctuates alot.

While yer on yer ivory tower, take note that some of us scoundrels actually spend a little time, money, and effort pumping sand at our favorite landings and improving them.

Do you?
respectfully.

 

[Old Gray Hair]

Re: Cross winds while trailering

Whats a wind board?

 

[Ripfence]

Re: Cross winds while trailering

and about a year later people started wondering why there was a big hole at the end of the ramp. Your method of loading is actually illegal in many areas and frowned upon pretty much everywhere else. The ONLY ramps that can withstand powerloading are the really long ones used on lakes or tidal areas that have water that fluctuates alot.

Pretty much everyone powerloads here.

 

[nimmor]

Re: Cross winds while trailering

First let me state I am not trying to start an argument. I am curious as how power loading puts holes in the ramp? I powerload and so do about 95% of the people who use the same ramps I use. Maybe my defenition of powerloading is differant. I put the trailer in the water and then get in the boat and use the outboard to put it on the trailer, not using WOT. Only about 6" of my bunks are out of the water. I only do that to keep the boat in place while I hook up the winch.

 

[mike64]

Re: Cross winds while trailering

nimmor,

Power loading can erode the ground under the ramp, causing the ramp to eventually break. There's a little animation that shows it toward the bottom of this page:

http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/MRBIS/

The ramps here in Michigan all have "NO POWERLOADING" signs.

 

[Daley]

Re: Cross winds while trailering

I sincerely do NOT mean to hijack a thread, but am I doing it wrong then? I back the trailer in just enough so that the bow almost reaches the front roller, and winch up the last 12-15 inches. No powerloading required, and I'm in and out in under two minutes. I will admit that I'm quite the newbie with boats, and mine is only a 13' 6" jet so it's probably wicked-easy compared to most everyone else, but powerloading just seems like one of those things where nothing good can come of it.

 

[mike64]

Re: Cross winds while trailering

I sincerely do NOT mean to hijack a thread, but am I doing it wrong then? I back the trailer in just enough so that the bow almost reaches the front roller, and winch up the last 12-15 inches. No powerloading required, and I'm in and out in under two minutes. I will admit that I'm quite the newbie with boats, and mine is only a 13' 6" jet so it's probably wicked-easy compared to most everyone else, but powerloading just seems like one of those things where nothing good can come of it.

No, it sounds like you're doing it right. It is easier if you have a smaller boat I'm sure, like you say (mine is 16' and a piece of cake to get on the trailer).

I personally don't have anything against powerloading myself, except that I don't want to see ramps ruined from it. There may very well be a responsible, low impact way to powerload for all I know. But it's a big no-no in my state.

 

[Daley]

Re: Cross winds while trailering

Thanks for the reply Mike. I don't have much to go on, other than the comedy I've witnessed at the launch the few times I've had my new toy out. That being said, back to the original discussion!

Last time I was at the launch, I saw what was obviously a complete newbie as well as a moron. Now granted I'm a newb myself with limited experience, but I like to think I'm a little above "moron" status. This family was trying desperately to back the trailer up to retrieve their insurance-claim purchase. It took them a while to even get it squarely on the trailer, and once that was done they got the trailer tires out of the water and parked about ten feet up the launch. They then proceeded to unload all the toys from the boat, empty the coolers, etc. etc. etc. There was a second lane available, but just to be as much of a jacka** as they were, I backed down the empty side, swung the trailer over behind them enough to allow a THIRD boater room in the open lane and we were both outta there before these folks were anywhere close to being done. Not really what I'd consider a stellar accomplishment, but I did get an applause - from almost everyone

One thing I can't stand is inconsiderate behavior. Plus, I have a low tolerance for stupidity. Those two things together just make me want to make that sort of person feel like as much of an idiot as I can. One thing I do have going for me is that I'm prepared at the launch, and am pretty good at backing a trailer - even a short one.

 

[18footcheetah]

Re: Cross winds while trailering

My version of powerloading is for the most part idleing onto my trailer and hold just enough throttle to hold the boat in place while i hook up the winch about 1500 RPM or less and winch boat up with engine running shut it off trim it up pull trailer up finish tie downs and leave.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Cross winds while trailering

My version of power loading is to use a power winch to pull the boat up on the trailer without using the motor at all--or dunking the trailer.

 

[skargo]

Re: Cross winds while trailering

While yer on yer ivory tower, take note that some of us scoundrels actually spend a little time, money, and effort pumping sand at our favorite landings and improving them.

Do you?
respectfully.

I find that hard to believe. If you REALLY did that, you'd know powerloading is destructive.

Powerloading is for guys with weak arms.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Cross winds while trailering

I find that hard to believe. If you REALLY did that, you'd know powerloading is destructive.

Powerloading is for guys with weak arms.

I do that. The landing I fix from time to time is a bit too shallow anyway. The boats tend to be way off the back of the ramp, which is linked concrete ties, so it's not damaged in any way. It does tend to make a sand bar a short ways away from the ramp that is hard to cross. It's periodically (like every 5 years) removed to a weedy spot beside the ramp, along with excess sand near the dock, thus improving the landing and dockage.

Powerloading is destructive to poorly designed and constructed concrete ramps, like many that have a thin slab of poorly reinforced concrete poured a short distance into the lake. If you construct the ramp out of reinforced, very thick concrete, or even steel ties and lay and link them to a sufficient depth, which takes some skill and tools to do, then they will be imune to any ravages of waves, wind, ice, or powerloading.

BTW, I am an older fellow with weak arms, so I guess powerloading is for me.

 

[Merlinskiss]

Re: Cross winds while trailering

Jiminy Crickets guys, how do you kill a subject! You want entertainment; Go to theany public launch ramp with a six pack and lawn chair and film some of it for the comedy channel when you aren't laughing to hard to hold the camera steady or spill the beer!

For us old git-her-done guys, know your boat, trailer and tow vehicle! Know how to back it in to the water & how deep. Have everything loose, plugs in etc., and ready to go except the winch line just in case the engine won't start (mine always does but)... Start engine, when running, disconnect from winch line and back off the trailer using the engine power. If you are alone, tie off boat and go park trailer. If you have help, let them do one or the other. Oh yes, setting everything up so it works just right for your boat and trailer is a no brainer. It has to be done and right!

Loading is the same. Know how deep to put your trailer in for EASY loading and drive up on it with power on until it seats in the front cradle. Mine goes in shallower for loading than launching. Hook up winch line and tighten snugly. Pull boat out of water and secure for towing. Where I live, we have concrete ramps and don't have to worry about using a little power. Neither should you. This is the 20th century and using brains instead of brawn seems to be going by the wayside as we evidence at the ramp on a regular basis. It takes my wife or sons and I one minute to launch when we have the trailer in the water and the same to load once the trailer is in and the boat is driven on. Doesn't take much power either. Fast idle does it.

Shore erosion? What's that? Wave action! It does more to the shoreline than my little old 150 horses even when they are excited! And I wasn't even in the Navy. Besides, what are my tax dollars going for? Ramp repairs or Free medical services for illegal Mexicans. I know which one I prefer.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Cross winds while trailering

We never power load. Float her on and winch the last foot or thereabouts. Knowing the depth you need and practice makes it an easy operation. See some really interesting power loaders at the ramp though. I think that some of them think it is impressive to others as they blast their way onto the trailer (sometimes several times till they eventually get it in the correct position) or leave with it loaded incorrectly.

 

[skargo]

Re: Cross winds while trailering

We never power load. Float her on and winch the last foot or thereabouts. Knowing the depth you need and practice makes it an easy operation. See some really interesting power loaders at the ramp though. I think that some of them think it is impressive to others as they blast their way onto the trailer (sometimes several times till they eventually get it in the correct position) or leave with it loaded incorrectly.

Yep, I don't power on or off and I am in and out in mere minutes.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Cross winds while trailering

Yep, I don't power on or off and I am in and out in mere minutes.

Makes it a far more relaxed operation in my opinion.