looking for good instruction on loading boat on trailer

[wvwarlock]

ok here goes... i am new to boating so go easy on me. i have a 18 ft i/o starcraft bowrider and it came with trailer. trailer has 2 boards with carpeting, 2 keel rollers and 2 side rollers on either side. launched boat for first time, had a blast boating and then came my nightmare, getting boat back on trailer. never figured it would be that tough. got the bow lined up, started on, then the stern would drift. any help would be appreciated.

 

[extremez]

Re: looking for good instruction on loading boat on trailer

are you launching and retrieving on a river? sounds like the current is pulling you, right? is there a dock at this location?

if you have to power the boat on I would say to start downstream and work upstream aggainst the current while slowly turning onto the trailer.

easier said than done. worked for me when i went on the river. most of the time i'm on a lake with a dock and i pull our 18' S/F onto the trailer by hand.

 

[wvwarlock]

Re: looking for good instruction on loading boat on trailer

you are right. it is on a river, and the ramp is perpendicular to it. how far should trailer be backed in?

 

[extremez]

Re: looking for good instruction on loading boat on trailer

that really depends on the ramp angle and boat/trailer. for my rig, i back in till the water's over my trailers fenders. on a shallow launch, i have to back in farther.

you didn't say if there was a dock. if there is and you have a partner, you could use a hook and they can help guide the boat onto the trailer.

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: looking for good instruction on loading boat on trailer

We don't launch on a river, but on windy days it sure seems like it.

I also am new to boating this year and found the secret for me in loading (and docking) was learning good throttle control.

One of the instructors in my safe boating class mentioned using what he called "nudgies" on the throttle when making approaches.

So, when approaching the trailer I have the boat going dead slow, then push the throttle forward briefly to get a little push and gain steering control. Just push it forward enough to put it in gear. "Briefly" means a second or two (one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two). That's a nudgy. I found a point on top of the starboard bow I use to line up with the spare tire on the trailer to give me a starting reference point for loading.

Then, when the bow is up on the trailer, I use the throttle and the steering wheel to slowly turn the stern to line it up. Minimal throttle. I'm not try to move the boat closer onto the trailer at this point, just taking a few seconds to let the boat settle correctly on the trailer rollers and keep it aligned.

When it appears it is in line, I'll give the outboard more juice to push it on (if power loading), or have my son start pulling on the winch to bring the boat aboard while I do one or maybe two more nudgies to keep her aligned before shutting off the engine (but not on calm days; no throttle needed then).

Most importantly, don't get discouraged. It was hard for all of us the first few (dozen!) times, but it does get easier with each additional chance you get to practice.

More experienced boat captains probably have a better way of doing this, but this is what has worked for me so far. Perhaps other captains will chime in and offer their advice and criticism. That's the beauty of this forum.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: looking for good instruction on loading boat on trailer

when we started a couple of years ago i had the same problem. all above plus one of the thing i was doing was backing trailer in to far and getting to much room between keil and trailer. ramp angles change this distance but if you use the same ramp try to find the spot, fender on trailer water level on wheel or any thing you can use to judge the depth of trailer in water then fine tune to the point you can get boat to float on with in maybe 2 or 3 ft of post and then light power or winch on.
that should help center boat. allso the quicker you can do this the less time your boat has to slip around. practice will realy help.
good luck and it gets easyer

 

[fishmen111]

Re: looking for good instruction on loading boat on trailer

Install "guide ons" to prevent the rear from kicking out. Bow will take care of itself. Depths will vary, but most folks I know sink the trailer until water is at the top of the trailer fender. And practice.

 

[cribber]

Re: looking for good instruction on loading boat on trailer

All of the above and practice when you can. After a dozen or so times at the same ramp, you'll get your routine down and try to always stick to it and you'll be fine.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: looking for good instruction on loading boat on trailer

Fit a couple of guides and "learn" the best depth to recover at. Different boats, different ramps and different trailers make it almost impossible to give a good answer. For me, I winch on the last 1 to 2 feet and it works great. Fenders barely submerged.

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: looking for good instruction on loading boat on trailer

The response from JaxnJil about backing the trailer in too far reminded me of one other thing regarding our trailer.

It is strictly rollers, no bunks, so this may not apply to your situation. When our boat is unloaded, the rear set of rollers are tipped down into the water. They stay that way after you pull the trailer out of the water. Perhaps this explains why it isn't necessary to back in as far to load as you do to unload.

One day I ran to get the truck and trailer from the parking lot so we could load the boat only to find that some feisty individual had walked around the rear of our trailer and lifted the rear set of rollers back up. I just moved them back down again, so no problem.

 

[Mwp909]

Re: looking for good instruction on loading boat on trailer

I like to back my trailer in just till the tops of my finders are about 1in. above the water. This way when I pull the boat onto the trailer it gives me something to aim between. The front of the boat will just start to settle on the trailer and the nose is about a foot or so from my front roller. The back of the boat will still be floating. I then wench the boat the rest of the way up and the rear of the boat will settle where it?s suppose to. But others are right the more you do it the easier it comes. You?ll get to the point where you can load and unload in just a minute or two.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: looking for good instruction on loading boat on trailer

guide ons make all the difference in the world. Get the tall ones that will stick up out of the water when you back the trailer in. I have mine set where my wife just brings it between the guide ons (she's real good at it) and I winch it on. NO need to power load. We can usually do it in minutes.

 

[OhWellcraft]

Re: looking for good instruction on loading boat on trailer

I agree with the guide ons they do make all the difference. If that isnt an option right now get creative and rig something up to the trailer to help judge depth. Broom handle etc can be quite helpful its all about depth of the trailer. When you back into the water be at the boat side while someone else eases back when the boat stern starts to float stop backing and look at the depth either on the fenders or with your "depth guage" or if you install guide ons you can wrap a piece of tape around them at the perfect depth. Then you can back in till the water is to the tape line and your good to go. I don't have guide ons on my new(to me) boat but my wife and I have it down to about 3-5 minutes total deal. I don't like to power load ever, here in utah the lakes go down so much towards the end of the season you get close to the end of the ramps. When People power load the prop wash creates a big dip at the end of the ramp and many times you get stuck on the ramp. Just keep at it you will get good in no time with a bit of practice.

 

[INJUN]

Re: looking for good instruction on loading boat on trailer

I concur with all of the above advice.
Wind is the main factor when I haul out. I use one rope, one end tied to the nose and the other to an aft side cleat. Using both to pull the boat to the trailer evenly is a snap.

 

[hard-3]

Re: looking for good instruction on loading boat on trailer

I don't know who makes them but I saw a trailer the other day at the ramp that had 2 spring loaded orange marker pole that were on the back to give ya something to aim at . When you loaded the springs bent over and laid against the hull untill next time unloaded then pop back up . Other thing Ido in current loading is kick trailer back end a little upstream so current helps push on trailer

 

[109jb]

Re: looking for good instruction on loading boat on trailer

If trying to drive on when loading in a river or with a side wind, you need to approach the trailer at an angle. It is called crabbing because if you have ever seen a crab walk you know it walks at a sideways angle. What I mean is that to correct for the drift from the current, you angle the boat slightly into the current. The boat always stays on an imaginary line extending straight back from the trailer, but with the bow angled off a little for the drift. Not sure if that's clear, but I'll keep going. As the boat approaches the trailer, a few feet before it actually gets to the trailer, you then turn the boat toward the trailer to straighten it out. If you do it right, which just takes practice, the boat will glide up the bunks a bit. At this point, you can either bump the throttle a tiny bit to push it up enough that it is on enough that it can't drift off, or leave the engine idling in gear to keep the boat in place. Then wait a second to see if it is stable, hook up the strap and winch it up. Don't forget to shut the motor off and raise the outdrive. Loading and unloading on a river just takes practice and you will get it.

I know you don't have a roller trailer, but in my estimation, roller trailers are not for driving on, and are for walking the boat on using ropes and then winching it on. They work great for shallow water launches or where you have a dock right next to the ramp. I converted my roller trailer to bunks because the ramp I use most doesn't have docks alongside the ramp.

 

[wvwarlock]

Re: looking for good instruction on loading boat on trailer

Thanks to everyone for your insight. I got home and took a closer look at the trailer and found that the side rollers were about 7 inches from the hull on each side of the trailer giveing it over a foot of room to move once started on. I am going to adjust those up against the hull with about 1/2 inch of play and see how that works and if still having problems i will replace them with guide ons. Once again all the input is greatly appreciated.

 

[tony4pyro]

Re: looking for good instruction on loading boat on trailer

I am brand new to boating and was very frustrated trying to get my 19' Bayliner back on the trailer at the launch the other nite. It's more difficult than it looks! After three tries of pulling out, seeing the boat leaning badly, then backing up to try again, I finally got it on, but still a little crooked. Someone else at the launch told me not to back the trailer in to where the fenders are completely submerged, and then just power it on. Either way, I need more practice. Just thought I would share a similar story of frustration.

 

[wvwarlock]

Re: looking for good instruction on loading boat on trailer

thanks to everyone for the information. I went out and got a set of 5' bunk board guide ons and it solved all of my woes. Took boat out yesterday and managed to load the boat on the first attempt in under 5 minutes. I can not stress how useful and helpful everyone one these boards are and just want to let everone know I appreciate all the guidance.