Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

[Bubba1235]

So a buddy calls me yesterday and says he needs help at the local lake because he can't get his traler up the boat ramp. I hop in the 4x4 truck and go see what the issue is and to help pull him up the ramp. Well, it's not his tow vehicle causing the problem...

The lake, like every body of water in the mid-west right now, is really low meaning he had to back further down the ramp. The problem is that when he got too deep the trailer axels fell off the end of the concrete ramp into a hole that is at least 3' deep caused by people powering their boat on to their trailers even though there is a huge sign saying not to do it.

The trailer was sitting on the frame with both axels in the hole and short of ripping the axels off there was no way to just pull it out. Three hours of screwing around with a couple 55 drums and a portable air compressor we finally managed to float the back of the trailer enough to get it out but his boat is still tied up at the dock and I'm fresh out of ideas how to get it back on the trailer.

As a courtesy to other boaters we put a steel post in the water (off to one side) at the end of the ramp with a sign not to go past it. While we were loading the drums back on my truck we watch a guy loading his small fishing boat on the trailer and yup, you guessed it, nail the throttle and power loaded it. BELIEVE he got an ear full from everyone around the ramp. I think he was still clueless about why he shouldn't do it...

 

[Ned L]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

In CT there is a $150.00 fine for power loading. Despite that I know there are ramps I can't use, and lakes I can't access because the ramps have been ruined from it.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

I have a tendency to speak up when I see power loading since our ramps are in poor enough shape and we don't need that type of redesign.

I understand exactly where you are coming from.

 

[BoatDrinksQ5]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

Hmm - in MN i have never seen a sign - nor have I heard any negativity towards it until I came to this blessed temple of boating knowledge.

i typically do an easy power load to get within 1' of roller.... i'll have to take it even more easy. thx for the reminder!

some of the larger new ramps on larger water (Tonka) i would imagine my lil guy wouldn't be a prob!

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

How bizarre. Pretty much every boat, on every ramp that I have visited in Colorado, gets power loaded, and there are no signs saying not to. That's just how it's done here. What's the alternative?

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

Interesting. At the launch ramps in San Diego and Mission bays power loading is SOP. Maybe because of the tidal action the concrete ramps extend further into the water so creation of a "hole" is not an issue?

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

Hmm - in MN i have never seen a sign - nor have I heard any negativity towards it until I came to this blessed temple of boating knowledge.

i typically do an easy power load to get within 1' of roller.... i'll have to take it even more easy. thx for the reminder!

some of the larger new ramps on larger water (Tonka) i would imagine my lil guy wouldn't be a prob!

Why would you need to power load at any ramp on Minnetonka? You should be able to just coast on to the trailer unless your trailer is not in far enough. Be aware that power loading doesn't mean driving onto the trailer - it means gunning the motor to push the boat further up the trailer

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

Interesting. At the launch ramps in San Diego and Mission bays power loading is SOP. Maybe because of the tidal action the concrete ramps extend further into the water so creation of a "hole" is not an issue?

Probabally - I know on the launch I used on the river yesterday that keeping the boat in gear at idle is the only way to keep the boat on the trailer until you can get the hook on it. But on that ramp the prop is over 10+ feet of water - you back the trailer in too far and you are in trouble.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

Every boat trailer I've ever seen has a winch.

Correction: Every boat trailer that is intended to be used to launch and retrieve a boat from a ramp has a winch.

There are plenty of trailers that don't have winches but those are NOT typically intended to be used for launch/retrieval and are only for storage or transport.

The winch is designed to pull a boat up onto the trailer and most ramps are designed so that the angle is right to allow this to happen pretty easily.

As the owner of a small marina with a ramp that is used frequently by the general public, I STRONGLY concurr with the statements regarding NO POWER LOADING. My ramp & courtesy dock see enough use and abuse as it is. Power loading makes it worse for everyone.

 

[bishop169]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

Here in NH powerloading comes with a fine think first offence is like $100-$150 second offence is like $300-$400 third offence they suspend your rights to boat and its a crazy big fine ...
We have a LOT of busted ramps up here

 

[dmtalon]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

Pretty sure my owners manual says the the trailer is designed to have the boat powered onto it, not winched from the front. I'll see if I can find it and snap a picture (unless my mind is playing tricks on me and I'm confused)

This is the first boat I've owned. Most of my boating experience has been with 24/7 docked boats so until I got this I've not been around loading/unloading of boats very often.

That said, it appears to be quite common at the local ramp I've been using to power load, and I've never thought once about it having any negative effects to the ramp. Our ramp is cement though, however I have no idea how far in it goes.

 

[ricohman]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

Every boat trailer I've ever seen has a winch.

Yes, but it is so cool to drive onto the trailer and with the motor roaring walk to the front of the boat and hook up the winch strap and chain.
Someone, somewhere, has probably maimed himself doing this.

 

[bishop169]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

here is a link to a video explaining the damage done by power loading
http://youtu.be/Q31Wl7Ten5o

 

[TyeeMan]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

Yeah I haven't seen any signs in Minnesota either. That said I really think there should be. I'm alright with the folks that know how to do it, i.e. line up with your trailer, coast on and when the boat stops give the throttle a quick little bump push the boat to the winch stand then shut her down. What really gets me is these jack wagons that power up the trailer and leave it under moderate power to go hook the winch strap, or I've even seen people leave the boat under moderate power, get out of the boat to hook the winch strap, get back in and shut her down. What the, , , ,???? I mean you can just see all the crap getting blown up from the bottom of the lake.

I couldn't power load if I wanted to. With a bow mount trolling motor the hook is too far down to reach. The times I have done it with a bud I just can't seem to get the boat on straight, seems to sit at an angle. Oh well.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

Every boat trailer I've ever seen has a winch.

Power loading is the norm here in 'Bama and the winchers are the ones that get the stink eye for taking too long and tying up the ramp.

Y'all have fun winching those boats, I believe I'll just keep power loading and avoid the stink eye.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

Power loading is the norm here in 'Bama and the winchers are the ones that get the stink eye for taking too long and tying up the ramp.

Y'all have fun winching those boats, I believe I'll just keep power loading and avoid the stink eye.

Taking to long? Takes less than a minute to crank the boat to the stop unless you didn't put the trailer in deep enough.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

Taking to long? Takes less than a minute to crank the boat to the stop unless you didn't put the trailer in deep enough.

I guess you've never noticed how impatient a lot of people are at the ramp?... especially when it's busy.

... and you can back the trailer in that deep lest you go in the big hole all those gosh darn power loaders made!

 

[shrew]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

Power loading is the norm here in 'Bama and the winchers are the ones that get the stink eye for taking too long and tying up the ramp.

Y'all have fun winching those boats, I believe I'll just keep power loading and avoid the stink eye.

How could you possibly argue with logic like that?

 

[BoatDrinksQ5]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

Why would you need to power load at any ramp on Minnetonka? You should be able to just coast on to the trailer unless your trailer is not in far enough. Be aware that power loading doesn't mean driving onto the trailer - it means gunning the motor to push the boat further up the trailer

Yeah can't say i have had much issue - I kind of like the security of having the bunks grab a bit early to center also so the stern isn't floating a ton (good drive aim point also that way) So typically the bunks are just at the surface of the water or an inch out. First year with my new boat so learning still a bit (first boat also). Coasting onto bunks leaves me many feet from roller... I suppose i could save my wife's arm and jump out right away to crank from here on out. lol

 

[muskyfins]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

There's a lot of variables to consider here. Where I live powerloading is the norm. If your trailer is on too deep the bow ends up under the roller. Too shallow and good luck winching it on. (with the exception of some tinnies or small pleasure craft with rollers, but bot of those are rare in these parts)

As a rule, i personally find it easier to winch anyway, but just yesterday, couldn't do it. Water levels down and with the boat 2-3 feet from the roller I couldn't winch my 20 foot bowrider any further. I'm not exactly a little guy either at 6'-2" and 360 pounds. Had no choice but to tell the wife to pop into gear. Wasn't enough to get the job done and she had to run it up to about 1500 rpms. Then combined with my winching, we got it.