Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

[Captain Caveman]

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.

You need to go some of the Minnesota fishing forums. There is plenty of negativity but overall the opinion is split just like here, typically the guys with big boats justifying powerloading and others lambasting it.

It seems that the smaller launches that I've used (including Minnetonka) are the ones impacted the most. When you have those mud and sand bottoms, it doesn't take much to dig a hole. I've had to go lift my trailer out of a power hole. Luckily some guys at the dock didn't mind helping.

 

[spdracr39]

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

FYI: Alabama boating law. "Obey all restrictive signs and buoys. Operate at an idle speed around gas docks and loading docks."

I have a hard time believing this law restricts power loading because you are not exceeding any SPEED just rpm's. There are no signs specifically prohibiting this at my area lakes either but I do make an effort not to go crazy. I push a little while they are cranking to make it easier on the winch operator. I have seen people, especially outboards, wide open pushing onto the trailer.

 

[jigngrub]

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

FYI: Alabama boating law. "Obey all restrictive signs and buoys. Operate at an idle speed around gas docks and loading docks."

Thats the way we do it, idle onto the trailer then give'r enough gas to push the bow into the bow roller... the boat never goes faster than idle speed.

... and there are no signs prohibiting power loading.

I wish all you guys saying it's not a big deal were here to carry my friends boat up the ramp to get to his trailer...

I suspect your buddy backed too far down the ramp to avoid all that winching and that's how he got in the hole.

 

[spdracr39]

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

Operate at an idle speed ,,,, seems pretty clear to me.

That would be like writing a ticket for reving your engine in a 10mph zone. Idle speed and idle rpm are not the same thing. I don't condone the action because in some areas the ramp conditions are worse than others but around here power loading is the norm. The Game and Fish guys are often at the ramps and watch and say nothing and there are no signs. Smoking is bad for you too but people still do it because it isn't illegal. Just wanting it that way, even if it's justified, won't change the way people do things. If you have signs that prohibit it at your ramps then the people doing it should be ripped a new one and not allowed to load there again but please don't condemn us all because in some places it's acceptable.

 

[KFS]

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

I've not seen signs against it so I learned something new here.

 

[lncoop]

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

Bubba, I understand where you're coming from. If powerloading creates scour holes in your neck of the woods it should be illegal. However, as much as it pains me to agree with jiggy, your legal interpretation is a major stretch. Furthermore, he frequents the same kinds of launches that spdracr and I do; big COE ramps that extend far out into the water. As such, my prop is always over concrete when I launch and load. In these cases I don't see how revving the engine a little (nowhere near WOT) to get closer to the bow stop can hurt anything since concrete doesn't tend to develop scour holes. Don't get me wrong. I'm not skeert to winch my 21 foot barge onto the trailer, but if I don't stick her to the bunks two thirds of the way up she won't be straight when the admiral pulls her out.

 

[lncoop]

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

Make you a bet. Next time you are at your favorite ramp walk out in to the water to its end and see if there is a hole. I'll bet there is if everyone is power loading.

He'll be chest deep by the time he gets there.

 

[southkogs]

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

He'll be chest deep by the time he gets there.

Same here in TN actually. The lake I frequent the most spent the early part of this year about 6' down. I was amazed that backing all the way down the ramp there was PLENTY of concrete. I even took the opportunity (no one else around) to pace it down some more ... I have no clue where the concrete stops. Thanks COE and TVA!

While I winch mine on personally, power loading is a norm around here and probably effects very little.

 

[jigngrub]

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

There will always be a drop off at the end of a ramp if only from the current from rain/storm water washing down the ramp.

 

[89Donzi]

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

I just float mine on to my trailer using the bow line and hook the strap and turn the winch handle a couple times and she's done. I can load my boat faster this way then most of the guys I watch trying to powerload their boats here in FL. I'm not sure how deep the concrete goes down around here...but there aren't any signs posted not to powerload your boat.

 

[flycaster]

retreive your trailer after falling off ramp end

retreive your trailer after falling off ramp end

After your wheels drop off the end of the concrete ramp, and the spring shackles are tight to the edge, how to retrieve the trailer.
Back the tow vehicle up a couple of inches, just to make sure the shackles are not binding on the edge of the ramp. Pull all of the rope, cable, strap from your winch. lay the cable/strap along the center of the trailer until you get to the axle. Pull the cable end with hook up under the axle, then attach hook to the bow eye of boat. If the strap/cable is not long enough just use a dock line to make the connection. Now just start to tighten up on the winch strap. This will cause the strap to tighten up under the trailer axle and the boat will anchor the line above the water line. Trailer will begin to raise up and the tow vehicle can pull the trailer free.
I have helped several boaters by employing this method. Works every time.

 

[haulnazz15]

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

There are also no signs prohibiting power loading at any Oklahoma lake I've been to. I'm sure there are plenty of places where power loading takes its toll, and there will always be a dropoff at the edge of a ramp. I have never had much reason to powerload, as the ramps I use are generally of sufficient pitch, and the trailer depth almost always gets us to within 3' of the bow stop without power. The last foot or two can be achieved with less than 1000rpms if I don't want to winch it on. Every ramp location could be different, so loading/unloading procedures should vary in accordance with local regulations and conditions.

 

[muskyfins]

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

Guys, I don't know what sort of ramps you have in your local and they may in fact be designed to deal with power loading. All I can say is that in the mid-west almost all lakes have a silt / mud bottom and power loading is the fastest way I can think of to wash out the earth at both the end of the ramp and from beneath the ramp itself which leads to the ramp falling apart.

Now I have to go help my buddy try and get his boat. We got a couple of Jr. I-beams and plan to lay them across the hole and see if we can get the trailer in far enough to get the boat on it. Wish us luck, something tells me we'll need it.

Are there any other ramps on the lake? Marinas with lifts, or cranes?

 

[lncoop]

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

Same here in TN actually. The lake I frequent the most spent the early part of this year about 6' down. I was amazed that backing all the way down the ramp there was PLENTY of concrete. I even took the opportunity (no one else around) to pace it down some more ... I have no clue where the concrete stops. Thanks COE and TVA!

While I winch mine on personally, power loading is a norm around here and probably effects very little.

I think the COE and power authorities are in cahoots with the concrete contractors and suppliers. Rumor has it Jimmy Hoffa is under one of the ramps.

 

[jbetzelb]

Re: retreive your trailer after falling off ramp end

Re: retreive your trailer after falling off ramp end

Hmmm, so your counting on the boat being able to float the trailer? I can see that it *might* get the axel off the edge but when you pull forward to get the wheels on the ramp the trailer is too far out of the water to load the boat, at least in this case it is.

I have seen this work. In this case I loaned a guy a portable winch strap. One end on the back of his tralier and the other to the bow eye. Lifted the trailer enough to get it off the frame and then slowly pulled the wheels back onto concrete. Unhooked the strap and pulled the boat onto the trailer.

 

[flycaster]

Re: retreive your trailer after falling off ramp end

Re: retreive your trailer after falling off ramp end

Hmmm, so your counting on the boat being able to float the trailer? I can see that it *might* get the axel off the edge but when you pull forward to get the wheels on the ramp the trailer is too far out of the water to load the boat, at least in this case it is.

This is a problem, BUT I have given a solution to the retrieval of the trailer.
Your plan

Just be sure that you take a deep breath before stepping off the end of the concrete.:facepalm::facepalm:
I have heard of cases where people have used 2 X's to slide under the wheels, after backing the trailer further off the ramp. With the water levels dropping, it has become a nightmare everywhere.

 

[RustyShackleford]

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

boated.com is a good place to learn about power-loading too. Also a good place to get a boating safety certification
I think anyone who says they are going to power-load anyway should be ashamed of how rude that is, especially on a thread where someone is explaining how severe of a problem it can cause. Giving it any throttle whatsoever can cause a rut. If you have a dirt ramp, coast up or idle up and winch it on. I am fortunate enough to have a concrete ramp where I launch that extends way into the water, so you are always on concrete, even when the lake is low.

Sorry to hear your story, Bubba.

 

[BobGinCO]

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

I just never heard of using the winch to get the boat on the trailer! I'll give it a try next weekend! I suspect, however, that the post my winch is mounted on, is not strong enough to winch the boat on. I know that if I don't get the boat all the way on, and I try to winch it the rest of the way, the steel post moves, not the boat. Every ramp I've been on is concrete, and they go so far out into the water, even when the lakes are low, that you never run the risk of being NEAR the end of the ramp.

 

[bigtrout1949]

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

Have this problem all the time. (west texas) Try unloading as much from the boat to lighten the load. Get some boards or carpet to protect the hull. Play out as much winch cable as it takes and slowly winch the boat onto the trailer. Sometimes it helps to disconnect the trailer from the tow vehicle. It will rear up when the boat starts to load. Take your time and recruit plenty of help. May be a "circus" for a while, but it works. Sometimes it is best to let the winch pull the trailer under the boat instead of vise versa. use the boards to bridge the gap at end of ramp or pile up rocks to lessen the drop. Best of luck!!!

 

[babbot]

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

Is there any way you could go to a beach with a couple 4x4's and retrieve from there rather than the drop off at the ramp? A 4x4 with a winch to a tree would be best to get out of the sand/mud.