Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

[rbh]

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

^^^^^^^ Bruce, YUP!

There seems to be two camps here those with smaller vessels that could almost be picked up and the larger crafts 5000 pounds +.

 

[lncoop]

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

Wow.... Folks sure are passionate on either side of this subject. Truth is, my 2550 Chap is a tad big to be winching up any type of incline, so I frequent ramps that are concrete and extend out consideably further than my bunk trailer needs. I back in as far as I need to, LIGHTLY power on, then happily get my feet wet to attach the winch and crank her in tight and pull her out to the staging area and finish what I need to. Takes 5 minutes and I'm done, plus no harm, no foul.

If one needs to power on, go to a ramp that will accomidate it and is OK to do so. If boat is too big to winch up, don't go to ramps that are too short or are illegal to power on at. A tad of common sense goes a long way in deciding where to launch and where not to.

Wait a minute. Are you saying that, gasp, neither every ramp nor every boat is identical and there are some cases (not all) in which lightly powering one's boat onto the trailer within a few feet of the bow stop then winching it the rest of the way will not bring about the end of civilization as we know it or cause one's trailer to drop into a giant scour hole never to be seen again? I'm sorry, but your post is too logical and well considered to be included in this conversation. Please ask a mod to delete it immediately.

 

[bonz_d]

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

I don't think we are talking about little 14' 35Hp aluminum fishing boats here that you can practically lift onto a trailer. We are talking about real boats!

All I can do is laugh when I read your posts with all the attitude.

You made a very general statement so live with it or keep your attitude to yourself.

 

[Scott Danforth]

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

Let me know when you can winch a Sea RaY 268 up onto a trailer, even a roller trailer, all by yourself.

Fact is, power loading can be done without destrying the ends of ramps. And if it does, well then the ramp was too short to begin with.

I winch my boat everytime. while only 3600# dry, the boat is near 4600# wet and loaded. I have also winched a Carver Montego 2557 that was fully loaded with fuel, water, beer, coolers and gear onto the trailer by myself - that is about 7000# of boat.

if the ramp is too short to begin with, you dont use it.

 

[TilliamWe]

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

Sorry Admiral but if the ramp was too short to begin with then you shouldn't be using it!

And there you have it. That's the real problem. The ramp, not power loading.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: retreive your trailer after falling off ramp end

Re: retreive your trailer after falling off ramp end

Sounds like you've never fished out of Kiptopeake in December. No pier. Ice on the “catwalk, 100 boats waiting to load behind you and it’s getting dark fast. "Power loading" is the norm, even with roller trailers so obviously your dad didn’t have the same effect on everyone on the east coast.

no, he didn't launch at Kipto. All the ramps we used/use had piers, except once a year he'd launch the whaler directly off the beach into the Ches Bay (using a tractor--it was at a YMCA camp)

I also understand that 25' boats will have the trailers dunked and boats driven on/off. Which is why, IMO, a boat that size is better slipped and only trailered occasionally. I know, I know, some people with boats that size launch/retrieve every time they use it. But I maintain my opinion that with a properly equipped trailer and ordinary ramp conditions it is not necessary to power load a boat under 20'.

I will also disclose that one of the boats I use (hunt club boat) is on one of those low-rider "drive on" trailers and we dunk it in salt water, seaside, and power load it some, power winch some. But it's a $500 trailer that only goes up and down the ramp; the ramp is a private ramp and due to SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES power loading is actually good for our ramp. it is not a typical set-up.

 

[TilliamWe]

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

Scott, a Sea Ray 268 is heavier than 7000lbs. A lot heavier.

And I don't use ramps that are too short, but many people do. Their problem, not mine.

 

[bruceb58]

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

All I can do is laugh when I read your posts with all the attitude.

You made a very general statement so live with it or keep your attitude to yourself.

Your example of a 14' aluminum boat with a 35Hp motor was actually pretty funny! How much does the boat weigh...like 500lbs?

 

[bonz_d]

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

And there you have it. That's the real problem. The ramp, not power loading.

And I agree, yet your next post is wrong. It is everyones problem that has to use a ramp that's been washed out by someone that doesn't care. Which is the only point in this whole topic that angers me. The attitude of some that I'm only in it for myself. It doesn't effect me so why should I care!

 

[bonz_d]

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

Your example of a 14' aluminum boat with a 35Hp motor was actually pretty funny! How much does the boat weigh...like 500lbs?

I still see nowhere in your brilliant post about size or weight. Just a very generalized statement so your posts have no value other than to demean someone.

 

[bruceb58]

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

I still see nowhere in your brilliant post about size or weight. Just a very generalized statement so your posts have no value other than to demean someone.

Interesting that you are somehow offended by my original statement especially since you aren't power loading which is the subject of this thread.

Don't you think my comment actually applied to boats that could actually do damage to a ramp power loading?

I have seen plenty of bass boat trailers backed barely into the water getting power loaded.

Have to say, if I saw you power loading your 14' aluminum boat, I probably wouldn't have cared too much.

 

[TilliamWe]

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

bonz, you are missing my points, but that's okay.

 

[bonz_d]

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

Interesting that you are somehow offended by my original statement especially since you aren't power loading which is the subject of this thread.

Don't you think my comment actually applied to boats that could actually do damage to a ramp power loading?

I have seen plenty of bass boat trailers backed barely into the water getting power loaded.

Have to say, if I saw you power loading your 14' aluminum boat, I probably wouldn't have cared too much.

Wasn't offended until your second post! Size makes no difference. I use a good number of gravel ramps and it is impossible to get the trailer deep enough at some to ever get the axle wet. And yes we have lauched much larger boats at these ramps the same way with tilt trailers. I also make the challange quite often to powerloaders to come and try it at these ramps. 1st of all most would never be able to get their boats back on the trailers. Next if someone would like to powerload at a gravel ramp then more power to them. Just hope that when they are finished that they wade out into the water and replace the shore. Also at a short concrete ramp I can do just as much damage to the bottom with my 35hp as a much larger engine can. But to just state that one can't load a boat w/o getting the axles wet is just plain false.

 

[bonz_d]

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

And I don't use ramps that are too short, but many people do. Their problem, not mine.

How am I missing your point?

 

[bruceb58]

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

Wasn't offended until your second post! Size makes no difference.

Might be time to chill out. That was a joke about "real boats" hence the smiley face at the end.

I am on the same page as you regarding powering on the trailer.

Also at a short concrete ramp I can do just as much damage to the bottom with my 35hp as a much larger engine can.

More than a 330 HP duo-prop? Yeah right!

 

[southkogs]

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

<<refills his bowl>>

 

[fishrdan]

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

<<refills his bowl>> View attachment 163290

Yup....

 

[Maclin]

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


Sometimes these kinds of threads are fun, sometimes they bug me. This one's fun, so I won't let it bug me.

 

[bonz_d]

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

Might be time to chill out. That was a joke about "real boats" hence the smiley face at the end.

I am on the same page as you regarding powering on the trailer.

More than a 330 HP duo-prop? Yeah right!

Might be a joke but I still do not see the humor. Also this is not the 1st time your humor has made the same comment!

 

[lncoop]

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

<<refills his bowl>> View attachment 163290

I wonder if SBL powerloads.