So we spent the day at the docks on a lake...

[cincy_cosmo]

As my family gets closer to buying a boat we spent a morning at one of the docks at a open horsepower lake in Ohio near us. Watching people launch and retrieve boats.

#1 observation: The book "A Complete Idiots Guide to Boating and Sailing" pretty much covers the topic well, but many people develop shortcuts that make launching faster.

#2 observation: Many of the shortcuts seem to also compromise safety. For instance, a Dad launched his boat with a very young girl (say 5 years old) in the boat alone. He held the bow line in his hand has he backed the trailer into the water. Boat drifts free. While the boat is freely drifting (but alongside the dock), he released the bow line and ran onto the dock and grabbed the boat by hand. Seems to me a current would have sent daughter and boat adrift...probably would have scared little girl to death. All he had to do was hold on to the bow line to prevent that. Also, 80% or more of the people don't wear PFDs. Some are smoking when starting the boat (what if the blowers were pushing out gas vapor?). Some boats were also way overloaded. Particularly a jet boat that had 8 or so people on it.

Being newbies, I know we'll be too much by-the-book boaters, especially me, Captain Cantankorus-Dad, but it seems to me some people take too many chances, even to the casual observer.

 

[salty87]

Re: So we spent the day at the docks on a lake...

that's great that you're out there taking a look BEFORE being there with your new boat. you've probably already figured out who to watch for entertainment and who to watch for good tips.

shortcuts often save little time if any, especially when you factor in the time it takes to go back and re-do what you've done because you skipped something. or, you get out on the water and realize you have to go back for something you left. or, you mess something up and have to make/get repairs.

find a routine that works for you and stick to it...even when others want to help.

 

[dingbat]

Re: So we spent the day at the docks on a lake...

While I’ll certainly agree that the live “Comedy hour” at the docks Saturday afternoon can be somewhat disturbing at times, you have to remember is that things that may look difficult or dangerous to an inexperienced person such as yourself may in reality not be as dangerous or difficult as you perceive. You just don’t have enough experience or knowledge to make some of those calls yet.

If you where concerned about the guy letting go of the rope for a couple of seconds, you surely would have been horrified yesterday when my 13 year old daughter practiced power loading our 7K lb. Walkaround on the trailer as I watched from the dock.

Be sure to take a Boating Safety course before heading out as well

 

[cmcpherson]

Re: So we spent the day at the docks on a lake...

.

If you where concerned about the guy letting go of the rope for a couple of seconds, you surely would have been horrified yesterday when my 13 year old daughter practiced power loading our 7K lb. Walkaround on the trailer as I watched from the dock.

Be sure to take a Boating Safety course before heading out as well

Right... take a boating safety course that also teachs the huge downsides to power loading. Every week I have to put up with this activity, mostly from fishing boats, it absolutely DESTROYS ramps. Most of the smaller lakes around here don't have much a concrete pad so now our favorite lake has a HUGE dropoff on one side of the ramp that is making it damn near impossible to load our boat level. There is no one around supervising, so even though it says no power loading, I can only guess that these guys can't read. I am sick of this crap! And I don't want to hear about larger boats and your inability to handle loading with ropes! My wife and I have mastered it with a 5000 lb boat so get over it!!!

 

[valkyr]

Re: So we spent the day at the docks on a lake...

Lets define Power Loading to make sure you both are talking about the same thing. Some people load their boat onto the trailer by using the drive but this is not necessarily power loading. Even though with low rpms, there is still ramp erosion that occurs.

 

[cmcpherson]

Re: So we spent the day at the docks on a lake...

Lets define Power Loading to make sure you both are talking about the same thing. Some people load their boat onto the trailer by using the drive but this is not necessarily power loading. Even though with low rpms, there is still ramp erosion that occurs.

Ok, so if there is ramp erosion that occurs, what is the difference. My definition of power loading is loading that occurs under power.

 

[tommays]

Re: So we spent the day at the docks on a lake...

Well i idle up to the trailer and coast in with the motor in netural as a lot of are docks do not have walks

You tie up on a bulkhead then get the trailer then un tie the boat and move it

The water is over my head even at low tide

And then winch it up so i am fairly sure we are not digging any holes


Tommays

 

[hgmatt]

Re: So we spent the day at the docks on a lake...

I think this site sums it up the best. Scroll down to the bottom to see the & click whatever links to see the neat animation about power loading.

http://www.boat-ed.com/ga/course/p2-4_trailering.htm

 

[dingbat]

Re: So we spent the day at the docks on a lake...

Right... take a boating safety course that also teachs the huge downsides to power loading. Every week I have to put up with this activity, mostly from fishing boats, it absolutely DESTROYS ramps. Most of the smaller lakes around here don't have much a concrete pad so now our favorite lake has a HUGE dropoff on one side of the ramp that is making it damn near impossible to load our boat level. There is no one around supervising, so even though it says no power loading, I can only guess that these guys can't read. I am sick of this crap! And I don't want to hear about larger boats and your inability to handle loading with ropes! My wife and I have mastered it with a 5000 lb boat so get over it!!!

I can see where power loading can be an issue in smaller, inadequate ramps, but the ramps here are built to accommodate large fishing boats where power loading is the norm. I would venture to guess 90% of the boat on any given afternoon power load and it’s just not an issue around here.

Can I load the boat using ropes? Sure, I have to do it from time to time when the tide is out but why bust a nut when you don’t have to?

 

[cmcpherson]

Re: So we spent the day at the docks on a lake...

Can I load the boat using ropes? Sure, I have to do it from time to time when the tide is out but why bust a nut when you don?t have to?

Well, pretty much for the reasons that I already posted!!!

 

[dingbat]

Re: So we spent the day at the docks on a lake...

Well, pretty much for the reasons that I already posted!!!

You've posted nothing that applies to the situation. Try again.

 

[cmcpherson]

Re: So we spent the day at the docks on a lake...

Unlike you who has made it clear it that you are the authority when it comes to this topic and God forbid anyone disagree with you. No ramp is completely impervious to this.

 

[dingbat]

Re: So we spent the day at the docks on a lake...

Unlike you who has made it clear it that you are the authority when it comes to this topic and God forbid anyone disagree with you. No ramp is completely impervious to this.

I'm not the one who climbed into the pulpit and chastised someone in CAPITAL LETTERS based on your opinion for actions taken at a facility of which you have no knowledge whatsoever.

 

[lime4x4]

Re: So we spent the day at the docks on a lake...

we power load are 27 footer at the local lake. Sometimes it just makes more sense. Sure we can use ropes and the winch to pull her on the trailer but that takes awhile. When u have 15 trucks in line waiting to get there boat in the water u don't want to screw around. From the time i put the trailer in the water the wife has the boat up on the trailer ready to go in 3 min. And everyone around usually comments wish i had a wife that could do that.

 

[jtexas]

Re: So we spent the day at the docks on a lake...

Unlike you who has made it clear it that you are the authority when it comes to this topic and God forbid anyone disagree with you. No ramp is completely impervious to this.

Next time we have a drought (shouldn't be more than a year or two), come on down & see how ramps are made impervious to power loading (which is the norm on the big reserviors around here and has been for many years). You'll see the reinforced cinderblock construction far out into the lake, protecting the bottom.

 

[cmcpherson]

Re: So we spent the day at the docks on a lake...

bla, bla, bla, what can I say... People can find excuses for everything!

 

[jtexas]

Re: So we spent the day at the docks on a lake...

bla, bla, bla, what can I say... People can find excuses for everything!

one thing ya might say is...."sorry for being such a know-it-all, I should know better than to assume that my knowlege and experience are global in application - thanks for the opportunity to learn something that I didn't know before"

 

[valkyr]

Re: So we spent the day at the docks on a lake...

I think CMC be complaining to (read: attacking) the wrong people. We're not the ones powerloading at _your_ ramp. If _your_ ramp is experiencing problems, then complain to the people there that are causing the problem (unless of course you are more comfortable to complain anonymously with little fear of retribution?)

 

[salty87]

Re: So we spent the day at the docks on a lake...

cincy cosmo's thread.....jacked!

 

[cmcpherson]

Re: So we spent the day at the docks on a lake...

I do say something to the people at my ramp and their attitudes are about the same as they are here... very little concern for anyone but themselves.