Spin off from "Major Mistake at ramp" post Power Loading

[David Greer]

Re: Spin off from "Major Mistake at ramp" post Power Loading

I think the whole issue with power launching/retrieving is how much power. An idle or a quick bump can't hurt, esp if your motor is tilted up.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Spin off from "Major Mistake at ramp" post Power Loading

OK, I'm one of those "Bass Boat Guys"! I always power load, but I do not have a canopy on my truck so I back down till my bunks are completly under water. It just takes a little push to get it on the trailer and with the engine tilted up I don't think I am causing any damge to the ramps I then crawl over the front of the boat, hook the winch line and tighten it up and jump over the side and pull out!! I have however seem many people throw a rooster tail 30' out into the lake while loading and that's just wrong!

 

[jkust]

Re: Spin off from "Major Mistake at ramp" post Power Loading

Always proud of my wife when we launch and retrieve. When we launch I just drop her in, she backs out idles around for a bit then comes back to pick me up after I park the truck. Same when we retrieve she drops me off, I get the truck, she idles it on, I hook it up and we're gone in just a minute or two!

If my wife could do this, my launches would be 80% less stressful. After, we tried the whole she parks the tow vehicle thing and she hit another trailer with our trailer, I just don't see this happening. I especially liked the call from the law tracking us down and she didn't even know she hit anything. Our launches can be challenging as she tries to hold our boat until I get back from parking. She can't even mow around the house without hitting it...with a push mower. I am amazed she is the president of a company but no technical skills at all.

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Spin off from "Major Mistake at ramp" post Power Loading

OK, I'm one of those "Bass Boat Guys"! I always power load, but I do not have a canopy on my truck so I back down till my bunks are completly under water. It just takes a little push to get it on the trailer and with the engine tilted up I don't think I am causing any damge to the ramps I then crawl over the front of the boat, hook the winch line and tighten it up and jump over the side and pull out!! I have however seem many people throw a rooster tail 30' out into the lake while loading and that's just wrong!

Same here. And, most of our ramps are Corps of Engineers ramps, so especially at summer pool, we have 50+ feet of concrete behind the prop, before we find dirt. The way my boat is, I have to hit the bunks, and power a foot or so to the bow stop, or it won't load straight. Usually doesn't take much gas to do so. Then, off to the bow, and hook up the hook/take out slack. Real quick. If I have a buddy fishing with me, if we are tourney fishing, I can be off the ramp in no time. I start heading towards the ramp as he is backing in, I hit the trailer just after he splashes it, power up, kill motor, hook up strap, and wave to him to pull out. Depending on ramp length, we are talking 1 minute or less total time.