Boat launches - the other side

[JohnMickish]

My question is why are you backing your trailer into the washout? If the water is that low, shouldn't the washout hole be moved farther back?

[nofishfisherman]

It seems most people claim speed is the main reason they power load. They claim they can load their boat quickly and get out of peoples way. Well what happens when the ramps are damaged to the point they are unusable? Then how does your power loading help speed things up?

Last year I fished a lake with double ramps. Toward sunset both ramps were full with a continuous line of boats getting pulled out. This was fine early in the year but with the low water in the lake and the people power loading their boats holes were created at the base of both ramps leaving them both unusable. The only way to load or unload a boat was to go right down the middle between both ramps with one tire on each ramp. The power loaders effectively cut efficiency at this ramp by 50%. How does that help speed things up? You might be out of peoples way but you are just working to screw them over down the road.

Also it doesn't take a roster tail to add to the hole.

[reinhard1]

here is what it says on page 60 regarding power landing your boat. [when you retrieve your boat, please use your winch. using the engine to "power load" the boat can create a hole at the end of the ramp resulting in trailer damage and costly repairs to the access]. so keep that in mind when loading your boat. good luck.

[SkunkedAgain]

Some may not have the ability to winch. There for driving on the trailer is much easier for them. Especially if they are alone. I know, (tell them to stay home.) Every one has the right to in joy the great outdoors.

Sorry, that's not a valid reason to cause damage to the lake bottom. You're right though, it's also not a reason to tell people not to use the outdoors. I've always operated by the notion that if I can't use the environment in a respectful and minimally-impactful manner, then I won't use it. Enjoying the environment is a privilege, not a right. One's frame of mind regarding that notion will frame how they use those resources.

[JohnMickish]

It looks like the problem here isn't power loading, it's improperly designed ramps. There are many, many ramps in the area that load HUGE boats under power without any washout problems. Winching your boat up is great with a roller trailer but just not an option on a heavy boat with a bunk trailer.

I'll ask again, for you guys that say to winch it up, have any of you winched up a 19 foot plus boat on a bunk trailer?

If a guy can't physically winch it up, what's the option, not to let him use the ramp? Tell your grandfather that he's to old and weak, see how that goes.

There are lots of solutions to this "problem". Better ramps, more care when loading the boat, better placement of small trailers so it sits level, putting guide ons on the small boat trailers are just a few.

When I had my Pro V, it was a roller trailer with the tall post style guide ons set pretty tight to the boat. If the ramp was crappy the boat would still go on the trailer, it might not be exactly level but it was close. Getting your boat on the trailer can be done no matter what shape the ramp is in.

[Pat K]

"If a guy can't physically winch it up, what's the option, not to let him use the ramp? Tell your grandfather that he's to old and weak, see how that goes."

Electric winch!

Spray your bunks with silicone lubricant and the boat slides much easier. I have an 18' Stratos and often winch it on at shallow ramps. I'm 56 years old and a grandfather with a bad back, but still winch it by hand when the situation calls for it!

[walleyemaniac]

The only ones complaining about winching on their boats are the ones with the big glass boats w/bunk trailers. My If you can afford a big glass boat you can afford an electric winch to pull it on. And if you're afraid of getting wet, what are you doing on a lake? Water=Wet?!

[gregg52]

i understand the pic

but i've never been to a landing where i had a problem gettin over that back hump

if you are not loading with the motor

then your boat is smaller lighter than mine and you shouldnt have a problem

i think mine weighs bout 2500 motor and all so i need 2-3 feet to float

i personally dont put in shallow landing..i back into to the one at the hogs back on mille lacs and didnt look good so i went and paid 10 bucks for a good landin

i live 5 mins from a landing on north long but drive bout 15mins to the other end to get to the deep one

i think this thread is just for bored people to belly ache bout nothing !!!!!

lol

[kdawg]

I guess I'll be one of the dissenting voices here.

There are some landing where I need to use the throttle a little. With a bigger glass boat and bunk trailer, it is just a reality in my world. I've been boating for almost 20 years and am by no means a newbie to the sport. I know my trailer well and for varying depths and angles, I can get it close if not right on, most of the time. I don't power load to impress others (I would hope anyone over 25 years old wouldn't do so either). SO, if me powerloading is going to cause such a huge brew-ha-ha, then hang me. I've been an avid fisherman for well over 35 years and I do my part to protect and conserve the bounty that we've all been so blessed with in this country. But, when the landing dictates, and I need some help with 3000 + pounds on a bunk trailer, I'm going to use a little motor umph to get me there.

Good day and tight lines.

[nofishfisherman]

i think this thread is just for bored people to belly ache bout nothing !!!!!

lol

You must be new to the internet, thats mainly what internet forums are for. When the wife won't listen to the belly achen' any more then its time to hit the forums.

[gregg52]

lol

ya thats i do nobody else will listen

and i dont think most here do either...lol

thats basically it in a nut shell kdawg

me to

[Fishjet]

If you have to power load, do you also power unload?

[JohnMickish]

Kind of. The way many people do it is back it in until the back is floating and then pull it off the front bunks with the motor. Another problem with some of the bigger glass fishing boats is that the bow is kind of low and the front roller/crank is a kind of high. Your trolling motor hangs over the front and if the trailer is in to deep (IE; deep enough to float it on/off) the trolling motor hits the roller and it breaks the plastic trolling motor housing. This gets worse the steeper the ramp it.

Nobody said fishing out of a larger, stable boat was perfect in every way. They are not as easy to get on and off the trailer at every kind of ramp as a small aluminum boat.

[Down Deep]

I fish a lot of different waters especially around the Duluth area and the big lakes further north. What I witness at most of the ramps I use is that most people power load. I've never noticed damage to any of the ramps. If they are damaged it isn't apparent and causes no delay when people launch. I'm sure there may be some damage like some of you say, but it just doesn't seem like that big of a deal; at least at the ramps I use.

[Random guy]

get yourself a hydraulic kit for your tailer

Ya know thaat would be pretty cool, just drop the trail down, nose it in and hit the switch to lift. Crooked landing, just drop one side. I'd buy that.

[MN_Jay]

Others powerloading does not affect me at all, I run a little 12 ft boat with a 15 HP that I can toss in and out of the lake with ease. Until I saw this thread I've honestly never gave it a second thought.

BUT, the one danger I see with powerloading is the guy that is sitting most of the way on his trailer with his throttle half open, then LEAVES the steering console to walk up and attach his wench while his engine is still gunned, now unattended. I've seen this several times and am waiting for that boat to all of a sudden take off and slam into the wench.

[401TE]

Couple tips to help folks avoid having to truly "power load." Dunk your bunks when you back in. Get them wet and the boat will slide up easier. Second, back in further than that ridiculous picture shows! Seriously, who does it like that! If I saw a guy loading his boat with the trailer barely in the water like that picture I'd bust out the video camera!

[jigginjim]

Having a 690 ranger, I don't need to powerload, as I back the trailer in enough to slide it in to place. If you have enough speed the boat will skid into place. If not I may only need to winch afew inches. No big deal. If you can't crank the winch ya got 3 options: buy a power winch, only fish lakes where you can drive up the trailer without adding throttle to load, or STOP FISHING. thats the DNR told my dad about have the permit for his ATV. He should stop deer hunting.

[wkngmomof2]

Well, thanks to the drop off created by power loading at one of our favorite lakes, we now have a bent rim on the trailer, we had no vibration getting to the lake and couldn't even drive 50 on the way home without shaking.....

We were fishing on a fishing pier the other day and there was a young man fishing with us there who was bumming out, he'd saved for two years to buy his boat and wound up with a bent axle due to the washout created by people who powerload. He is now out of work and bummed as a new trailer is not in the near future....

[TruthWalleyes]

Well, thanks to the drop off created by power loading at one of our favorite lakes, we now have a bent rim on the trailer, we had no vibration getting to the lake and couldn't even drive 50 on the way home without shaking.....

We were fishing on a fishing pier the other day and there was a young man fishing with us there who was bumming out, he'd saved for two years to buy his boat and wound up with a bent axle due to the washout created by people who powerload. He is now out of work and bummed as a new trailer is not in the near future....

I can't imagine how a gradual hole caused a bent axel and bent rim if you are backing in slowly, and pulling out slowly, and loading properly. Sounds like theres more to this story than a washout hole. I'd say you better check your wheel bearings now too.

[wkngmomof2]

Having to back in far enough to put the trailer in the hole and then having to pull it back out of the hole couldn't cause this?

[Superduty]

The prop wash hole is going to be deeper than your wheels almost all the time unless you have a long rig. The hole is gonna be located at the depth of the motor on the bigger boats that do the power loading. A lot of ramps have a sharp drop off where the concrete planks end. Dropping the wheels off this edge can cause damage as well. I have seen it where the wheels droff of the concrete and then the trailer frame rests on the last bit of concrete.

[SpecialK]

Friend of mine snapped an axle due to a deep hole right at the end of the concrete ramp. Few hours and a couple hundred dollars later for a new trailerhe finally got off the lake.

[jabug]

i have a 620 ranger and i dont need to back off the concrete to get it loaded. if i did i would never pull it out. so why are you people withh smaller boats backing that far in in the first place to cause damage to your trailers just back up to the edge of the concrete and winch it on that is what you want us big glass boat owners to do

[cruiseforever]

Not everybody is using the same access at the same time. Water levels can be diffrent. If we all used the same access at the same time we would have a good baseline for gauging the problem/cause of access launching problems.

Not all accesses are created equal, some lakes are unable to have the deep access most people want. I would not launch my boat in an area that you should use a canoe. Yet the heavy boats want in where only a small boat will work.