Pet Peeve at boat launches....

[gilby]

well, I'm one of those guys that still pull the strap to the back of the trailer. I can still load my 1600 lund exploerer faster than most guys that try to drive theirs on. Grant it, I don't have the biggest boat at the access. Seems like the guys I ever see try this end up makeing two or three trys before getting it wright, plus my boat is always on the trailer straight and it takes me only one try.

[fishingbuddy]

How about we all video a boat launch on any given week end and put it on a dvd. Add a little music and we would all be millionares.......like the time MY boat fell off the trailer right at the edge of the water. Half on and half off and all we could think of is "Hurry up before some one comes" Minor damage....Now it is funny!!!!

[fishnhooks]

fishingbuddy,

That is a great idea!!!

I think that would be a prize winner. Including that other weekend when I was unloading the boat myself. ( I feel that I have it pretty much down pat) but my rope broke and I was watching my boat floating by itself in the lake. I had to wade out to it and grab the remainder of the rope and pull it in. The look on my face face would have been priceless!

"hooks"

[Duffer]

my dad and I have had a system working for years if u do it as a team and stick to the same job all the time it seems like nothing. my dad has always backed the trailer in and i have always drove the boat on. ill tell u tho we have done that for years and just last week my dad tried to drive the boat on the trailer and i couldnt stop laughing but on the other hand me backing the trailer up is a hole nother ball game. once u have found a system and stick to it it isnt all that hard. team work goes along way. being out by your self is alot of work if u see someone loading there boat on there own give them a hand.

[icehousebob]

I witnessed a couple great moments in boat launching. One was the result of not setting the truck brakes after backing the boat down. Only the top of the cab was visible.

The second was a large family with a new pontoon. They backed it down the ramp and before it hit the water they had to load eight people and a pile of gear. Then the father backed it into the water, but the motor was in the down position and there was a long, drawnout grinding sound. The pontoon floated into the lake, the son couldn't start what was left of the motor, and the father was yelling. I don't know what was said because it wasn't in English. Someone finally got them back to shore, they loaded the pontoon on the trailer and off-loaded the people and gear and drove away. All told, they tied up the launch for over half an hour, but it was great entertainment.

[TimR]

I'll GLADLY wait for the guy/gal who pulls the strap/rope out to winch up the boat.

1) Most likely, they get the boat on straight the first time, and don't have to keep backing the boat in to re-float.

2) They aren't contributing to the destruction of another ramp. No powerloading "hole" at the bottom of the ramp, no rock and sand ledge at the far side of the hole, the cement slabs don't start to drop in the middle due to the sand being sucked out from below.

Thank you for not powerloading.

Tim

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I am still amazed on how many people pull the strap to the end of the trailer and wind the boat all the way up.

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how about the people who power load when the access clearly states "NO POWER LOADING" I have no problem with this one what so ever. I can wait 15-30 seconds for someone who doesn't feel comfortable power loading their boat. Better to be safe than try and hurry too much when you aren't comfortable.

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[Bluto]

Well thanks guys !!! After reding this thread, I was so dam nervous at the landing this weekend. I managed to do the following:

1. Forgot to put plug in.

2. Forgot to undo the crank strap.

3. Missed the rollers 3 times.

Yee Haaaaa

[Northland Sportsman]

Well, I have a good one from last night. I was fishing with my bro-in-law on a small local lake in the evening. We trolled acroos the lake to the access to load the boat and head home. When we got close it, there was somebody launching a boat and another guy with a young girl launching a canoe so we just parked and through out a line for a minute to wait for the access to clear. When they were done we proceeded to the dock to get off the lake. Another boat comes barrelling down to try and beat us (we were only 20 yards away, they came across the lake). So we are in no hurry and let them get to the dock. They are going so fast the guy runs to the front of the boat to grab the dock, loses his footing and goes sliding face first onto the public access dock. He gets up and grumbles and my bro-in-law says "nice move" and he just grumbles a little and proceeds to run up the ramp to beat us to the truck to back in. It only takes him about 20 tries to get the trailer in the water, and that is at a 45 degree angle. After ten minutes of trying to get the boat on the trailer he finaly jumps in the water in his jeans and guides it on. they pull out and we were loaded and gone in less then five minutes total. Some guys are just brilliant! Made for good entertainement though.

[Da Beak]

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Or on the flip side, those who take their boat out of the water, then leave it in place blocking the ramp while they secure the boat for land travel. I go bonkers.

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Oh yeah, we had this one yesterday! There were 4 boats hovering around the landing on a small local lake here in the West Metro. This couple pulls up to the dock, begin's to unload everything BUT the kitchen sink out onto the dock, tie up the boat with 2 lines to the dock, and they both proceed to start hauling the stuff up to their truck. They get it all loaded into the truck, then he decides it's time to back the trailer into the water. But first, he has to stop by the Porta-Potty! Then, the twit has to move his boat to the other side of the dock so he can get his trailer in the water, and can his other half hold the boat? Nooo, we gotta tie it up again to finish getting the trailer in! Okay, so we're finally getting the boat on the trailer, again, and, again, and AGAIN! He backed off of the trailer 3 times before he got it on straight! In the mean time, 2 more boats have showed up and are waiting. He finally pulls the boat 10 feet out of the water, stop, and he and his other beging to put the straps on, and they both grabbed towels and began to wipe down the boat and the trailer! I pulled up to the dock and politely asked them if they could pull up a little so we could back in and get out of the way. He looked at me and not so kindly told me to **** Off, we'll be done in a minute! His spouse looked at us and muttered "The nerve." I have nerve? I wasn't the one tying up the ramp for the last 20 min!

One a deeze days Alice! Pow!!!!! Ta da moon!!

[Bushwacker]

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I'll GLADLY wait for the guy/gal who pulls the strap/rope out to winch up the boat.

1) Most likely, they get the boat on straight the first time, and don't have to keep backing the boat in to re-float.

2) They aren't contributing to the destruction of another ramp. No powerloading "hole" at the bottom of the ramp, no rock and sand ledge at the far side of the hole, the cement slabs don't start to drop in the middle due to the sand being sucked out from below.

Thank you for not powerloading.

Tim

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Not to attack your post or anything, but is power loading a real problem? I have never really seen any accesses that I have noticed a problem? I power load my boat, but if it is damaging the lake I may have to change my ways. I live on a lake that has a 3 accesses. One of them has 30+ parking spots for trucks/trailers that is always full and almost everyone power loads and there is no signs of damage at all. Your post just made me think. Is it a real problem?

[fish-n-geek]

Power loading damage varies by the type and depth of the launch, AFAIK. On a shallower launch, its a lot easier to dig a hole behind the landing. I've been to a few landings that have lost concrete due to the sand getting prop-washed out, but many are deep enough to handle it fine. Many of the landings that are susceptible, are signed "no power loading" and everyone should pay attention to it.

On the flip side, there was a landing on the MN river that was so silted over that it wasn't really useable until a nice guy came in with a riverpro and blasted the whole thing clear for us

-rus-

[MNice]

Maybe a sign would be helpful by the staging area. Make sure plug is in, load all equipment in boat, strap off, etc.

Just a thought.

[TimR]

The propwash can pull the sand out from underneath the cement pad, which will make usually make one corner drop more than the other, and thus make the ramp a PITA to use.

I'm on the access to Forest Lake 1 a couple times a week. It's a shallow ramp with a short pad, very susceptible to damage - and it's already messed up. It just makes those who have a hard time getting their boat aligned on the trailer take longer.

Really, it's not the guy/gal who dips the bunks first and is able to just idle up to the stop - with maybe a quick boost at the end. It's guy's that ROOOOAAAARR up the dry trailer where the tires are barely wet. You can see it churning the (*&&(* out of the bottom, and that pulls sand out from underneath the pad.

Tim

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I'll GLADLY wait for the guy/gal who pulls the strap/rope out to winch up the boat.

1) Most likely, they get the boat on straight the first time, and don't have to keep backing the boat in to re-float.

2) They aren't contributing to the destruction of another ramp. No powerloading "hole" at the bottom of the ramp, no rock and sand ledge at the far side of the hole, the cement slabs don't start to drop in the middle due to the sand being sucked out from below.

Thank you for not powerloading.

Tim

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Not to attack your post or anything, but is power loading a real problem? I have never really seen any accesses that I have noticed a problem? I power load my boat, but if it is damaging the lake I may have to change my ways. I live on a lake that has a 3 accesses. One of them has 30+ parking spots for trucks/trailers that is always full and almost everyone power loads and there is no signs of damage at all. Your post just made me think. Is it a real problem?

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[TSCTSC]

Maybe he was not trying to beat you. If you have a line out near the dock, he might think that you are not waiting to land?

Funny story in any case.

[TSCTSC]

That man really had the nerve to say that to you ? Incredible. Some people really are simply unaware. What do you do with them?

[JohnMickish]

I hate when people are fishing at the boat landing, and they look at you like you are the A-hole for making them move out of the way so you can get your boat in/out.

[BillP]

I vote for winching not power loading. It creates a real problem at the launch I use most. It washes the gravel away from the end of the concrete and then when you back in you can drop the trailer wheels into the hole. I talked with the DNR guys that take care of the ramps in the area and powerloading is their pet peeve. They have to keep hauling gravel and it's their busy time of the year.

[mnvikingsfreak]

this may sound stupid but what is "power loading"??

[Shorelunch]

Driving your boat on your trailer instead of cranking it on. You use your motor to drive and steer your boat on. Sometimes you need to give it a little juice to get all the way up and that may create wash outs.

[fish-n-geek]

This may just be me, but I consider "power loading" to be using the outboard to push the boat onto the trailer. This is not to be confused with driving up to the trailer. I drive up to my trailer, and then winch it up the last foot or so. This is at slow-no-wake throttle levels, and not power loading, AFAIK.

-rus-

[FullTilt]

This story is a family classic. My brother and I were in grade school and we were out to the lake with my parents. We pulled the boat onto shore so my dad could get the trailer and get in line, it was a busy weekend afternoon. My brother, my mom and I are sitting in the boat watching people load and unload. A couple with a nice rig are loading their boat. They have obviously rehearsed the process and are very proud of how efficient they have become. The wife backs the suburban and trailer into the water and the husband drives the boat onto the trailer. The problem is that there is a huge hole that the trailer is sitting in and there must be a concrete slab in fromt of the tire. The husband winches up the boat from the bow and decides he's going to take a ride stradling the bow of the boat. His wife hits the gas and the tires start spinning but they aren't going anywhere. The husband has a very short fuse and starts swearing at his wife. She backs up a couple feet and he yells HIT IT ALICE! She stomps the gas, the truck takes off, the trailer boat and dude riding the bow all jump out of the water vertically. Both trailer tires are flat, the axle is about two feet further back than where it started and the wife never let off the gas and drove out of the landing. It's amazing that guy stayed on the bow. He should have earned a belt buckle for that ride, I have a feeling that was the last time he yelled at his wife at the boat landing. I thought my mom was going to pee her pants she was laughing so hard. The term "hit it Alice" is still used on occasion in our family.

[ozzie]

Boat launches are always great entertainment!!! Like the time my friend who has no clue about fishing but we are launching the boat and say here hold this rope so he does as the boat starts to float he lets go of the rope boat floats away luckily someone was kind enough to bring our boat back..

Another time my old man launches the boat and the battery doesn't work so we pull it on to the beach we jump out (friend the old man and myself) we sit on the shore for a few minutes contemplating on what to do, I believe this was on opener on Leech Lake cold water, we turn around and the boat is drifting away 40 yards out. The old man turns to me and says go get the boat!!! I said swim to it are you nuts!! I wasn't ready to strip down and go swimming in 50 degree water.. ended up that before I could reconsider my comment the old man is in the water retrieving the boat then leaves for over an hour and gets a battery for the boat... WHAT A DAD!!!

Oh two years prior to that incedent I sat in colder water on Mille Lacs (opener) holding the boat from crashing against rock in waist deep water for 15 mins as he tried to repair the motor....needless to say even though we don't catch fish together and we always have problems we still go fishing together!!! An early Happy Father's to my old man and all the Father's out there!!!!!!!

[8-Ball]

I have never been to a launch w/ a sign that says "no power loading". I guess I don't get out enough..

[knoppers]

power loading? it depends on the depth of the launch, I have a bunk trailer, and the only way to get it on and off is to use the motor. I do my best to get the trailer out deep enough to just engage reverse to back off, then when loading, I will be slightly farther out of the water, so the boat can right itself, and drive close to the winch, then give it a little burst at the end to get it all the way up. I have seen straps break winching up a glass boat on a bunk trailer becuase of the weight of the boat makes it impossible, so we have no choice to power it up.

[ricqik]

I also have bunks and I agree, there's no way I can winch my 21'er, either the winch belt or the winch post is gonna break. I always back it in as far as possible but you can only go so far cuz bassboats are too shallow and you'll just float around and not lined up when you pull out. I like the do it once and get out of the way.

They hate you for taking too long and they hate you for power loading, what's a guy to do?