power loading

[Gadgetman]

I know there was a discussion about this some time ago but am not sure how it ended. Here is my question, I have a 19'ProV with a bunk trailer. The only way I can get it on the trailer is by driving it on. Last weekend some old goat sitting at the landing chewedme out for power loading and told me that if the DNR was there they would have written me up. Is there any truth to that? I try and do it as gently as possible to avoid as much wash out as possible, but obviously some stuff is probably being blown out of the loading hole. Anybody know the deal on this?

[mnvikingsfreak]

dan2957 its not the ramp its the sand behind the ramp that is the problem I have seen dozens of times on lake waconia and other lakes people in bass boats backing up to where the water is barely touching their tires and powerloading so it doesnt just cause diviots 15 feet behind the launch its within feet of the concrete ramp! im not here to argue im just saying some people dont agree with power loading hense the signs at more and more boat launches saying "no power loading"

[TimR]

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If you trailer is tilted sideways on the ramp it is not because of power loading, it is because the ramp is not level. Some ramps are just like that and need some repairs. I have called the DNR about several ramps that need repair in my area and the DNR is always happy about the imput.

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Actually it is the powerloading that does it. I was out talking to the contractors repairing (from the ice last winter)the Forest Lake ramp this spring. I gave them some grief about "how about putting it in level this time, blah blah blah".

Response: "Check the landing out in a month - it will be level." "Check it out in 3 months, crooked as hell". "Propwash clears the sand and then underlayment from the concrete, and it drops". "Where do you think that big pile of debris comes from at the end of the year?" And that is exactly what happened at the FL landing this year.

I don't think most of the ramp delay comes from the "winching on/powerloading" aspect. Ramp delay comes from inexperience, ineptitude, or taking care of the tie-downs while in the way of everyone else. So really, I don't care if you can load your boat 10 seconds faster than I can. I care that Joe Blow just took 15 minutes to load his boat because the landing was crooked, Joe Blow's cousin has wedged his boat on the debris pile for 15 minutes, and DNR funds have to go to repair boat launches from unecessary powerloading.

If you are the guy just idling up your trailer, with a little juice to snug it up the last few inches - fine, no big deal. No damage, no irritation, and fast. You probably were smart enough to dip your bunks first, too.

If you are blasting it up the trailer - you are destroying the landings.

Tim

[83walleye]

Tanks, Tim. Well spake.

[mnvikingsfreak]

I 2nd that!!

[Fishin4Life]

So just a quick recap. As I understand the comments and stuff that I have read...

Powerloading is ok as long as you are just gliding up onto your trailer, with maybe a slight bump on the throttle, and then crank her on the rest of the way.

IMO doing this will not create wash out because you aren't really pushing on it too hard.

The problem comes in when you have the trailer still half on the landing and come in slow then stop at the trailer, and then s*** can it to get the beast on...

This the general consensous or did I misread...

[HARPOON-OR-BUST]

I guess I didn't see the title of this post as, "Who powerloads when the sign says not too?"

Obviosly if the sign says not too I wouldn't, however I think it can be done without causing a huge amount of propwash/current it depends on the individual loading and how much experience they have. I think this is getting blown way out of proportion again, as usual. I have been at many many landings and I don't see this problem we speak of as an epidemic!

[Surface Tension]

I'll have to agree with a lot of what Tim has said.

Glass boats on roller trailers probably have more support then on bunks. Where ever theres a mounting bracket on the bunk thats where the load is. Do the credit card test and see for yourself.

As far as cranking in a boat, I have no trouble at all and I've trailered some pretty big boats. The biggest was a glass 25 Saratoga onto a roller trailer. Always went on right the first time and took a whooping 2 minutes to load. One little ad-on to your trailer that'll make things so much easy and most likely save you from a fall into the water is a catwalk.

Theres a difference between driving on and power loading. I don't think anyone can argue that power loading doesn't scour out a hole. It also puts a lot of strain on the transom and hull. Depending on the landing and rising and falling water levels it can become a problem.

If the landing gets any wave action that action will fill the hole back in eventually. Of coarse thats depends on the amount of thrust used in power loading thats done there and how often.

For now its one of those things thats up to the operators to police themselves.

[Ely Lake Expert]

Wow is that alot of posts for a topic that started 2 days ago. Personnally I am not a power loader, I can handle cranking up the 14' lund. At the same time if someone can do it without making alot of noise and commotion, I have no problem with it. There was one time though that I was fishing right by the landing and some overpaid jack*** in his $40K new bass boat was trying very unsuccessfully to powerload. On his third try after the first two loud and annoying attempts he smashed his prop and possibly his lower unit off the concrete. I can honestly say I laughed and didn't feel sorry for that guy at all.

[blakjack23]

Why do you consider him overpaid for having a 40k Bass boat? Maybe he is the brain surgeon referenced in one of the previous posts.

[marine_man]

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If you are the guy just idling up your trailer, with a little juice to snug it up the last few inches - fine, no big deal.

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This is what I do most often... usually coast in on the boat's momentum coming onto the trailer, a quick pop into gear and I run the boat up to about 1-2 feet of the winch stand.

There are some people that open their motor all the way up and load their boat that way... but the vast majority of people that I see are doing something similar to me.

Now, on a particular small lake in central MN there is a powerboat racer who uses the landing to break in his motors (no throttle to wide open, while in gear, then back down again... repeat)... there is one massive hole at the end of that landing... there have been quite a few twisted pontoon trailer axles attributed to that...

marine_man

[Ely Lake Expert]

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Why do you consider him overpaid for having a 40k Bass boat? Maybe he is the brain surgeon referenced in one of the previous posts.

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After watching him try to load it and his buddy stand there and watch. I think they could of been the real life examples that gave someone the idea for the movie dumb and dumber. If he was a brain surgean, I am staying the hell away from that hospital. I suppose the clown could of inherited it.

[Big Roy]

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So just a quick recap. As I understand the comments and stuff that I have read...

Powerloading is ok as long as you are just gliding up onto your trailer, with maybe a slight bump on the throttle, and then crank her on the rest of the way.

Exactly

IMO doing this will not create wash out because you aren't really pushing on it too hard.

You would have to create some, but no where near what it is now.

With my boat, the trailer needs to be about 1/3 out of the water, the bunks help guide it on so if they are too deep your SOL. When I am about 90% on I would have to goose it, however, since I am alone I usually get out and crank it on the rest of the way (about 4 turns and never in waders nor have I ever walked around the back of the boat) in most cases only my ankles get wet. Another reason why I do this is because while you are motoring on to the trailer with the motor trimmed up, as soon as you give it gas the motor will start trimming down and if the launch is shallow enough the prop could get damaged. Mine has not but I have seen it happen to others.

You guys are right about the bunks not supporting the entire length on the trailer and I stand corrected, and yes, you also need the rollers, without them unloading would be very difficult. the rollers are also used for keel support and most of the weight is on them. I should have said that the bunks in some cases (mine) are better support than all rollers and, for guiding the boat on the trailer so it will line up straight.

It might be a good idea for the salesman to take you out on the water and explain how to use it, they should show you the proper running trim, and make sure your getting the right RPM out of the motor. and yes show you how to drive on and off the trailer.

[knoppers]

poeple just need to use some common sense when loading. I try my best to get the boat trailer in far enough when both unloading and loading to ease the process.

I have seen worse damage to concrete ramps due to the ice going out, rather than from boat motors.