Power Loading

[katoguy]

Driving on doesn't hurt anything if done correctly.

BobT, maybe you should move your argument here to the political discussion board. We all pay for things that isn't a consequence of our own actions. Fair?

[BoxMN]

Just curious, how is it done correctly so as to not adversely affect the landing or foundation under it?

I think I was the first one on the other post that mentioned that more and more ramps are restricting power loading. My local city access on WBL is one that has.

Thank you slotlimit for providing first hand info on the repairs. While it might not take much to temporarily repair the washout, multiply that by how many need to be done in a year, and how many don't get done, and it is not a small matter.

We used to power load all the time. It does work great, and fast, and looks good to onlookers, making "us" feel proud that we are so fast and good. But, nowadays we don't do that anymore as I have seen what propwash can do to blow out material under the ramp, and have seen crews fixing it.

It might not ruin it from one power load (obviously) but multiply that 50+ times a day.... wow.

It is just as easy to motor up to the trailer (put in at the proper depth) hook up the hook and crank up the last 3-4-5 feet. We leave motor in idle until the hook is on, then shut it off. Take only about 1 extra minute to crank our boat. I know many boaters won't change. But hopefully some do, which might lengthen the time it takes between ramp repairs.

Good luck,

[fishfearme]

Once a person learns how to power load their boat, they will never want to crank it up again. I have power loaded my boats for the last 20 years. Even with a roller trailer it is possible, just a little harder to do. If it wasn't for the hole from power loading at the ramp I can't float my boat off the trailer at alot of lakes.

[katoguy]

Pretty easy. Back in far enough. Very slow idle towards the trailer with the motor tilted up. Kill the motor and slide right into place.

Yep, pretty simple if you have a drive on trailer and set it up correctly. Many times I do have to crank the last few inches, though.

[BoxMN]

Gotcha, and yes, that is basically how we do it now. That is not "power loading" though, at least not what I think most are talking about here - which is using throttle to literally "drive the boat up the trailer to the winch".

We are in synch 100%, and that won't hurt the ramp in my eyes either. Thanks,

[katoguy]

I tried to have someone give me the definition of "power loading" earlier. I keep refering to "driving on" and not "power loading".

Power loading with roller trailers makes me worry about scour holes, too. I have seen people leave the engine in gear while they run up to the front to hook up. This isn't good for the access or their motor.

[slotlimit]

To tell you guys the truth I enjoyed fixing the ramps. I knew the day before what I would be doing the next day and put on the swim trunks. I got paid to swim, drive to the next access and do it all over again. It was a fun couple of days. Some people would get freaked out by the rocks I was putting in but by the time I explained what I was doing they were fine.

[papabear]

after reading this I see that some fisherman respect others and use common sense when loading their boats and crank on or drive on. Others insist that they need to powerload despite the effects on the ramps. We have all seen the effects. But lazyness and trying to look cool I guess override common courtesy sometimes. 100' roostertails might impress the girls but to some it looks like you arent doing it right.

[Shack]

"Power Loading", sounds like something Tim Allen would perfect. I never have power loaded before. I have a "power winch" on my trailer and run cable out to corner bumper and use remote string to pull switch and pull me in. I do know if you loose something in water around launch and it is a busy day with "power loaders" coming in. It sure makes it hard to find item (Cell Phone) in water. The water stays murky for long periods of time. This can not be good for ramp. Also large hole at end of ramp makes it more difficult to load shallow bottom boat.

[youngie22]

should be fun out there w/ the low water, the super power up will probably throw some sand and gravel in those rooster tails.

[EBass]

I powerload my 14' jon boat with 25H. I have bunks on my trailer and it's a beeotch to wind up. Well I need a new whinch deal to, and new bunks, and side rails, and...

Any who I power up most of the way and whinch the rest in is the norm for me. I'm not at the launch long at all and get miffed for the people that push their boat off and hold on to it with a rope and put it back on the same way. They hog the landing for a while - you've seen it too, admit it.

[archer59]

Quote:

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I powerload my 14' jon boat with 25H. I have bunks on my trailer and it's a beeotch to wind up. Well I need a new whinch deal to, and new bunks, and side rails, and...

Any who I power up most of the way and whinch the rest in is the norm for me. I'm not at the launch long at all and get miffed for the people that push their boat off and hold on to it with a rope and put it back on the same way. They hog the landing for a while - you've seen it too, admit it.

---

So you'll get miffed at me cause I push off my boat instead of backing up and hitting the brakes??? ( I'm usually by myself )Sounds like a chill pill needed here.

What do you do at Home Depot?

[lots of luck]

I prefer the term drive on, I drive my boat onto the trailer and blip the throttle a little at the end. I am also running a fish and ski boat (17.5', fiberglass, 4.3L v6) with bunks. Not a formula for a lot of cranking, nor was the trailer designed too.

I have it down pretty good, it results in extremely fast loads. The carpeted wheel wells act as guides and the bunks center it up almost everytime. I walk to front and crank just about 2 or 3 times and she is ready to be pulled out.

I am also fishing lakes that have large and extravagant ramps also, Waconia and Minnetonka. Full concrete and go very deep. So I know I am not blowing out a hole behind me. I use the momentum of the boat and add just a blurp of throttle at the end.

I have seen the other side though. When someone will just barely put the trailer wheels of a drive on trailer in the water or get the bunks wet and pull way out, just to get back in the boat to giver heck to power it up the trailer. Why not just back in a little further?

The worse excuse for a ramp I have seen is on Tonka in Mound. I believe the victim of power loading some big boats, nevermind that the ramp is a turd to begin with.

[VMS]

I guess, what I do is power-loading. I glide in to let the boat make contact with the rollers on the trailer, then power up to within 2 feet or so of the winch stand. I leave the motor in gear but reduce it to idle, then head up and connect the winch (from inside the boat)...go back, shut off the motor and tilt, then hop out and crank up the last couple of feet. Overall, the motor is only at a higher throttle setting for a very short time, then in idle while I finish the job.

Good or bad?

Steve

[lots of luck]

VMS that sounds like the protocol for most of the boat loading I see happening. Very fast technique, which is nice with the high volume of users on the metro lakes. I have seen the alternative also. Pull out about 15 of winch strap, which takes time and often results a wich handle slapping some portion of the lower extremeties, begin winching 15 feet of strap while boat drifts on top of fender, struggle to realign and finish winching the remainder of strap. Works, I guess, is there a better way, I think so.

Reminds me of a daylast summer when I had my boat beached waiting for my wife to park the truck. Lady backed the truck and trailer beautifully down the ramp, hubby pulls boat onto trailer, but does not drive it all the way up. Wife attaches strap to boat but has no chance at winching the boat. The boat was a Lund Tyee with the husband, who was not a little guy still in it. I proceeded to walk over and do all the cranking, they were very greatful, seeing that the ramp was extremely busy. I think this would have been an occasion where if he would have powered it up a little further, things would have went a little more smoothly.

Boat launching and loading can be a very akward experience for newcomers and those that frequent the lake very little. Give them a break, but more importantly give them a hand, or at least offer a hand.

[MIKE IN lINO III]

I am in the process of selling a 22' Searay and went to the launch at Centerville Lake to see if it was deep enough to accomodate this boat. I know now what you guys are talking about. The cement ended about 15' into the lake then there was about a 10' deep hole and beyound that, towards the lake it was about 3', Obviously from Power Loading.

I have a 16' Lund with a roller trailer, I can launch and load within 2 minutes, by myself, longer if the wife is there. If someone can't wait 2 minutes while I crank up my boat then that is their problem.

For those of you with bunk trailers, would it be helpful to back the trailer deep enough to get all the carpet wet then pull up a little, maybe it would help get the boat further up the trailer decrease then need to gun the motor. Just a thought.

Good Luck,

Mike

[the squirrel]

Quote:

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I powerload my 14' jon boat with 25H. I have bunks on my trailer and it's a beeotch to wind up. Well I need a new whinch deal to, and new bunks, and side rails, and...

Any who I power up most of the way and whinch the rest in is the norm for me. I'm not at the launch long at all and get miffed for the people that push their boat off and hold on to it with a rope and put it back on the same way. They hog the landing for a while - you've seen it too, admit it.

---

In the beginning of the season in the mornings when there is a thin sheet of ice still on the lake, I like to take my 4 wheeler and break through the ice to make sure I have a fast launch.

[BigWadeS]

Well I am usually by myself or with the family and either way I push it off the trailer and then tie it up while I park and to load, I pull it on with the rope and winch it up...if I take too long doing this.....I'm not sorry because I would take much longer trying to power load when I can't see the front of the trailer....

[Nate McVey]

I also "crank" it up. I usually drop the fiance off, let her back down (which sometimes takes awhile), unless it is busy and then I will beach and get the truck. I then wade in, straighten the boat out and crank it up. On my worst day it probably takes me 5 min. If you can't wait that long I apologize, but this is the way I am most comfortable doing it.

[Bassboy1645]

As yall know IM a fan of power loading. But just for the record I use just enough power to get to the winch with a run at the trailer. I come into the landing about 10-35 yards out and I get just enough of a run to glide onto the rollers. I hit the throttle just a bit to secure the boat on the trailer and it leaves me 0-1 foot of cranking. perfect. I dont send rooster tails, my water pump dosent eat gravel, and Iv'e never seen a ramp with holes on it. Good ramps use bigger rock as supporting material to prevent this.

[katoguy]

I hope you tie up out of the way. Some lakes have courtesy docks or other out of the way areas.

[MikeYager - Suzuki]

I cant imagine not powerloading. Haven't seen too many fisherman that dont.

[Scott K]

Only the smaller boats are the ones who dont, atleast for what I have seen.

[cold one sd]

I back my bunk trailer in far enough to wet all or most of the bucks. I also spray my bunks with silicone while they are dry and it makes them slick. My brother squirts liquid dish soap on his bunks and says that works well also.

[Nate McVey]

If that was for me, of course I beach out of the way or leave my partner on the rampless side of the dock while I get the truck. I can powerload, I choose not to.