A rant - A special kind of stupid

[Bob_VT]

Yesterday was not a great day for me at the lake....... I had a friend back my boat over some rocks which destroyed the prop (oh well accidents happen) and we limped to the ramp very slowly.

While waiting my turn to get out of the lake I watched 5 bass boats load - They all were power-loading. Pretty sad that people can spend a small fortune on a boat with a matching trailer and have no idea how to use a winch. Significant damage was done to the bottom of thew ramp. A real special kind of stupid.

 

[Scott Danforth]

or they are too lazy to use the winch

 

[southkogs]

Powerloading isn't an issue on TN ramps, so not a biggie around here. But it amazes me how many people load a boat on a trailer without using the winch. It seems after a day of being out on the lake, in 100 degree weather, they go to pretty impressive levels to not get their feet wet while loading :der:

 

[Maclin]

I have been beside rigs like that at the dock, they treat the whole retrieval process as a race, like it is part of the Tournament, they pull out so fast as part of retrieving that their trailer leaves a wake.

 

[GA_Boater]

You can only hope powerloaders are the ones with trailer wheels dropped in the holes.

 

[Bluedogfishing]

 

[Old Ironmaker]

Power loading isn't an issue here in my opinion. We don't fish weekends anymore because ramp follies are a spectator sport now and I have waited in line for over 45 minutes for 3 boats to pull out. I am for anything that speeds up the process myself. What is the issue with driving the boat onto a trailer? How would it foul up a ramp? Not a rhetorical question, just interested.

 

[southkogs]

I don't think there's really an issue anywhere with driving the boat up on to the trailer. But using the drive to push it up the trailer - power loading - can cause a problem at some ramps. Bluedogfishing's video shows the effect at the bottom of the ramp of effectively digging a hole at the base of the ramp, but the thrust shoves all the bottom material in a mound just off of that hole. The two effects are 1) trailer wheels that go to the end of the ramp will fall into the hole and the tow rig won't be able to pull them out and 2) the mound that could be something boats run aground on coming in to the trailer.

Here in TN, on our ramps most of the bottoms you come across are more rock and clay than stuff that'll move from a stern drive gunning away. And besides, most of our ramps are long enough that in order to get the trailer wheels off the concrete, you've got to sink your tow vehicle into the water. So, the power loaders can really burn fuel to their heart's content on most of our ramps.

 

[aspeck]

I do understand the problem power loading can cause, but on most of our ramps there are signs suggesting you power load. Is it possible the "special kind of stupid" person who power loads came from a place that recommends it? Just throwing that out there for consideration.

 

[roscoe]

How would it foul up a ramp? Not a rhetorical question, just interested.

See video in the post above yours.


The older the ramp, the more likely it is short, as boats in the 50's and 60's were shorter, less ramp needed to float her.
And non paved ramps are the most susceptible to damage.

One ramp I use is severely damaged, huge hole.
I've seen pontoon trailers stuck in the hole.

I have skid plates in front of the tires on my trailer.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

I see said the blind man. Digging a hole in the bottom is very possible, never ever thought of that. Thanks all.

 

[capecodtodd]

I'm not a fan of power loading because most of my boating experience is from lakes that have short ramps and guys that did it would dig holes at the end of the ramp just like in the video bluedogfishing posted.

Larger ramps don't have the same problem because they go deeper in to the water plus they are usually angled more steeply so you don't have to go in as deep.

On the lake I pull off about 6' of winch strap and in the ocean 3-4' I don't know why guys need to power load at all.

 

[Bob_VT]

Well the power loading is really only half of the problem and there is no law to prevent it. There is a law that boats and trailers need to be inspected by the owner prior to leaving the ramp area so the invasive weeds be cleaned off....... they all ignored that too

I guess that the special stupid should be considered special LAZY.

There will be some extra attention at that ramp by Fish and Game.

 

[sphelps]

Pretty much everyone power loads on the ramps I use .. Never had a problem or have seen a problem with trailers getting stuck .. Even at low tide ... Concrete goes down a good ways ...

 

[avenger79]

interesting, when I bought the new boat this year that was one of their selling features. you can power load it.
personally I tried it once, didn't like it. I winch it up on the trailer now days.

 

[JASinIL2006]

interesting, when I bought the new boat this year that was one of their selling features. you can power load it.
personally I tried it once, didn't like it. I winch it up on the trailer now days.

Seems like every boat with a decently powerful motor can do that. How did they use is as a distinguishing feature?

 

[roscoe]

Lots of the ramps here are owned/operated by the county.
Several counties issue a municipal citation if they catch you power loading.

 

[avenger79]

Seems like every boat with a decently powerful motor can do that. How did they use is as a distinguishing feature?

just a quick statement about "and with this trialer (bunk) you can drive it right on. no worries about cranking it up"
in fact during the demo ride he mentioned it would be very hard if not impossible to crank the boat on. seems easy enough to me.

 

[Woodonglass]

I have a vintage Gator Tilt Trailer. I can load and unload from the bank if necessary. I did it once when the Ramp was overflowing. You should have seen the people look. Had several come ask where I got the trailer. They were impressed but...Powerloading IS a nice feature especially if the Admiral is at the helm. With the correct trailer and ramp, I don't have and issue with people PowerLoading. Especially if the line is LONG!!!

What Ticks me off is boat owners who don't have a clue about how to back a Trailer!!!!:facepalm:

 

[poconojoe]

Just coast onto the trailer as you shut the engine and trim up. Winch the rest of the way. I never get my feet wet either.