How do you load your boat

[kailec00]

I have seen a lot of post out here about how everyone loads their boat onto the trailers, but figured each brand boat is different so why not asks the proud tahoe owners. I have a Q5I with 220.

I back into the water until the top of wheel wells are just sticking out of water and then run the boat up onto the bunks until it is about 6 inches or foot from roller and winch it the rest of the way. Is this the best way?

Also if you back the trailer to far into the water will the boat float above the roller or will the bow go under the roller and into the trailer? I have seen people hit the trailer with the boat below the roller and not sure how this happens.

 

[Mordekai]

Re: How do you load your boat

I load mine pretty much the way you do but i also leave the top third of my middle bunk exposed also.

 

[mccownk]

Re: How do you load your boat

I used to work at a marina and have launched and recovered many many boats. By backing the trailer into the water and leaving just the very top portion of the fender showing, you will be able to either pull or drive the boat nearly all the way onto the trailer. The boat can be winched the remaining way and this will naturally center the boat. This also allows you to keep from backing too far into the water and keeps your tow vehicle tires out of the water. By backing too far, it doesn't allow the boat to center on the bunks and when you pull foward it will be hit or miss on how the boat comes to rest on the trailer.

The second question on the bow eye hitting below or above the roller also depends on how far in you back the trailer and the angle of the launch ramp. Again by backing in and just leaving the top of the fender showing you should eliminate this problem.

 

[Paul DuLaney]

Re: How do you load your boat

Six pack of Miller Light is good enough to get my BOAT loaded Other wise I power it on as I have done over 30 years.

 

[jrampey]

Re: How do you load your boat

I back my trailer in til the top of the fenders are at water level. Then trim the motor up to top of running position - line up with trailer and idle onto the trailer. At first contact with the trailer I shift to neutral, turn off engine, and trim up to trailer position. Then I climb out of the boat crank in the last 6 inches til bow eye is snug below bow roller, hop in truck and pull out of the way to finish securing the boat. When my daughter is with me - I go get the truck and she drives the boat onto the trailer... only my feet and ankles get wet! She is a much better driver than her brother or dad... Probably has something to do with testosterone! "hey ya'll watch this!"

 

[tunnelengineer]

Re: How do you load your boat

It all depends on the steepness of the ramp, but I like about 2 inches of the fenders sticking out of the water. I power on and crank up the last 6-12 inches. Always works very well.

 

[PrinceValium]

Re: How do you load your boat

I lower my trailer in until the tops of the fenders are just BELOW the water...the very tops of the front bungs are still sticking out of the water and I have someone bring in the boat. once it is centered on the bung we power load it the rest of the way until the bow is up against the front roller. I then hook up the winch and slowly pull the boat out of the water allowing it to center. Works every time and pretty quickly. I havent done it by myself yet though.

The other boat owners get a kick out of seeing my wife bring in the boat and power load it. I am sure many of them do it with a chuckle...and then when they saee she knows what she is doing they are impressed...lol.

 

[grendelsniper]

Re: How do you load your boat

I get close enough to the dock to where I can pull it up with the ropes, fenders in the water, winch it up, my boys are usually with me and they are to little to help, wife has never driven my burban or boat so it is all me. I don't get wet and can do it usually faster than most two can, at the ramp. I don't feel safe powering on.

 

[dmoss8928]

Re: How do you load your boat

I do it pretty much the same way.... I also unplug my lights before backing into the water. I have heard it reduces the chance of you blowing a fuse in your truck. Have any of you guys heard that?

 

[PrinceValium]

Re: How do you load your boat

I don't unplug the lights on my trailer because it has the brake release for backing up connected to my back up lights. Without the lights hooked up I would not be able to back the trailer up.

 

[kailec00]

Re: How do you load your boat

PrinceValium, do you have surge brakes? I am trying to figure out why they would lock up going down the ramp. I have them on my trailer, but do not have a release hooked up to my lights. I was thinking about getting the plug for that kind of set up. Right now mine only lock up if I try to back up hill, but I just put the lock out pin in.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: How do you load your boat

deleted

 

[PrinceValium]

Re: How do you load your boat

PrinceValium, do you have surge brakes? I am trying to figure out why they would lock up going down the ramp. I have them on my trailer, but do not have a release hooked up to my lights. I was thinking about getting the plug for that kind of set up. Right now mine only lock up if I try to back up hill, but I just put the lock out pin in.

Yes I do...I have the 5 pin connector for my trailer. The last pin is connected to my back up lights which releases the brakes for backing up the trailer. Is your trailer a 5 pin?

 

[kailec00]

Re: How do you load your boat

Yes, my trailer is a 5 pin but it is a flat plug. I am using a 4 way converter for a round plug that fits into my truck. I was just trying to find out more about it before I go and get the 5 or 7 pin round converter.
If you have it unplugged does it engage the breaks or is it only when the trailer surges forward? With the 4 pin converter I have to get out and put the lock out pin in before I try to back up a hill, but I can back down an hill with out the breaks engaging.

 

[PrinceValium]

Re: How do you load your boat

You know I have not tried to back it down the ramp without the lights connected, however it does make sense no that the weight is not against the surge brakes at an incline the way it would be when backing up at a level surface...so I guess it would not need to be plugged in. I had not tried it as of yet however it should be ok.

One thing I might add is I always back the trailer into the water until the bungs are completely under the water to wet them sufficiently before pulling up some so the fenders are just under the water before the boat is loaded. (having the bungs wet really helps the boat slide on the trailer especially if you are winching)

 

[captain zac]

Re: How do you load your boat

I put a little liquid soap on the bunks
I also back in with light connected the new sealed light are not a problem like the old ones
have never blown a fuse ( drop and retrieve boat about 50 times a year )

Harry

 

[supercrewser]

Re: How do you load your boat

Yes, my trailer is a 5 pin but it is a flat plug. I am using a 4 way converter for a round plug that fits into my truck. I was just trying to find out more about it before I go and get the 5 or 7 pin round converter.
If you have it unplugged does it engage the breaks or is it only when the trailer surges forward? With the 4 pin converter I have to get out and put the lock out pin in before I try to back up a hill, but I can back down an hill with out the breaks engaging.

I dont know what trailer you have but mine has a pin I have to use to disengage the surge brakes when backing up and incline. Are your surge brakes electric?

 

[kailec00]

Re: How do you load your boat

Supercrewser, mine are not electric. I have the same pin that I use to disengage the brakes when backing up hill. However if you have a 5 pin connection for your lights, then the 5th pin is a brake disengage. It acts the same as the pin, but you do not have to get out and manually put the pin in. When you put your vehicle in reverse it will disengage the surge brakes.


I think this year I will get the 5 pin connector, it should save a little time when I back the boat up my drive way, at least keep me from having to get out. I agree with not unplugging the lights, I have not unplugged them for the last 2 years. Thanks for the info on the 5 pin connector and brakes.

 

[supercrewser]

Re: How do you load your boat

Supercrewser, mine are not electric. I have the same pin that I use to disengage the brakes when backing up hill. However if you have a 5 pin connection for your lights, then the 5th pin is a brake disengage. It acts the same as the pin, but you do not have to get out and manually put the pin in. When you put your vehicle in reverse it will disengage the surge brakes.


I think this year I will get the 5 pin connector, it should save a little time when I back the boat up my drive way, at least keep me from having to get out. I agree with not unplugging the lights, I have not unplugged them for the last 2 years. Thanks for the info on the 5 pin connector and brakes.

I didnt know that was the case , thanks for enlightening me. I may have to switch over to the 5 pun plug just for convenience. My drive way is on an incline and that would save a little hassle for me.

 

[PrinceValium]

Re: How do you load your boat

I just took my boat out by myself the other day because I was determined to be able to just go out by myself and enjoy the boat at times when the family is doing other things. I attached two ropes on the port side of the boat and tied the front rope to the winch mast so the boat would not float away on me when it came off the trailer. I then managed to pull the boat around to the other side of the dock and secure it.

I had a fun day of screaming across the lake and I wish I had my GPS with me so I could do a WOT test for my prop.

When I got back to the dock I was going to load the boat by pulling it up most of the way on the trailer with the ropes, however ruse people at the dock cutting in front of people prevented it especially when they tied their boat right in front of mine. So I said @#$% it and powered the boat on to the trailer myself. To my amazement it went right on the trailer the first time. This was my first time powering it on the trailer since my wife was the one to do that while I backed the trailer in. One of the guys at the dock said it looked like I had been doing it for a long time because it looked so effortless to do it. I hooked up the winch and went to the prep area pretty happy!

It just socks when you don't know if you are going to do things right at the dock with others watching you but it all turned out great. One thing I did do was back the trailer in the water to soak the bungs and then just had the tips of the front of the bungs out of the water. It took much less effort to power the boat on the trailer as it did before.