LATEST IN BOAT LOADING TECHNOLOGY

valbob58

Recruit
Joined
Feb 19, 2003
Messages
1
Had a friend that was at a recent boat show in Thunder Bay and he found this unbelievable system for guiding your boat on to your trailer. Could some of the experts check it out and let me know if you think it will work before I purchase one. www.markezesolutions.com<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Fitch
 

roscoe

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
21,744
Re: LATEST IN BOAT LOADING TECHNOLOGY

I don't know.<br />It may work to help center the boat, if installed in the right position.<br /><br />They claim that this is the solution to loading in a crosswind, but I don't see how this will guide or turn the boat onto the trailer any better than a post or bunk guide, given that it is tall enough.<br /><br />All the photos in the gallery show boats that are on the trailer, or floating straight and directly behind the trailer. No Crosswind situations. I would think they would show how great it works in the wind, as that is one of their selling points.<br /><br />I guess I will wait to read the test reports in the magazines, or maybe iboats will buy some and test them.
 

Beaux

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
390
Re: LATEST IN BOAT LOADING TECHNOLOGY

First off, I'm not an expert, so take with grain of salt-<br />But for $500.00 ....NOT A CHANCE. :eek: <br />Just take $20.00 and put gas in your boat, take your boat to a buoy or channel marker out away from the harbor and practice driving/docking/maneuvering your boat at different wind and ocean current directions. <br />After all, it is a lot safer and for that matter, more impressive to see a fellow boater handle his boat with ease and drive onto the trailer perfectly. <br />Regular guide bunks should do the trick and are a lot cheaper. Save your money and impress your buddies by mastering slow speed handling instead... :D :D :D
 

ndemge

Commander
Joined
Jul 15, 2002
Messages
2,644
Re: LATEST IN BOAT LOADING TECHNOLOGY

I plan on dong that to my boat... but I've got maybe $30 invested in 2x6, carpet and glue... <br /><br />i've got steel and a welder to make the brackets, then mount the bunks on the rear of the trailer to hold the side of the boat.<br /><br />loading in a river is a pain in the ARSE.... as you get the bow up on the trailer, the back end just starts drifting down the river, then you take another run and hope you land on the bunks... but never do.
 

BassMan283

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 26, 2002
Messages
277
Re: LATEST IN BOAT LOADING TECHNOLOGY

I suppose those could help if you routinely put your trailer in REALLY deep. Of course, having the trailer REALLY deep is the reason the back end swings around all over in the first place.
 

ndemge

Commander
Joined
Jul 15, 2002
Messages
2,644
Re: LATEST IN BOAT LOADING TECHNOLOGY

I pretty much have to load my boat under power... <br />with the I/O ... I have to be a lil deaper than I would like to keep the drive down so I can power on.... get it lined up, then pull out and let it fall down onto the bunks.
 

Luna Sea

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
May 20, 2002
Messages
1,069
Re: LATEST IN BOAT LOADING TECHNOLOGY

Wow! $500? I've been meaning to shell out $85 for the roller guide-ons, need them. But when I get me $500 I got my eyes on a nice trolling motor! :D
 

poolshark38759

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Feb 3, 2003
Messages
155
Re: LATEST IN BOAT LOADING TECHNOLOGY

it wouldnt be worth it to me...just looks like a floating bunk guide to me...any one with some back yard engineering could fix up something like that...i am on a SAR team that routinely goes out in the Mississippi River to get stranded boaters and we have long side bunks covered in fire hose that work great...most ramps we use are steep and not square to the water, so boat always want to load on sided....
 

Just Learning

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jan 28, 2003
Messages
33
Re: LATEST IN BOAT LOADING TECHNOLOGY

I agree, no way $500. :rolleyes: <br />Better to spend $500 on stuff that HAS to be fixed and just take your time and/or practice.
 

bayman

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 2, 2000
Messages
669
Re: LATEST IN BOAT LOADING TECHNOLOGY

I've been looking into Fulton boat guides. They are close to one-tenth as much money and I've seen them on lots of trailers.<br /><br />-bayman
 

golfer

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Jan 5, 2003
Messages
99
Re: LATEST IN BOAT LOADING TECHNOLOGY

Im with everyone else, for less than $100 you can buy trailer guides that accomplish the same thing. I prefer the tall (yet ugly) 2" guide posts, they are tall enough to still catch your rub rail with the trailer under water. They are not as sturdy as the lower profile horizontal guides, but the height is an advantage. If your biggest problem is the stern drifting away from the trailer, try to always load on the up current side of the dock. If you can't, run a line from the dockside stern around the dock post, and carry the end with you to the bow. As you pull the boat toward the trailer with the winch, let out the stern line as you go, and you will have saved yourself that $500. :)
 

Redsfilthy

Cadet
Joined
Mar 30, 2003
Messages
10
Re: LATEST IN BOAT LOADING TECHNOLOGY

The trick to loading in a river is to angle the trailer.Point the back of the trailer down river and its almost effortless loading.Save your money.
 
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