Power Loading issue

[agallant80]

Well perhaps its not so much a power loading issue. I find the following issue. If I back my trailer in to the water too deep the boat does not sit right on it. If I back it in until the fenders are just under water then i can power load on the trailer the last 4 feet and it sits on the trailer properly when I pull out. I was thinking of buying some trailer guides so I can back in further and have the guides hold the boat in to place so the stern does not drift. Am I missing something here? i can't seam to find the sweet spot. Keep in mind this is a 25 foot cruiser im putting on a trailer.

5' Bunk Board Guide Kit - Tie Down Engineering 86124 - iboats

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Power Loading issue

The trailer guides will help some, but if you position them too close, they can make loading a bit of a pain because they end up requiring you to be spot-on in your approach. Do you have keel rollers? They have self-centering keel rollers that will help guide your boat on the trailer. Also, if you cant get within 2' of the bow stop, just winch it on from there instead of power loading.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Power Loading issue

Your method of not putting it in quite as deep is best. Too deep and the hull has more trouble centering on the bunks/rollers because it is trying to float just above all that. Having the trailer shallower then idling on until it stops then winching the rest of the way is pretty normal, and easier on the launch area foundation underwater. If you have two people that know what they are doing one can park the trailer shallow, then the boat captain can get it on the trailer centered, then the trailer parker can inch back as the boat driver idles on up to the winch stop. Still can't go too deep or the boat can float off sideways at the stern. I almost always have to winch the last foot and a half or so. At times when it was just me I have been too shallow and had to winch some, move the rig back, winch some more, rinse-repeat

 

[agallant80]

Re: Power Loading issue

My boat clocks in at over 8K so I would worry about busting a keel roller and cranking it in is not much fun.

 

[noclutch]

Re: Power Loading issue

No help to the OP, but back in the 70's our trailer had rollers that would raise with a big levers activation, keeping the boat off of the bunks, then lower it down when the bow was snug Wish my current trailer had that feature.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Power Loading issue

Just sayin', when loading, if the trailer is in deep enough that the stern is still highly bouyant as the hull contacts the rollers/bunks then it will not center even with guideposts. You could add some carpeted runners between the fenders tall enough and long enough to act like a chute I suppose. They would have to be pretty stout in my estimation.

Not sure why you think a keel roller will break?

 

[ricohman]

Re: Power Loading issue

I have this trouble when I use a shorter, steeper ramp and my boat is only 22ft. With more gradual ramps its no problem.
I have to keep the fenders level with the water or it is a hard crank.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Power Loading issue

My boat clocks in at over 8K so I would worry about busting a keel roller and cranking it in is not much fun.

Busting a keel roller? The entire weight of the boat isn't on a single roller when set up correctly, it's just enough weight on the roller to guide/hold the keel in line. If the trailer is set up correctly, you shouldn't have too much trouble winching the boat a few feet. 8K is a lot of weight, but as long as your winch is properly set up (gear ratio) it shouldn't be a huge effort to move the boat a few feet by hand.

Also, Bayliner lists your boat at around 6,500lbs with your engine package. So assuming you have 500lbs of fuel/water/gear, it puts the boat closer to 7,000lbs. It doesn't make much difference in this discussion, just letting you know that the 8,000lbs number you were given is probably with the trailer weight included.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: Power Loading issue

I had this problem and put a two speed (hand crank) winch on the trailer. Problem solved.

 

[Bartine]

Re: Power Loading issue

No help to the OP, but back in the 70's our trailer had rollers that would raise with a big levers activation, keeping the boat off of the bunks, then lower it down when the bow was snug Wish my current trailer had that feature.

That sounds fantastic! I've been thinking I need to design something like that for my trailer. It would be the best of both worlds.

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Power Loading issue

I too have a 25 foot boat and what I do is back the trailer in shallow, idle onto the trailer, crank it on until the winch strains, then back the trailer in 4 more feet or so and crank to the bow stop.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Power Loading issue

I had this problem and put a two speed (hand crank) winch on the trailer. Problem solved.

When I had my 24' cuddy I winched the thing all the way with a 2 speed........

 

[noclutch]

Re: Power Loading issue

I have this trouble when I use a shorter, steeper ramp and my boat is only 22ft. With more gradual ramps its no problem.
I have to keep the fenders level with the water or it is a hard crank.

This is exactly my problem. Plus, unfortunately, I have so much bunk contact that cranking really doesn't work (at least not in the female first mates hand) . Thus, I always have to power up.

I was thinking of spraying the bunks with silicone to "grease the skids" so to speak? Don't want to apply anything to degrade the carpet though.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Power Loading issue

You can by the spray-on stuff that makes the bunks slick, but you might try what spdrcr39 and WIMUSKY said (and I mentioned earlier): a different winch. You likely have a one speed winch. Upgrade to a 2-speed which takes the strain off of the crank due to a better gear ratio. You (or your wife) won't have to work as hard to turn the crank handle.

 

[emilsr]

Re: Power Loading issue

I too have a 25 foot boat and what I do is back the trailer in shallow, idle onto the trailer, crank it on until the winch strains, then back the trailer in 4 more feet or so and crank to the bow stop.

That's exactly what I do on steeper ramps. "2 speed" winches are great, but think of the strain it's putting on the bow eye.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Power Loading issue

My boat clocks in at over 8K so I would worry about busting a keel roller and cranking it in is not much fun.

To me, winching it on IS all the fun. I love my Powerwinch.

The not fun part is having to back in and out 6 times till I get her centered, all the while being watched by others looking to use the ramp.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Power Loading issue

That's exactly what I do on steeper ramps. "2 speed" winches are great, but think of the strain it's putting on the bow eye.

Unless you are dangling all 7Klbs in the air from the bow eye, you aren't straining anything. You are only overcoming the friction of the hull (which is still partially buoyant in the water) on the bunk boards.

 

[emilsr]

Re: Power Loading issue

Unless you are dangling all 7Klbs in the air from the bow eye, you aren't straining anything. You are only overcoming the friction of the hull (which is still partially buoyant in the water) on the bunk boards.

So....6,000 lbs pull on a bow eye is okay? 1,000 lbs? How much weight (exactly) do you presume they'll hold?

I'm not sure what kind of boats you're talking about where the bow eye is designed for that kind of weight. None that I've seen, particularly on a boat the size of the OP's.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Power Loading issue

So....6,000 lbs pull on a bow eye is okay? 1,000 lbs? How much weight (exactly) do you presume they'll hold?

I'm not sure what kind of boats you're talking about where the bow eye is designed for that kind of weight. None that I've seen, particularly on a boat the size of the OP's.

I've seen some boats that have been lifted up using the bow/stern eyes without issue (several thousand lbs runabouts). You are not limited by the strength of the bow eye (and not likely the strength of it's mounting point), you are limited by the strength of the winch strap/cable you are using. Most common 2" winch straps have a breaking strength of around 8,000lbs and a working load of 2,000+. In any case, it doesn't put the weight of the boat on the bow eye. It's only the "weight-equivalent" of the resistance of the boat on the bunks. The only way to really know how much stress in on the strap is to put a scale (think fish scale) in between the strap and the bow eye to measure the force applied. I promise you it isn't 7,000lbs or even 3,000 lbs on a 7K lbs boat.

Also, most manual winches for boats of that size are rated for around 2.5K-3.5K lbs. The bow eye isn't your weak link.

 

[emilsr]

Re: Power Loading issue

I've seen some boats that have been lifted up using the bow/stern eyes without issue (several thousand lbs runabouts). You are not limited by the strength of the bow eye (and not likely the strength of it's mounting point), you are limited by the strength of the winch strap/cable you are using. Most common 2" winch straps have a breaking strength of around 8,000lbs and a working load of 2,000+. In any case, it doesn't put the weight of the boat on the bow eye. It's only the "weight-equivalent" of the resistance of the boat on the bunks. The only way to really know how much stress in on the strap is to put a scale (think fish scale) in between the strap and the bow eye to measure the force applied. I promise you it isn't 7,000lbs or even 3,000 lbs on a 7K lbs boat.

Also, most manual winches for boats of that size are rated for around 2K-2.5K lbs. The bow eye isn't your weak link.

May not be the weak link, but I can put my spare winch strap on in about 5 minutes. It's much more difficult (and expensive) to repair the boat. It's repetitive strain on the bow eye that can (and does) eventually weaken the pocket where the backing plate sits. I would never recommend "manhandling" the boat on the trailer with the bow eye....but of course to each his own.