Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

[muskyfins]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

In regards to OP's immediate situation, Devil's Advocate Says: "if the water is deep enough at ramp to get trailer under water at all-back to end of ramp without going over, drive boat onto end of trailer, raise motor to full trim (not trailer) and power load. Damage to ramp already done by someone else."

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

Devil's Advocate Says: "if the water is deep enough at ramp to get trailer under water at all-back to end of ramp without going over, drive boat onto end of trailer, raise motor to full trim (not trailer) and power load. Damage to ramp already done by someone else."

That's right, it wasn't me that did it! It was the gazillion people that went before me that did it.

I never launched at a new ramp, or even a relatively new ramp... all the ramps I've launched from were built at least 20 yrs. before I got my first boat.

The winchers should take this argument to their fathers and grandfathers.

On a side note, scour holes make great fish habitat... that's why all those shore fishermen are fishing the boat ramp when we're trying to launch.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

Just call Mother Nature, she'll even the score those power loaders...

 

[RustyShackleford]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

I just never heard of using the winch to get the boat on the trailer!

What do you think it's for? (teasing)

I know that if I don't get the boat all the way on, and I try to winch it the rest of the way, the steel post moves, not the boat.

You might need to back your trailer in a little more. Even just another foot back can make a big difference.

Every ramp I've been on is concrete, and they go so far out into the water, even when the lakes are low, that you never run the risk of being NEAR the end of the ramp.

If the ramp is concrete, it is acceptable to powerload as long as it goes way out in the water, like you said.

 

[muskyfins]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

That's right, it wasn't me that did it! It was the gazillion people that went before me that did it.

I never launched at a new ramp, or even a relatively new ramp... all the ramps I've launched from were built at least 20 yrs. before I got my first boat.

The winchers should take this argument to their fathers and grandfathers.


On a side note, scour holes make great fish habitat... that's why all those shore fishermen are fishing the boat ramp when we're trying to launch.

I was specifically referring to the OP's problem at hand.

 

[RustyShackleford]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

Guys, I don't know what sort of ramps you have in your local and they may in fact be designed to deal with power loading.

I think some of the folks saying there's nothing wrong with it aren't aware of the fact that not all ramps are concrete that goes far enough in the water to allow powerloading, at least, I HOPE that's it... At my local lake, for example, one of the ramps is just a slope of dirt, another is concrete that goes well into the water, and another is a concrete ramp that oftentimes is only a few feet in the water, like the image below. I will never use the dirt ramp or the short ramp.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

I suspect, however, that the post my winch is mounted on, is not strong enough to winch the boat on. I know that if I don't get the boat all the way on, and I try to winch it the rest of the way, the steel post moves, not the boat.

Then there is something wrong with the way your winch post is mounted.

 

[nosaj]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

I dropped my trailer on the frame at isle of palms marina during low tide. It was when i still had my pontoon and i did not know where the concrete ended and the black hole began. I put my truck in 4WD and managed to pop it out. I had all 4 wheels spinning and my rpm's around 3500, which in my truck is about 700 ft/#'s of torque. It bent both fenders into the tires, but other than the brown stain in my drivers seat, no harm was done.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

wow--three pages in one afternoon on a topic clearly near and dear to the hearts of the trailer boats.

it's all because they switched from rollers to bunks and called them "float on" trailers or worse, "drive on" trailers. That's when people quit using the winches (why do you have 20' of cable/strap if all you use is 3 feet?)

 

[southkogs]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

...Rumor has it Jimmy Hoffa is under one of the ramps.

Man, that dude get's around for a dead guy.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

...(why do you have 20' of cable/strap if all you use is 3 feet?)

To recover a bit from goofin' with Coop: I've always loaded using the winch (learned it that way back in Michigan where the ramps didn't run miles into the drink). Where I've seen as much issue with power loading is people givin' it too much and running their boat into their own trailer. Amazing how much damage I see that way vs. slowing down just a bit and crankin' her on.

Another reason power loading seems to be popular is that you can load your boat without wettin' your toes. I see quite a few feats of acrobatic prowess as some of these guys move from boat to trailer to truck bed to cab

Obviously region and situation play big in the conversation.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

Guys, I don't know what sort of ramps you have in your local and they may in fact be designed to deal with power loading. All I can say is that in the mid-west almost all lakes have a silt / mud bottom and power loading is the fastest way I can think of to wash out the earth at both the end of the ramp and from beneath the ramp itself which leads to the ramp falling apart.

Now I have to go help my buddy try and get his boat. We got a couple of Jr. I-beams and plan to lay them across the hole and see if we can get the trailer in far enough to get the boat on it. Wish us luck, something tells me we'll need it.

Good luck to you and I would gladly lend a hand if I was closer

 

[flycaster]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

About scouring the holes at the end of the ramps, just think of where all of the debris is piled up now. At the lakes that are at very low levels, the pile of debris is in line where your are moving your boat in reverse. For those who own depth finders on their boats, check the depth of those mounds. The tops are just under the waters surface awaiting for the unfortunate boater to back the spinning prop into the debris.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

I have a tendency to speak up when I see power loading since our ramps are in poor enough shape and we don't need that type of redesign.

I understand exactly where you are coming from.

Ayuh,.... Ditto,.... I have No problem 'xplainin' it to the Uninformed...

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

power loading is illegal at most of the ramps I have seen thru out Wisconsin, Minnesota and the UP. it is illegal at a handful of ramps in Florida as well.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: retreive your trailer after falling off ramp end

Re: retreive your trailer after falling off ramp end

After your wheels drop off the end of the concrete ramp, and the spring shackles are tight to the edge, how to retrieve the trailer.
Back the tow vehicle up a couple of inches, just to make sure the shackles are not binding on the edge of the ramp. Pull all of the rope, cable, strap from your winch. lay the cable/strap along the center of the trailer until you get to the axle. Pull the cable end with hook up under the axle, then attach hook to the bow eye of boat. If the strap/cable is not long enough just use a dock line to make the connection. Now just start to tighten up on the winch strap. This will cause the strap to tighten up under the trailer axle and the boat will anchor the line above the water line. Trailer will begin to raise up and the tow vehicle can pull the trailer free.
I have helped several boaters by employing this method. Works every time.

awesome!
it takes a calm thinker to come up with the easy way
a windlass could fetch it too pretty easy

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

The lake, like every body of water in the mid-west right now, is really low meaning he had to back further down the ramp. The problem is that when he got too deep the trailer axels fell off the end of the concrete ramp into a hole that is at least 3' deep caused by people powering their boat on to their trailers even though there is a huge sign saying not to do it.

Boating during abnormally low water levels can be and should be considered a hazardous condition.

All boaters should know that there's a drop-off or scour hole at the end of every concrete ramp whether power loading is permitted or not, current and erosion will make sure of this.

Logic will tell you that during low water level periods the end of the ramp will be closer to the waters edge and if you're going to launch you should do so with great caution and back the trailer very slowly down the ramp and keep a sharp eye on your trailer. Launching and retrieving will be risky at these times and the risk should be assessed before launching.

Not only will there be hazards and risks at the launch, but the lake will be a different lake than what you're used to and the will be underwater hazards that you normally wouldn't have to deal with. Stumps, rock piles, underwater humps and depth changes are just a few of the hazards. You can ruin a propeller, break of a skeg, and even sheer off your lower unit if you aren't very careful.

Your friends problem isn't the fault of power loaders, it is his own fault for launching during a low water level hazard/condition and not taking all the necessary precautions. Maybe your friends problem is/was actually a blessing in disguise that saved him from a worse and more expensive problem.

The 2 lakes I fish/boat on are COE impoundments with water fluctuations up to 15'. One lake has a winter draw down of 5-6', the other lake only has a winter drawn down of 1-2'. I will boat on both lakes during normal draw down conditions... but! When the 5-6' draw down lakes floods (sometimes 15' above normal winter level) they will draw the other lake down 8-10' to make room for water from a third lake. I will not try to launch or boat on the 1-2' draw down lake when they drop it 8-10', the ramps aren't made long enough for this and there's just too many other hazards.

 

[KDAVID1]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

Power loading is the norm here in 'Bama and the winchers are the ones that get the stink eye for taking too long and tying up the ramp.

Y'all have fun winching those boats, I believe I'll just keep power loading and avoid the stink eye.

x2-but I only powerload when someone else is backing the trailer down for me or if the water is real shallow--otherwise I just glide right on.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

Boating during abnormally low water levels can be and should be considered a hazardous condition.

The 2 lakes I fish/boat on are COE impoundments with water fluctuations up to 15'. One lake has a winter draw down of 5-6', the other lake only has a winter drawn down of 1-2'. I will boat on both lakes during normal draw down conditions... but! When the 5-6' draw down lakes floods (sometimes 15' above normal winter level) they will draw the other lake down 8-10' to make room for water from a third lake. I will not try to launch or boat on the 1-2' draw down lake when they drop it 8-10', the ramps aren't made long enough for this and there's just too many other hazards.

Your experience is substantially different than using a lake/body of water that was formed naturally. I think you should consider that not all ramps are created equal and that while you see no detriment to power loading based on your experience, you are the exception. There are FAR more natural lakes with limited water depth and limited ramp length in this country than all those engineered and planned lakes you are used to.

I think your experience shows that a lake that man creates has some advantages when it comes to boater access and enjoyment. For the other 95% of boaters that like enjoying what God created, we have to deal with some "compromises".

I only wish I had the opportunity to draw the water down on the Great Lakes 15' at will so I could pour a really good concrete ramp and dedge a nice deep channel at my marina. Quite honestly, right now we are dealing with the lowest water levels in memory and as a new business owner, I'm affraid I won't be able to take full advantage of it. Let alone the permits and fees required being difficult to get, they come at a cost. When you add the cost of the actual work required, it is no wonder that private ramps and those operated by small municipalities are not up to the standard that the COE has set.

You saying that you don't boat when there is a temporary draw down has no resemblence to the reality faced on many lakes this year. For many it would mean no boating at all, if they took your advice.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Power loading on to trailers - Pay the price!

Operate at an idle speed ,,,, seems pretty clear to me.

Bubba, I guess they don't know what the word idle means:


idle [ˈaɪdəl]
adj
1. unemployed or unoccupied; inactive
2. not operating or being used
3. (Economics, Accounting & Finance / Banking & Finance) (of money) not being used to earn interest or dividends
4. not wanting to work; lazy
5. (usually prenominal) frivolous or trivial idle pleasures
6. ineffective or powerless; fruitless; vain
7. without basis; unfounded
vb
1. (when tr, often foll by away) to waste or pass (time) fruitlessly or inactively he idled the hours away
2. (intr) to loiter or move aimlessly
3. (Engineering / Mechanical Engineering) (intr) (of a shaft, engine, etc.) to turn without doing useful work
4. (Engineering / Automotive Engineering) (intr) Also (Brit) tick over (of an engine) to run at low speed with the transmission disengaged
5. (tr) US and Canadian to cause to be inactive or unemployed


With those definitions, what is the point of even having the engine running. As long is the ignition is in the OFF position give it has much as gas as you want. Just make sure you get your winch strap attached and start cranking before you float off into never never land.