Some Basic Procedural Questions

[71-South]

Hey All,

I've been a boater for a few years now, but still have a few questions that I'd like cleared up. This forum is a real treasure, so I thought I'd pick your brains.

Loosen the winch strap?
I read somewhere on here that some folks loosen their winch strap once their boat is parked (on the trailer) in the driveway to lessen the stress on the bow. Is this necessary? I have a safety strap that I keep very tight in addition to the winch strap and it's hooked to the same place.

When do you unhook which straps?
Right before I back the boat down the ramp to launch, I pull the two safety straps off the stern and the one off the bow. I leave the winch strap hooked, though. Then, once I'm backed into the water, I lean over the bow and unhook the winch strap before backing off the trailer. Is this the proper (safe) way to launch? Conversely, is it OK to only hook the winch strap (not the safety straps) for the trip up the ramp to the parking lot?

Power Assisted Trailering?
When I pull my boat onto my trailer, it's very hard to get the bow all the way up to the roller unless the trailer is in very deep or I gun the boat a little to help. Is it OK to gun the boat's motor to push all the way up to the roller, or is this too dangerous?

...then it still slips a little bit.
Once I'm up on flat ground after trailering the boat, I usually find that the boat has slipped 6 or 8 inches off of the front roller. I've been correcting this by doing the "pull forward then slam on brakes" maneuver, but I always feel like an idiot when I have to do that. Is there a better way? I assume that the bow should be snug up against the roller. Is that correct?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Some Basic Procedural Questions

Is it OK to gun the boat's motor to push all the way up to the roller, or is this too dangerous?

Ayuh,... Donno about Dangerous, but it causes Scour Holes in the launch,+ Screws it up for guys like me who back in deep enough to load without doing that...

Once I'm up on flat ground after trailering the boat, I usually find that the boat has slipped 6 or 8 inches off of the front roller. I've been correcting this by doing the "pull forward then slam on brakes" maneuver, but I always feel like an idiot when I have to do that. Is there a better way? I assume that the bow should be snug up against the roller. Is that correct?

Yes,... That's what the Winch is for...

 

[marcortez]

Re: Some Basic Procedural Questions

Hey All,

I've been a boater for a few years now, but still have a few questions that I'd like cleared up. This forum is a real treasure, so I thought I'd pick your brains.

Loosen the winch strap?
I read somewhere on here that some folks loosen their winch strap once their boat is parked (on the trailer) in the driveway to lessen the stress on the bow. Is this necessary? I have a safety strap that I keep very tight in addition to the winch strap and it's hooked to the same place.

Sure it's ok to loosen the winch strap.....takes the strain off the strap's stitching. It's not going anywhere on your driveway.

When do you unhook which straps?
Right before I back the boat down the ramp to launch, I pull the two safety straps off the stern and the one off the bow. I leave the winch strap hooked, though. Then, once I'm backed into the water, I lean over the bow and unhook the winch strap before backing off the trailer. Is this the proper (safe) way to launch? Conversely, is it OK to only hook the winch strap (not the safety straps) for the trip up the ramp to the parking lot?

Take the stern tiedowns off while waiting on flat ground to launch.
Halfway down the ramp....undo the winch strap and safety chain from the boweye. (determine in advance the boat will not slide off) Climb in the boat and launch as normal.

Power Assisted Trailering?
When I pull my boat onto my trailer, it's very hard to get the bow all the way up to the roller unless the trailer is in very deep or I gun the boat a little to help. Is it OK to gun the boat's motor to push all the way up to the roller, or is this too dangerous?

If the boweye is within a short distance to the winch strap, hook it up and winch up with a "little" power assist.
Full power assist is ok.....flushes the mud around a bit behind the motor.
No big deal. Provides a deeper area for launch.
The back tires of your trailer won't come anywhere near this "hole"..as the "blowout" hole is well behind them.

...then it still slips a little bit.
Once I'm up on flat ground after trailering the boat, I usually find that the boat has slipped 6 or 8 inches off of the front roller. I've been correcting this by doing the "pull forward then slam on brakes" maneuver, but I always feel like an idiot when I have to do that. Is there a better way? I assume that the bow should be snug up against the roller. Is that correct?

If you have snugged up the winch strap, where the boweye meets the roller, hold that position with "power on" until someone has a chance to bring the strap tight and snug.
Correct you are about the bow roller snug with the hull. An inch away will not hurt anything.

Thanks in advance for the advice.

See reponses in red.
You mileage will vary...choose the method that is working for you.

 

[tractoman]

Re: Some Basic Procedural Questions

I keep my winch strap and safety chain on until the boats floating. Even with a new winch strap the thought of my boat laying on the ramp makes me feel ill. I leave the transom straps on all the time, but I don't wrench on them super tight. They are snug, but basically keep the stern from bouncing. Not sure how your boat is slipping 6-8 inches on the trailer but I'd figure out why and put a stop to it. I use my chain and winch strap coming out of the water, and it doesn't move but I have bunks. You should be tight up on the bow roller.

 

[capt sam]

Re: Some Basic Procedural Questions

no
yes
yes
no

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Some Basic Procedural Questions

Loosen the winch strap? not necessary.

When do you unhook which straps? it is customary to release all straps except bow winch. this next does not apply to roller trailers. alot times wife or partner will take the tow vehicle, release bow, and you be in the boat at launching then back in deep and back boat off.

Power Assisted Trailering? never load boat above idle speed.
get deeper. or winch it on.

.then it still slips a little bit. tighten the bow winch, while still in water.

read all this: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=300472

 

[JimS123]

Re: Some Basic Procedural Questions

Loosening the winch strap and transom tie downs was standard procedure by anybody that knew anything years ago. Not all the time, but if the boat wasn't going to be used for a couple of weeks, and certainly over winter.

That procedure, like a lot of other conventional wisdom has been lost over the years because (1) most dealers aren't boaters anymore, they just sell boats, and (2) fathers tend to not pass thimgs down to their kids any more.

The reason was to prevent the hull getting a hook becasue of the bending force moment applied by the straps.

 

[71-South]

Re: Some Basic Procedural Questions

Thanks, All, for the information. I appreciate it.

Bond-O, do you need a hug or something. I posted because I want to do things right.

 

[marcortez]

Re: Some Basic Procedural Questions

If you put the trailer "deeper" as some have suggested......please be aware that if you come in too "hot", there will be no braking effect by the hull bottom encountering the bunkboards.
You might find yourself crawling all over reverse power in this situation.

Not touching these bunkboards will put you head on into the bow roller and winch stand...often times not lined up precisely...which can lead to a big bang as your bow crunches the bow stop's mounting ears.

Another oft times encountered problem is if the trailer is too deep, the keel does not have a chance to "center" on the bunks/keel rollers....cause they are too deep.....
The stern is left to wander in the breeze and current and will at times, not set square when you pull the boat out of the water.

Winching in.....umm make sure your winch strap/winch and bow eye can handle the load.
A heavy boat is tough to winch in.....wet bunks or not.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Some Basic Procedural Questions

Welcome aboard 71-South. Where do you hail from?

 

[73Trihull]

Re: Some Basic Procedural Questions

On most launches in Wisconsin power loading your boat is prohibited. Now many launches have cement slabs as far as the eye can see but most launches only have enough cement slabs to keep your trailer tires on. When you thrust the motor instead of winching up it scours the area behind the slabs and creates a deep hole. This does two things. First, it can really ruin someone trailer axle when they fall in the scour hole. This is really becoming more evident as the lake levels in northern Wisconsin are down big time. Two, it removes the small rock and sediment that hold the slabs in place causing them to be unstable creating large gaps between them. Easy way to blow a tire if it's really bad. Launches are quite expensive to maintain and powerloading doesn't make it any cheaper.

I have a roller trailer and have never had the boat 6-8" off the bow roller. That would scare me! I'd check the locking mechanism on your winch it may need servicing. When I unload a remove all straps in line and then remove the safety chain and winch strap with the boat floating in the water. Loading s just the reverse, strap and safety chain in the water and then stern straps up and out of peoples way.

 

[greenwell001]

Re: Some Basic Procedural Questions

you know i have the same problem about after pulling out it seems that the boat slips alittle bitt maybe and inch or two, maybe i need a new strap and the old one is streching out because of more tention on it pulling the boat out. the u bolt connected to the bow should be resting on the roller correct?
how often do you guys usually change you straps on you wench?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Some Basic Procedural Questions

Full power assist is ok.....flushes the mud around a bit behind the motor.
No big deal. Provides a deeper area for launch.
The back tires of your trailer won't come anywhere near this "hole"..as the "blowout" hole is well behind them.

Nope,... I don't need a Hug or nothin',...
I just need other guys to learn how to load their boat WITHOUT scouring a Hole that My trailer drops into....

The post quoted makes me want to b!tch-slap some Inconsiderate people....

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Some Basic Procedural Questions

If the boweye is within a short distance to the winch strap, hook it up and winch up with a "little" power assist.
Full power assist is ok.....flushes the mud around a bit behind the motor.
No big deal. Provides a deeper area for launch.
The back tires of your trailer won't come anywhere near this "hole"..as the "blowout" hole is well behind them.


See reponses in red.
You mileage will vary...choose the method that is working for you.

You are absolutely and totally wrong.

By erroding away the dirt/sand/mud from the end of the ramp the concrete will eventually have nothing to support it and it will collapse. Then the ramp is basically worthless for everyone.

Oh, and what about the guy that has a trailer that is longer than yours. When he uses the ramp after you just dug a huge hole at the bottom of the ramp his trailer will fall into the hole.

Mr. Cortez, you better not use any ramps in the state of Michigan. Power loading is pretty strictly prohibited and enforced. Most of the enfocement is done by other individuals that would like to have a nice ramp to use more than just one time.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Some Basic Procedural Questions

I have loaded and launched plenty of different boats.

I have found that it almost always works best to rely on the winch to pull the boat onto the trailer. The winch is desiged to pull the boat up and the bow eye is desinged for the purpose.

It may take a little trial and error to get the trailer at the right depth, however, once you find the sweet spot you will find that you can winch the boat right up to the bow stop and the boat will center itself as it comes up on the trailer.

Too many people don't want to "work" to get their boats loaded. They rely on getting the boat powered onto the trailer and then can't figure out why the boat is crooked or why it isn't up tight against the bow stop. It is because it is the WRONG way to load a boat.

With a little bit of practice I think most boats on most ramps should be loaded by winching it onto the trailer. There are certainly exceptions, however, for an average sized trailerable boat on a typical ramp, try using the winch and play with the depth of the trailer to get it right.

YOU MAY NEED TO GET YOUR FEET WET. It is all part of the game. Play on.

 

[71-South]

Re: Some Basic Procedural Questions

Hey Incoop. I'm from Harrisonville, Missouri - About 30 miles South of KC (I just added that to my profile.) I mostly boat at Pomme De Terre Lake in East Central MO.

Bond-o, I was just playing. I appreciate the input and I'm a good listener.

Thanks, All. I'm sure I'll have more questions soon.

Happy Boating!

 

[JZammetti]

Re: Some Basic Procedural Questions

I too am new to boating, the guy I bought my boat from showed me how to load by putting my trailer into deep enough water and using the (very) manual winch to pull it up the rest of the way. I've seen boater drive their boats onto their trailers but always thought they didn't know better.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Some Basic Procedural Questions

I have a flat bottom and a party barge, both of which I trailer after use. What I do is back the trailer in (or have the boss do it if she's around. She's gotten pretty good at it.) until the bunks are about half in the water. AT IDLE SPEED I drive the boat straight onto the bunks as far as I can until the laws of physics stop the boat, then I walk up to the front and winch the boat the rest of the way on. If it's too difficult to winch I just ask the boss to back 'er in a little more until there's enough water under the boat to ease the friction but not float it off the bunks. Works like a charm for me every time. I think this is a considerate way to do it. If not, I'm sure someone let me knowLOL. I love IBOATS!

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Some Basic Procedural Questions

Incoop, Your method sounds pretty good to me.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Some Basic Procedural Questions

DO NOT unhook the bow safety chain untill the boat is IN THE WATER.

I have a bunk trailer, and I still got to watch the boat come off the trailer just as we got to the waters edge. Cost me one lower unit, and pissed off our boat loving westie when the outing got canceled.