Some Basic Procedural Questions

[lncoop]

Re: Some Basic Procedural Questions

Ouch! Yeah, always leave her hooked up til she can float on her own. Also, don't do like I have several times and pull the boat out with the motor still running. That's not especially good for them either.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Some Basic Procedural Questions

I have driven my trailer into the "hole" at my local launch and thought it was just the way that launch was. I had no idea that power loading the trailer created any problems.

Very Good info Bond-o!!!

I have never power loaded as I don't see how it really saves any time. I know where my trailers sweet spot is for winching the boat on and never have any issues with launching or retrieving.

I've learned so much from this site that when I see people doing things wrong at the launch I have to bite my tongue sometimes. Watching people float the boat onto the trailer, pull it out crooked and then repeat the process a few times to get it straight is frustrating. What's even worse is getting the stink eye for trying to teach someone the right way, when they have been doing it the same wrong way for years.

Boat ramps just bring out the worst in people don't they?

 

[GXL205 Deke]

Re: Some Basic Procedural Questions

Incoop's method is how I load mine. spot on.

 

[capt sam]

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.

funny I always thought the opposite.


the big difference between freshwater boaters and saltwater is we really don't want our vehicles anywhere near the water. I've seen people come down here on vacation and back their truck half way into the water like they do up north, not a good habit here. I just come in just off throttle and it slides right up to the post, if you set the trailer up right you should never have any unload/loading issues.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Some Basic Procedural Questions

powerloading = bad. (and illegal in many areas, as well as very inconsiderate to others)

anyway, thats all been covered, what wasn't mentioned is how bad it is for your engine also. Hopefully you never do it again, but if you do, watch the color of the water that is going past your motor. What is happening is that you are creating a vertical rotation in the water. Push it out down low with the prop, and it swirls back near the surface, and repeats. Guess the quality of water that is now going through your water pump? Yep, half dirt/half water.

Just a guess, but I'd say you might get 20 minutes or less of power loading before your impeller is completely shot. And that is cumulitive, your impeller doesn't exactly repair itself.

 

[jfadool]

Re: Some Basic Procedural Questions

I have also had a wheel of a trailer fall in to a whole created from power loading/launching

We had a bronco for a tow vehicle, the ramp was not steep, so 2wd was usually just fine for a 1500lb boat. It was very odd when the truck was straining to pull to boat out. We kicked it in to 4x4 and bent the axle of the trailer pulling the boat out.

Please don't power load or launch.