Bassaholic84 Posted February 13, 2015 Posted February 13, 2015 So i bought a new Tracker pro 170 late last year. Theres a real nice lake near my house thats electric motor only. I never got to take it on it last year for a couple reasons. I was wondering how you get the boat on and off trailer with out using gas motor? With my old jon boat i would use a heavy dock line and pull it close and then winch it. Is that the best method? Also i have a 45lb minn kota 12v trolling motor and i wasnt sure how long the battery would last with only using the trolling motor to get me every where. The lake is about 500 acres but has lots of big bass in it so i def want to get on it this year. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Quote
Blaker87 Posted February 13, 2015 Posted February 13, 2015 One of the main lakes I fish is electric motor only and they allow you to use a gas motor for loading and unloading so check at the gate and see if thats cool. Before I asked tho I used to run the boat up close to the trailer then hav my buddy throw me a line from the truck bed then pull me up til I could hook the winch. As far as battery life goes id just make sure their charged fully before you go out and then see how long they last. Thats how I do it and how iplan to do it with my new boat this year Quote
Bassaholic84 Posted February 13, 2015 Author Posted February 13, 2015 Yea ill have to check. Im pretty sure you cant tho its a drinking water reserve. Quote
Logan S Posted February 13, 2015 Posted February 13, 2015 (edited) I just drive it on with the trolling motor, hold the TM out of the water with the rope and pull it out at the last minute. You'll have to put the trailer in a little deeper but it's not too hard. You can always just watch a few guys load their boats first to see the process. No shortage of bass boats on Black Hills...and for good reason . Electric-only lakes will put your batteries and motor to the test. There are fish all over that lake so don't get too hung up on 'running' around at first. ETA: Our club is holding a free USCG Boat Safety Check at Black Hills at the end of March and many of us plan to fish after. It's open to the public, PM me if you want details...You can get a crash course in loading and unloading there for sure. Edited February 13, 2015 by Stratos20SS 2 Quote
TorqueConverter Posted February 13, 2015 Posted February 13, 2015 You can float it off and onto the trailer. Pulling it out of the water while keeping the boat centered on the trailer can be tricky. I bring a buddy and have him grab onto the submerged trailer while in the boat to keep it centered as I pull it out. Quote
Super User WIGuide Posted February 13, 2015 Super User Posted February 13, 2015 You should be able to drive it up with the tm unless you have an electric steer model. You just need to back the trailer in a little deeper than you normally would and pick up on the rope as you're driving it up enough to lift it some, but not so much that the motor comes out of the water. When you get up close just lift it the rest of the way out of the water and let it coast on the rest of the way. It should get you close enough that you can crank it the rest of the way. Quote
Bassaholic84 Posted February 13, 2015 Author Posted February 13, 2015 Thanks all. I will probally take advantage of the safety check and see how people are doing it there. Ill have to try and see whats best for me now atleast i got an idea where to start. Thanks Quote
Super User Wayne P. Posted February 13, 2015 Super User Posted February 13, 2015 I fish several electric-only waters and do it alone most of the time. I use a transom trolling motor for extra speed and control along with the bow motor on my PT 170 TX, I stow the bow motor and use the transom motor to drive the boat on the trailer. Standing at the transom raises the bow some and allows getting farther onto the trailer. Then I winch the rest of the way if needed--usually less than 1'. Trailer depth makes the difference. Quote
Super User rippin-lips Posted February 13, 2015 Super User Posted February 13, 2015 I fish a lot of electric only places and usually alone. I clip my rope to the front hook on the boat and clip the other end to the hook in the truck bed. Back the trailer in and the boat will float off. Unhook it from in the bed and pull it over to the dock. When loading I back the trailer in and drive it up on as far as it will go using the tm. Hook the winch up and pull it up the rest of the way on. Once you do it a few times you'll get the hang of it pretty quickly. Quote
blackmax135 Posted February 17, 2015 Posted February 17, 2015 I go to my lake twice a week when I can and its a electric motor only lake. Best way is the trolling motor, gain speed and right before getting to the trailer pull it up, should go up the trailer most of the way. then just walk up the trailer and hook the boat up and reel her in. Quote
Super User Sam Posted February 17, 2015 Super User Posted February 17, 2015 Get wet. When launching and trailering your Tracker you get into the water to assist with the launch and trailering. Keep motor up and out of the water while fishing. You may want to go to a 24-volt battery system. Check your rear compartment and note if there is room for a second trolling battery. If so, go to Wal-Mart and buy one then start a new thread on the Forum regarding how to hook up the two batteries together. If you don't have room in your rear compartment then you can always try to find wires long enough so the second trolling battery is on the rear deck with the wires running to the second trolling motor in the compartment. And don't forget....Get Wet!!! Quote
Bassaholic84 Posted February 28, 2015 Author Posted February 28, 2015 There isnt room for another battery in compartment. There is a big storage compartment right infront of it where i was thinking of putting onboard battery charger in and running wires to battery storage so if i did upgrade id have to put extra battery in there. I do know how to wire batteries together. Would i have to run any extra wires to TM plug in front or change the plug? Quote
Super User Chris at Tech Posted February 28, 2015 Super User Posted February 28, 2015 Agree with Sam. Find a way to upgrade to 24v, or at least have another spare battery on board. 500 acres doesn't sound like much, but it's quite a bit for one battery in a 12v system -- especially if you've got any other parts on your boat running off it as well. My boat was built to only fish electric only, and I have three 80lb motors and 6 batteries. You're not exactly in the same position as you're boat isn't 100% dedicated to electric only, but I also raise this comment to stress that you can definitely find a way to install a 2nd battery on a 17-foot boat Quote
Super User tomustang Posted February 28, 2015 Super User Posted February 28, 2015 http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/146153-loading-a-boat-on-a-trailer-without-using-outboard-motor/ This thread has answers too Quote
Comfortably Numb Posted March 5, 2015 Posted March 5, 2015 To go to a 24v system you would need to buy a new 24v trolling moter. Best bet it to get another battery and run it in parralel. Very easy to do this. See pic. Get two battery cables with an eyelet at each end from an auto parts store the length you need Quote
Sun Fish Posted March 7, 2015 Posted March 7, 2015 Its very easy...... just get a long rope with a bow hook. Back the trailer in so the boat can float off, disconnect winch give it a push tie it up. End of day tie up boat at the ramp back trailer in slightly further than you would power loading, walk to boat, push the boat out, pull on rope to bring the boat on the trailer hook up winch and crank. Loading and unloading should take roughly 3-5 minutes each on the ramp. People tend to make this way more complicated than it has to be lol. Quote
Brian6428 Posted March 8, 2015 Posted March 8, 2015 Its very easy...... just get a long rope with a bow hook. Back the trailer in so the boat can float off, disconnect winch give it a push tie it up. End of day tie up boat at the ramp back trailer in slightly further than you would power loading, walk to boat, push the boat out, pull on rope to bring the boat on the trailer hook up winch and crank. Loading and unloading should take roughly 3-5 minutes each on the ramp. People tend to make this way more complicated than it has to be lol.I don't totally agree. Your method works well with the rope, but I would advise backing the trailer in to normal depth when loading up. One day my outboard wouldn't start when I was already on the lake and I had to load up by myself with the tm only. I backed the trailer in further than normal and there was a decent crosswind. I basically used the rope method you described, but due to the trailer being in deeper winching the boat up to the roller didn't get enough boat on the bunks to center the boat on the trailer. I pulled it out of the water and it was at least 8" off center. Moral of the story, just back the trailer into normal depth if there's a crosswind. If you do back it in deeper then winching it up may not center it on the bunks sufficentley. Quote
BigBassLoveSenkos Posted March 9, 2015 Posted March 9, 2015 I live on an electric only lake. Last spring I put my skeeter on it for a couple weekends and only used the trolling motor. I have the 80# maxum that uses 2 batteries, and it would last me all day/night on the water. Launching / Trailoring wasnt complicated at all. Push off, float on. Slack the bow cable enough so you can grab it after pulling up the trolling motor. I found that resting the bow cable on the trailer's rear lights was a convenient place for me to reach in the water from the bow and grab it without having to go swimming. I launched solo every time and never felt like I needed another there to help.. 3-4 minute deal. Just dont forget the plug!!! Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.