Loading a bass boat question

[LEWITH]

Hi all,

looking at purchasing a fiberglass bass boat next spring. Currently I have an aluminum multi species. My question is loading the bass boat. Right now I just winch my boat all the way up I never powerload I have roller style trailer. If I get a bass boat I'll have bunks and wondering if I can still just winch it up. I'm more comfortable winching than powerloading. 

Thanks,

Lew

[riverbasser]

Yes you can. The further the trailer is in the water the easier it will be. I drive mine on about 3/4 of the way and winch the rest but you can do it however you want. Boat slides better when carpet on bunks is wet 

[stratos122]

I pretty much always just use the winch when I am putting my bass boat on the trailer unless the ramp is real busy or no docks in then I will powerload. The way my trailer is I just back it pretty far in the water and float my boat right on it barley haft use the winch. The way I do it its pretty much just as fast as powerloading. I have never had any issues doing it that way.

[tcbass]

I was told that power loading was bad for two reasons, one ur causes a buildup of rocks at the landing which boaters can hit and 2 is that it causes sediment to be sent into the motor. 

I don't do it anymore. I did actually hit rocks backing my boat out of a public launch and I believe it happened bc of people power loading and causing the rock formation.  I know I went to a public launch once and it had a sign saying no power loading.

I get my trailer boards wet then pull the trailer up a little. 

It can be harder winching up the boat by hand doable. I've hand winched all of my boats, 3 of them. I can say my next boat, probably my last, will have an electronic winch as I hope to fish into old age. 

Edited September 15, 2016 by tcbass

[LEWITH]

Thanks for the advice guys! I just don't feel comfortable powerloading 

[WRB]

Stopping to get out of the boat and winch the boat onto the trailer requires wet feet and takes time, much easier to drive the boat onto the trailer, no wet feet and faster so you don't tie up the ramp for others to use.

Over size front roller to guide the bow into the center of the trailer helps a lot. Backing the trailer down until the finders are about 1" out of water is about right for most glass bass boats.

It takes me maybe 2 minutes to load, hook up my boat, tighten the winch strap and pull the rig out away from the ramp, less if I'am fishing with a partner that can drive my tow vehicle.

Tom

[Scott F]

I always power load. Sooo much faster and easier.  My boat normally cannot easily be winched on. Winching the last foot or two can be a challenge depending on the ramp. You being up in Minnesota, I'd guess you might appreciate not having to get wet when the water is in the 40's. 

[Catt]

Being power loading for 40 some odd years!

No problems ever.

[Jig-Man]

There is no way I'd try to winch my boat up on the trailer.  It is a PITA and takes up way too much time.  People around here would be yelling and honking if I tried to pull that off on a busy ramp.   I don't even hook up the boat to the trailer until I am completely out of the way up in the parking lot.

If you are not comfortable driving the boat onto the trailer, go to the most isolated ramp you can find when it is likely to see the least amount of traffic and get in some practice.  BTW if you buy from a dealer then they should provide you with a loading lesson at the time of delivery if you request it.

 

[nosdog2]

I say whatever you are comfortable with doing is fine.  As long as you aren't taking an excessive amount of time what difference does it make.  I like to pcowerload myself but if you want to winch it up, do it.  

[S Hovanec]

  I can't call what I do power loading, but I only have to crank the winch about 2"-3".  The trailer is backed in just far enough that I can idle almost to the winch post.  I climb over the trolling motor and on to the trailer, hook up the strap and crank the last couple inches.  Climb back in the boatand hop out on the dock.

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, S Hovanec said:

  I can't call what I do power loading, but I only have to crank the winch about 2"-3".  The trailer is backed in just far enough that I can idle almost to the winch post.  I climb over the trolling motor and on to the trailer, hook up the strap and crank the last couple inches.  Climb back in the boatand hop out on the dock.

This describes my boat recovery well.

Pretty easy.

A-Jay

 

[S Hovanec]

8 hours ago, A-Jay said:

This describes my boat recovery well.

Pretty easy.

A-Jay

 

 

Must be a Lund thing!

[Robeng]

I have an aluminum Lund.  I back up till single axle wheel covers are almost all underwater.  Float boat up on the bunks and winch the last foot or less most of the time.  If shallow ramp and its a short ramp I end up floating boat about 1/2 to 2/3 onto the bunks and winch up the rest of the way.  You can always buy the slick strips that go on the bunks.  Except with launching your boat may slide off faster than you want it to.  Good luck.

 

[S. Sass]

15 hours ago, A-Jay said:

This describes my boat recovery well.

Pretty easy.

A-Jay

 

 

29 minutes ago, Robeng said:

I have an aluminum Lund.  I back up till single axle wheel covers are almost all underwater.  Float boat up on the bunks and winch the last foot or less most of the time.  If shallow ramp and its a short ramp I end up floating boat about 1/2 to 2/3 onto the bunks and winch up the rest of the way.  You can always buy the slick strips that go on the bunks.  Except with launching your boat may slide off faster than you want it to.  Good luck.

Same here aluminum SeaArk. Back in till the trailer fenders just barely showing. Idle the boat on snap the winch on maybe one snug up pull then hook the safety hook and pull out. 

[Glenn]

This shows how to power load...

 

[tcbass]

5 minutes ago, Glenn said:

This shows how to power load...

 

 

That's a launch with concrete, ones that have concrete that abruptly ends, do you worry about causing washouts and building rock piles when you powerload?

Or getting debris in your outboard?

[Catch 22]

On ‎9‎/‎15‎/‎2016 at 7:22 PM, Jig-Man said:

  I don't even hook up the boat to the trailer until I am completely out of the way up in the parking lot.

 

 

Same here most but not always.It depends on the ramp angle.If I`m not sure I will  hook the safety chain on.

Be careful doing the no hook thing in freezing weather.Don`t ask!

I also use a duel speed winch.

[gim]

If you have rollers on your trailer, power loading is not really a reasonable option.  There's always that middle roller that the keel has to line up with perfection and it rarely works.  Luckily, they're not making too many trailers with rollers anymore, and its almost all bunks.  Manual loading with a crank may be safer but it takes WAY too long, especially if you're cranking up a heavy fiberglass boat on a steep ramp!  I suppose if there was no one around waiting to use the access you could do it.  I just find power loading to be easy, quick, and efficient as long as the access allows for it.  I have seen some cases where lots of power loading and really low water levels have caused an accumulation of sand/gravel because of power loading.  In that case, use a different access or manual load it with the wench.