Boat Loading Question

[KS_Bassin]

Took the boat out to the lake today unloading went fine, while loading however was a different story. I backed the trailer into the water a couple inches below the top of the fender and drove the boat on. The nose hit the roller up front smack head on? We backed in the trailer a little more where the water was over the fenders and the boat nose still hit the front roller ! Finally i lifted the front of the boat up so the nose didnt' hit and my buddy wenched it in. Anyone have any suggestions should i have backed  the trailer further in.

[Tpayneful]

You need to put more of the trailer in the water.  If you want to get specific, with the boat in the water, measure the distance from the water to the point on your hull where the roller touches.  Then make sure that your trailer is in the water until you have the same distance from the water to your roller.  Depending on the angle of the launch ramp you have to put more or less trailer in the water.

[Tom Bass]

You have encountered the very same thing that happened to me recently with my new bass boat. My cure was not to put the trailer into the water so far and to drive the boat up onto the trailer. If the boat is floating and you move forward to hook it up and crank it on the trailer the weight of your body pushes the nose down under the roller.

[Rattletrap]

You have encountered the very same thing that happened to me recently with my new bass boat. My cure was not to put the trailer into the water so far and to drive the boat up onto the trailer. If the boat is floating and you move forward to hook it up and crank it on the trailer the weight of your body pushes the nose down under the roller.

Yep. That's the best way to do it.  Let the roller guides/runners do their job.

[KS_Bassin]

Hey thanks fellas maybe this next time will be just as smooth as unloading.  

[Way2slow]

Very common problem on steeper ramps, too much of the boat is still floating.  I don't like winching and wrestling with them so I do just the opposite, I pull the trailer back out of the water some.  This lets the bow get onto the bunks boards and they lift the bow before it gets too the wench stop.  Where this might create a problem for you, if you have to pull very far forward, small motors have a hard time pushing the boat all the way to the stop, (even big motors if your on a really steep ramp).   On ramps I have this problem, I'm very used to loading my boat so I just hit the trailer with a little more speed and nail the gas once it starts up the bunk boards.  I've been doing this a long time and  I would not recommend taking running starts at your trailer until you have practiced this more than a couple of times.

[Rattletrap]

Hey thanks fellas maybe this next time will be just as smooth as unloading.

Just make sure you tilt the motor up some before you drive it on the trailer.

[Glenn]

Here's a tip - back the trailer until the bunks are fully submerged. Usually that means the water will be up and over the top of the fenders (be sure the ramp is long enough first!).  Then pull up so the wheels are about 2/3rds submerged.  Now approach the trailer with just the engine engaged at idle - engine trimmed up quite a bit.  Disengage just before reaching the trailer.  The boat should glide in and "settle in" - this is the bunks at work, aligning your boat straight onto the trailer.

Now, raise the motor up even further (just before it goes into "quick raise" mode), and give it some gas - the amount will vary depending on incline. With practice, you should be able to ease onto the trailer and gently nudge the roller.  Keep the engine engaged and hook the nose onto the winch and tighten.

Now... why submerge it completely first, then pull up?  Two things - it makes the bunks slick, thus making the last step easier, plus it lengthens the lifespan of your bunker carpets.

Glenn

[KS_Bassin]

engine trimmed up quite a bit

When i put my boat on the trailer i had the engine trimmed all the way down then before we pulled it out i trimmed it up so the motor didn't bounce ;D. I have seen it happen first hand not pretty,maybe that might have been part of my problem was that i wasn't trimmed up? Just like riding a bike ever time i go out i learn something new and hopefully it gets easier with each trip. Can't thank everyone here enough

[Glenn]

The primary reason you do that is so you don't ding your prop WHILE loading it onto the trailer (shallow launches and rocks don't play well with props).  Just don't trim it up past the "fast trim" point, and don't goose it. Otherwise you can put the eye of the boat up over the top of the roller.

Once the boat is on, secured, and the engine off - trim it up even more (beyond the "fast trim" point) before pulling it out.  This ensures you won't scrape it on anything when pulling out.  In the tie down area, trim the motor all the way back down and let it drain (especially during the colder months), before trimming it back up to secure it for the ride home.

It takes a little practice, but soon you'll have it down pat and you'll be loading the boat up very fast.

[Tom Bass]

Glenn,

Thanks for the tip on getting the bunks wet before loading. I learn something new everyday.

Regards,

Tom

[G3-Basser]

I found these replies to be very informative.  

Thanks,

J

[Ninerman]

really good info thanks...I busted up the gel coat on my boat the other day getting it out of the water...gave'er a little too much gas...sucks but now it shouldn't be so bad...thanks everyone...

[HPBB]

There is a guy in my club that this happens all the time. the boat just will not set above the winch roller. Its a Charger, and we think the trailer is for a slightly larger boat. No matter how deep or shallow he puts the trailer in it still does it. so he had a small roller welding onto the trailer just under the bow. This lifts the bow up so it over the winch roller. It works great now. I know on my small 14 footer there is a roller up in the front to lift the bow up to.

[Redlinerobert]

Great points there Glenn, thank you!