Need some loading advice

[Machine]

Hey All,

Been lurking for a while, wanting some advice on loading my boat smoothly. I've been doing it for about a year now and am comfortable with most tasks now, but i'm still not as smooth as i'd like to be loading the boat onto the trailer.

I do the engage-disengage the tranny thing and keep it in a straight line leading into the trailer, but as soon as it hits the rails it gets kicked a little sideways on the trailer. It will right itself if i just let it sit for a couple of seconds and then I go ahead and finish, but it's still a little embarrassing at the dock when this happens.


Thanks...

[mmandley]

I know you're stress, my bro Steve trailers my boat more then me. What I find works best is kneeling in the center and watching the Ford emblem on my tailgate. You want the boat going as slow as possible. The reason your bouncing side ways is the V on the nose clears your guide poles but then the width of the boat his them. This is due to the way you aim. Try my idea see if it helps.

[Machine]

I know you're stress, my bro Steve trailers my boat more then me. What I find works best is kneeling in the center and watching the Ford emblem on my tailgate. You want the boat going as slow as possible. The reason your bouncing side ways is the V on the nose clears your guide poles but then the width of the boat his them. This is due to the way you aim. Try my idea see if it helps.

It's a fine line I guess, cuz i've tried going slower and that causes me to start getting sideways too.lol

[kaneboats]

I try to approach a little from the left, meaning fore of the boat is nearly centered and aft is a little to the port side. Then, when I hit reverse it pulls the aft to center. If you time it right you can drive right on.

[Machine]

I try to approach a little from the left, meaning fore of the boat is nearly centered and aft is a little to the port side. Then, when I hit reverse it pulls the aft to center. If you time it right you can drive right on.

You hit reverse when your approaching the rails? Never tried that...

[jester]

First do not worry about everyone else. Second if you get out of the ramp in a timely manner and without a screaming match with your other half you are doing a great job.

You are going to have a little bounce because the trailer is going to want to line up the boat. The best thing to do is when launching pick a spot on the trailer that you are lined up with. For me it is my spare tire. This is the mark i aim for every time when recovering the boat. Depending on wind and current I will change this and in high wind and current as long as i get the nose between the two guide poles I am happy.

I am not a big fan of using reverse since it kicks your back end out if the timing is not correct but that is a personal choice. Find what works best for you.

[spader]

Any tips on centering the back once connected to the winch. That's seems to be our biggest problem but I think sometimes it's because of landings that are not even close to level.


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[mnpracing]

Any tips on centering the back once connected to the winch. That's seems to be our biggest problem but I think sometimes it's because of landings that are not even close to level.


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if you need to, have 2 spotters on the boat when you are loading hold the guide poles equal distance from the gunwale. Once you get used to it, one person can do it. I've found that if I have to do that (holding the guide poles as the tow vehicle is pulling out), we've backed the trailer in a bit too far. I also leave the throttle on while I winch it up the foot or so which eases the stress on the bow eye.

[tarheelskier]

Any tips on centering the back once connected to the winch. That's seems to be our biggest problem but I think sometimes it's because of landings that are not even close to level.

I think you are too deep also. Boat should center itself on the trailer. Try putting the top of the fenders right at water level, might have to winch it up a bit, but it will be straight.

[csm]

Any tips on centering the back once connected to the winch. That's seems to be our biggest problem but I think sometimes it's because of landings that are not even close to level.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I agree with the others. If the trailer isn't too deep, this can't really happen. I always err on the side of having the trailer too shallow if anything. The only time I've come close to damaging my boat is when the trailer was deeper than normal, and right as I was loading, another boats big wake lifted me up and pushed the boat over the bunks. Luckily nothing happened, but now I always have the fenders even with the water.

I also agree with what others have said to the OP's post... If you load your boat w/o damaging it, and are out of the way quickly, you are doing better than 99% of the other boaters at the ramp. There's nothing wrong with bouncing off of the bunks a little to self-center.