Loading A Boat On A Trailer Without Using Outboard Motor. 2025
Giggidy564 reply :
There's a lake I fish from time to time where you aren't allowed to use an outboard motor only a trolling motor. I have seen people do it and I have done it.
I would love your opinion on what is the easiest/best way to do this.
livetofish28 reply :
trolling motor it up the best you can then use he winch on the trailer to pull it on the rest of the way most of the time your gonna get wet and there is always some muscle involved. its really just trail and error to figure out what works best for you
tight lines
Andrew
Giggidy564 reply :
On 10/23/2014 at 7:36 AM, livetofish28 said:trolling motor it up the best you can then use he winch on the trailer to pull it on the rest of the way most of the time your gonna get wet and there is always some muscle involved. its really just trail and error to figure out what works best for you
tight lines
Andrew
thanks
tomustang reply :
Beach, put bow rope on, back trailer in, push off boat and pull back with bow rope
Giggidy564 reply :
On 10/23/2014 at 7:57 AM, tomustang said:Beach, put bow rope on, back trailer in, push off boat and pull back with bow rope
I like that Tom
spartyon8 reply :
I tie off to the dock, back trailer all the way to get the bunks wet, pull forward a bit, grab rope and guide boat on, climb onto front of trailer and pull, hook up winch, reel tight then finish cranking after I pull out for the next guy. I am too afraid of wrecking a prop or the boat by powerloading. My uncle does it but I am not at ease with it.
Wayne P. reply :
On 10/23/2014 at 7:32 AM, Giggidy564 said:There's a lake I fish from time to time where you aren't allowed to use an outboard motor only a trolling motor. I have seen people do it and I have done it.
I would love your opinion on what is the easiest/best way to do this.
I do that a lot.
When I fish electric-only waters. I also add a transom trolling motor. I back in enough so when I drive the boat on the trailer using the transom motor and standing at the transom, I get enough bow lift to make it to the winch stand with very little if any winching.
Fishing Rhino reply :
Invest in a pair of hip boots. Follow the quoted instructions below, putting the hip boots on after you've backed the trailer in a little further than you would if you were power loading.
Problem solved.
On 10/23/2014 at 7:57 AM, tomustang said:Beach, put bow rope on, back trailer in, push off boat and pull back with bow rope
Take the hip boots off, put on your regular footwear, stow your hip boots, and drive away, nice and dry.
Wayne P. reply :
On 10/23/2014 at 8:07 PM, Fishing Rhino said:Invest in a pair of hip boots. Follow the quoted instructions below, putting the hip boots on after you've backed the trailer in a little further than you would if you were power loading.
Problem solved.
Take the hip boots off, put on your regular footwear, stow your hip boots, and drive away, nice and dry.
I do the hip boot deal also if there isn't a dock beside the ramp. But I still drive on the trailer with the trolling motor.
WIGuide reply :
If you have a cable drive tm it's pretty easy to get it on the trailer. Back the trailer in a little deeper than you would if you were going to drive it on with the outboard. Drive up to the trailer with the tm and begin to lift it some when you get by the back bunks but keep the prop in the water and keep it going until you get closer. Pick the tm out of the water and let it coast the rest of the way up. Depending on the landing, you might be able to make it right up to the winch stand, but regardless you should be very close. Clip it and winch it up the last few inches and you're good to go.
desmobob reply :
I have never power-loaded my 17' aluminum bass boat. I tie it up to the dock, back the trailer in deep (the rear wheels of my Subaru Forester are just about at the water's edge), then lead it onto the trailer with a line, hop into the boat, step out onto the trailer tongue and connect the trailer winch strap to the bow eye, tighten it up, then hop back out onto the dock and into the Forester.
In the summer, I'm always wearing shorts and water sandals so it's way easier; I just wade in a bit to hook the winch line up.
Tight lines,
Bob
paleus reply :
All good suggestions. I would add that it's not necessary to winch the boat all the way up on the ramp. Hook your winch up so the boat won't slide off, drive off the ramp and winch the boat up tight in the parking lot. It's a lot easier to winch the boat up tight when not on the incline of the ramp. Obviously, try to get it on as far as you can, but if you're a couple feet shy of backing the trailer in far enough, I'd rather winch it up on flat ground rather than try to back the trailer in more or winch on the ramp.
Giggidy564 reply :
On 10/24/2014 at 10:12 AM, paleus said:All good suggestions. I would add that it's not necessary to winch the boat all the way up on the ramp. Hook your winch up so the boat won't slide off, drive off the ramp and winch the boat up tight in the parking lot. It's a lot easier to winch the boat up tight when not on the incline of the ramp. Obviously, try to get it on as far as you can, but if you're a couple feet shy of backing the trailer in far enough, I'd rather winch it up on flat ground rather than try to back the trailer in more or winch on the ramp.
You must have a have a heavy duty winch bro?
paleus reply :
On 10/26/2014 at 5:31 AM, Giggidy564 said:You must have a have a heavy duty winch bro?
It's just physics, it's going to be easier to winch something across a level surface than up an incline. If you've got a heavy boat on carpet bunks, then it might be more difficult.
Giggidy564 reply :
On 10/26/2014 at 10:57 AM, paleus said:It's just physics, it's going to be easier to winch something across a level surface than up an incline. If you've got a heavy boat on carpet bunks, then it might be more difficult.
o ok bro. I haven't ever used a trailer with rollers. I bet it would be easier.
Fishing Rhino reply :
On 10/26/2014 at 10:57 AM, paleus said:It's just physics, it's going to be easier to winch something across a level surface than up an incline. If you've got a heavy boat on carpet bunks, then it might be more difficult.
You are correct it is just physics.
But, even if you have to crank the boat up the last foot or two, do not forget that the even though the boat may be touching the bunks, the water still exerts a lifting force on the boat making it "lighter", by the weight of the water it displaces. Get the boat on the level, and you don't get that "assist" from the water.
paleus reply :
On 10/26/2014 at 9:12 PM, Fishing Rhino said:You are correct it is just physics.
But, even if you have to crank the boat up the last foot or two, do not forget that the even though the boat may be touching the bunks, the water still exerts a lifting force on the boat making it "lighter", by the weight of the water it displaces. Get the boat on the level, and you don't get that "assist" from the water.
Just speaking from experience. Your experience may be different.
WIGuide reply :
On 10/24/2014 at 10:12 AM, paleus said:All good suggestions. I would add that it's not necessary to winch the boat all the way up on the ramp. Hook your winch up so the boat won't slide off, drive off the ramp and winch the boat up tight in the parking lot. It's a lot easier to winch the boat up tight when not on the incline of the ramp. Obviously, try to get it on as far as you can, but if you're a couple feet shy of backing the trailer in far enough, I'd rather winch it up on flat ground rather than try to back the trailer in more or winch on the ramp.
What kind of boat are you doing this with?
Siebert Outdoors reply :
I drive it up as far as I can and walk the boat up the trailer. The boat ramp angle plays a huge role in doing this.
paleus reply :
On 10/28/2014 at 8:37 PM, WIGuide said:What kind of boat are you doing this with?
16ft aluminum. I'm sure it would be pretty much impossible with a big fiberglass boat. The OP never said what kind of boat he has.
J Francho reply :
I would be VERY careful backing your trailer in deep. Many of the ramps by me end, and there's a blow out hole - probably not a problem in electric only lakes - but I've seen guys drive their trailer right off the end of the ramp, only to get stuck.
My method is similar to many others mentioned here, but I dip the bunks in, about 1/2 way, get the boat on the bunks however you want to do it, with a bow line, or trolling motor, and connect the bow winch line. Crank it up. If it gets too hard to crank, back the up about a foot, and crank some more. If there's two of you, it's pretty easy.
K_Mac reply :
Some good suggestions. For most of us it takes a little trial and error. Once you get a system it is no big deal-at least in the summer. When water and air temperature is cold it adds a little more challenge to get it right.
J Franko's advice can save much time, money and grief. I have backed off the end of the ramp a couple of times with no harm done, other than getting soaked to the skin once. I have seen others that were not so lucky.
papajoe222 reply :
On 10/23/2014 at 7:57 AM, tomustang said:Beach, put bow rope on, back trailer in, push off boat and pull back with bow rope
X2. In 30+years of boating, I can count on my hands how many times I've power loaded my boat. Most Coast Guard boating saftey courses recommend NOT power loading, but it is the most often used technique. I suggest that every boater should not only know how to trailer his boat using a cast off line, but also how to launch with it. Im not saying one should never power load, just know how to do it manualy.
Giggidy564 reply :
On 10/29/2014 at 11:05 AM, papajoe222 said:X2. In 30+years of boating, I can count on my hands how many times I've power loaded my boat. Most Coast Guard boating saftey courses recommend NOT power loading, but it is the most often used technique. I suggest that every boater should not only know how to trailer his boat using a cast off line, but also how to launch with it. Im not saying one should never power load, just know how to do it manualy.
Define power loading for me my good sir. I thought powerloading meant excessively reving your engine and driving your boat up the trailer faster than neccesary. Can I get fined for not manually loading my boat?
J Francho reply :
I don't know if it's "power loading," but both my boats are "drive on" trailers, and that's what I do. I will say that I'm careful on gravel ramps not to over-rev, but even if I do rev, the motor is all the way past trim and into the tilt. It just lifts the bow gently, and moves the boat forward to the seat the bow tie.
papajoe222 reply :
On 10/29/2014 at 12:13 PM, Giggidy564 said:Define power loading for me my good sir. I thought powerloading meant excessively reving your engine and driving your boat up the trailer faster than neccesary. Can I get fined for not manually loading my boat?
Power loading is defined as using the boat's engine to load the boat on to the trailer and unless the use of outboards is prohibited or doing so is prohibited on your waters, no you can't get fined.
The Coast Guard only recommends not doing so as a saftey precaution.
Sam reply :
The most exciting part of bass fishing from a bass boat: trailering the boat.
Really, I am not joking.
As I have suggested previously, take your favorite adult beverage and a lawn chair and go to your favorite ramp on a Saturday or Sunday and enjoy the proceedings.
You will see things you never imagined could happen.
J Francho reply :
The bass boat owners generally load and unload without much ado. Pontoons, bowriders, and deck boats, now that's good stuff!
PAGreg reply :
I have a jet outboard, so driving the boat on is ridiculously simple in the skinniest of water. Electric only lakes, I can pull the boat on most of the way with the bow rope, then winch the last few feet. My boat it very light, so that makes it much easier.
I do enjoy seeing people cringe when I pull the trailer out without tilting the motor all the time.
Sonik reply :
I am guilty of being frustrated and angry when I was learning to back a boat trailer and then trailer the boat at the end of the day. I'm the first in my family to own and use a boat. I learn by doing. Instructions only take you so far. However, I don't think I ever just packed up and left. This video cracks me up every time I see it (warning: harsh language towards the end).
Glenn reply :
How to back a trailer (without the swearing):
http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/backing-a-trailer.html
How to load a boat onto a trailer (using only a slight amount of power-loading):
http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/trailer-bunks.html
Sonik reply :
Without swearing? Well, where the fun in that, Glenn? lol
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