Loading on Trailer

Hunkydory · Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2022 1:57 pm Post subject:

Phil, yes it’s easy to just power on & off with either bunks or rollers, especially with side quides, but much less chance of damage if using a dock along side the ramp by attaching lines as others have described & that is my preferred method if a side dock is available. I’ve loaded & unloaded in a fairly fast river current off the gravel sides on rivers like the Yukon. There using power was not a good option, as a long line off a rear cleat holding against the current in conjunction with a shorter line off the bow allowed maneuvering the boat into the trailer with side guides. I’ve done this several times with just me handling the lines.

During warm weather launching like at Lake Powell, I normally just use crocs & what ever pants or shorts as all dries quickly, however in cold water & weather, I prefer waders & my favorite now are these Lacrosse irrigation boots, I also use for going to shore & other use with the Kaboats in Alaska.

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/lacrosse-zxt-irrigation-hip-boots-for-men?ds_e=MICROSOFT&ds_c=Cabelas%7CShopping%7CSmart%7CCatchAll%7CGeneral%7CNAud%7CHigh%7CNMT&msclkid=a5b8102e3a5f125a2ffe730d5a60de3b&gclid=a5b8102e3a5f125a2ffe730d5a60de3b&gclsrc=3p.ds

Here Bill Roche & I are wearing these boots in Dry Pass, on the outside of Chichagof Island wilderness. On me, they fit well & fold to store easy on the boat & just the right height for boat launching.

In the 20 seasons of using our boat with over 25,000 miles on the water & 90,000 miles of towing it, we’ve launched & retrieved in many different places & ways with two different trailers. One a single axle with rollers & the other dual axle with bunks.

Jay

daninPA · Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2022 9:56 am Post subject:

davidJ · Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2022 1:17 pm Post subject:

If you look, the water line on the boat is about at the same height as the top of the fenders on the trailer, so I back in until the fenders go under water for launching and retrieving, then step from the dock unto the tailgate of my truck and pull on the bow line until the boat floats up to about a half foot or less from winch point. Then I step out onto the end of the trailer hitch and hook the boat up and give it a couple of turns on the winch to tighten it up and I'm done. to make the stepping go easier you could bolt a flat piece of metal on the trailer tong, but usually I sit in the truck and my fishing buddy does everything for me. I have a canopy with a boat rack on top of it to grab onto when stepping unto the tail gate and my trailer is the bunk type.

thataway · Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2022 3:51 pm Post subject:

So much of all of this depends on the angle and condition of the ramp. There are ramps which are very shallow and to get the fenders of the trailer under water, you would have the tow vehicle's front wheels in the water. Then there are ramps with a drop off at the end--or at a very steep angle. It boils down to what works best for you at that specific ramp.

The roller trailer has an advantage where the ramp is very shallow. Having side bunks, as well as the guides, also helps keeping the boat aligned. Some owners have fitted side rollers along with the side bunks.

hardee · Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2022 8:36 pm Post subject:

AS Bob says, it depends. Every ramp is different. What does not change is the amount --read depth -- of water to float the boat. It is mentioned in several posts, to use the trailer fenders as a marker. That will vary from trailer to trailer but not a variable on you boat and trailer combo. After 15 plus years with my current boat and 10 years with the same trailer/boat combo, I have only had to power on twice, where the ramp was soooo shallow. I prefer the gentler approach. If the boat will float off, it should float on at the same depth. Here's a tip. Sometimes it helps to have a bit of weight (a person) in the stern. Hard to do when single handing -- which I do 98% of the time.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon