How much tilt when loading?

[lrdchaos]

When loading the boat, I have to back the trailer in the water, have my wife drive the boat on the trailer then I hook the tow strap to the eye. At this point I have her give the boat some throttle to help assist me with getting the boat all the way on the trailer. My question is......The lower unit, is not down to the running position, it is somewhere between all the way up and all the way down. I know the manual says don't run over like 1300 rpm with the engine in this position, but if I have it any lower it will drag on the ramp. What is your thoughts on loading the boat like that? thanks Can you damage the lower unit doing this?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: How much tilt when loading?

better off backing in more. you should idle on, then put the winch on it, and crank. bunk slicks will help tremendously.

 

[ziggy]

Re: How much tilt when loading?

i agree w/td. back the trailer in a bit deeper so you can just slide it on. i never power load. my drive is full up when loading. i just walk it (the boat) up the dock to my trailer and attach the winch strap and crank it on up. easy on equipment, easy to do , safe, no worries. i do that about as fast as the folks that power load....
ya might look into some of them bunk slicks td's talking about. i have a roller trailer which probably helps me out. but my last bunk trailer and boat, i still did it the same way w/o consequences too.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: How much tilt when loading?

It would be better to back the trailer in a bit more so that the boat can simply be idled up to the bow stop, or within a foot or two of it. No need to give much more than idle onto the trailer. It probably won't hurt the outdrive if you're halfway down down, the rpm limit is mainly when you have the outdrive trimmed up almost to the point of having the prop exit the water. Either way, there not much reason to power onto the trailer if you have enough of the trailer in the water (up to the wheel wells usually works well).