I have a 21' I/O shallow V and a bunk trailer. My normal loading procedure on the river I usually boat on is to approach trailer at or just off idle and once boat hit bunks and centers I blip throttle to slide up trailer a bit. I then either have whoever is with me hand me the winch cable or if I'm alone I will lay out the winch across the front crossmember so I can reach down, hook up, then climb across bow and winch the last bit. Usually the tide is coming in or out reasonably strong so I start my approach to whichever side of trailer is appropriate and angled into the current, then straighten out when I get to the trailer. This has always worked well and makes for easy loading.
The other day the current was very strong as I came in, and a strong wind blowing same way as the current and water roaring past the docks/pilings. Watched a guy launch into it and banged his boat up a bit against dock so I knew it was gonna be an interesting loading. My attempt at my usual style of loading was horrible. When I straightened out to hit trailer the current swung the stern around and I barely got it backed up and straightened before hitting the pier, thankfully on my rub rail so no damage. Dock doesn't extend far enough to the shore to guide boat all the way to trailer (tall pier due to tide). Some guys in a smaller boat came along after me and with their help stretching out from dock to hold my stern out then powering forward with drive turned full to one side I was able to hold it straight for far enough to get on the bunks and winched up.
That worked well enough I guess, far from my idea of ideal, and no way I could manage loading in that current either alone or with one other person. It took 4 of us to get loaded that time.
I'm still getting used to loading on a river with a strong tide. Never had to deal with such a strong current before. What do you guys do when you're in similar situations? Gotta be an easier way because that was ridiculous.
The other day the current was very strong as I came in, and a strong wind blowing same way as the current and water roaring past the docks/pilings. Watched a guy launch into it and banged his boat up a bit against dock so I knew it was gonna be an interesting loading. My attempt at my usual style of loading was horrible. When I straightened out to hit trailer the current swung the stern around and I barely got it backed up and straightened before hitting the pier, thankfully on my rub rail so no damage. Dock doesn't extend far enough to the shore to guide boat all the way to trailer (tall pier due to tide). Some guys in a smaller boat came along after me and with their help stretching out from dock to hold my stern out then powering forward with drive turned full to one side I was able to hold it straight for far enough to get on the bunks and winched up.
That worked well enough I guess, far from my idea of ideal, and no way I could manage loading in that current either alone or with one other person. It took 4 of us to get loaded that time.
I'm still getting used to loading on a river with a strong tide. Never had to deal with such a strong current before. What do you guys do when you're in similar situations? Gotta be an easier way because that was ridiculous.
