Loading question

[olywrestle]

So my first post for the first boat I have personally owned.

My question is about loading it on the trailer. It is a 21' open bow. Trailer has bunks. I have my wife back the trailer in until the bunks ( top edge closest to vehicle) are just barely under the water. I line the boat up, and trim up as I come to load. before I am actually on the trailer I kill the engine and trailer the prop and coast in. The bunkers are at the right height that they slow me down and stop me about 4' from the bow roller. I then hook the winch up and slide it up snug with the bow roller. Then I pull from the water. Takes all of 2 minutes.

Anyone see any problem with this? My wife and I can get off the ramp nice and fast and smoothly. I am just curious if I am damaging something I am not aware of possibly?

the reason I do it this way, is I have seen way too many people that put their trailer in so far that the boat is still floating when the are tightening to the bow roller. and it seems it takes them forever to get the boat centered and loaded.

 

[BaileysBoat]

Re: Loading question

Perfect.

 

[olywrestle]

Re: Loading question

Thanks, i just found that link to the EZloader manual and it describes it perfectly like I did it. It just seemed so simple and easy and natural I couldn't figure out why everyone doesn't do it this way...

 

[flingus]

Re: Loading question

When we first started trailering our boat, we would pull the trailer in way to far into the water. It was easier to winch the boat in that way but, yeah, it would never be seated on the bunks correctly. After doing it the hard way for a couple of weeks, we learned it was better to winch the boat in, and have it seated correctly. I still dunk the trailer in pretty far to get the boat OFF the trailer but, its not in deep water when we get the boat back onto the trailer.

Still dont have it down to a exact science but, its going smoothly. Always seem to get hit with a huge gust of wind right as I put the boat in nuetral. Lol.

 

[BaileysBoat]

Re: Loading question

Some guide on bunks are a great idea if there is a cross wind or current.

I'm often by myself and they help immensly.

Get HD ones that use attach to the trailer in with 2 brackets. the longer the better.

I found the bunks using one bracket can bend

 

[OMCboater]

Re: Loading question

That sounds pretty nice to me. Unfortunately, I think it has a lot to do with ramp angle. I posted in another thread about how steep our local ramp is. If I get the bunks just under water, the angle of the trailer puts the bow roller over the bow of the boat and I can't winch it up. So I back the trailer in further to get the bow roller below the bow, but then the bunks are way under water and the rest of the boat is floating. I don't want to move the bow roller down because it is at the right height for when the whole boat is sitting on the trailer. I thought it was just me (I am a newbie, after all) but I've since asked around and everyone has the same complaint. Apparently the city didn't consult with any boaters before redoing the ramp.