Powerloading damage

TomB985

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 4, 2011
Messages
213
Re: Powerloading damage

I've seen some real bad damage done on many small lakes here in Northern Wi due to *****h&^%$ with big(too big) fishing boats power-loading at small landings. I mean seriously...do you REALLY need that 20 Warrior w/250Hp to go get a few panfish on a lake I can get across with my 10Hp in 10 minutes?
One lake I know of has been so damaged it's dangerous. Just off the lip of the concrete now, there's a 3 foot drop. Accidently get your tires off there...and it takes a few good deep back-downs and tire sqeeling "power-ups" to get it back.

The end of these ramps on Balsam look just like this. Fortunately I only have an 18.5' bowrider, as my trailer axle only sits ~18" ahead of this dropoff.
 

H20Rat

Vice Admiral
Joined
Mar 8, 2009
Messages
5,204
Re: Powerloading damage

Oh...and it always amazes me the lengths some will go to, to keep their feet dry.

I've said it many times before, but fishermen, in particular bass boat type guys, are by far the ABSOLUTE worst. Its rare to see a bowrider or wakeboard boat powerload, but I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen a bassboat NOT powerload...

Fishermen have something about getting wet... You would think they might dissolve.
 

Oshkosh1

Ensign
Joined
Jun 8, 2009
Messages
968
Re: Powerloading damage

...and I've lost count how many F.I.B's(it's a Wi thing!lol)near Minocqua/Eagle River don't give 2 $h!%& about tearing up landings with their Escalades and 2.5 kids. They leave...and I(and other volunteers) try and fix things in the fall after boating season ends:mad:

Same goes for the sled trails in the spring.

OK...now I feel better!:D
 

Home Cookin'

Fleet Admiral
Joined
May 26, 2009
Messages
9,715
Re: Powerloading damage

regardless of when and how power loading is or isn't OK, IMO backing off a trailer under power is too risky. It's easy enough to get the boat off without it, especially if there is a dock next to the ramp and your crew can pull it back with a stern line. A ramp by definition is shallow, and backing in shallow water is risky b/c the prop is first to hit, no protection, ands the damage can be great.

Ah the days of tilt trailers.....
 

Lakes84

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 28, 2011
Messages
253
Re: Powerloading damage

I've said it many times before, but fishermen, in particular bass boat type guys, are by far the ABSOLUTE worst. Its rare to see a bowrider or wakeboard boat powerload, but I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen a bassboat NOT powerload...

A truer statement has never been told
 

scoutabout

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Oct 14, 2006
Messages
1,568
Re: Powerloading damage

The ramp I use most often was just savaged by powerloaders. Thankfully this damage was put right (and the old Fergy will idle out of a real deep hole without issue anyway) but what a needless mess.

powerloaddamage.jpg
 

Av8nBill

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 16, 2010
Messages
151
Re: Powerloading damage

Dropped my trailer off the end of one of the three remaining open ramps at Lavon (Avalon Park) this week. I didn't realize that those sticks in the water indicated the end of the pavement.:redface: It wasn't too bad pulling it out without the boat on it and I paid a LOT more attention backing in for the retrieve.

Watched a couple of power loads that day and thought "it wouldn't have taken much more time to just winch it up". That ramp probably will only be open another week or so at the rate the lake's dropping. The silver lining is, if they want to extend any of the other ramps now's the time to do it since they're high and dry. :rolleyes:
 

AZSenza

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 11, 2008
Messages
521
Re: Powerloading damage

I dont trust the ramp at all. I'm unlatched from my trailer as my wife backs down (Not much angle) and I float off and away before I trim down and start. Same thing loading, Line up under idle power, shut off motor and trim up as I slide onto trailer, then my wife winches me up! We've done it this way for years.
 

sasto

Captain
Joined
Jun 1, 2010
Messages
3,918
Re: Powerloading damage

Fishermen have something about getting wet... You would think they might dissolve.

Oh, I don't know about that. Being an avid fisherman myself, I'm never afraid to get wet. As a matter of fact, I like it! Heck, sometimes I fish when I'm in the water.

OK guys, carry on....I know very little about powerloading, never done it!
 

TomB985

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 4, 2011
Messages
213
Re: Powerloading damage

OK guys, carry on....I know very little about powerloading, never done it!

I have done it! I was young and ignorant of the damage that it can cause. Now that I know better I would rather ensure my trailer was properly setup so as to not need to. To each their own, as long as it doesn't ruin my day! And it nearly did yesterday...
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
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Jul 23, 2011
Messages
50,521
Re: Powerloading damage

...and I've lost count how many F.I.B's(it's a Wi thing!lol)near Minocqua/Eagle River don't give 2 $h!%& about tearing up landings with their Escalades and 2.5 kids. They leave...and I(and other volunteers) try and fix things in the fall after boating season ends:mad:

Same goes for the sled trails in the spring.

OK...now I feel better!:D

Technically that would be FISHTAB "Freeking Illinois.......... Towing A Boat"

all kidding aside. power loading damages the landing and you will be fined locally. I agree that the guys in the overpowered bass boats are the biggest offenders, followed by the jet boat owners.
 

chriscraft254

Commander
Joined
Jun 4, 2011
Messages
2,445
Re: Powerloading damage

Stolen video from another member,sorry. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkWMtqQBL5k

Seems to me this woudn't cause damage that cound't be fixed. just saying.

I'm sure that power loading excells the wash out that happens but just having people launch there boats and drive into where there trailer is on the ramp probably causes it to happen also. I don't know to many people that shut there motor off until the boat is up to the trailer.
 

mickms

Cadet
Joined
Sep 30, 2011
Messages
27
Re: Powerloading damage

Stolen video from another member,sorry. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkWMtqQBL5k

I don't know to many people that shut there motor off until the boat is up to the trailer.

Hopefully nobody does. I can tell you first hand being the guy in the water waiting to hook on to the bow eye, it kills your maneuverability. It is how my mom used to load up, and in a river with strong current at that. She would line up about 50 ft out, start heading in and kill the engine about 10 ft. out. Now, to have enough momentum to get to the trailer, the boat would be cruising at say a nice slow 2 MP, and right in front of it is me, a 100 lb kid. Let me tell you, boats can glide at low speeds with very little loss of energy meaning that the poor guy waiting in the water has 1+ ton of pure inertia to stop.

This is what a little nudge into reverse is for.... to kill the momentum at the last moment before you hit the trailer at speed. You can't do that with the engine off. (Note: it also will take the inertial spin out of your prop that might otherwise stir up the bottom even at an idle). Look at your 10 year old kids scrawny little arms, and then please use neutral!!!!
 

Ned L

Commander
Joined
Sep 17, 2008
Messages
2,268
Re: Powerloading damage

Here in CT it is a $150 fine for power loading. Despite that there are some ramps around that I won't even try to use because of the drop-off at the edge of the concrete caused by power loading. (I HAVE to float my boat on & wouldn't be able to get back up the drop-off.) There is one launching ramp nearby that has had half of it closed all summer because of power-loading damage.
Last year I went to a local lake late in the season after they had started to drop the water level for the winter. I backed the trailer in & wondered why the boat wasn?t floating off. When I climbed aboard & walked aft I found only about a foot of water 3ft aft of the transom (power loading had created a huge berm.)
 

smokeonthewater

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Dec 3, 2009
Messages
9,838
Re: Powerloading damage

Hopefully nobody does. I can tell you first hand being the guy in the water waiting to hook on to the bow eye, it kills your maneuverability. It is how my mom used to load up, and in a river with strong current at that. She would line up about 50 ft out, start heading in and kill the engine about 10 ft. out. Now, to have enough momentum to get to the trailer, the boat would be cruising at say a nice slow 2 MP, and right in front of it is me, a 100 lb kid. Let me tell you, boats can glide at low speeds with very little loss of energy meaning that the poor guy waiting in the water has 1+ ton of pure inertia to stop.

This is what a little nudge into reverse is for.... to kill the momentum at the last moment before you hit the trailer at speed. You can't do that with the engine off. (Note: it also will take the inertial spin out of your prop that might otherwise stir up the bottom even at an idle). Look at your 10 year old kids scrawny little arms, and then please use neutral!!!!

Here is a little piece of advice that may save your life one day.... NEVER EVER catch any equipment like that again.... One of these days you are bound to slip or get distracted or just plain goof up and then there are plenty of bad things that can happen..... Get in the habit of removing yourself from potential risk and it may be 10 days or 10 years but one day it will pay off and you'll never even know it....If the boat doesn't stop on its own before hitting the winch stand then the trailer is backed in too far.....
 

greenbush future

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Aug 28, 2009
Messages
1,814
Re: Powerloading damage

I always thought that power loading was illegal; I think it is here in Michigan. I always figured the only people who did it were the ones still learning how to get the loading of the boat figured out.
After the second or third time trailering my boat, I figured out how deep I needed to be to load my boat, seems easier to load by hand rather than try to power drive your boat into a metal trailer. Seems you could really damage the boat, trailer, and maybe the tow vehicle too.
 

americaneagler77

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 15, 2011
Messages
231
Re: Powerloading damage

i watched a family of out of state boaters dip into our ramp on saturday at the campground, due to powerloaders, there is about 17 feet of ramp and then it drops off 4 feet (a huge hole) the family backed their 24 foot rig in the water and upon pulling the trailer out severely damaged their trailer axle and one bunk. by the time the trailer hit the edge of the ramp the truck was already moving at a steady clip then BANG POP....not good, its clearly from powerloading. 15 years ago the ramp was a smooth transition with the lake bed, now its a 8 foot deep hole after the ramp and its 3 feet deep about 20 feet behind the docks where all the sediment lands...
 

HCMQA

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Sep 30, 2010
Messages
107
Re: Powerloading damage

All the fishing boats power load at the river I go to and there are big holes at the end of the ramp.

This is why I love my roller trailer.

I trim all the way up after shut down and have a long line attached to the bow and once the trailer is in place I push the boat off (No dock) and then pull it back over the trailer then hook the winch line up and wind her up. Takes two minutes and almost zero effort. Yes I do have to stand in a little water.
 
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