Boat ramp trailering-ie 'power loading'

[siuski]

I brought the subject up at wakeworld about power loading the boat. (In the "replacing trailer carpet" in boat and boat acc.) I have a '93 SN that I bought last year. The trailer has the two verticle pads in front of the trailer that stops your boat in the correct possition. I'm part of a ski club, but have only been around tournament boats for 6 years. When I bought the boat some people in the club showed me how to 'properly' trailer the boat on this type of set-up by powering the boat up the trailer and holding the boat there as the trailer and boat come out of the water then turning the boat off as soon as the prop breaks the surface and without hooking up the turnbuckle. A few responders were in disbelief that someone would do this. Now I have had no problems/incidents with this at all in the year (3-5 times a week in and out) that I have owned the boat.

I'd like some feedback about this, is this what most of you do, is this correct way, has this been done like this for years, etc. I can't see a reason to change or a better way to do it. But people that haven't been around SN's give a puzzling 'I can't believe you do that' look when they see it for the first time. I'd just like some re-assurance.

[bretski75]

If you are waiting until your prop breaks the surface of the water then you might be going a little too far. The intake is a lot farther forward on the boat than the prop. You might be doing some damage to the cooling system.

I do the same thing sometimes but just until the boat is set on the trailer. And I get the looks from the pleasure boaters as well.

[skinautique]

Power load is the way to go but be very careful if the bottom of your boat is waxed. It is not going to hurt anything if you turn the boat off after the prop is out of the water (as long as it is right then). There is still enough water to pump through the hoses and cool everything.

[Daryl]

drive it on

that's how I do it with my 1990 Ski Nautique, just drive up and touch the front ever so gently.

then honk the horn for the driver to get going!

and turn and smile at all the boaters in waist deep water trying to line up their rollers

never had a problem - have boat buddy on 1997 MC and it works awsome too. I feel a little safer with the boat buddy but I've never had the Nautique move so I might be worried about nothing - just like you.

Daryl

[M3Fan]

I've also seen the opposite, people firing up the boat as they go down the ramp and powering off as soon as you hit the water. Personally, I am a wimp when trailering on and off and do it as cautiously as possible. I wade in and guide the boat by the bow eye as the driver powers it on. Then I hook it up completely before pulling out. It may not go anywhere, but that's not a chance I would take.

[Edwin]

I don't think it's such a great idea. I read a marine service manual some years back that mentioned as little as 10 seconds with out water and the waterpump impellar will start to come apart. I'm sure that there's lots of folks that haven't had an issue over the years loading a boat this way, but I'll take the extra 60 seconds to connect the winch strap.

BTW - outside the possibility of damaging or destroying the rubber impellar, there's no harm to the motor whatsoever.

[siuski]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I shut the motor down as soon as the prop starts to break the surface, so I don't think that the impeller is an issue. I thought about that when I learned this technique. The next time I pulled the boat I got under it to see if water drained out of the water intake, and it did, so I know that there is water in the line. (plus the intake line makes a loop up through the trany cooler before going to the raw water intake). I also don't start the motor until the boat is floating. Also I don't wax the bottom so that isn't an issue. Thanks again.

[Dave]

I do not see any reason for you to power it up on the way out. Just drive the boat up to the bow stops then shut it off. It will not move unless the person in the tow vehical gets alittle carried away. 3 years ago a friend of mine bought a nautique. He was at work so his wife and a couple friends toke the boat out. When they went to take it out the boat slide off of the trailer and sat there on the boat ramp. It took about 15 guys to lift the boat so we could get it back on the trailer. The only thing we can figure happened was the driver of the truck took off to fast and left the boat behind.
Any way I have never personaly had a problem but you have to be carefull.
I will not mention any names of the parties mentioned above but they know who they are.

[southwind20]

I have a drive on trailer and I back the trailer in far enough to wet the bunks and then pull it out so that about a third of the bunks are out of the water. When the boat centers itself on the bunks I power it up to the stop. It stays where it stops without sliding back and the pickups are still in the water. I use a cam-over web strap at the bow eye to hold the boat on the trailer.

[ripfish]

I loaded my 79, 98, and now my 2002 by keeping power until the prop breaks. Never a problem. Wave and smile as you are passing others. Be careful on a steep ramp also. If it is steep I will have the driver latch the boat on.

[tlb]

I have the boat buddy on my trailer and it is great. No need to worry about steep ramps or anything. I just drive on it clicks and we drive away.
This is my second trailer with it, it takes a little getting used to but once you get the hang of it, I can't imagine anything easier to load a boatl