I am a moron loading up...
 

so I am new to this whole boat thing and have had some issues getting the boat back on the trailer straight. Yesterday I looked like an idiot back in and out of the water with a friend helping me center the boat for about 15 minutes till we get it right.my trailer only has two bunksand the boat does not self centered very well.I am assuming I need to add two more short bunks towards the outside underneath the boat in the back and two to the outside of the hall to help centre it. Is this correct and can I build them from materials T home depot? I am tired of looking like a moron, pulling my boat out crooked and the other day I even grazed the skag... Not good. Any ideas, personal experiences, or advice is appreciated. Thanks guys and gals!

Re: I am a moron loading up...
 

Loading is a work of art , and can be frustrating as hell. Especially in the wind at a crappy angle of approach.
Every boat/trailer combo loads different than the next.
Sounds like you might have the trailer too far into the water.

Don't think your going to notice a lot of dif with extra bunks(although it really needs 4 for the support factor)
Your best bet for awhile maybe , is something like THIS.
That would help you out a lot.
I know it's easy for me to say but , try not to get frustrated.
As the old addage goes.........practice makes perfect. :) Go early or late when ramp traffic is light or no one is there , and practice unloading/loading. You'll find the sweet spot where the trailer sits in the water and get the feel of loading , without all the impatient boaters(who always never remember being new to boating)hackling you.
It will come to you believe me.:wink_thumbup:

Re: I am a moron loading up...
 

good idea I could even mark them when I figure out the perfect Depth...

Re: I am a moron loading up...
 

See....... your already getting better at it!:wink_thumbup:

Re: I am a moron loading up...
 

No, not a moron... just not experienced enough :)

Aside from very flat bottom boats, I've seen _very_ few boat/trailer combos that actually need those side guides to center a boat. When loaded correctly, a V-hull will center itself on the bunks. The answer is to not sink the trailer so deep. Typical rule of thumb for loading a boat is to only submerge the bunks about half way.

Use the wheel wells as your depth gauge when backing the trailer down. Start with the tops of the wheel wells just barely sticking out of the water, then adjust from there. If the stern of the boat is still swinging around while trying to crank it up, then you're too deep. If it's nice and square, but you can't crank it all the way onto the trailer, then you're too shallow.

This advice gets thrown out the window if your boat ramp is super steep ;)

On the flip-side, when launching my boats, my process is this:
In staging area, put in the drain plug; unhook rear tie-downs, remove and stow covers; load towels, coolers or any other last minute item that didn't get loaded in the driveway at home; tie a line to the front cleat on the side of the launch dock.
Back to the edge of the water, unhook the bow tie strap.
Wife takes line hooked to front cleat and walks along the dock while I back slowly into the water deep enough for the boat to float free from the trailer.
As soon as it's free, I go park the truck/trailer.
While I'm parking, wife walks boat to the end of launch dock so there room for other boats to launch while I'm walking back to the launch.

When launching by myself, I just tie the cleated line to my truck bumper. Then when the boat floats free, I just grab the line from my bumper, walk to the dock with it and tie the boat there. Then go park the trailer.

Re: I am a moron loading up...
 

ramp is pretty good but my 16 year old son says he can't drink the boat up maybe he is just too weak lol with his girly-man muscles.... Should I have to "motor" it up on the trailer with the engine?

Re: I am a moron loading up...
 

That's usually what I do. Helps it stick in place. :)
Sometimes don't work so well on real shallow ramp though.

Re: I am a moron loading up...
 

Don't feel bad. It takes everyone awhile to get the knack of trailering. It's even worse when people are waiting in line behind you. I've found that most other boaters are friendly and will usually help out if they see someone having trouble. Our marina has the ramps very secluded back behind a wave break and fueling station so it's very calm pretty much everyday.

I would be weary of throttling it up farther on the trailer but that's just me. I also remember when I took an online boat safety course they recommended not doing that because it could wash out the soil behind the end of the ramp and create a drop off.

Re: I am a moron loading up...
 

I always drive mine onto the trailer. Lines up perfect 100% of the time. I jump onto the dock, walk up to the front and attach the winch and safety hooks and drive away. No winching required. My launch is pretty deep and I make sure I am trimmed up as high as it will go without using the trailer trim button. I back the trailer in so half of the total length of bunk is in the water. It takes me about 5 minutes total to load and get out of the water. I could do it quicker if my wife could get the trailer and back it in but I try to do everything myself.
I've had quite a bit of practice loading and unloading though. I would not recommend it to a novice right off the bat but you will get there. If you are not confident to do it then don't. You can start buy driving it on the trailer by just bumping it into gear to get the boat part way onto the trailer, then winching the rest of the way. BTW I learned all of this with my 16 foot fishing boat. My Z255 actually loads easier.

Re: I am a moron loading up...
 

I can load my Z302 by myself, but dont recommend it, all i ever need is one person down upfront so when i throttle it they can hook it and lock the winch.

(now by myself) I line mine up slowly until i feel im dead on the middle, I stay on light throttle till im on the the keel i leave it in gear go to the ftront and verify. Then get back trim up a bit and full throttle. Go again to the front and lock the winch in place put it in idle then neutral, trim all the way up then shut off, get in the truck and drive off.

Re: I am a moron loading up...
 

Just an update... I added two outside bunks and worked on where to put the trailer in the water. I still REALLY suck at lining up for the trailer (especially at the ramp we use now, the waves come in from the side) but it now centers much better without fuss and I don't have to worry about it coming out of the water severely cock-eyed anymore. I do need to move the lower two bunks. I may get brave and attempt to move them with the boat on the trailer now that the outside bunks are on and supporting it as well. I really don't want to create a situation I need a crane to solve though... lol. Thanks for all the help and suggestions guys it really helped a lot! I'll have to get some pictures up especially after I get the trailer painted.

Re: I am a moron loading up...
 

Practice...........Practice............Practice.
You'll be fine. Don't worry about the morons bi***in'
Nobody is perfect. If they were , they would'nt be on this earth anyway!

Re: I am a moron loading up...
 

If u always have alot of wind at ur ramp try adding some piping on the trailer, on the side like ski boats have it make it real easy to load with high winds

Re: I am a moron loading up...
 

Side guides are my next DIY project along with paint.

Thanks for the encouragement guys. I'm sure I will get the hang of "precise control" of the boat eventually. It's been a little difficult for me to get the feel of exactly how to put the boat exactly where I want it when docking/trailering. I really appreciate all the help, advice and understanding!

Re: I am a moron loading up...
 

just an update. With the new bunks added it's much easier. This past weekend I got it on in one shot, perfect! It centers everytime now and I have found the sweet spot you guys are talking about. The top front corner and about 8-10" of bunker out of the water is perfect for our ramp! Thanks a million for the help, advice and encouragement. Now if I can just learn to dock better... lol.

Re: I am a moron loading up...
 

Sloooww is the only way. It ain't a racer car , and won't stop on a dime. :)
I prefer to idle in , then "back peddle" as needed.
Course , after winter...........start all over kinda.;)
I'm old and got CRS .:rolling_laugh:

Re: I am a moron loading up...
 

I had issues on my first few launches - they were a nightmare. One ramp had such a strong current, and it was so steep that I took about 15 stabs at the trailer before finally pulling my hair out. At one point it looked like I was trying to parallel park on the trailer, and another time it looked like I was trying to back my boat on the trailer. I never launched there again.

I always found that submerging my trailer all the way to wet the bunks, then pulling back up to the sweet spot (tops of fenders exposed for guidance) always helped. Before we sold the boat I had managed to figure out how to launch, dock, and pull the trailer and truck out of the ramp by myself. The same with loading.. as my wife would never attempt for fear of sinking the truck, or parking the boat in the bed of the truck lol

Re: I am a moron loading up...
 

I load my 302 by myself almost every time. I also back the trailer in as well.

I tie up to the dock on the up river side so the current holds me to the side, tie up my 40' rope to the bow hook, walk the boat to the back of the trailer (that is sunk just above the fenders and is parked tight as possible to the dock), then pull the boat onto the trailer. the lowest bunks grab the keel perfectly and i hook on to the winch. crank away.

sure it's easier if someone is with me if the boat needs a lil push from the docks, but it's rare.

Re: I am a moron loading up...
 

This sounds exactly like what I had been looking like!!! LOL!! especially the parallel park thing, except it looked like I was trying to do it "Ace Ventura - pet detective" style (especially after slamming reverse) I felt so retarded and was very frustrated!! It almost makes you just want to leave it on the trailer! lol.

I'm glad for all the advice received here! It has really helped and I'm getting than hang of it, it's getting better each time. Thanks for sharing your story, I had a good laugh, great visuals!

Re: I am a moron loading up...
 

It's better to have problems with the boat going on the trailer - than the truck going in the water. A few weeks ago I watched them pull a truck and trailer out of the water at a local ramp. The tow truck also got hung up in the mud beside the ramp as they were winching it out. I'm pretty sure that guy was the one that looked the worst at the ramp that day lol.

Re: I am a moron loading up...
 

In strong current or wind I approach running upstream or upwind and then turn into the trailer at the last second. No time for anything to go wrong.

Re: I am a moron loading up...
 

hhahahah!! funny i ran into this thread.. i embarrassed myself last night around midnight after the big fireworks show we have here in town.....there were about 15 boats behind me.....most of them and there passengers are hammered.:rolling_laugh: they have the local police there keeping order ( and making sure you should be towing a boat home) ive been boating for 3 years but when its dark and im in a new truck its a different dynamic. what was worse is the river rescue was leaving the same time i was and they were having issues too loading.....don't worry about it!!! it happens:yes_grin: