[gahooligan]

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!

[ColoradoDiablo]

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.

[gahooligan]

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

[ColoradoDiablo]

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

[blockp]

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.

[gahooligan]

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?

[ColoradoDiablo]

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

[theeasynine]

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.

[EricG]

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.

[luke7575]

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.