How To Load A Boat Onto A Trailer In Heavy Current
- By: Luke Simonds
- on
Have you ever had to load your boat onto your trailer in a heavy current?
What is the best way to safely guide a boat onto a trailer without damaging any equipment?
Don’t try to overmatch the current!
Check out more below!!
How To Load A Boat Onto A Trailer In Heavy Current [VIDEO]
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If you come across a heavy current near the boat launch that proves to be an obstacle, then be sure to follow these tips!
The key is to not go directly at the trailer with your boat.
Alike to bowling a bowling ball, you want to curve the boat into the trailer.
Sometimes the current will be faster or slower in different areas.
By going at the trailer on a curve, you can make slight adjustments without having to back out and restart or getting caught in the current.
Start with your bow to the current and then slowly turn at an arc to the trailer.
That way, if you overjudge the current you can reduce speed and the current flow will assist you in getting the boat onto the trailer.
The same goes for the opposite if you underjudge the current, you can speed up.
No matter how strong the current is, creating an arc path into the trailer is the best way.
Also, how far you back up the trailer into the water plays a role as well.
Be sure to have your trailer a little higher than normal on the slip so the current isn’t kicking around the back of the boat.
Then you can lift up the motor and crank up the boat.
Make sure not to go into the trailer directly because if you misjudge even just slightly it is hard to correct.
Vessel: Maverick HPX-V
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I want to see a pontoon being done
Thanks again Luke very helpful
This is really helpful Luke. These kinds of dockings are tough for me. I’m a former Army helicopter pilot and learned that if the approach isn’t working, go around and do it again. Better to try again, than destroy your’s or someone else’s property. Thanks for a helpful video.
Nice, but many ramps have finger docks sticking way out on either side of the trailer which do not allow for your arc approach. Thankfully one of the worst ramps in our area put sheet piles down to reduce the current action. Worst case you have to ‘drive up’ on the trailer which is less than ideal as it is not good for the end of the concrete ramp down in the water causing a steep drop off. I actually saw one trailer drop down when they drove the wheels past the ‘drop off’ causing it to get stuck. It always pays to have additional ropes and able hands ready to assist. Boat ramps bite for sure!
Yes, the ramps with long docks prevent this type of loading. But the good news is that those docks will block a lot of the current so a straighter approach in those scenarios is generally ok. Yes, having ropes and some extra hands ready for help is certainly a good thing.
Thanks Luke for the boating tips. Very helpful, and an adds a deeper dimension to Salt Strong.
Thanks for making time to post the nice comment Rob!
Thank you for not power loading and destroying the ramp.
The skiff is so easy to pull up with the winch that I never both with power loading… plus, the boat slides down easily so a power load will most often result in the boat sliding back down to where the idle load puts it by the time I get to the winch.
Luke, this is an awesome look at a skill most of us take for granted until we muff it time and again with current and wind while others watch at the ramp. Great multi-view (drone footage) helps to laser focus your tip. Thanks for sharing your experience with time on the water … more of these snippets please.
Thanks for making time to post the nice comment Buddy!