ok..Noobie question about loading
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- fastbackford
- Posts: 40
- Joined: Wed Jul 13, 2011 8:19 pm
- Location: Volusia County Florida
ok..Noobie question about loading
I have a 20' and the trailer has the two full length "V"s where the pontoons rest. Is this a drive on trailer or a float on? I figure it's better to ask here than get out on the ramp and mess up and look like a smacked ass. Thanks for your help.
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Death, imprisonment, theft of property
and loss of freedom will result from
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Governments are extremely dangerous.
Death, imprisonment, theft of property
and loss of freedom will result from
giving them too much power.
- kryptonite
- Posts: 488
- Joined: Fri Mar 04, 2011 7:32 pm
- Location: Otter Lake (S. Central IL)
Re: ok..Noobie question about loading
That would be a drive-on. Back it in till 2/3 of the bunks are in the water. Then slowly run the boat up the bunks. When you get good at it you can EASE your way up the bunks with the motor. If you're not comfortable with that, just slowly power onto the bunks til you are straight, then use your winch to pull it the rest of the way.
Best to practice on a weekday when the ramp isn't busy. Then you can get a feel for it before you have a crowd watching you.
If you are loading in the windy conditions, you might want some bunk guides to help you out.
Best to practice on a weekday when the ramp isn't busy. Then you can get a feel for it before you have a crowd watching you.
If you are loading in the windy conditions, you might want some bunk guides to help you out.
2008 22' Tahoe Vista Elite Merc 75hp 4 stroke
Re: ok..Noobie question about loading
This goes a lot better if you have the upright guide ons in the back.
I can load by myself on a windy day with them.
I can load by myself on a windy day with them.
1974 Harris
70 HP 4 stroke EFI Yamaha
70 HP 4 stroke EFI Yamaha
- lakerunner696
- Posts: 863
- Joined: Fri Dec 12, 2008 10:23 pm
- Location: Lake Tenkiller, Oklahoma
Re: ok..Noobie question about loading
I trailer is set right you can power all the way up with no need to winch.
Loyd, AKA Angry Ol Bastard & Betty Meeks
Beautiful Lake Tenkiller Oklahoma
2008 F150 Lariat Super Crew
2004 Tracker Regency, 2010 Evinrude E-Tec 90
Haul Rite trailer
God bless our country, God damn it's enemy's.
Beautiful Lake Tenkiller Oklahoma
2008 F150 Lariat Super Crew
2004 Tracker Regency, 2010 Evinrude E-Tec 90
Haul Rite trailer
God bless our country, God damn it's enemy's.
Re: ok..Noobie question about loading
ahhh, a question near and dear to my heart....when I first got my pontoon a little over a year ago, my biggest fear was launching and loading.... especially the loading part.... now, a year later, I don't freak out when it comes time to load up... One thing I found very helpful for me was adding a set of 48" trailer guides to my trailer... with the guides, I just kinda line up the boat so that i'm only a few inches inside the right guide and it seems to work more times than not...Once I start toward the trailer I just kinda bump my motor into gear from neutral to keep my momentum... normally once I'm about half way or better onto the trailer I give her a little juice and she glides right up to the stops... hook up the strap, trim up the motor and exit the launch.... One big thing I learned early on was don't get nervous just because there are boats waiting to load....like someone else mentioned, if you can go out during the middle of the week when the launches are less busy and get a few practice shots in......I was so frustrated at one point when I first started tooning that I was ready to chunk it all and sell it... but the boys on this forum told me to hang in there... follow thier guidelines and you'll be fine in no time at all...like anything else, the more you do it, the easier it will get.
Roland & Jo
2010 Bennington 20 Sfi
Yamaha 75 4 Stroke
Shreveport, Louisiana
2010 Bennington 20 Sfi
Yamaha 75 4 Stroke
Shreveport, Louisiana
- fastbackford
- Posts: 40
- Joined: Wed Jul 13, 2011 8:19 pm
- Location: Volusia County Florida
Re: ok..Noobie question about loading
Great poop guys. Thanks for the 411. I'm grabbing my brother this afternoon after work and take the Looney Tooner out for a couple practice loadings like you guys suggested. I definitely see a set of those guides in my future.
Government Warning:
Governments are extremely dangerous.
Death, imprisonment, theft of property
and loss of freedom will result from
giving them too much power.
Governments are extremely dangerous.
Death, imprisonment, theft of property
and loss of freedom will result from
giving them too much power.
Re: ok..Noobie question about loading
Best advice I can give.........EASY does it......
Don't get in a hurry and if you screw up just back up and try again.
You'll get the hang of it.
Don't get in a hurry and if you screw up just back up and try again.
You'll get the hang of it.
2005 Bennington 2275LX
Yamaha 90 Four Stroke
....somewhere on the TN & Little TN River
Yamaha 90 Four Stroke
....somewhere on the TN & Little TN River
- pontchartraintoon
- Posts: 108
- Joined: Mon Jul 26, 2010 8:19 am
- Location: Slidell, LA
Re: ok..Noobie question about loading
When I was 18, I was a mate on a head boat. I worked for a guy who was about 50 years my senior, and one day he decided to teach me how to dock a 70 foot head boat. He put me behind the wheel, said "there is the slip, don't go any faster than you want to crash into something". I've lived by these words, and have run boats all over the world now. One thing you will notice a lot of times when people are docking, launching or recovering a boat is once they get into a bad situation, they immediately think that a lot of throttle is going to make the situation better. Often times, just the opposite will be true. Good Luck at the ramp, and enjoy the toon!
Re: ok..Noobie question about loading
I have found that backing the trailer all the way in to get all of the bunks wet then pulling out till about 3/4 of bunks are in the water works best for me. Practice Practice will do it, enjoy, have fun, don't sweat it.
2005 Tuscany TS2286FC by Sweetwater
22 ft, 90 hp 4s Yamaha
Lorance 332c GPS/Fishfinder
Minnkota copilot Trolling motor
3 battery's, tandem axle trailer pulled by 05 Dodge Quad Cab Hemi 2x2.
22 ft, 90 hp 4s Yamaha
Lorance 332c GPS/Fishfinder
Minnkota copilot Trolling motor
3 battery's, tandem axle trailer pulled by 05 Dodge Quad Cab Hemi 2x2.
- The_Hellbilly
- Posts: 930
- Joined: Fri Jul 30, 2010 8:59 am
- Location: Lake Eufaula, Oklahoma
Re: ok..Noobie question about loading
+1........ a little lube never hurtsoldmn19 wrote:I have found that backing the trailer all the way in to get all of the bunks wet then pulling out till about 3/4 of bunks are in the water works best for me. Practice Practice will do it, enjoy, have fun, don't sweat it.
Counting all the a$$holes in the room Well I'm definitely not alone
2005 Voyager 22ft Tritoon
2004 Honda 135hp
Strakes, underskinned, aluminum deck, etc.
Towed by: '11 Chevy Z71 Crewcab
2005 Voyager 22ft Tritoon
2004 Honda 135hp
Strakes, underskinned, aluminum deck, etc.
Towed by: '11 Chevy Z71 Crewcab
Re: ok..Noobie question about loading
That's what she said.The_Hellbilly wrote:+1........ a little lube never hurtsoldmn19 wrote:I have found that backing the trailer all the way in to get all of the bunks wet then pulling out till about 3/4 of bunks are in the water works best for me. Practice Practice will do it, enjoy, have fun, don't sweat it.
Mike
20' Sweetwater with a 90hp Yamaha
Northeast Florida (GCS)
20' Sweetwater with a 90hp Yamaha
Northeast Florida (GCS)
- chill'nthemost
- Posts: 1447
- Joined: Sat Jun 12, 2010 9:25 pm
- Location: Terrebonne,OR
Re: ok..Noobie question about loading
Reading all of this makes me thankful my wife can't back a trailer, but she can sure load our toon, wind or no wind. I've never tried and I don't care if I ever do. When I had carpeted bunks I always dunked them first and them left 2/3 in the water. The plastic bunk caps have made loading that much easier.
1998 Sun Tracker Party Barge 25ft, stern drive 3.0 Chevy
Unfortunate member Parent's of Murdered Children
I love my country, it's the government I fear
Unfortunate member Parent's of Murdered Children
I love my country, it's the government I fear
Re: ok..Noobie question about loading
yep, if you power on a bit you dont have the toon sliding back from the front like you do if you float it on!
1999 Voyager 21' Express Fish triple toon 115hp Mercury (SOLD)
2004 Ford F150 SuperCrew
Boise Idaho
2004 Ford F150 SuperCrew
Boise Idaho
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- Posts: 2916
- Joined: Thu Nov 06, 2008 7:32 pm
- Location: Lake Oconee, Ga.
Re: ok..Noobie question about loading
it both.........just depends on how deep your trailer is
doc
doc
Dying ain't much of living boy
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Re: ok..Noobie question about loading
Just be aware some ramp owners will kick you out and bar you for power loading. It is tough on the end of the ramp. Make sure it is OK before you do it on a strange ramp.
1974 Harris
70 HP 4 stroke EFI Yamaha
70 HP 4 stroke EFI Yamaha