at the launch

[ROLAND]

Hello friends, Roland here with another one of those " I cant believe he's asking these goofy questions " . As you know if you'v read any of my previous posts, me and the wife are not just new to pontoon boats, but new to boating in general. This past week we got up the courage and took our toon out and did alittle fishing. Actually took it out 2 times this week and only had some minor issues with launching and retrieving the boat when we were done. The first time I put the toon back on the trailer, when I killed the motor, the toon slipped back an inch or two from the stops at the front of the trailer. The second time I put the toon on the trailer, as soon as the front of the deck hit the stops, I pulled the throttle down. Actually I thought I had put it in neutral, but quite by accident it was still in gear, just running at a low rpm, even though the boat wasn't moving. I also noticed that the boat never slipped back even alittle bit from the stops at the front of the trailer. 2 questions, 1: do you think the boat didn't slide back because the motor was still in gear even at a low rpm, and 2: is that bad for the motor to have it in gear trying to push a boat that obviously cant move forward anymore. what I intended to do was just pull up til the deck was against the carpeted stops, kill the motor, then just attach the winch strap and if the boat had slipped back, just use the winch to pull it up tight. Please advise what is the "correct"way to do it without taking a chance on hurting either the boat or the outboard. Thank you for your help.

Roland
2010 Bennington 20 SFi
Yamaha 75 hp 4 Stroke
Shreveport, Louisiana.

[JohnO]

1. Possibly. It may have provided enough thrust to keep the boat up, or the bunks may have had enough friction. No way to really know.

2. A motor can run all day long pushing against something that isn't moving as long as you have cooling water to it. A boat motor does not "know" if the boat is moving. It only knows that water is coming into the intake and that there is enough resistance to the prop turning that the engine doesn't over-rev.

[slingshot]

Getting a boat on a trailer properly is as much about the ramp you launch at as it is about the boat and trailer setup. Depending on the angle of the ramp you may have to back the trailer further in or out of the water. I like to put the trailer in just enough to allow the bunks to get enough friction to keep the boat on the trailer without slipping backwards with only about 1 or 2 feet to go before you hit your stop bar. At that point just power the rest of the way up to the stop bar.

[lakerunner]

We have shallow grade ramps here. The way we load is Betty backs trailer till about 3 to 4 ft of bunk is out of water. I drive onto trailer and hold in gear as she pulls forward. As soon as I hear motor start to rev I shut it down. She pulls forward out of others way and we tie it down. We can launch and load in minuets

[trott46]

I just keep it in gear till im hooked to the trailer and winched snug.

[schmir]

I would bet you are backed in too far if you boat slipped back after it got to the stops. I would not back in quite as far next time and use the motor to power the boat the last foot or two to the stops. This way you shouldn't have to leave in gear and the boat should be firmly on the bunks. Good luck.

[WaltF]

I basically do what schmir does.
Ill power it up as far as i can go, then just use the winch to pull it the last foot or two if needed...

Wooo LA! You're good to go!

[GXPWeasel]

I'm to the point now... probably b/c I've been lucky... that I will come in with just enough speed that I kill the motor before I even make it to the back of the trailer, and I slide to within and inch of the stopper on the trailer. Of course, this is because of the frequency we use one ramp, and with no wind to blow me sideways.

On a ramp that I don't frequent, I do like others said, and use the boat motor to power up the last 3-4 feet and I've never had the boat slide backwards while pulling out. Actually, I have the other problem. When I back the boat in, I have to power OFF of the trailer, even with the bunks completely in the water. I need to replace the Bunk carpet though, and I may invest in some bunk sliders, for the rear ends of the bunk. I haven't tried the "dipping" the trailer in though, then pulling back up to release the boat like others have suggested to get the bunks wet and let them soak a second.

[rcl700]

I never pull off the ramp without the nose strap on. Just pull it up close as you can get it then reach out and hook the stap and winch it up to the stops. Also look at where your tires are in relation to the water line when you put in. When the boat starts lifting you can stop. When loading aim for the same distance from your back tire to the water line and it should put the trailer at the correct depth for loading. I always make a mental note how far I backed into the water and try to put it back in the same depth. Hope this helps. Just my 2€

[Towdaddy]

One more thing - raise your motor before pulling the trailer out of the water. Some ramps have a steep breakover from the incline of the ramp to the road. If you don't raise your motor, you can break the skeg off the bottom. See this happen way too many times with bass boats so I always raise the motor as part of my ritual.

[curtiscapk]

Agreed on all counts..

Power up, Kill it, hook it, and raise it.

When you kill it don't forget to put it in neutral... or you will be posting again as to why it wouldn't start next time out.

[ROLAND]

When you kill it don't forget to put it in neutral... or you will be posting again as to why it wouldn't start next time out.
time out.


Oh, curtiscapk, you are such a cut up. Nope, I don't know how long I'll own a boat, but I'm pretty sure from here on out, whenever I encounter a "No start" situation, the throttle will be the first thing I check.

Roland
2010 Bennington 20 SFi
Yamaha 75 horse 4 Stroke

[curtiscapk]

Roland,

I aimed that at both of us since we both did the same thing

[FloterBoter]

power loading is illegal in a lot of states now. check your regs.
it won't hurt a ramp that's concrete all the way out, but ramps that
have gravel beyond the apron are getting deep holes from power loading.
that's wrecking trailers that drop into the holes, then the trailer gets stuck
and blocks the ramp, etc, etc. it can be a big fine if johnny law catches you
power loading on a public ramp, depending on the state. a lot of our public
ramps are starting to get signs stating that power loading is illegal (wisconsin).

[ROLAND]

power loading is illegal in a lot of states now.

Exactly what is Power loading?

Roland
2010 Bennington 20 SFi
Yamaha F-75