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Old 09-21-2015, 11:04 AM   #3
TiltonBB
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Join Date: Feb 2005
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Default Power loading

"Drive the boat to and onto the trailer under idle power. Do not use more than idle power and do not make everyone wait while you try to manhandle the boat onto the trailer with lines. The boat has and engine for a reason, use it."

Be careful about "power loading". Many ramps have restrictions specifically prohibiting this. Ramps that have poured concrete or concrete planks only go so far into the water. When you power load you displace the lake bottom at the end of the planks.

When someone comes along with a longer trailer or a larger boat they go off the end of the concrete and the trailer drops. In some situations when there has been a lot of power loading I have seen trailers go off the end and drop down to a point where the trailer frame is on the ground. There is no easy or inexpensive recovery from this.
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