A little early, but why not start thinking about it.


Biggest problem i see during the McDonalds tourny is BOAT RAMP RAMPAGE!!!!

Guys and Gals....seriously consider this!

1) BE PATIENT WITH EACH OTHER.
2) Your motors need to be trimmed up, and let the boat float off when unloading.
3) When loading on trailer.. DO NOT POWER LOAD!!! Your gonna tear the prop up severely!!!
The guy that's loading properly is trying to save a 165.00 repair or even worse .. a 500.00 prop. So be patient with him!


I've been repairing alot of props lately that have ramp damage and it can be avoided by the following steps.

1) dont back trailer in as far.
2) drive boat onto the trailer easily and turn engine OFF, trim it up and let it float onto trailer.
3) get your lazy rear off the seat and hook up the winch strap.
4) then tell your truck driver to back in a little more ,while your winching boat into place. Be careful!
5)pull boat off ramp and boat driver walk up to the truck.

i make a living repairing damaged props, but alot of this damage should be prevented.
skeg repair can also be avoided (skeg repairing is costly too).

BE PATIENT.. the guy in front of you and yourself will save alot of money on repairs.

p.s. weekends last longer when you carry a spare propeller

Good tip Steve and thanks.

Not very business savvy steve! lol jk... good advice!

betchya i'll still have plenty to do during and after the tourney.

I'm sure you will. Plenty of people coming to the lake soon

Good advice!

Steve, first of all, I appreciate you sharing your wisdom. But I have a question: My dad always backed the trailer in enough that the boat would settle in about a foot from final position and then he'd run the motor enough to get it the rest of the way and go hook up the winch with the motor running and then cut the motor off. I've always done it that way too and never had any problems. What possible problems could arise by using that loading method? I'm often by myself and it would take much more time to adjust the truck during the loading process. But if it's better to load it up without using the big motor, I'm all ears.

I always trim very far up before I get the boat near the ramp. And any time I back the trailer in anywhere near low enough to float it in, my nose would be below the bow roller. So I'm just not understanding how that works, I suppose.

Good advice .

Good advice .

Huh? I'm usually by myself. Float onto the trailer? I always get off my lazy arse, and hook up. Just have to remember to check my shirt pocket, so I don't drop, or crush my cigarettes!

Patriot07 - Item 4 is the key for "non-power" loading. Impossible to do on my boat when solo.



And this works great except when you realize that your prop wrench is in the truck tool box, which just happens to be way uplake from where the busted prop is

It all comes down to how steep the ramp is.

Good info!

I like buying new props. When I load my boat I always tuck my motor all the way under and floor it to push the boat up on the trailer really well.....