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Loading on trailer in a current - an idea

prd2hnt

prd2hnt

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Kennard, NE
We have been doing a lot of boating on the Missouri here. Where we launch and retrieve is right in the current.

I am usually able to get her on the bunks within the first two or three attempts. Sometimes depending on the quality of my help...

I was wondering if anyone had placed a mirror/reflective surface of some sort on the ladder of the trailer so you could see the pontoons and the bunks to help with alignment?

Crazy idea?

Brian
 
Do you have up rights on the end of your trailer to guide you in and keep the ass end of the boat from going down river? That might really help in your situation
 
Can't answer the mirror question but most all of us who trailer pontoon boats have been challenged with getting the boat on the trailer.   What works well for me is guide rails on the trailer which keep the boat aligned with the bunks.  Works first time every time as long as you get the front of pontoons aligned with the two guide rails positioned on inside of the two outer tubes. 
 
When we picked up the new boat from the dealer, the trailer had full guides inside the 2 outer tubes. We had them taken off after talking to the dealer and discussing concerns about possible damage to the middle tube due to the current.

I don't have the uprights. Not sure how they would go on. They would make things really wide.

This hasn't been a big issue. Like I said, I am able to get on the trailer, just thought the "mirror" might make things easier.

The ramp isn't high traffic, so not as much entertainment as you might think. Most people I have seen there seem to do a pretty good job.

Lately we have been coming off the water after dark. Not a lot of light, but enough.

We are loving the Friday night cruises up to the new marina for dinner and cruising the river for a while afterwards.

Brian
 
I was talking about the ones like at the rear of this trailer.

trailer%201_zpsujgozw6r.jpg
 
I'll have to look at those. Didn't realize they could be put on a pontoon trailer. Might help.

BTW, how's the new crew member?
 
I've had guides like those on all my boats and I think they really do help (especially if there's wind).  My new "toon" trailer will have those as well.  My last trailer was bright orange so it was very easy to see in the water for lining up.  I know some folks also suggest putting a lighter color bunk carpet for contrast in the water.  Never tried it but makes sense.
 
prd2hnt said:
I'll have to look at those. Didn't realize they could be put on a pontoon trailer. Might help.

BTW, how's the new crew member?
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He is already growing like a weed. We have some friends coming over tomorrow and he will be joining us again out on the boat!
 
Good deal. We have a grandson due in November. Will be looking at having him on the boat next season.
 
prd2hnt said:
When we picked up the new boat from the dealer, the trailer had full guides inside the 2 outer tubes. We had them taken off after talking to the dealer and discussing concerns about possible damage to the middle tube due to the current.
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Full guides inside the outer tubes is what I have for my tritoon.  The guide kit is carpeted 2" x 4" along with upright mounting posts I purchased from the trailer manufacturer.  I positioned them on the trailer about 2 inches from the outer tubes and there is no way the center tube can contact the posts or the rail as long as you have the right and left nose cones started on the outside of the two guide rails when loading the pontoon.   
 
This was someone else's idea, but I've added these 4" PVC guides over the existing metal brackets to make sure the center toon doesn't hit on the inside mounts.

 
I had guides on the inside of the outer tubes and broke one off in heavy wind, I've had heck of a time loading my pontoon compared to my bowrider. My little trick that has worked the best is to leave the front door open and take a dock line off the center tube and run in straight back. When I'm coming into the trailer I just lean over and use the rope to hit the winch dead on, its worked every time since I have tried it. Just a thought! :D
 
I too have lengthwise bunks inside the two outer toons.  But they'd work better if they were mounted closer to the toons--instead of being 6" from the toons on the front end.

And the bunks would work much better if they were a foot taller in the rear than in the front. 

When I drop off into our somewhat steep concrete boat ramps, The rear of my bunks are so far under water that they don't work centering the rear of my boat.  I often have to back into the water a second time to reposition and center the toons on the V's.

My best trick when trailering a boat is steering into a current or into the wind, and making a hard turn into the trailer at the last second.  It's a learned, and practiced craft.  But bunks between the toons help.
 
My trailer has the four upright, carpeted "toon" guides on the inside of the outer toons (and since I've only got two toons, there no damage to my center one :) ). When I back my trailer into the water, I leave the back two upright guides well out of the water so they are very visible and "usable", knowing it will have to be backed down a little more when I get the boat about half way up the bunks. That's where the little wife comes in the picture. When I get the toons aligned and up the bunks about as far as I can power the boat up, I let her know it's time to back the trailer down about another 4' so I can run the boat the rest of the way up the trailer.

Leaving the trailer out of the water a little more than you would with another type of boat just makes it easier to hit the bunk without running over the trailer fenders or damaging your toons in some way. 

I also use the center post of the trailer as a guide while leaving the front gate of the boat open. Just try to keep the center of the gate lined up with the center post of the trailer. Boom, it's on the bunks and then it's time for the upright guides to do their job.

This process is also very quick, as my wife and I can get the boat fully loaded and out of the way of anyone else in about 3 - 5 minutes.
 
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Spoiledrotten said:
When I back my trailer into the water, I leave the back two upright guides well out of the water so they are very visible and "usable", knowing it will have to be backed down a little more when I get the boat about half way up the bunks. That's where the little wife comes in the picture. When I get the toons aligned and up the bunks about as far as I can power the boat up, I let her know it's time to back the trailer down about another 4' so I can run the boat the rest of the way up the trailer.

Leaving the trailer out of the water a little more than you would with another type of boat just makes it easier to hit the bunk without running over the trailer fenders or damaging your toons in some way. 

I also use the center post of the trailer as a guide while leaving the front gate of the boat open. Just try to keep the center of the gate lined up with the center post of the trailer. Boom, it's on the bunks and then it's time for the upright guides to do their job.
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This practice works especially well on steeper ramps when you have help to back the trailer as you load.  Also, as mentioned above, good idea opening the front door on the pontoon and visually using the trailer winch to get the pontoon centered as you approach the trailer helps.  

Personally, I'd install the guide rails which the dealer removed.  My final $0.02 on the topic.
 
Our trailer had four uprights to guide the inner toons. On my last boat I started with the same set-up but after getting a little sideways on the trailer and scratching the inner side of the tune I put in full 2 X 6 planks and covered with plastic sleeves. I have done the same set-up with the new trailer The back planks  I adjusted so that the planks were closer together but still a guide for the toons to align with the beds. That's the bow part of the toon  gets guided The front I adjusted so that there is about 2" space on either side of the toon.. No scratches. and as I drive on if it boat is off a couple of inches the planks guide it to its proper place. (I have pictures in my gallery.) The other thing I found don't put the trailer into the water too far. If the guides are submerged the boat could go over the top THAT IS NOT A PRETTY SIGHT. 
 
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