$500 fine for drive-on Boat trailering?

[TAW02]

Happened to notice over the weekend that a sign at one of my favorite ramps that states, something to the effect that driving your boat onto your trailer is prohibited. Punishable by a $500 dollar fine. Hmmm.

Visited two other ramps. Same sign. What's going on? Asked two gentlemen who were launching nearby and they hadn't a clue either. I am pretty well practiced in the 'art of trailering' using the drive-on method. In fact, if you watch the promo video for the M' that's how it's done.

Anyone know the Rhyme or Reason for this. And if so, how do you get the job done?

Big T

[parrothead]

I didn't know that Florida had instituted a fine for power-loading, but they have long advised against it. This page from their safe boating course has a little animation that clearly shows why it should be avoided. http://www.boat-ed.com/fl/course/p2-4_trailering.htm
In fact, it's a perfect description of the situation at a marina ramp in Maryland that we have used for many years with a number of boats. At low tide, I've dropped the trailer wheels into the hole past the end of the ramp to the point where the trailer frame bottomed out on the end of the concrete [at which point getting the trailer out with a boat on it would be out of the question]. The Mac trailer comes with a handy warning device, in that the crossbar under the daggerboard seems to be the first thing to hit the concrete - giving notice of that it's not a good time to haul out.

[Love MACs]

The is a reason for prohibiting powering onto a trailer. The reason I was told by our DNR guy is that power boats tend to gun it when they move onto the trailer causing the propeller to backwash quite a bit of mud, sand etc away from the end of the ramp. Especially at low water levels. This removal of mud, sand, clay from then end of the dock eventually will cause the concrete ramp to break apart requiring repair. I am told this used to be quite a problem around here until they started fining people. The Marinas will warn you once and then they levy a fine also.



Allan

[tangentair]

Neat animation, I did not even think about this happening when I read the posting above. I figured it was to prevent drunks from wiping out bystanders or something like that.

[Catigale]

My guess if you idle your boat up to the trailer, while technically 'power loading' no one will say anything for the reasons noted above.

[Trouts Dream]

Great animation. Learn something almost every day on this site. Thanks

[TAW02]

Thanks Parrothead. Especially for the site location and video explanation. I love this site ... very informative and it couldn't be without guys like you.

Then too, I love responses like the one below

Neat animation, I did not even think about this happening when I read the posting above. I figured it was to prevent drunks from wiping out bystanders or something like that.

Thank you everyone

Big T

[Bluecrab]

A bass fisherman I know says powering on is all about getting as many boats in and out as fast as you can. During a fishing contest they have to launch a lot of boats in a short period of time. He has his launch and landing time down to the number of seconds. If you power on it takes less time than cranking (seconds less). To him its the differance between an enjoyable day of fishing and a bad one if others are taking too long at the ramp. He would never be able to rig a sailboat.

The water was low on one of the lakes I used last fall. That made it worse and people were getting their trailers hung just like the animation.

Personally, if it's possible I try to get to the ramp when it is not as busy so I can take my time.

[pokerrick1]

I presume gliding your boat back onto the trailer would not be a problem and then just MacBump.

The other way (of course) is to put the trailer close to the dock and walk the boat onto the trailer (MacBump probably necessary then also).

I don't care how busy a ramp is or how much I am being "pushed" - - - I have always taken my time when retreiving - - - it is too important to get it right to hurry I figure that I waited until it was my turn - - - let them wait until it is theirs I feel the same way at banks and casino cashiers (although I haven't seen many lately)

Rick

[argonaut]

I'm in east central Florida. I've seen this a lot, not from sailboats but from big HP outboards like ski boats and inboards. Near me is a ramp on the mouth of a small creek that empties into the ICW. It's manatee heaven there, shallow and full of reeds and wildlife. One day I could have walked across the creek, maybe 60 yards, on the backs of manatee. The water's warm, lots of sea grass, whatever, It's a no wake and manatee protection zone.
So a few weeks ago there's a line at the ramp on a Sunday. I'm just watching people dock because my boat's laid up with a dead outboard, maybe I'll learn something, right? Up comes like a 27 foot inboard cabin cruiser, radio blaring, right up on the trailer, like butter. With only a foot left he could have winched, but instead he let loose with his big a**ed V8 I/O, throwing an unbelievable stream of sand and grass and junk in a plume 12 feet behind his boat. There was a huge silt cloud after he was done.
It's a miracle to me there is any ramp with idiots like this.
The whole time his buddy standing at the winch was yelling "I got it, I got it, ok!!!".

I've run aground several times on other docks pulling away with a couple of feet of centerboard down. All this powering nonsense leaves a giant underwater crater and I usually find the edge of it. IMHO, people do it to keep from getting their feet wet.

[Hamin' X]

Or, you could load your boat like I saw am old timer load a mule into a trailer. Darn mule just would not step into that trailer, so the old timer drove up to a telephone pole with the trailer door facing away. He tied a rope to the pole and ran it through the front feed door of the trailer. Led the mule up to the back of the trailer and tied the lead rope to the rope tied to the pole. Got in his pickup and started to slowly back up. The old mule backed up as far as he could with his neck and nose stretched out as far as possible. Then he just hopped into the trailer like it was his idea all along.

Rich---Hamin' X---N7ZH

[pokerrick1]

Would a Mac do that

Rick

[tangentair]

Would a Mac do that

Only if it has a blue hull then it will "strum on down".

[puggsy]

tHE REASON IS VERY CLEAR. modern boat ramps are usually constructed by laying down, with a crane, large slabs of pre made concrete. when a boat powers on, it causes the underlying sand/shale at the very bottom of the ramp to wash out, leaving a large drop off. This has very little effect on shallow draft MACS and power boats, but when a deep keel yacht is launched, they require their trailer to go further and deeper to FLOAT OFF...Guess what happens when their trainler wheels drop into the wash out hole at the end of the concrete...DISASTER...THEY ARE STUCK...CANNOT GO DEEPER AND CANNOT PULL OUT AGAIN...
The advbertising video for the MAC shows this practice, but I personally consider it very selfish. We should consider our deep draft brothers and the grief we could cause them by being selfish...
I personally do not use my 50 until I'm
afloat and out of the way... Puggsy

[Scott]

The main reason I do not power on is to avoid damage to my boat. I dock on the outside before backing my trailer in and walk my boat around and onto the trailer. Lastly crank it forward with the winch.

My strength and that of the winch are easily countered if interference occurs. Hit the guide posts while motoring on and you have a big scab down the side of your boat!!