Yeah, thought so just think some of the replies on here they were considering idle power loading. When I'm by myself I just shut it off then just pull it up with the bow line. If someone else retrieves the trailer I have em set it about 80% where it needs to be to center it on the bunks, leave it in gear at idle then just have em back a little deeper until it walks on up to the bow stop. Works like a charm.

Hey you guys that powerload, please check the rules if you go to a different ramp. I am only a rope-boater I guess because the powerloaders dig holes at our ramps and make the bottom uneven for my trailer. 2 out of 3 of the closest ramps are on a ditch or creek with current. We don't like holes at the end of the concrete.

My brother got a $100 fine last year in NH for power loading his bass boat.

gota love the guy who power loads and doesn't look around. last summer a family in a bow rider was making perfect docking just ready to grab the pier, and idiot with twins in a Baja powered up and blew them away,bounced of the dock ,kid in front almost fell out, and he was wondering why we were all yelling at him. my opinion theres a reason they make winches on trailers . I know how far to back the truck in and wife unties the 35' and floats boat up to front of trailer 6-7 turns of winch and pull the boat out. easy takes a minute and I have to get my feet wet! isnt that why we go to the water? I like seeing the power loaders miss there mark the damage usually doesn't look cheap

We came into Mazuriks launch just before sunset on Saturday and fisherman were a few deep and power loading on their trailers. It doesn't bother me when done right, it's the lazy people that start stabbing the throttle because their trailer isn't at the right depth. Rooster tails and mud flying. I don't know what the power loading law is in Ohio but the Coast Guard gave us a "safety inspection" on the retrieval ramp that night. People were power loading and Coast Guard didn't say anything. Our Eagle trailer has 2 bow eye rollers and the depth of the trailer has to be just right to thread the needle and hook the strap between the 2 rollers. Float on and then slowly drag the boat out, it centers every time. And yes I have to get wet every time, no issue for me it's part of boating.

I boat by myself and Im one of those rope guys. After I back the trailer in the water (to the exact spot where approx 2" of the top bunks are showing) I "walk the dog" to the trailer. takes 60 seconds. Centers itself as it climbs the exposed bunks... I get in the water and attach the hook and turn 5 or 6 rotations, and the boat is secure.
I too get my feet wet every time, part of boating.

I dont see alot of power loading in my area. But I see a TON of trailers in the water too deep. Guys standing in water up to their waist winching in a fully floating boat, then the bow eye ends up above the bow stop! Then the yelling at the wife begins... Hold it steady! You need to pay attention!
Its hilarious because the dufus dude is the one who backed the trailer in too deep. The Wife/Kid/GF/Whatever is nice enough to just stand there and hold the lines...

I drive my 272 to the bow stop everytime. She "sticks" on the bunks about 4 inches short, 1500 RPM bump and she's home.

LOVE those kids. "daddy, why did you say those mean things to that man" LMFAO

This just sounds like a classic idiot loading his boat. There is never a reason to use that much throttle.

The ramp I use every single weekend is power loaded and unloaded 100% of the time by 100% of the boats. I didn't even know it was illegal in a few states until i read about it in Boat US magazine i think last month. Like I said the ramp I use every weekend you do not have the option to rope on or off unless you want to be shoulder high in water. If you place your trailer properly you shouldn't even have to use throttles. I wedge my nose idling on and wench the rest. 30 seconds tops from my nose hitting my trailer to my boat being out of the water if I have my buddy helping me. If I'm by myself, two minutes. Granted I only have a 27 ft boat but it's not all that different if you work with your trailer placement.

Sorry about that Mark. But my Fountain absolutely would NOT go on the trailer right without giving it some gas. I got screamed at at Portage and told I was never welcome back there again. I told the guy that's fine, I'll have new boat next year and you won't even know me. So he took the plate down off my truck. Well, I got a chuckle, cuz I changed that too! Regardless...not a fan of that ramp, too steep and too short for my taste.

I still have to "power load" the AT....but its a matter of idling up and getting centered on the bunks, then a slight bump to get the bow into the V. If I drop it super deep, the V-block hits my paint and causes damage. Guess how I know....

+1 This is EXACTLY why powerloading isn't allowed at many ramps. We don't want "potholes" at the end of the ramps for our trailer wheels to fall into.