[Tautog166]

Anybody do it? Launching the boat was no problem, probably easier than dunking the hubs, but loading? Georgia coast, St Simons Island.

With the big tide swing, I’m thinking it’s close to impossible. Anyone dry load there successfully in the current?

 

[albrighty_then]

It's tough I had to load mine at Blythe island with 15 wind in current last weekend. I can't dry launch my trailer though. Nose up current and play the drift game.

 

[flyclimber]

I usually have the back end of the skiff up-current. Also a game changer is the self-centering bow roller, almost can't do it without it.

 

[Tautog166]

Nose up current, back end up current, both of these still has my trailer in the water power loading. Correct?
Seemed to go smoothest when the wind was blowing against the tide. Slack tide didn’t seem to make a difference with the wind either.

 

[sjrobin]

Great way to damage the skiff. Pick a different ramp and make a longer run or load before or after the tide swing,

 

[Str8-Six]

Or dunk the hubs and go home.

 

[Tautog166]

Great way to damage the skiff. Pick a different ramp and make a longer run or load before or after the tide swing,

Damage is what I’m trying to avoid. How would power loading damage the boat?

A 6 to 7 foot tide swing is normal for the area, so making a longer run won’t really help. Some of the ramps also appeared to be too shallow for my comfort.

The wind seems to love the days when I’m fishing, so the time between tide swings is usually a small window. And my timing usually sucks.

 

[Tautog166]

Or dunk the hubs and go home.

That’s what worked for me. I didn’t attempt to dry load, was just wondering if and how it could be done.

 

[Copahee Hound]

The best way is to use a ramp protected by the tide swing, like one in a creek, or cut, otherwise dunk the trailer as far as you need to load it and go home. The trailer is cheaper to fix as long as you maintain it

 

[georgiadrifter]

I did it this evening by myself at the Torras Causeway ramp.....not fun. High tide was incoming and a bit over 8-feet. I was taking out about two hours before it peaked and current was ripping. There is the ramp pier up-current and a low bridge 50-yards down current. So.....I back the trailer down the ramp and just as the wheels reach the water....I cut the wheels sharply so the trailer is at a 45-degree downstream angle. I stopped the trailer before the hubs submerged. Let out winch strap ahead of time. Motor up to trailer....pop motor into neutral....move quickly to the bow and grab strap.....attach to the bow. Hop out on knee deep water and slowly winch up boat. Tilt motor and shut off. The boat will self-center as it moves onto the bunks. It wasn’t easy and a bit nerve-wracking. I probably won’t try it again.

The angled trailer Is the key. I learned to do this from launching my driftboat in a moving river.

 

[BudT]

You guys with these 8 foot tides, blows my mind....

 

[flyclimber]

You guys with these 8 foot tides, blows my mind....

Come over! I know I have seen a 6' tide before the floods. 7' if there is good wind for it.

 

[sjrobin]

View attachment 86060 I did it this evening by myself at the Torras Causeway ramp.....not fun. High tide was incoming and a bit over 8-feet. I was taking out about two hours before it peaked and current was ripping. There is the ramp pier up-current and a low bridge 50-yards down current. So.....I back the trailer down the ramp and just as the wheels reach the water....I cut the wheels sharply so the trailer is at a 45-degree downstream angle. I stopped the trailer before the hubs submerged. Let out winch strap ahead of time. Motor up to trailer....pop motor into neutral....move quickly to the bow and grab strap.....attach to the bow. Hop out on knee deep water and slowly winch up boat. Tilt motor and shut off. The boat will self-center as it moves onto the bunks. It wasn’t easy and a bit nerve-wracking. I probably won’t try it again.

The angled trailer Is the key. I learned to do this from launching my driftboat in a moving river.

Drift boats are made to bounce off rocks all day.

 

[Gervais]

There are a couple ramps I use that aren’t well protected from the current. If the tide is ripping I’ll sometimes jackknife the trailer a little so it’s angled more down current. This makes it easier to get the bait lines up. You can also come it slower diagonal to the ramp against tide and swing the bow over in line with the trailer at the last minute. Having the trailer at an angle is the best advantage if you have room to do so.

 

[ReelFisher]

LOL I can't remember the last time I put in/out without the tide ripping...this is a daily occurrence here in the lowcountry. It isn't hard to dry launch and load the boat with a 6-8' tide swing once you establish a routine for yourself. Personally, I back the trailer straight down until the rear roller is underwater and then pull the boat halfway up the trailer and keep it in gear slightly (just enough to keep the boat from sliding back down) until I can get the bow strap on and secured. Then go back and shut the boat off and winch her up. No need for all this cocking the trailer sideways or standing in knee deep water nonsense...

 

[SomaliPirate]

Drift boats are made to bounce off rocks all day.

My jaw dropped the first time I saw a guide in Wyoming shove his drift boat off the trailer and down the gravel embankment into the river.

 

[crboggs]

With a tiller I don't think I have much choice but to power load it a bit. Just gotta get the nose up on the bunks using the roller so it will hold in place until I get the strap connected.

Last time I tried to dry recover in steady wind it almost blew the skiff sideways right off the trailer.

 

[georgiadrifter]

.......No need for all this cocking the trailer sideways or standing in knee deep water nonsense...

I want to be like you someday.

 

[Tautog166]

If I were knew where any ramp that was out of the current was, believe me I would go there. I just don’t think too many of those in the area exist. 6 to 8 foot swings are going to move a lot of water for miles around, anywhere I go there’s gonna be a lot of current.

So if I’m going to motor halfway up the trailer, why not just go all the way to the roller. I’ll stick with what works for me, but I will try turning the trailer with the current. Thanks for the replies everyone.

 

[Gervais]

LOL I can't remember the last time I put in/out without the tide ripping...this is a daily occurrence here in the lowcountry. It isn't hard to dry launch and load the boat with a 6-8' tide swing once you establish a routine for yourself. Personally, I back the trailer straight down until the rear roller is underwater and then pull the boat halfway up the trailer and keep it in gear slightly (just enough to keep the boat from sliding back down) until I can get the bow strap on and secured. Then go back and shut the boat off and winch her up. No need for all this cocking the trailer sideways or standing in knee deep water nonsense...

Just trying to help a guy out and give him some options for REEL. In Charleston all the public ramps are pretty easy. Some yay he club and private ramps I’ve used where you get a full rip through the channel, the cocked trailer works. Usually a request from who’s backing up the trailer but it helps if they get it right.