Launching/loading boats

[llbaker2]

Anyone know if you can you use gas powered boat motor to load/launch boat on Missouri lakes where use of gas-powered motors is not permitted (many small MDC lakes)? I have a 1752 Jon boat with a 60/40 jet. Not exactly a light boat. Not crazy about the idea of trying to load my boat using just the wench. Puts a lot of unnecessary stress on the system. Not really meant for the sole means of loading a boat. Cant use front mounted trolling motor. Motor shaft would hit trailer. Don't intend to run gas motor for anything except loading/unloading. Think I would rather go to different lake than attempt loading using just wench. 

[DADAKOTA]

Put your bunks in a little deeper than you'd use to power on the trailer.  Use the trolling motor to get up some speed and pull it up before you make contact with the trailer.  Boat will go on most of the way.  Have the person who backed you in crank it up or climb out onto the trailer and do it yourself.  Really pretty easy with the trailer in the water.

[llbaker2]

3 hours ago, DADAKOTA said:

Put your bunks in a little deeper than you'd use to power on the trailer.  Use the trolling motor to get up some speed and pull it up before you make contact with the trailer.  Boat will go on most of the way.  Have the person who backed you in crank it up or climb out onto the trailer and do it yourself.  Really pretty easy with the trailer in the water.

I almost always fish solo. No one else to help. I also have had a total hip and knee replacement. Not all that steady on my feet anymore and in my mid 60s. Not a spring chicken. Seems to me your method would require a good deal of luck except in the calmest of conditions. Taking a good chance of damaging the shaft on you trolling motor by pulling it up at the last second plus you would be weighing down the front of your boat with body weight operating the trolling motor. Wold be way easier and safer to use gas motor. Just don't know if its allowed. In the interest of safety only seems logical that use of gas motor to load/unload should be allowed.

Guess I could run boat up on bank, tie a rope onto front, push boat back into water and lead/pull boat with rope onto trailer but once again Ive got a bad knee and hip and not as young as I once was. Not as safe as using gas motor. Seems to me safety should be priority number one.

Thanks for your comments 

 

 

 

 

[snagged in outlet 3]

I do it all the time with 1752 60/40 Jet Blazer SS.  It helps to wet the bunks fully before you do it and I have a pair muck boats so I can just step onto the trailer then in the water.  I partially pull the troller up so only the head is in the water and drive it right up there.  At around 70% power the toque of the motor keeps in the right position without much pull on the rope.  I partially pull the troller when going over shallow shoals too.  I've already busted off one prop.

[llbaker2]

How is your health? Got any titanium body parts? How old are you? You may very well do it all the time but that doesn't change the fact that it would be safer for someone like me to use gas motor. I back trailer until bunks are mostly submerged, no need to wet them. Regardless of how its done there's potential to damage motor shaft, except under the calmest of conditions.  For that matter I could  use a paddle under calm conditions. Could be a real PITA on a windy day. I normally wear some sort of water shoe and shorts or muck boots in cooler weather so stepping into the water is not normally and issue for me except for falling on my butt on  mossy ramps. Yes, I could load without motor but would be safer with its use. Just dont know if its allowed.

 

[llbaker2]

33 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

I do it all the time with 1752 60/40 Jet Blazer SS.  It helps to wet the bunks fully before you do it and I have a pair muck boats so I can just step onto the trailer then in the water.  I partially pull the troller up so only the head is in the water and drive it right up there.  At around 70% power the toque of the motor keeps in the right position without much pull on the rope.  I partially pull the troller when going over shallow shoals too.  I've already busted off one prop.

How is your health? Got any titanium body parts? How old are you? You may very well do it all the time but that doesn't change the fact that it would be safer for someone like me to use gas motor. I back trailer until bunks are mostly submerged, no need to wet them. Regardless of how its done there's potential to damage motor shaft, except under the calmest of conditions.  For that matter I could  use a paddle under calm conditions. Could be a real PITA on a windy day. I normally wear some sort of water shoe and shorts or muck boots in cooler weather so stepping into the water is not normally and issue for me except for falling on my butt on  mossy ramps. Yes, I could load without motor but would be safer with its use. Just dont know if its allowed.

Sorry for the double post but couldn't figure out how to delete the one that didnt include the quote.

 

[snagged in outlet 3]

Health is excellent for 59 years old.  One titanium screw in my foot.  I don't know if its legal or not.  I was just trying to offer some help.  Sorry to bother you.

[moguy1973]

Electric winch is the way to go.  When my grandfather was still alive and began having issues getting around we bought him an electric winch for the front of his trailer that ran off a 12v battery.  It replaced the hand winch.

[llbaker2]

2 hours ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

Health is excellent for 59 years old.  One titanium screw in my foot.  I don't know if its legal or not.  I was just trying to offer some help.  Sorry to bother you.

No bother, dont mean to be critical. Just find it unjust that it appears MDC doesn't put safety first. I realize you dont make the rules. Sorry if I offended you. Im just a crabby old fart. Thanks for your comments.

 

 

[MOPanfisher]

I just go ahead and load with my outboard.  Never been caught, some lakes in more populated areas I have heard that yu can't even have a prop on your outboard, but I don't fish them.