www.iFourWinns.com

Hi just new to the boat game and looking for a little help. We picked up our new 2008 H190 on Friday night and launched it early Saturday morning. Not having done this before I didn't want a crowd watching. Good thing too, I had a bugger of a time getting it off the trailer. I backed the truck down the ramp until the exhaust pipe was touching the water. The back of the boat was floating, but I could not push it off. I finally fired her up and backed it off. I'm not sure if that is the proper thing to do... We went out again yesterday and the same thing hapened, only worse. I couldn't even back it off this time. I finally resorted to pulling up the ramp, backing down and slamming the brakes on! It eventually worked, but I'm sure there must be an easier/safer way to do this. As a side note, recovery both days went amazingly well. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED!!!!!

I back mine down the ramp until the stern is about 3ft in the water, then fire it up, warm it for about 30 seconds, then drive it off. To retreive it, back the trailer in the water until only about a foot or so of bunk is exposed, and drive it on. Never had a problem - dead easy.

You may want to lube the bunks to make this all happen easier for you. Although it is the best, try not to use Silicon spray as it pollutes the water. Try cooking spray instead. Boat will glide on and off then (and seagull crap will not stick!! ).

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Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport

You could just have a shallow launch. Like Aussie, I back in about 1/2 way to start up, then back in the rest and it floats right off the trailer and my wife parks the boat out of the launch area. No backing off is required.

We've hit one launch where I was in like you, but couldn't get enough of the bunks wet to even think about budging the boat. We went to a different launch and all was well.

To load, I soak the bunks, then pull back out where about 6-10 inches of bunks are exposed. The wife pulls the boat on and I give a couple of cranks on the winch and we're done.

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-Rob.


Current boat: 2011 Yamaha AR210
Previous boat: 1998 Horizon RX 4.3GL SX

Rob, rare for me to find a deep ramp to allow me to float it off. Most end up being drive-offs.... Getting it back on is easy at it self centres - just be careful if there is a current or wind at your side - you have to time your run carefully!

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Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport

Here is my now, tried and true process. Me or the wife (usually wife, she's getting good) backs the trailer in to where the fenderwells just go underwater. I start the boat and then lean over the front to unhook the bow strap and usually just a light throttling gets me off the trailer. Putting the boat back on I power loaded it the first couple of times and wasn't comfortable with that method, so I now just coast up to the trailer (trailer in about the same depth as unload) and then clip on the bow strap and crank it the last 3 or 4 feet. This method has been working great and I plan to stick with it. Zub, it sounds like the attitude of your ramp is fairly shallow, you may have to go a bit deeper eventhough your pipes are already hitting the water you should be fine as long as the truck stays running. (Back pressure on the exhaust) Good luck and don't forget to set the parking break.

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2008 H210SS VP 5.7 Gi/SX
2011 Ford F150 FX4 EB

That is how we do it also. But I back the trailer to the water and the wife backs it into the water and parks the truck. For loading she coasts up to the trailer and I crank it on. No effort at all. For loading and unloading the rear side bunks go almost under water.

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Troy
2008 Centurion Avalanche
1994 Four Winns Horizon 180 SE 5.0L OMC Cobra (Sold)
2002 Ford F150 Harley Davidson Edition (http://www.nhtoc.com) 378 hp & 465 tq at rear wheels
2008 Honda Accord EX-L w/Nav

Welcome Aboard!

Now down to the juicy stuff!!!!
I've said it before and i'll say it again, PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT! Take a day off work with your wife and go to a ramp and try loading and unloading several different ways. My wife was designated as the boat driver and I always did the truck but now with our bigger boat she is not as comfortable in tight quarters so we changed roles.
Nothing impresses more than being able to pull up to the ramp back the boat down and be off the trailer and have the truck off the ramp in less than two minutes!
Here's our routine:
1- pull over somewhere close to the ramp and remove all the covers, tiedowns, remove the winch strap, stow anything from the truck that needs to go in the boat and put out the fenders and lines.
2- drive up to ramp and get driver and the kid aboard.
3- Back down ramp until the outdrive is wet, and wait for driver's thumbs up.
4- back down the rest of the way until the boat slips off bunks then pull the trailer out and to the parking area.
Reverse the sequence for loading.
Less than five minutes at the ramp for sure any day no matter what the weather!

Practice! you'll get the hang of it soon enough.

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Marc, Kathlin & Nathalie


'89 Chaparral Laser 32

'93 Vista 245, 5.8L w/ King Cobra

Former Boats
'01 H260, 7.4 VP Duoprop
'98 H200, 5.0 GL w/VP SX drive

Marc, I like your approach, but what is holding the boat to the trailer when you begin your assent down the ramp? We all have seen pix of a boat that slides off the bunks early and lands squarely on the cement. Now granted you are unloading a 260 and I know how hard they are to come off the trailer, but "it" could happen. Thoughts?

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2001 Horizon 260 - 7.4 Volvo GSI DP

I'm with St.Dave my humble opionion is NEVER unhook the winch until your boat floats and the engine fires. If you do and you have trouble is best case, it floats away dead in the water, worse case is its sitting on the launch ramp high and dry. Also as a side note I was taught to never ever power load a boat onto a trailer. If you dunk your trailer bunks in the water then pull out a bit the boat will glide most of the way on and you can easily crank it up the remaining foot or two.

Just my .02

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Guns kill people like spoons make people fat.
2007 Horizon 190 Gxi
97 Pathfinder SE 4x4
73 International Scout II

I'm saying the same thing........I couldn't risk the boat coming off the trailer before it gets to the water. The thought of it makes me cringe. As a kid I remember seeing a sceen like that unfold at a campground ramp and hearing words I had never heard before as the guys boat landed on the concrete. And the other issue as mentioned is what will you do if your floating away and having trouble with starting it, etc. I hated the feeling I would get when power loading and don't know why I started with that method, but I've abandond it for good.

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2008 H210SS VP 5.7 Gi/SX
2011 Ford F150 FX4 EB

wow!!! You guys are tough! We have never had an issue with either of our boats slipping off the trailer even the slightest amount. The boats are heavy enough that they are well seated on the trailer bunks until you float them. The ramp angle would have to be pretty steep to have a boat slip off bunks... A roller trailer would be a different situation. This is the method that we have devised, others will find their own method and practices through trial and error (aka practice). Yes I take the risk of the boat not starting but thats why it gets fired as soon as the outdrive is wet! I also don't power load (not clear in the above post) unless the water is too cold then I will.

I work 60-70 hours a week so when it's time to go boating I don't want to be pissing around at the ramp! We have our system and it works, everybody will eventually get to this point.

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Marc, Kathlin & Nathalie


'89 Chaparral Laser 32

'93 Vista 245, 5.8L w/ King Cobra

Former Boats
'01 H260, 7.4 VP Duoprop
'98 H200, 5.0 GL w/VP SX drive

It's called, "ihaventbeeninmyboatforweeksgrouchysyndrome" !

Knowing your boat Marc, I HIGHLY doubt the 260 will slide off the trailer. I know it takes a bit to get it into the water. I just don't want to hear about a BIG repair bill.

You know were just picking on you.

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2001 Horizon 260 - 7.4 Volvo GSI DP

No criticism here my friend just sharing my own opinion. I take all the precautions I can with my boat. I'd never want to be the guy whose boat did take a digger as unlikely as it is. As for power loading I mentioned that since its a one of the other important rules I beleive in. To each their own. I hope we all have a safe fun summer!

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Guns kill people like spoons make people fat.
2007 Horizon 190 Gxi
97 Pathfinder SE 4x4
73 International Scout II

So powerloading...most of you say you dont do it...why is that??

Growing up around boats we would always powerload and I to this day always powerload...nothing worse than getting wet again right before the drive home or better yet, slipping on the algae covered ramp while using all your mite cranking the boat up.

But do let me clarify, by powerloading I mean nothing over probably 2500rpms for more than a couple seconds. If it doesnt slide up after a few seconds, I have the trailer brought further back. When the boat is sitting right, the driver will ease her up the ramp about 5 feet until driver can hok the strap and tighten her down without getting wet. That little method goes back to not getting my truck soaking wet from hooking the boat up. This way works for me both loading and unloading.

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2007 Four Winns 220SS (Sold!!)
2006 Toyota Tacoma

I have always powerloaded my 190 - it is dead easy, and as long as you take care, never a problem at all. Best of all, I don't have to get my feet wet..!! Prior to that I used to winch my previous boat on and it was an absolute dog sometimes as it slewed around in the wind, went on crooked etc.

When loading, if there is a wind or current you need to time things pretty carefully, but the Four Winns trailers seem to self-centre with no trouble at all. I just creep up gently (I agree - definately no more than 2500rpm or you have a problem) and have my wife winch the last couple of inches to make sure it is home against the bow roller and secured on the trailer before she hauls it out.

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Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport