Kinda like the no wake cove and there's 4 ft rollers beating the crap out of all the docks from the main channel.
Kinda like the no wake cove and there's 4 ft rollers beating the crap out of all the docks from the main channel.
Originally Posted by 188Musky
Why Heck Yea!!!!.... I'm in now where do I sign?
Can't you just power unload and push the soil back under the ramp ?
Years ago one of the local lake was down, I had a single Axle trailer and dropped off the end of the ramp into the wash out. Trailer frame dropped onto the ramp. Longer ramps would solve all the problems
does the water level never change? lanier would have to be 22 foot low for me to be where the concrete ends
Up here in MN the DNR discourages it but I don't believe it's illegal (yet). I don't like it either but they maintain approx 3000 public launch ramps (almost all natural lakes with minimal water level fluctuation) and it's easy to see how annual maint costs would really rack up.
"There was a time I didn't fish, but I cannot remember it".
You drive the speed limit don't you? Come to a complete stop at every stop sign?
If you had a jersey you wouldn't have to.
Sounds like somebody is bitter they haven't been called up to the bigs, lol
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"If God had intended us to drink beer, He would have given us stomachs."
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I don't and I will get a ticket if I get caught.
I didn't know you can power load at the Metro park ramp. I knew the ramps are short on LSC so I just assumed that power loading is not allowed at all ramps. I did it manually at all the ramps at St. Clair, even the one at the mile roads.
I guess I'm one of the few who takes a few seconds and use the winch
I have never been anywhere that mandated this, although I hear people saying that powerloading blows out the ramps. If people are used to fishing mainly reservoirs they may not be familiar, but around me even with big snowmelt runoff in the spring the lakes normally only fluctuate in level about 4 or 5 feet maximum over the course of the year—pouring a ramp very far below the surface requires building a massive watertight retaining wall to get the area dry for very long—it’s prohibitively expensive to do it very frequently.
Here's a picture of what they need to do on a natural lake to make a deeper boat ramp. I'd rather give up powerloading than have to pay my share of too many of these.
apple island launch october 2014.jpg
Many of the state ramps around me are either not paved at all (they are simply crushed rock or a gravel beach), or they are single-lane concrete blocks that are pre-made and placed onto a gravel shoreline—they use heavy machinery to move these blocks obviously, but they just do the best they can to level the foundation and then push the block into place. Most of these unpaved or block ramps don’t get big powerboats launching at them, but when the water is a bit low and you get a biggish boat it can be a real problem dropping off the end of the ramp. It's also a problem for many people pulling the boat out if there is an unpaved ramp surface that is full of ruts and holes from people powerloading...trailer can still drop into the hole or just get stuck...that in turn creates holes under the tires! The fact that people can’t powerload somewhere with this in mind doesn’t bother me in the least—I’d rather have a good ramp even if it means it takes every boat another minute and a half to take out…the ramps where crowding is an issue are all 2+ lanes and deeper concrete ramps, so at least in my area it would be a non-issue for everyone involved.
Last edited by MacIntosh; 08-31-2015 at 11:00 AM.
Its not just the concrete ramps that forbid power loading here in Michigan ...its ALL boat ramps in Michigan. My local lake has a dirt gravel ramp....the Marine Sheriff routinely bust the chops of any boater caught power loading. I keep a pair of duck boots when loading...simple to back the trailer in farther, and pull the boat up with the tether rope to the bow and strap it down. I have a 20' boat and have no issues loading. We also have a maximum speed limit...55. No problem as I have a Ranger, lol
"If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles."
I don't mind winching up the last foot or so...saves the wear and tear on the boat and the bow stop. One misalignment on a power load and you've got some nice gouges on your bow.
Yep, its dumb ass especially when the end of the ramp ends with a big drop off from the prop wash,,,,very few times I can see the use of power loading. (High winds/cross current/handicapped)...other than that, just lazy.
Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill !!
Lol...here is Louisiana I don't think I've ever seen someone NOT power load. And we've never had problems with ramps falling apart because of it.
I seen that happen.... Guy was power loading at my local lake. His buddy is guiding him on the trailer. The boat rest comfortably to the bow and the guide gives the driver a thumbs up. Which I took as you're good, shut it off. Not this driver...he half throttles it and proceeds to BEND the trailer bow mount!! The driver response...."Did I just bend that mount again" I'm thinking AGAIN??? WTF.
I've always simply glided onto the trailer gently, shifted to neutral, and used the winch. It's not that big of a deal as we all grew up knowing that power loading in the Great Lakes state is illegal. As for the ramp length, anyone who asks "why aren't the ramps longer" clearly has never been to MI. Concrete, pavement, asphalt, etc., are rare precious metals for MI. The state absolutely hates to pave anything. It's why (in my opinion) MI has the worst roads and infrastructure in the country. Why should the ramps be any different? It's sad that the statewide ramps are so crappy because MI's lakes are absolutely beautiful.
They built a ramp on the little state lake by me a few years ago. I went down and watched the process. It was formed up on the bank then just pushed into the water to the desired spot. It is 12" wide and maybe 30' long. Took a big bulldozer to push it in. On most ramps I can judge how far the trailer needs to be in the water to slide on with a little bump of the throttle to finish getting to the bow stop.
"NEVER APOLOGIZE FOR BEING PATRIOTIC"
Toby Keith
Pretty common in Wisconsin now too...
Scott
Stratos 285XL
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