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Just to clarify: I was loading by hand with a dock line. I have never powered on. If I had powered on when the bunk fell off, it's likely the bolts would have gouged the hull.
Greg

Motor up

Lead in like a pony. No sense tempting a collision with a breaking trailer part.

By the way, it's a great idea to tie off to a finger pier on a very slow day when there's no one else waiting - no one - and taking a good look at the trailer where you can't when the boat's loaded. Most of the time, those of us who are very thoughtful of others and getting on and off the ramp quickly don't ever get the time to do this. Launch, tie, park, move.

I've been behind other skippers who act like they're the only one there. One elderly gentleman sat there on the ramp cleaning his little bass boat, storing fishing rods, looking through his stuff for over fifteen minutes with me circling only 10 meters away. Finally, I blasted my horn three short hits indicating a dangerous situation was approaching. When we motored up to the dock, the wind was at least 15 knots - cross, of course - and I had a hull of a time getting my lovely bride close enough to loop the piling or get off.

This man, who I had ill thought about, came back to help us tie off, then appologized profusely for taking so long on the ramp. He explained that he sometimes forgets where he is.

Turned out to be a really kind man. Glad I didn't allow myself to get ramped up.

Nice to be nice.

It's more controlable with the ballast in so we pull the plug as soon as it's on the trailer. It starts draining as we pull it out.

Usually load with ballast. Difference is usually contributed to by the conditions we've either been in or conditions at the dock when returning, ie, wind.

Your poll brought up a lot of good comments and suggestions. I particularly will enjoy using the " I'm emptying the holding tank" as a reply to the usual ramp questions or comments about "that's a lot of water!"