Home › Forums › Bass Cat Boats › Anyone not “power on” their trailer when loading?
Redngoo.
Hi all, Im new to Bass Cat boats but so far loading the boat on the trailer has been a bit of a chore and I have already dimpled my upper keel a tiny bit. I fish alone most of the time and have always just backed my trailers into the water and winched boats up. The Bass Cat P2 doesnt seem to like this as the bow is typically about even with the top “roller” with the short bunks a few inches under water. So far I have been winching the boat up a bit. Is there any issues doing this?Anyone have any tips or is driving the boat on really the only option? If I typically fished with a partner I would just drive it on but I would rather not when Im alone.Last edited by PatriotSix on April 20th, 2017, 4:27 am, edited 1 time in total.
It loads much easier when you power load. Back the trailer in to wet the bunks and pull back out till the ends of the outer bunks are a couple inches out of the water. Pull up on the bunks and itll settle and line up. Smooth power till the eye bumps. No drama and very easy.
Hi and welcome to the owners board! Bass Cat trailers are typically what used to be classified as drive on trailers. If you have a newer Pantera 2, you may have the step over the winch and the step pad on the trailer. That accessory is geared to help get in and out easier and very useful if youre by yourself.There is one trick to winching the Cat up on a trailer if you still want to do it the old fashioned way…Next time, before you hook up to winch, place the winch strap BETWEEN the rollers. This changes the angle in which the strap will pull the boat up on the trailer. Currently it should be under the bottom roller for safety. But when you start to which the boat up on the trailer it pulls it down because it has to go under that bottom roller. Placing it through the middle between the rollers allows the strap to pull at a more level angle.Just make sure you replace the strap back under the bottom roller before traveling home. It is a safety item that keeps downward force on the trailer and helps prevent shifting weight.Hope this helpsLast edited by jignpig on April 20th, 2017, 11:40 am, edited 1 time in total.96 Eyra/12 Mercury 175 Pro XS with 2015 single axle trailer2017 Victory Gunner
We are not allowed to powerload in Michigan. Ive found that if the bow is coming in low to the roller, I need to pull the trailer forward then crank until it settles on the bow eye. Sometimes I need to back down a bit after the bow clears the roller to be able to crank it home. Depends on the steepness of the launch.These trailers were definitely designed for power loading. Im on my second winch – and with the pole and steps, theres no room to mount a bigger winch.2015 Caracal[img]http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/0b016696a01f62cca9949df8d2daafeb22c6041f_r.jpg[/img]2019 Basscat Caracal225 Evinrude G2Solix 12’s
jstew wrote:Back the trailer in to wet the bunks and pull back out till the ends of the outer bunks are a couple inches out of the waterWelcome.If your rig is a newer P2, they power load very easily. The trick is to find the sweet spot when backing in the trailer, and Jstew nailed it above. Most new to Cats put the trailer in too deep. I fish alone most of the time and power load my P2 all of the time. Easy once you get it dialed in.
On my home lake, the closest access is so shallow that when water levels drop a bit, power loading isnt possible. When that happens, I just back in the trailer far enough to drive my Puma onto it, hook up the winch and tighten, then back in a bit more so I can winch it up without putting undue strain and risking stripping teeth. Its a bit cumbersome, but very do-able with a bit of practice.
I power up the trailer. But with that said the Basscats Ive owned are by far the most challenging of all the boats I have had over the years. Especially the P2 I have now.
I always power onto the trailer, I have broke boat winches and straps trying to winch the boat on more times than I wanna count. I hate having a broken winch or strap and having to trailer a boat with the bow bouncing because I could not secure it. Been there done that.
Hollada wrote:We are not allowed to powerload in Michigan. Ive found that if the bow is coming in low to the roller, I need to pull the trailer forward then crank until it settles on the bow eye. Sometimes I need to back down a bit after the bow clears the roller to be able to crank it home. Depends on the steepness of the launch.These trailers were definitely designed for power loading. Im on my second winch – and with the pole and steps, theres no room to mount a bigger winch.2015 CaracalIve seen many bass boaters here in Michigan proceed to powerload even when the dock clearly states not to. I use most of the tips that were noted here, and it doesnt seem to be too difficult or inconvenient.
My 13 p2 when I first purchased it was very aggravating to load. Once you learn the depth of the trailer it becomes much easier. It took me several trips to figure the correct depth. I also completely dunk the trailer to saturate the boards. Ive learned the correct depth by watching my fenders. On mine the back hump on the rear fenderwell is nearly completely under this leaves 8 or 10 inches of the boards out of the water. Another thing and probably dont matter is to remember the center is to the inside of the trolling motor a bit. Stand in front of the boat when on the trailer and look. You will see wat looks like the center when sitting at the console is actual not the center.2013 PANTERA 2MERCURY 200 PRO XSMINNKOTA 80LB FORTREX25 fury
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