Driving Boat on trailer

[okioutlaw]

When my husband backs the trailor into the water and I'm putting boat on the trailor,and he cranks the winche to bring the boat up tight I have noticed sometimes I still have the boat in gear at idle speed. That means I'm pushing the boat forward against front roller, I do remember to put it in neutral before shutting off but am I hurting anything by leaving it in gear for a short time. Is the prop just slowly slipping in the water? Am I in trouble? Went to LOTO the other week and met Joe Lino and Loved his forty OutLaw who says size doesn't matter :o ) My husband likes his 25 OutLaw but maybe I can get him to get something bigger.


Mrs okioutlaw

[Baja340SF]

I dont believe your hurting anything. Just pushing water! Ive done it that way many times. I have even shut the boat off with it still in gear while loading the trailer without ever having an issue.

[Ric 232]

You're not hurting anything at all. Just remember two things and you'll be fine:

1. Try not to shut the motor off with it in gear. If it happens, it isn't an immediate problem, but when you pull the lever back into neutral with the motor off, it puts stress on the shifter cable and can stretch it (not good).

2. Always, Always remember to tilt up the outdrive COMPLETELY before your husband pulls the boat out of the water. Do this AFTER you shut the motor off, not before (which is hard on the u-joints).

[BDannecker]

That's the only way I load my boat. You are simple driving it on the trailer. Don't trim to the trailer position however until you have shifted to neutral and shut off the engine.

Bruce...