{"id":13625,"date":"2025-07-22T10:02:27","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T10:02:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/krogragg.com\/?p=13625"},"modified":"2025-07-22T10:02:27","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T10:02:27","slug":"tips-for-loading-a-boat-on-a-trailer-in-a-crosscurrent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/krogragg.com\/?p=13625","title":{"rendered":"Tips for Loading a Boat on a Trailer in a Crosscurrent"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>    Tips for Loading a Boat on a Trailer in a Crosscurrent<br \/>\n \t<BR><br \/>\n<BR><\/BR><br \/>\n    <!-- no image --><br \/>\n \t<BR><br \/>\n<BR><\/BR><\/p>\n<div>\n<section class=\"hydra-container\">\n<div class=\"hydra-canvas\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"349\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.boatingmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/BTG725-SEA-Currents-1-1024x447.jpg?resize=800%2C349&#038;ssl=1\" class=\"hydra-image\" alt=\"Approaching ramp from downstream\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.boatingmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/BTG725-SEA-Currents-1-1024x447.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.boatingmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/BTG725-SEA-Currents-1-300x131.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.boatingmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/BTG725-SEA-Currents-1-768x335.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.boatingmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/BTG725-SEA-Currents-1-1536x671.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.boatingmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/BTG725-SEA-Currents-1.jpg 1571w\">                <\/div><figcaption class=\"caption margin_top_xs full border_1 hydra-figcaption\">\n                <span class=\"hydra-image-caption\">The first thing to do when loading a boat on a trailer in a crosscurrent is to make your approach from downstream. You have much more control when the bow is facing into the flow.<\/span><br \/>\n                <span class=\"article_image_credit italic margin_right_xs\">Elisabeth Kelly\/Firecrown<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/section>\n<p><iframe id=\"wxuzj5efbz\" src=\"https:\/\/boatingmag.dragonforms.com\/wxuzj5efbz\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"width:100%;height:165px;border:none;overflow:hidden;\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Many, if not most, boat-launch ramps are situated so as to be somewhat sheltered from strong currents.<\/p>\n<p>Not all ramps offer this convenience, though. At some point, you might find yourself needing to load your boat back on the trailer while fighting a strong crossing current. Those in tidal areas can be a headache. Those on rivers can be a real challenge.<\/p>\n<p>You can make this task easier to begin with even before you are actually loading on the boat. If possible, back the trailer down so that it is angled away from the current. This allows you to approach it more into the current with the boat, and so in more control. Another tip is to back the trailer down just enough to get the boat on. Back in too deep, and your stern could swing off, even if your approach is brilliant. Finally, side guides installed on the trailer are a big plus, and they really help.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, if there is an \u00adupstream dock, have a mate stand on the dock with two long lines. Get a line on the boat\u2019s\u00a0 bow and stern. Then have the mate let out the lines until you are lined up with the trailer. Power slowly toward the trailer while the mate walks alongside tending the lines.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Read Next:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.boatingmag.com\/using-wind-and-current-to-steer-your-boat\/\">Using Wind and Current to Steer Your Boat<\/a><\/p>\n<section class=\"hydra-container\">\n<div class=\"hydra-canvas\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.boatingmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/BTG725-SEA-Currents-2-1024x768.jpg?resize=800%2C600&#038;ssl=1\" class=\"hydra-image\" alt=\"Loading a boat on a trailer in a current\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.boatingmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/BTG725-SEA-Currents-2-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.boatingmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/BTG725-SEA-Currents-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.boatingmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/BTG725-SEA-Currents-2-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.boatingmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/BTG725-SEA-Currents-2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.boatingmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/BTG725-SEA-Currents-2.jpg 1563w\">                <\/div><figcaption class=\"caption margin_top_xs full border_1 hydra-figcaption\">\n                <span class=\"hydra-image-caption\">Having a mate assist can be very helpful when loading in a crosscurrent.<\/span><br \/>\n                <span class=\"article_image_credit italic margin_right_xs\">Elisabeth Kelly\/Firecrown<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/section>\n<p>Experience in \u00adhandling your boat is another key to loading a boat on a trailer in a crossing current. Knowing just how much power it takes to stem (stay in place against) a given-\u00adstrength current and how much drift (sideways movement) to expect as you make a turn broadside to the stream will serve you well when loading in a crosscurrent. If you are a new boater, proceed with even extra caution. Technique and gear can also help. Let\u2019s load up!<\/p>\n<p>The first thing to do when loading a boat on a trailer in a crosscurrent is to make your \u00adapproach from downstream.\u00a0You have more control when the bow is facing into the flow.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Stem the current at a spot downflow from the ramp, and assess the situation. This lets you get a feel for the current\u2019s strength\u2014and thus, its \u00adpotential impact on your boat\u2014before you make the turn toward the trailer. It also allows you to see if the way is clear of other boats. Do-overs prove dicey in this \u00adsituation, so don\u2019t commit until the way is clear.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Once you\u2019ve got a feel for the current and the way is clear, \u00adproceed upstream at a controlled rate. Don\u2019t begin your turn \u00adtoward the ramp until it is directly opposite you. Proceed onto the trailer.<\/p>\n<p>Know that it is easier to make corrections if you are slightly downcurrent while headed for the trailer because you can angle your bow slightly into the stream and feather the throttle to stay on target. Correcting while upstream and broadside rarely works out well.<\/p>\n<p>The post <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boatingmag.com\/how-to\/tips-for-loading-a-boat-on-a-trailer-in-a-crosscurrent\/\">Tips for Loading a Boat on a Trailer in a Crosscurrent<\/a> appeared first on <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boatingmag.com\/\">Boating Mag<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> \t<BR><br \/>\n <BR><\/BR><br \/>\n    Kevin Falvey<br \/>\n \t<BR><br \/>\n<BR><\/BR><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.boatingmag.com\/how-to\/tips-for-loading-a-boat-on-a-trailer-in-a-crosscurrent\/\">Go to boatingmag<\/a><br \/>\n \t<BR><br \/>\n <BR><\/BR><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tips for Loading a Boat on a Trailer in a Crosscurrent The first thing to do when loading a boat on a trailer in a crosscurrent is to make your approach from downstream. You have much more control when the bow is facing into the flow. Elisabeth Kelly\/Firecrown Many, if not most, boat-launch ramps are [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5157,2168,126,175,684,5388],"tags":[127],"class_list":["post-13625","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-august-september-2025","category-boating-safety","category-boatingmag","category-how-to","category-seamanship","category-trailering","tag-boatingmag"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/krogragg.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13625"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/krogragg.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/krogragg.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/krogragg.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/krogragg.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13625"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/krogragg.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13625\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/krogragg.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13625"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/krogragg.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13625"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/krogragg.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13625"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}