Power loading is illegal in my county and most of Idaho, I believe.

Yeah power loading seems to vary depending on the ramp for me.  Either way, you should be able to load the boat just about anyway that gets it on the trailer without doing that much damage.  I would be pissed if I were you.  There’s gotta be something metal or a rock in the carpet of that bunk.

https://www.facebook.com/share/9KfpRXxe6EVEoi8G/?mibextid=kL3p88

Never seen a Malibu like this! Rough shape but interesting. Looks like a genuine tag from Merced CA 

Ok, so, maybe not relevant to a surf boat, but I have my rudder tuned so you can't let go of the wheel on a plane.  I like to drive the boat straight when towing and you can't do that as effectively when the boat "floats" with a neutral rudder tune (and sure path numbers confirm this for me at least).  So I would not exactly say that wheel tension when towing is a design defect.  But a tunable rudder is the solution and lets you adjust it however you want.  Both Nautique and MC have tunable rudders on the ski boats.  I am pretty sure Nautique has them on their surf boats as well but I am not sure if they would retrofit on a Malibu.  

13 minutes ago, dizzygti said:

Exactly.   Look at that bunk, it's a crap design and only touches the hull at the very leading edge.  I always put the trailer in deep and the wife floats on.   Power loading isn't necessary unless you have an incapable tow rig and can't get in deep enough.   I've got almost 300 hours on this boat all trailering it as a first time boat owner, and never scratched the hull like this, but the dealer does in two launches tuning the rudder?   Complete BS...

Get that lowest step in the water and you don't have to show off to get the boat on the trailer.  

Depends on the ramp.  At my ramp if I put the bunks that deep the bow is under the roller.  Wish my ramps were that flat.