UPDATE:  so took to dealer.  Found an abandoned/removed stereo amp from a former owner had a positive/negative power wires shorting out.  Fixed by taping up and holding them apart.  I need to follow up and remove them completely though.  
Next:  finally get the boat out today on the water, runs great until I use the stereo.  It runs a few minutes then trips the breaker again.  I do that twice and then I reset ignition breaker and then it won’t start.  Starter won’t even try and engage.  From either the start switch or the emergency key switch.   All the boat screens worked but no start.  Is there a breaker for the starter or engine breaker somewhere? 

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.