Advice on launching boat?

rjirvine · July 9, 2006

Since I have a 2000 Silverado, and I love to fish, I was wondering if anybody has the best way to put a boat in the water. I have access to "outdoor recreation" at my work since I'm active duty and can rent a boat and a trailer for the day pretty cheaply. I have never really towed a trailer or anything, and don't want to be an incompetant noob. Does anyone have any good links to read or should I find someone who's done it before. There is a boat launch about a mile from my house.

Jasonsupafly · July 9, 2006

Since I have a 2000 Silverado, and I love to fish, I was wondering if anybody has the best way to put a boat in the water. I have access to "outdoor recreation" at my work since I'm active duty and can rent a boat and a trailer for the day pretty cheaply. I have never really towed a trailer or anything, and don't want to be an incompetant noob. Does anyone have any good links to read or should I find someone who's done it before. There is a boat launch about a mile from my house.

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your best bet would be to find someone to take a few minutes and show you the proper way to do things...um and probably the biggest thing to remember is to put the plug in..seen it happen at the ramp to several people...vroooommm>>>>>>>> oh and a good boat forum is BBC boats..just do a search for bbc boat forum and click on home page..not at my own PC to give you the exact site address

Worktruck · July 9, 2006

All boats and trailers are different. I would get a cheap trailer from a friend and practice backing up with it for a while. I know a bunch of guys that get a 12 pack and go watch people launch their boats for a giggle. I know I have done some pretty stupid sh*t before at the boat launch. Once a long time ago we were putting a friends 26' MAKO cuddy cabin in the ocean, well his winch on the trailer was broke so we had a rope tied to the boat and to the trailer that we would cut once the boat was in the water. Well this guys brother in law was in the baot and had had quite a few pops, he decides to cut the rope early so it would look look a ship sliding down the launch way at the shipyard. You guessed it, we were 25' from the water when he cut the rope. Boat landed 15' from the water on the tarred launch. 7000# boat with 240 gal of fuel in it. Luckily there was a local excavator watching the fun who had a 10 ton winch on his truck. We had to put a deadman on the trailer and pull the boat back up. Took 2 hrs. No real damage to the boat though. And yes we did get the boat in the water and had a great time laughing about it.

RobDarden · July 9, 2006

Back into water to the point just before the back end will start to float up. Disconnect cable/chain from trailer. Use engine to back the boat down. Note where trailer is in water. When you go to load up back the trailer back down to that point. Drive the boat onto the trailer - connect cable/chain to boat and pull her out. This is the technique I have used for years. No damage is done to boat and I am faster than anyone else at the ramp.

NOtruthlessHEROS · July 9, 2006

longer the trailer easier it is to back up, the only way to learn how to launch a boat is to just watch it done and try it yourself, looks more difficult than it really is

pm26 · July 10, 2006

Here are the things that new boat owners often do wrong:

1. Before backing the boat and trailer down the ramp make sure that:

a. transom (back of the boat) drain plug is firmly in place.

b. transom holdown straps (if used) are removed)

c. you have at least two 15 ft 1/2 inch tag lines attached with which to handle and tie the boat to the dock once it floats off the trailer.

You would not believe how many people forget to put the drain plug in. I also watched two guys struggle trying to get the boat off the trailer in water with the transom holddown straps in place.

Do not unhook the front winch strap or cable (and the safety chain) until you have backed the trailer down the ramp and you are ready to float the boat off the trailer. You should back the trailer in just enough to barely submerge the trailer wheel fender tops.

Inspect the dock before you back the boat in. Some docks here in Florida are in bad shape and the there are splintered and barnacle encrusted boards that the boat can rub against and get damaged (especially fiberglass boats covered with gellcoat). Use protective plastic fenders (hang them from one side of the boat) in this case.

There is no substitute for experience. First time is always the most difficult. Having someone show you the ropes always helps.

Here are some problems people run into after they float the boat off the trailer and tie it to the dock:

When starting stern drive boat (one with a car engine and drive in the back of the transom), always lower the drive fully before starting the boat. If you do not do that and start the boat with the drive up, and rev up the engine, you will get awful clattering of U-joints in the drive stub shaft.

When leaving the dock, work the throttle very carefully. Boats do not have brakes - you can use reverse to slow the boat down, but it is gradual and the boat will not come to a stop instantly. If you are about to hit a dock when pulling out, just push the boat off - do not panic and hit the throttle. This is the surest way to damage the boat.

Running into shallow water and damaging the propeller is always a problem. Be careful when going through water less than about 2.5 ft deep. On stern drive boat raise the ourdrive to a partially tilt position and keep the RPMs below 1000. On an outboard motor, the whole motor tilts , so RPMs is not the issue.

A depth finder is an extremely useful accessory. Stainless propellers are expensive to replace when you hit the bottom at high speed. You can also crack a few gears in the gearcase.

mcreyaufmiller · July 10, 2006

The most important thing for me is to have the boat ready to get off the trailer before you back the boat down the ramp. There is nothing more annoying than to have to wait for someone to untie their boat and block the ramp while doing it, also taking the boat out of the water is the same way, get it on the trailer, hook up the wench pull it tight, get the heck out of the way. There are tie down areas for the rest of the goofing off and taking coolers out of the boat, etc. The rest of us are waiting.

Worktruck · July 10, 2006

I launch my boat by myself most of the time. I have a 30' nylon rope with a snap ring on one end, I attach that to the d ring on the front of the boat and tie the other to the trailer stantion (sp). Than I back the trailer into the water slowly until the back of the boat starts to float and quickly stab the brakes to set the boat sliding down the bunks. After the boat is off the trailer I pull up until the trailer is out of the water and pull the boat in with the attached line. Oh yaeh I have a bunk trailer and unhook the winch strap and safety chain befor ebacking down the ramp. I wouldn't ry this with a roller trailer though.

Launching with the help of another isn't always the best either. i went fishing with my 21 year old son last year and he was supposed to be holding the rope instead of tying it to the trailer. HE FORGOT. But he did swim after the boat, shoes and cell phone and all. That was good for a chuckle.

vampire · July 10, 2006

reverse with a boat needs training the heavier the boat, the easier to reverse

carneyman · July 10, 2006

Just remember to go really really fast!! j/k. It would probably be best to practice backing up on a deserted street before taking it to the ramp. Some ramps are pretty crowded and you gotta get right in between a dually and a hummer, with an inch on each side. Or just go fishing during the week while everyone else is at work and you will probably be all by yourself.

TA462 · July 10, 2006

The most important thing for me is to have the boat ready to get off the trailer before you back the boat down the ramp. There is nothing more annoying than to have to wait for someone to untie their boat and block the ramp while doing it, also taking the boat out of the water is the same way, get it on the trailer, hook up the wench pull it tight, get the heck out of the way. There are tie down areas for the rest of the goofing off and taking coolers out of the boat, etc. The rest of us are waiting.

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I agree totally. I hate when people don't have their boat ready when its their turn to launch or tie up the ramp unloading the boat. I do enjoy watching the rookies trying to back their boat down the ramp, lol. The look of FEAR in their eyes makes me laugh every time. Sometimes I'll help them but most of the time I just watch. My wife usually backs up the boat and trailer on the ramp and I back up the trailer and load it back on when we are done for the day. Once you get a technique it will become second nature for you. We unload and load our boat in usually less then 3 minutes.

Rapiti · July 10, 2006

Mostly good advice above. One other thing...algae. Depending on the tides, and grade of the ramp, some folks are capable of launching their vehicles. If you break traction on the algae, (low tide), despite having your vehicle in gear to go up the ramp, the opposite will happen. Quick thinking on the brakes sometimes helps.

A friend launched a Town Car with 13 miles on the clock when trying to do burnouts at the bottom of the ramp with martini in hand to impress the girls. Hertz has not forgotten or forgiven him.

Practice your backing skills with any old trailer. shorter is harder, and will teach you quicker.

One last thing - a neighbor of mine lived right next to our local ramp. He sold his house, and now is trying to buy it back at a higher price. He missed sitting on the deck drinking and watching the fools. You just can't buy that kind of entertainment!

Good luck!

Worktruck · July 10, 2006

If you break traction on the algae, (low tide), despite having your vehicle in gear to go up the ramp, the opposite will happen. Quick thinking on the brakes sometimes helps.

I borrowed a friends boat years ago and all went well putting it in. But when it came time to take it out, I had a 70 C-10 2wd and it was low tide. Good thing my father in law was there to pull me up the ramp. Turns out the plug had fallen out while we were out and the hull was full of water. One heavy boat with about 200 gal of water in it. Dooooh

OnyxMAX · July 11, 2006

grab the bottom of the steering wheel hand in same position instead of the top, that way you don't have to relearn what way to turn the wheel it will automaticly be backwards.

don't back your tires in the water your not at a dragstrip.

think ahead- what lane on the ramp your gonna use where your gonna park, turnaround ect.

only way to stop a jackknife is to stop and pull forward you'll never turn the wheel fast enough to catch it.

ok going forward is farly simple just make every turn wide leave extra room to stop.

remember to unhook the lights befor dunking the electronics of the trailer in the water. because copper tube dosen't work well as a fuse and being 10' away from water dosen't get a fire put out any faster.

saltwater_addict · July 11, 2006

If you cant tell by my handle, i do alot of boating

The MOST important thing is having your boat ready to got before you thing about getting in the ramps if you have to do it at the house or the parking lot does not matter. I've seen lots of shouting matches almost turned brawls over this people tend to get alittle hot headed, probably the beer also if you do happen to start spinning on the ramp, and you have another person on the boat, you can use the boat to help push the truck up the ramp ive seen it done more that once good luck at the ramp and tight lines