Boat launches and timing!

[diezelducker]

I'm new to boat launches. any boat I ever had you could carry to the water and didn't need to go to the boat launch. Today I happened to be near a local launch area that is pretty nice, lots of room for everyone. I almost died laughing at some of the stuff that goes on. I watched for about 25 minutes and felt like we needed a road gaurd there. It only takes one guy who doesn't know what he's doing to screw stuff up.
Again I'm new to boating, but i have a system and try like hell not to waste other peoples time. I pull into the area, clear of the other people, put in plug, take off back straps, Go to bow take of strap, lossen winch strap just a little, get whatever I need and put it in the boat, when that's done I pull the truck around for line up. My turn back in, wife grabs rope and docks boat while I pull out and go park, run back to boat, we both get in, push off start up and get the hell out of there. Takes maybe a minute. Some people are so unorganized they take 10-15 minutes. Like when they are in that space it's time to prep the boat. My wife said we should do that just to **** them off. I say no. We have a system, it works, she has her job I have mine and we don't deviate from it. We haven't been doing this for only about two months, but we look like we've been doin' it for years. People watch us and I can tell they are taking lessons. I say by the end of the summer we'll have most of the people at that ramp trained. I've seen some improvement already. Any how if you're bored go to the local launch with an Icecream and have yourself a laugh. You know you'll see something.

 

[Daley]

Re: Boat launches and timing!

... i have a system and try like hell not to waste other peoples time...

I think I speak for everyone here (as well as at the launch) that I wish there were more like you. I'll sacrifice the entertainment for some efficiency any day when launching/unlaunching. You're right though, it never fails - there's always something to watch.

 

[airframer]

Re: Boat launches and timing!

my favorite are the people who pull in and go right into backing their vessel into the water. regardless if there's a line or not.
we were waiting to launch one day, three boats deep, when a women pulled in with a pwc. didn't seem to notice till she was in the way of the person launching and the person retrieving. pokes her head out the window and says sorry. her hubby was out on the water already shaking his head. lucky guy

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Boat launches and timing!

Nice to hear of an organised launcher and retriever.
Just one thing. I always leave the safety on the bow till I am down the ramp just in case the winch strap or winch has an issue.

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Boat launches and timing!

Nice to hear of an organised launcher and retriever.
Just one thing. I always leave the safety on the bow till I am down the ramp just in case the winch strap or winch has an issue.

+1 on both

 

[Nobody]

Re: Boat launches and timing!

I'm the guy who provides a good solid 10 -15 minutes of entertainment trying to get the trailer straight on the launch ramp, some days I feel like I should be selling tickets to the onlookers. Sometimes folks take pity on me and come by to tell me how much my setup sucks for backing regardless of experience.

Once launched we're gone quick and I always do my prep in the parking area.

 

[housefire]

Re: Boat launches and timing!

True True... Nothing is worse than someone who wants to work on their engine after the back it in and its still hooked to the trailer ..I alway make sure everything is ready to roll before i get in line.... Because if i wanted to sit in traffic i would just pull my boat on the interstate during rush-hour

 

[jeffnick]

Re: Boat launches and timing!

How about the redneck who back partway down the ramp, then takes off the straps and puts the plug in. Then gets the cooler from his truck and puts it in the boat along with several other trips for fishing gear and other stuff. Now he finally backs down so the boat is in the water. Then gets back ashore and takes the battery out of his truck and drags it aboard his boat. Gets the boat running and docks it. Then takes the battery out of the boat and puts it back in the truck to park it, then brings the battery back to his boat to go fishing?

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Boat launches and timing!

How about the redneck who back partway down the ramp, then takes off the straps and puts the plug in. Then gets the cooler from his truck and puts it in the boat along with several other trips for fishing gear and other stuff. Now he finally backs down so the boat is in the water. Then gets back ashore and takes the battery out of his truck and drags it aboard his boat. Gets the boat running and docks it. Then takes the battery out of the boat and puts it back in the truck to park it, then brings the battery back to his boat to go fishing?

I actualy saw that done once

 

[skargo]

Re: Boat launches and timing!

Nice to hear of an organised launcher and retriever.
Just one thing. I always leave the safety on the bow till I am down the ramp just in case the winch strap or winch has an issue.

x3, I never undo my safety chain or winch strap until my stern is over water.
I am new to launching this year, and as of yesterday have 15 successful launch and retrievals.
I can do it in less than 5 minutes, with or without my wife.

It's funny, I've had people at the launch ask me how I am going to launch that "big" boat by myself. It's barely over 21'!

We too have a set system, when we get ready to leave at home, I put the plug in, make sure my straps are secure, and my safety chains, lights, etc are all good.
We get to the prep area, turn battery switch and blower on, remove transom straps and hook up a bow and a stern line.
I back down till stern is over water, unhook my winch strap and safety chain, give my wife the lines or tie off a stern line to a cleat. Back up just until my rear wheels on my truck are in front of the water line, and gently tap the brakes, boat slides right off the bunks. Jump out, tie off bow line, start engine, pull truck out and park, run back, jump in and GO.

I don't get people who take forever, or prep their boat on the ramp. The same people pull out and block the ramp as they tie their boat down/empty trash/remove coolers/etc.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Boat launches and timing!

It can be a smooth and easy experience if you plan it out and don't panic. My entire family are well practiced and the more of them that are with me the quicker the launch or recovery goes.

 

[wajajaja02]

Re: Boat launches and timing!

ON RETRIEVAL I haven't quite figured out how to get the winch hook in the eye without getting my feet wet. working on it. I got a special poll, not quite right,
power loading seems best,but its not the right thing to do really. 8 k lb boat

 

[david_r]

Re: Boat launches and timing!

wajajaja02 have you enough room on your trailer tongue for those walk platforms??

 

[nimmor]

Re: Boat launches and timing!

How about the redneck who back partway down the ramp, then takes off the straps and puts the plug in. Then gets the cooler from his truck and puts it in the boat along with several other trips for fishing gear and other stuff. Now he finally backs down so the boat is in the water. Then gets back ashore and takes the battery out of his truck and drags it aboard his boat. Gets the boat running and docks it. Then takes the battery out of the boat and puts it back in the truck to park it, then brings the battery back to his boat to go fishing?

I ran into a guy once doing this. And to top it all off he was using a truck with a manual transmission without a working parking brake. I almost got run over trying to help him. If that ever happens again I told my son that I will tell the guy to unhook his trailer and use my truck to pull the boat out.

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: Boat launches and timing!

We haven't had too many issues, but we don't frequent super-busy launches if at all possible. On the busiest/largest lake we've been to so far (3,000 acres) there's a public launch that gets somewhat busy. We use the private little marina launch and pay the $10. The people launching there seem to be a little more relaxed, and there's about 10% of the traffic compared to the public launch.

After a number of mistakes we've finally gotten pretty good at launching/retrieving. The one thing I still struggle with is knowing which side I need the lines on based on which dock we're going to use. For instance at this marina there are two docks, but only two "lanes" that can be used. If I'm backing down one lane, and I open my driver's side door (to get out and unhook the bow safety hook), I almost hit the neighboring vehicle's passenger door. So when I'm in the prep area I like to attach the two lines and two fenders on the side of the boat (obviously) that will be next to the dock. But then when I pull up in line to use the ramp, there's no telling which lane will be open at the time people are looking at me like it's my turn to pull up and launch. If I guess "wrong" then I need to quickly try and undo the lines/fenders. Any solution to this???

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Boat launches and timing!

ON RETRIEVAL I haven't quite figured out how to get the winch hook in the eye without getting my feet wet. working on it. I got a special poll, not quite right,
power loading seems best,but its not the right thing to do really. 8 k lb boat

I did------
My wife does it

 

[redeye1962]

Re: Boat launches and timing!

My wife and I used to go boating quite often, prior to kids. She would handle the boat end and I would handle the trailer. We had it down pat. Our maiden voyage yesterday after 15 years went fairly well. The launch was flawless but the retrieval was less than perfect.
I really need to replace the two rollers in the rear with bunkers so the boat will flow onto the trailer easier.............with that said I still need to do it.

God bless my wife for driving the boat up to the trailer. She does a tremendous job I on the other hand either get the trailer in too deep or not deep enough. We will figure this thing out one of these days.

 

[gostephen]

Re: Boat launches and timing!

So when I'm in the prep area I like to attach the two lines and two fenders on the side of the boat (obviously) that will be next to the dock. But then when I pull up in line to use the ramp, there's no telling which lane will be open at the time people are looking at me like it's my turn to pull up and launch. If I guess "wrong" then I need to quickly try and undo the lines/fenders. Any solution to this???

put fenders and lines on both sides of the boat

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: Boat launches and timing!

put fenders and lines on both sides of the boat

Thanks. I've given that some thought but storage space is so valuable on our little 18-footer that I've avoided it. But it seems like we rarely use all the toys on the same outing so maybe it's time we remove the skiis and/or kneeboard to make room for a couple more fenders.

 

[Bill Kilgore]

Re: Boat launches and timing!

I ran into a guy once doing this. And to top it all off he was using a truck with a manual transmission without a working parking brake. I almost got run over trying to help him. If that ever happens again I told my son that I will tell the guy to unhook his trailer and use my truck to pull the boat out.

I witnessed , way back in the 80's, a guy use a piece of split firewood to chock one of his front tires on his PU. I assume parking brake did not work. He hopped out, grabbed the wood from the bed as truck started backwards, threw it down real fast behind the front tire, truck stopped. He seemed to have a little system down.