Boat Launching / Retrieving questions

[Southern Appal]

Re: Boat Launching / Retrieving questions

Check the list of Similar Threads at the end of all these replies. They will lead you to lots of great information. Make a written checklist, and check it; don''t rush yourself.

 

[Old & In the way]

Re: Boat Launching / Retrieving questions

Newbee Boat owner here.

I back down the boat into the Water. When do I start the I/O Motor? On the trailer or after I pushed the Boat off into deeper Water with my wife on board. If I start the Motor on the trailer how far do I lower the Motor. I'm afraid If I lower the motor all the way down I might hit the bottom of the Ramp with the outdrive. Should I just lower the motor motor far enough to cover the outdrive side inlets and lower all the way down when the boat is in deeper water.

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I like to get the boat completely off of the trailer before starting the engine when launching... I don't think my Volvo Penta OD likes to be put in reverse, unless the engine is in the full down position.
?

 

[bob johnson]

Re: Boat Launching / Retrieving questions

this is one reason those high guide ons are a blessing...you can back that trailer way down into the water and then motor the boat between them up to make contact with the rollers or bunks and drive a little further so it stays..maybe even attack the winch line... and when you drive out SLOWLY the boat will settle in its place.

other wise on winday days you have to winch the boat from the bow the whole way...because a cross wind keeps blowing the transom over....if the trailer is too deep!!

this is especially true on steep ramps!!!!

I dont see how the lower units on these boats can hit anythign on the ramp if the boat is on the trailer!!!!

i can see if you dont back the trailer far enough into the water, you could run into too shallow of water trying to get the bow up to the end of the trailer !!!!!

nice shiny fiberglass boats are more of a headache!!! because you dont want to bang around on stuff...aluminum boats are more durable in this regard.

this is such a dynamic subject, given the different trailer, different steepness of ramps, difference surface of the ramp, salt or fresh water, depth of draft of the boat!!! wind conditions!!!

and wether you want to stay totally dry or will get your feet wet!!

and the rules of the ramp...many places dont like guys who power load their boats!!!!they dmage the end of the ramp and cause DROP OFFS!!!

I know a freshwater lake where LOTS and LOTS of bass fishermen , with their HUGE outboards launch from many states around. one ramp there had about 20 feet of rip rap style rock at the end of the ramp... I can see what they do to the end of the ramp during hunting season, when they lower the water level..

you get rock extending off the ramp and it falls away into a 2-3 foot drop off, then it comes back up about 2 feet again...where the power wash from the prop, on loading didnt have as much effect... makes it impossible to launch there on low water levels!!

bob

 

[livin4real]

Re: Boat Launching / Retrieving questions

I like to get the boat completely off of the trailer before starting the engine when launching... I don't think my Volvo Penta OD likes to be put in reverse, unless the engine is in the full down position.
?

This is a bad habit to get into. If you back a boat off the trailer without the engine running on a busy ramp your asking for trouble. All it takes is a little wind and you engine not firing right up and your into someone elses pride and joy. I can see doing it with small aluminum boats if your right next to the dock and have a line hooked to it, but since you mentioned your volvo penta, your not in this category. You should get into the habit of always firing your engine before backing off the trailer.

 

[DaNinja]

Re: Boat Launching / Retrieving questions

I've learned to run the Texas boat on the muffs before we head to the ramp.
Nothing kills the day better than having a big group and a boat that won't start.

We always start the boat on the trailer. We learned that lesson the hard way.
Nothing like having the Admiral drifting around the marina in a boat that won't start or stay running.

I normally back the boat to the edge of the water and stop. We both get out and the wife climbs in the boat and starts the blower. I pull the transom straps and triple check the plug (I'm a card carrying member of that club).

With the wife in the boat, I back it in until it starts to float. That's about when the wheel fenders are under water. The wife then trims the drive down below "trailer trim" and starts the motor. Once she has it running steady, I disconnect the bow line and she backs off the trailer. I then park the truck and she hovers around until I walk to the courtesy dock.

Retrieval is similiar. The Admiral kicks me out at the dock and I back the trailer in the water. While I do that, the wife does a couple of practice runs in the direction of the ramp to get a feel for the current and the wind. She does her runs with the drive full up (not trailer trim yet).

She does a great job getting on the trailer! Practice runs paid off when she could get on the trailer with a 20 knot cross-wind.

I then winch the boat up as needed and she shuts the motor down. She then runs the drive to full trailer trim and I pull the boat out of the water. Straps and guards on, plug out and away we go.

Sorry...this ended up as a Wall O' Text.:redface:
I hope it helped someone.

 

[labguy]

Re: Boat Launching / Retrieving questions

All these are great suggestions but do yourself and everyone a favor and take care of all that you can BEFORE you back up to launch. There is nothing more annoying than to see someone back up to launch and then decide to load the boat with coolers, life jackets, water toys, etc.... Not that you should rush through like a bass fisherman in a tournament, just be mindful of those that are behind you waiting to launch/retrieve.

You will quickly get addicted to this thing we call boating my friend!!!

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Boat Launching / Retrieving questions

You all have been very kind with all the comments.

Yes I understand about getting the boat all prep before backing down the ramp. Im not totally new to boating just new to boat owner ship. I never had to worry about launching and retrieving a boat before. This is something my parents did growing up.

 

[AguaSki]

Re: Boat Launching / Retrieving questions

If I start the Motor on the trailer how far do I lower the Motor. I'm afraid If I lower the motor all the way down I might hit the bottom of the Ramp with the outdrive. Should I just lower the motor motor far enough to cover the outdrive side inlets and lower all the way down when the boat is in deeper water.

Don't worry about it. I am familiar with all the lakes in your area, and all the ramps are steep enough that it is impossible to get your lower unit too low. Lake Pleasant is a little far away from Gilbert, but this lake has the best 10 lane ramp I have ever seen. If you can swing it, I would make a trip to Pleasant to practice your launch/retrive routine. During the summer all 10 lanes are busy, but this time of year you can practice as long as you want on the ramp. Below is a pic I took of a boat that sunk at the dock, but in the background you can see how big the 10 lane ramp at Lake Pleasant is. You can also tell in the pic that this is a fairly steep ramp. I don't think you have anything to fear if you lower your drive all the way down.

 

[kamby]

Re: Boat Launching / Retrieving questions

How i launch.

The boat usually has been started before i leave its a 25 year old boat, if it sits longer then two weeks and the gas fairy comes by and takes the gas out of the float chamber, you have to take the top off and fill it, since i refuse to use starting fluid. (starting fluid makes short work of degreaseing bearings why i don't use it in the engine!!)

as with any out drive engines there is a certain degree you can trim them, too much and its a lot of stress on the u joints trashing around in the bellows. Boat goes off the trailer and ties up to a concrete pillar drive goes down and the engine is started while someone or i goes and parks the trailer, if i am alone the boat sits until i come back before i start it i refuse to leave the keys in it running unattended. This launch u have to beach the boat on the side of the ramp and tie back up to the pilar, back the boat down and load no power loading says the sign with the big propwashout at the back of the ramp.

At the marina pretty mcuh the same thing except the launch is long enough to handle 3 boats to a lane the parking is quite a distance away up a steep hill. With this marina you tie a bow and stern rope to the dock cleats so you dont smash someone elses baby its a 6 lane steep launch its really nice.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Boat Launching / Retrieving questions

Like we've said before, boating is not "one size fits all." I've been boating all my life and trailering myself for 35+ years. I have never seen a boat ramp like the one in the picture and can't imagine all 10 lanes busy at the same time. Wow. Now I understand why ramping is such a big deal to many who post here, and why people (often newbies and wives) are intimidated.

My point is, my knowledge and advice for someone using a ramp like that would be inapplicable, just as "your" advice would be for "my" ramps. Same goes for much of the good advice that sparks sometimes heated disagreements, due to people being in different realities. Myself included, we need to understand other's perspectives and home turf before layering ours on top of theirs.

(eta tried to show a photo of my type of ramp but too big to post--even though the ramp is 1/100th of the size of "yours"!)

 

[livin4real]

Re: Boat Launching / Retrieving questions

Don't worry about it. I am familiar with all the lakes in your area, and all the ramps are steep enough that it is impossible to get your lower unit too low. Lake Pleasant is a little far away from Gilbert, but this lake has the best 10 lane ramp I have ever seen. If you can swing it, I would make a trip to Pleasant to practice your launch/retrive routine. During the summer all 10 lanes are busy, but this time of year you can practice as long as you want on the ramp. Below is a pic I took of a boat that sunk at the dock, but in the background you can see how big the 10 lane ramp at Lake Pleasant is. You can also tell in the pic that this is a fairly steep ramp. I don't think you have anything to fear if you lower your drive all the way down.

Looks like our ramp at Lake Monroe, nice and big and about the same angle. It makes it easier to drive down to the bottom of the ramp and turn and back in than backing all the way down the hill.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Boat Launching / Retrieving questions

ALWAYS trim the engine up before entering shallow water beaching or aproaching the trailer/ramp.... Never assume that there is nothing to worry about below the surface of the water.... on your beautiful ramp there could be a log, rock, volkswagon, newspaper machine, ... ANYTHING.... most modern drives have a trim limit switch and trimmed all the way up... vs tilted higher is a fine place to load/launch....

Now this is not to say that loading with the drive down is certain doom but with nothing to lose it's a good idea to be cautious

 

[cr2k]

Re: Boat Launching / Retrieving questions

Well first off. On a not so busy day pull the boat down to "launch position" and lower the drive and see just how far it will go down. My bet is with the rear of the boat slightly floating it will go all the way down. But check it and you will have a base line.

All of your maneuvers sound good and well thought out. I commend you for being so attentive to this.

Asking questions is good not only for your knowledge, but it sparks several responses and others benefit from them as well.

Like I say the only stupid question is the one it's too late to ask.

Personally, I unhook everything (bunks not rollers) away from the ramp so as not to tie up the ramp. I back down just to the water then get in the boat and my wife backs it in and I float off then start the engine OR my wife will get out with the bowline and I will back it in and she will take it to the dock.
We are getting her comfortable with the starting procedure and manuvering so she can back it out and dock it this coming summer.

Retrieval; I will back the trailer close or in depending on how busy the ramp is and I (this is me) always drive the boat on the trailer, once on the bow is hooked to the winch and tightened and the we pull out and drain and strap out of the way.

I get so mad when people pull out 10 feet and stop to transfer the ice chest and fish killing gear the kids and dogs to the truck right there on the ramp in a lane with a line waiting to launch/retrieve. I have to admit I have given a few of them some verbal indications to their breech of ramp edaquete.

The only thing you should be doing on the ramp is launching and retrieving.
Then get out and let someone else in.

Sorry, I don't feel you are violating this, just had to soapbox a minute. (One of my pet peaves.)

Our regular lake always has an afternoon wind so retrieving on the lee side of the ramp is almost impossible. So I will wait my turn on the windward side.

I DO NOT recommend driving on the trailer if you are not comfortable with it as you could cause significant damage very quickly if not aligned properly.

It was nice to read of the wives actually doing the boat driving! Go Girls!

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Boat Launching / Retrieving questions

Yes I understand I may have to adjust my process for different situations. Busy Ramps, Winds ect ect. I will get more Practice in before the busy summer is here. Not sure when the boat season actually starts in AZ but it seems I can boat all year long. Water Sports in the Summer, Fishing and exploring in the Winter.

Lake Pleasent will be a frequent Hang out for me. I'm willing to drive 90 minutes from Gilbert. My first outing was sagauro and next will be Canyon Lake. Im planning to try out all the valley lakes before the summer rush.

Thanks all. You have been very helpful.

 

[QC]

Re: Boat Launching / Retrieving questions

I edited the pics to reduce their size. We prefer a max of 640 x 480 as larger messes with some browsers and screen resolution sizes etc. Causes the side to side scrolling issue.

Funny side note AquaSki . . . I had posted your pic before, but I found it on Google images I think . . . I've used it in a couple of threads to illustrate our Mega ramps out west here

One more side note . . . Uh, I don't believe that ramp angle determines how high or low you can run the drive down before hitting pavement while on the ramp. Yes a steep angle helps once she floats off the trailer, but the determining factor to how low you can tilt the drive down before launching is the height of the boat on the trailer which results in how high the X dimension (Center-line of output shaft through transom) is above the pavement, which results in whether you can go down full tilt or not while on the trailer. Basically, if it hits sitting on flat pavement, it will hit on a ramp . . . My 17, 20 and 23 footers could all hit, but some larger rigs can drive around all day with the drive fully tilted down. A good example are Catamaran hulls with single I/Os, those rarely have clearance issue, because they sit very high on the trailer.

 

[imported_John o]

Re: Boat Launching / Retrieving questions

Looks like our ramp at Lake Monroe, nice and big and about the same angle. It makes it easier to drive down to the bottom of the ramp and turn and back in than backing all the way down the hill.

You're thinking Paynetown? Same width I think but we don't have the nice lane markings that they do. Wonder what it would take to convince the state to add it?

Glad to see another Monroe boater here.

 

[livin4real]

Re: Boat Launching / Retrieving questions

You're thinking Paynetown? Same width I think but we don't have the nice lane markings that they do. Wonder what it would take to convince the state to add it?

Glad to see another Monroe boater here.

Yep, good ole' Paynetown. My uncle works for the DNR over at the gas dock going on 10 years or so now. It's nice having that big of a ramp, I just wish they'd add a dock on the other side to accommodate the amount of boats that can be put in in just a few minutes. I like the lane markings as well, wouldn't be that hard to do, just curious how many folks would pay attention to them We're out on Monroe every weekend pretty much april-oct. Hit me up on here sometime before you head out, maybe we'll see you there. We're usually tied up in Allen's Creek with a dozen other boats.

 

[ECVCHAMP]

Re: Boat Launching / Retrieving questions

Moving on to launching: Aside from not starting the boat until in the water, you CAN and should start the boat while still connected to the trailer. Once the engine is idling, you can unhook the bow line and reverse or float back off of the trailer. You don't need to lower the outdrive all the way down to start it, but just make sure you keep it no higher than idle when you have the drive up a lot. Once you know you're in the clear depth-wise, you can lower the drive fully.

Retrieving: you can raise the drive when you are idling in towards the trailer. Again, don't move the drive all the way up, but you can raise a good bit. When your boat is on the trailer with the bow line secured, you may then shut the engine off, and raise the outdrive completely up to keep from banging it on the ramp. The boat can be winched the rest of the way up to the bow stop if you didn't reach it under idle engine power.

One last point, while it is important to be aware of the depth and outdrive trim, you'll be happy to know that that big fin underneath the prop is there mainly to protect the prop. It is made of metal and can usually be repaired if it is damaged or broken off as long as the damage isn't too extensive. Only costs about $100 at most prop shops/marinas.

Happy Boating!

Just an FYI - If anyone out there still has an OMC outdrive built prior to using u joints, NEVER run the engine unless the outdrive is all the way down. Ask me how I know this!

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Boat Launching / Retrieving questions

Just an FYI - If anyone out there still has an OMC outdrive built prior to using u joints, NEVER run the engine unless the outdrive is all the way down. Ask me how I know this!

I guessing ugly things happen.

 

[reap182]

Re: Boat Launching / Retrieving questions

Had all the same questions when i first started. actually found a few boat launch/retrieval videos on the web.between that and the advice from this forum it should be a breeze.