Finally Got Out On The Water!

[JimKW]

The weather here has been really crappy almost every weekend and supposed to be again this Saturday, but yesterday was fantastic. I got home from work, the grass needed cut and we are expecting rain for the next two days, I'm building a fence and haven't been able to work on it because of the weather and it would have been a great day to get some work done on that. So what did I do, I hooked the boat up to the Envoy and took off for the lake!

Wife did not want to go (not necessarily bad news) so I went solo for the 2nd time. Did a great job of getting the boat in and out by myself even though a guy offered to help me. My response was thanks, but I really want to get good at doing this myself, but if I need any help I will let you know. I did get my feet wet though when I untied the rope from the trailer with the boat floating and again when I came in and needed to get from the front of the trailer into the truck. Now my challenge is to net even get my feet wet, but if I do it's not a big deal.

I have to admit I did get a little impatient when coming in though. I have my boat tied up at the couresty dock while I went and got my truck and trailer and got in line. The ramp is made for four loads/unloads, but there was no movement of the line for quite some time. I was 3rd in line, so I got out and walked up to the ramp and one guy with a small boat had his boat out of the water on the ramp and was taking up both lanes. I stood there watching him for a while and could not figure out what they were doing, and this is no lie, I saw one of the guys with a fishing pole throw his line into the water while other guys were doing something to the back of the boat or the trailer.

After several minutes of this several of us were getting pretty ticked off. Finally I said hey you got to get off the ramp loud enough for them to hear me and they just ignored me. Then the guy who was 2nd in line went in front of the first guy and squeezed his trailer down beside these guys. I cound not have backed mine into that tight of a spot and they finally pulled off the ramp.

But the bottom line is I did great at getting the boat in the water and off the trailer by myself and did even a better job of loading the boat on the trailer and pulling up the ramp. One area I still have a problem with though is backing straight. I get everything all lined up perfect and the trailer always seems to want to turn one way or the other. Think I'll take it out to in empty parking lot and practice backing up. I have not mastered using my mirrors yet and know this is what I need to do.

I backed that sucker straight into my garage though first time and it's a very tight squeeze with a very sharp 90 degree turn. It has taken me as long as 20 minutes in the past. Did not have to go forward even once.

Wow sorry for rambling on.

 

[RL Gman]

Re: Finally Got Out On The Water!

Another story where some idiots were taking up the ramp... but I'm not going to focus on that, as there are plenty of other threads to rant about that!

Good story, glad to hear how well it went. As for the weather, it's been doing that to me now for the past few weeks. I've only been able to get it in the water twice. It's pretty annoying how it will be beautiful all week, and then rain all weekend!! Hopefully this weekend will be another good one.

When I was a very young lad, my grandfather used to teach me to back trailers, drive stick shifts etc etc. I can vividly remember several times as I'm crying at 5 YEARS OLD as my grandfather was yelling at me to "give it gass and let off the clutch" or "you have to turn the OTHER way to get the trailer to move that way" blah blah blah... That was constant training for several years, even before I was legally permitted to drive (all done on a private farm).

I remember being so mad at him all those times, but in hindsight, it was the best thing ever for me. Since I was 15, I could back a trailer blind, and I'm glad he did that.

I even go out on friends boats, friends parents boats etc and they ask me to back the trailer! lol Just takes lots of practice!

Ok, I'm done rambling on now. Congrats on getting the boat out, and a successful adventure. And I totally agree that goinging by yourself isnt all bad!!

 

[lncoop]

Re: Finally Got Out On The Water!

Great to hear. Sounds like you're getting the hang of things nicely. You'll be a trailer backing ace with a little more practice. That's all it takes. Sadly that is not the dumbest thing you will see someone do at the ramp. It's all part of this insane thing we call boating.

 

[samagy16]

Re: Finally Got Out On The Water!

at inconsiderate boaters at the ramp.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Finally Got Out On The Water!

Gman, your story reminds me of one of my boat ramp encounters. After a long day of fishing I was backing my trailer down a very steep and hard curving ramp. There was an older gentleman leaning on a cane and standing on the ramp in the absolute worst spot he could have chosen. As a result I had to do a lot of maneuvering to get the trailer down to the water. He interpreted my maneuvering as struggling due to inexperience and came over to lend a hand. He stood right beside the driver's side door of my truck and proceeded to give me instruction on how to back a trailer, admonishing me to "always keep your hand on the bottom of the wheel." He was just lonely and bored and I didn't have the heart to be disrespectful to him, so I just thanked him for the advice and sat there until he finally moved. Then I backed in and retrieved my boat.

 

[RAT Attack]

Re: Finally Got Out On The Water!

Great Story...
Except for the jackazz's at the ramp anyway. I feel your pain with the weather. I live in Ohio too. Me & the wife have someday's off during the week, so we have been out plenty of times. Close to 20 with 90'ish hours on our meter. We just bought our boat last November, and refinished it in the winter, so we get out on the water every chance we get. My motorcyle has to be getting ticked-off at my boat. lol. We also went out yesterday, and it was awesome. I even did a little wakeboarding. Water temp. was 64. CHILLY! Anyway, congrats...
The yard work will get done eventually.

 

[SNye45]

Re: Finally Got Out On The Water!

Good to hear you had a good time. Practice makes perfect

I had almost exactly the same situation. A few days ago the grass needed cutting but the weather finally was warm enough to go out on the boat (for the second time this year). So which did I choose? The Boat ...... I took my next door neighbor with me instead of my wife and we had a good time trying to catch anything that would bite. We caught a tiny little trout and released him.

Every thing was fine except for the wind. It was blowing enough for little white caps. It made the retrieval very hard as as I idled in, the wind would blow me of course all the time. I finally managed to get the boat on the trailer at a crazy angle enough to clamber out and re-launch it attached to the winch line to be able to winch it onto the trailer correctly.

It even snowed here again yesterday .. Crazy weather

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: Finally Got Out On The Water!

Sounds like a great trip....practice makes perfect with the backing of the trailer....personally I get screwed up if I try to use my mirrors exclusively...I'll use them to make sure the very end of the boat is clearing an obstacle or is lined up right but I find the arm on the back rest turned around looking out the rear window is the best for me...If I'm in my pickup I'll put the tailgate down or if I'm in the SUV I'll raise the rear door for added visibility. That hand on the bottom of the wheel doesnt work for me either. I've only been trailering for a couple of years but I knew my skills had "arrived" when one time last year I was launching at a place for the first time...sleepy little fish camp place withe the two resident old coots sitting in the rocking chair right next to the ramp...tight little ramp with a small parking lot that didnt afford a long straight run backing in....was a quiet day there with very little activity...(except for the 2 old coots)....I'll admit I definitely didnt look "local" with the SUV, 2 kids, wife and dog so I'm guessing they didnt have high expectations.....well I whip it into the ramp in about 5 seconds....while we are heading out my wife says to me....man those to old guys were talkin' you up something fierce....said they aint NEVER seen anybody whip a boat into that ramp that good!!......As my friend from SC says..."you could have hit me in the *** with a big red apple that day!

 

[75TowerOfPower]

Re: Finally Got Out On The Water!

Great Story...
Except for the jackazz's at the ramp anyway. I feel your pain with the weather. I live in Ohio too. Me & the wife have someday's off during the week, so we have been out plenty of times. Close to 20 with 90'ish hours on our meter. We just bought our boat last November, and refinished it in the winter, so we get out on the water every chance we get. My motorcyle has to be getting ticked-off at my boat. lol. We also went out yesterday, and it was awesome. I even did a little wakeboarding. Water temp. was 64. CHILLY! Anyway, congrats...
The yard work will get done eventually.

Hey where do you usually go?

I know at East Fork most time the people know what they are doing but when we go over to Brookville I get a 18 year old with Daddy's boat trying to back it down in two lanes. I am 23 and have my own boat and tow rig and have been able to back it down since I was 16 when I bought it.

Sorry for the rant I just wish people wouldn't be so inconsiderate.

 

[hubbard53]

Re: Finally Got Out On The Water!

. . . ramp is made for four loads/unloads, but there was no movement of the line for quite some time.. . .

aha, you must be referring to Alum Creek

I took mine there once but eneded up choosing Buckeye Lake as my "home lake"

I took a half day myself yesterday afternoon and spent about 5 hours on teh lake. I been watching the weather - looks likes Satuday may be clearing up a bit.

 

[JimKW]

Re: Finally Got Out On The Water!

aha, you must be referring to Alum Creek

I took mine there once but eneded up choosing Buckeye Lake as my "home lake"

I took a half day myself yesterday afternoon and spent about 5 hours on teh lake. I been watching the weather - looks likes Satuday may be clearing up a bit.

Yes it was Alum Creek. I'm at the ramp in less than 20 minutes from my house. Have not been to Buckeye Lake yet, but plan on going there soon. Any other places you like in the Central Ohio area? I like my boat, but getting bored with Alum Creek.

 

[hubbard53]

Re: Finally Got Out On The Water!

Yes it was Alum Creek. I'm at the ramp in less than 20 minutes from my house. Have not been to Buckeye Lake yet, but plan on going there soon. Any other places you like in the Central Ohio area? I like my boat, but getting bored with Alum Creek.

I keep mine on a lift at Buckeye Lake so don't make it to many other lakes so don't have an opinion. Buckeye isnt bad...there are homes, commercial marinas, bars/restaurants, along the water to it is a little more interesting than Alum