First boat outing this Saturday....need some loading tips?

[JetBote]

Re: First boat outing this Saturday....need some loading tips?

If it's a roller trailer, do not undo the bow safety chain or winch strap until the stern begins to float. Some trailers may have a short chain, and floating the stern may keep you being able to undo it easily. At a minimum, always keep the winch strap on, and locked until you are ready to roll off. You may allow some slack in the strap, but don't free wheel the strap. When retrieving, put the strap on, cinch it up, THEN attach the safety chain. It makes removal so much easier the next time.

 

[Andy'sDelight]

Re: First boat outing this Saturday....need some loading tips?

Please don't take your wife and kids on your first trip. Go with someone who has been around a boat or two in their lifetime and learn from them. You do not want to be in the midst of a rookie mistake with kids on board. They can turn from dangerous to deadly in the blink of an eye.

 

[HD Fatboy?]

Re: First boat outing this Saturday....need some loading tips?

My loading tip is to leave the wife at home, Mine brings everything but the kitchen sink on the boat.

 

[Titanty]

Re: First boat outing this Saturday....need some loading tips?

Do a trial run with a buddy that has done it before.

Study up before you go and don't forget the PLUG. (plug sounds simple but many forget and that's bad news)

 

[joenapier]

Re: First boat outing this Saturday....need some loading tips?

I'd recommend you go out to the dock and watch a few other people do it, maybe a day or two before in case you need time to prepare something (like have a pair of pliers handy if you have the screw in type plug). Methods vary from person to person. Ive seen a few "good ideas" just watching other people.

It's good you are asking these questions and seem to already know that things can happen - in boating, it seems things happen fast.

I was out the other day in some wind and waves on the harbor. I didn't want to tie up to a friend's dock so I anchored about 30 feet away. When leaving, my daughter pulled up the anchor but it got caught around the prop. The realization that I was dead in the water and being pushed by the wind on choppy water toward the dock hit me like a "diamond bullet in my forehead" (to steal from COL Kurtz). A benign situation got freaky really fast.

 

[JetBote]

Re: First boat outing this Saturday....need some loading tips?

You guys really need to stop with the "leave wife and kids at home" BS. Has it occured to any of you that maybe the lake is a couple hours away? Maybe this is the first weekend they've had together and have been planning this for weeks? Damn, go out there and get it wet, with the family. There's only one way to learn, and just do it. Keep listening to these guys, and they'll have you selling it by Sunday.

 

[geeco1]

Re: First boat outing this Saturday....need some loading tips?

First of all, give us a picture of your boat, or at least a description. What body of water or type of water are you going to?

Several have posted to leave you wife and kids at home for the first time. I would agree with that if you had a few days to get used to the boat yourself. However, being that this is now Friday afternoon, and you going out this weekend, I know that is not what you are going to do. Just being realistic. I know that the wife and kids are just as anxious to get on the water as you are.

First and foremost EVERYONE must have a PFD on at all times for this first outing.... including YOU. Don't forget to attach the kill switch lanyard to your PFD.

Everyone sits in a seat (or on mommy's lap if that young). Not on your lap. You are too busy driving and looking for other traffic, logs in water, etc.

Make sure that you have an anchor (or two)....it really bites when your engine dies and you are 1 mile upstream from Niagra Falls.

You can never have too many ropes. I have one dockline that I leave attached to one of my bow cleats and wrap it on the handrail. (See pic) This works on MY body of water. I always know where it is. I have others stored in a "boat bag" that I always take with me. It would be wise to have a couple of other ropes as well. Ski ropes can double for tow ropes if needed. Do not use small diameter ropes. They are hard to handle and hard on the hands. Most should be 1/2in or 5/8th.

Sunscreen.

Carry a good, sharp knife. The type that clips onto your pocket. This would be handy if for some reason, you become entagled in the ropes. Ropes get caught in prop and is caught around someone. God forbid, boat capsizes and someone is caught in rope. (Remember the Jaws movie where Richard Dryfus is being squeezed to death between the rope and gunnel).

Depending on boat size and state but generally to be legal, you need
PFD's for everyone (see above)
Throwable
horn or whistle (get both). Electric horns don't work when boat is submerged.
Paddle
Nav and anchor lights (if out after dark).
Fire Extinguisher.

You are not going to master launch/retrieve in one outing. Try to get to the ramp early morning, but after all of the fisherman have launched. So probably around 8:00 or 9:00 AM. Hopefully this will be a less busy time. Don't plan to leave around 4:00 to 6:00 as this tends to be when everyone is leaving (again, on my body of water).

Also, just stay calm. Whether on the ramp or on the boat. If you are having troubles backing down the ramp, ask someone to help you.... but don't pick the guy that is yelling. Someone will help you down the ramp, you can enjoy your day, then someone will help you get back off the water.

Finally, come back on a calm day, middle of the week, and practice. Back down the ramp, launch, etc. Practice backing at home. If you have a riding mower with a cart, practice backing. As a kid, I used to practice backing the lawn more cart down the sidewalk, etc. Little did I know how it would help me now.

 

[JimKW]

Re: First boat outing this Saturday....need some loading tips?

Just relax and don't be afraid to ask questions of others around you. Most people are more than helpful when it comes to boating. Every single one of us has been new at this at one time. Having somebody who knows what they are doing out with is the most helpful thing, but if not possible just be extra careful and do the best you can. Don't let these people scare you, it's really not that bad and quite a bit of it is common sense. But I was a nervous wreck my first time out too.

 

[Texas Parrothead]

Re: First boat outing this Saturday....need some loading tips?

Just keep in mind the nice cold beverage waiting for you at home while you think back on the great day you just had with your family!

 

[sethjon]

Re: First boat outing this Saturday....need some loading tips?

Right before you begin going down the launch, make sure the plug is in. We all forget it once in our life but with the family you want to avoid that. You should have at least one rope, any size, about 15' to tie to the dock so it doesn't get away until you are ready to take off. Water shoe is a good idea too, especially for kids. Have an extra qt of oil just in case. A small tool box with a bare minimum of tools for small adjustments.

 

[korygrandy]

Re: First boat outing this Saturday....need some loading tips?

WHEN RETRIEVING THE BOAT TRIM THE MOTOR UP and make sure the winch is locked in correct position to avoid dragging the motor on the ramp or the boat sliding off the trailer.

Here is my question, Why haven't you taken the boat out in the 3 weeks you've owned it? Was there soemthing wrong with it. I took mine out the DAY I bought it. I wanted to make sure it worked (didn't test drive the boat prior to buying - rookie mistake).

My buddy bought a used boat and brought the wife awith on his first launch. They had a HORRIBLE experience and haven't taken the boat out since. They were on my boat, but his kid was scared *****less because of the experience he had with his dad. (Engine wouldn't start, they drifted, forgot the plug and no paddle).

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: First boat outing this Saturday....need some loading tips?

Poor Jennings. 1 question, 1 comment, and 29 advisors (including yours truly).
Much of the advice is universal (plug!) but a lot pertains to specific types of boating, and we don't know what he's headed to (except that he has a Hurricane. I'm not sure what that is). Could be going to a private or seldom-used ramp. He might know all about fixing stuff and to carry the right tools and spares.
But I think no one is being critical, just an abundance of concern from his admission that he's embarking with no experience and only off the water education. We all want his trip to be successful and for his family (and him) to come back loving the boat and boating.

Good luck, Jennings! We are rooting for you! You'll do fine! Give us your report Sunday!

 

[tburda]

Re: First boat outing this Saturday....need some loading tips?

This basically outlines your trip to the ramp. Tools, required PFD's horns etc you will need to lookup by laws of where you are planning to boat, and tools you'll have to go on your own discretion.

The biggest piece of advice is stay calm, dont be afraid to get wet, have some water shoes on, and a swimsuit. My biggest pet peeve is people that wont get wet on a hot day, they're tiptoeing around on the trailer trying to stay dry. Keep a towel in the tow vehicle, lay it on the drivers seat before you leave, so when you get wet unwinching, you can jump back in and not worry about your seat getting wet. It will save you a ton of headache, I promise you wont melt!

First time launch can be very stressful for a new boater.

When you arrive at the ramp as already stated, be sure you have all of your stuff in the boat, before you even THINK about backing down the ramp. Cooler, towels, wallet, phone whatever you need to bring. When I park my tow vehicle the only thing I board the boat with is my keys. Unplug the trailer lights, take off transom straps make sure plug is in.

Attach your dock lines, bow, and stern, if you know which side of you your dock will be on, attach the stern line on that side, if you dont know, attach two if you have them(for your first time out. You'll get the hang of being able to switch it if you need) Put out your fenders if you plan to use them. Some people just depend on their rub rail. START YOUR BLOWER.

Dont worry about having your wife do all of one thing and you all of another, get the kids in the boat before you back down, or make them stay in the vehicle (either way have their PFD's on before you start backing), backing a trailer you cant see around is stressful enough when theres 2, 3, 4 other lanes around you, let alone when people have their kids running around. Have the wife stand on the dock you're aiming for, assure her to let you do the driving and not to yell "stop! left! right!" Theres other people backing in trailers too. Back your boat in (best if your tow vehicle wheels are not touching the water) Take your ALREADY ATTACHED dock lines, give them one loop around the dock post or cleat, and hand your wife the ends, unchain/winch your boat, and return to the dock to show/help her unloop one rope at a time and pull the boat closer and tie it off. **IMPORTANT** BEFORE you move your vehicle, get in, and be sure the boat starts. Once the boat is secure go park your tow vehicle. If you had the kids remain in the vehicle, calmly collect them, and of course safely walk back to the dock, assist them into the boat, and then the wife, untie your bow, and walk your way back to the stern, holding the boat, get in, untie the stern, shove off, and enjoy. This whole process will have you tied up at the dock for maybe 5 minutes. Not bad for basically a solo launch.

It sounds like alot but you will get used to it in no time, and get your own system down, and after 2 or 3 times out the wife will be familiar with it, and she will be able to just tend the ropes, or back the trailer and unwinch the boat. 90% of the work happens in the staging lane, and thats where it NEEDS to be done, even if it takes you 3, 4, 5 minutes to get the boat into the water, most people dont get upset, its when you dont do things that should be done in the staging lane that people get upset.

If you get hung up, and need help, dont be afraid to look to someone who seems to be comfortable (especially if they've got a family like you) and say "excuse me, this is my first time I'm having a little trouble" I'm sure you'll get some help. Keep in mind, even though this is long, it's just a guide, you'll figure out your own methods.

When retrieving, I recommend docking, and lifting the outdrive; backing the trailer, and pulling the boat onto the trailer by bowline, hook the winch, sinch it up, attach safety chain, pull up to the exit lane they will normally have for putting your straps back on, getting anything out of the boat you need to put back in the tow vehicle, and plug your lights back in.

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: First boat outing this Saturday....need some loading tips?

You never mentioned your kids ages, if old enough say 14 and up they should be responsible enough at that age to be able to give you some kind of help with things. If they are infants or toddlers then yes leave them home those first few times. Hopefully you will heed at least some of the advise given here good luck hope all goes at least safe, cause ya just get that funny feeling it won't go ALL well.

 

[tburda]

Re: First boat outing this Saturday....need some loading tips?

You never mentioned your kids ages, if old enough say 14 and up they should be responsible enough at that age to be able to give you some kind of help with things. If they are infants or toddlers then yes leave them home those first few times. Hopefully you will heed at least some of the advise given here good luck hope all goes at least safe, cause ya just get that funny feeling it won't go ALL well.

This was something I was mulling over when writing my big long guide. I Never backed or manuvered the boat on/off the trailer, but by 10 I was pulling the pwc on/off the trailer, and tending dock lines and such for the boats.

 

[njrextreme]

Re: First boat outing this Saturday....need some loading tips?

Now that everyone has covered the loading and unloading, how about while your under way. You need to know what side to pass boats or let them pass you. What side of the markers to stay on and no wake zones. Go to your state DNR web site for a safty manual. Here is the link to Illinois- Have fun and be safe!
Nick

http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/PDF/BoatDigest.pdf

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: First boat outing this Saturday....need some loading tips?

My loading tip is to leave the wife at home, Mine brings everything but the kitchen sink on the boat.

I must have married her sister.......not so bad packing the boat but after the fun I'm pulling jackets and socks and beach towels and shoes and pillows and blankets out of the cuddy for hours

 

[bjennings79]

Re: First boat outing this Saturday....need some loading tips?

Wow guys! That's a lot of good info. I just finished reading every post. To answer a few questions....

We have not been able to take the boat out in the 3 weeks that we have owned it for a couple of reasons. Mostly it was because we left for a week long vacation about 3 days after getting the boat, and we were gone from pretty much one sunday to the next. There was a lot of prep involved for our trip, plus I have been working late for the last two weeks and we just literally haven't had time to get on the water.

We live in Lufkin, TX and will be going out to Rayburn. This is a 115,000 acre lake. I have lake maps and GPS. I don't intending on getting too far from the ramp. I've been asking around and have gotten several suggestions for the best ramps.

Believe me, I would rather have been able to go out alone with a friend, but my wife is dying to get out there just as much as I am, so I didn't make a big deal of it when she objected to my suggestion. Our kids are not old enough to be of any assistance and we have no intentions of staying out all day because of their age. We recently went out on a guided fishing trip and my son was ready to leave after about 45 min and it was a 5 hour trip. I have no intentions of going through that again. We plan on being at the lake around around 8 AM and will probably only stay out 2 or 3 hours. Just enough to cruise around and become familiar with things. I'm hoping to find a sandy beach somewhere so that we can get out and do some splashing around.

My tow vehicle is an 09 Ram Hemi Crew Cab. I have no problems backing/maneuvering a trailer, so I'm really not worried that much about getting up and down the ramp. My wife has no experience with trailering, so for this time I will probably do all of the driving myself.

I'm pretty handy with things. I have two trucks, two cars, two mowers, and a number of small engines that I work on and maintain. I do all of my own repairs around the house. When I pick up a new hobby, I become completely obsessed with teaching myself everything I can about it. I do read the instruction manuals for just about everything I purchase. I have read and watched youtube videos about boating so much in the past 2 or 3 months that I feel like I've already taken it out.

I just spent an hour loading the boat with everything we need and checking things out. Plug is already in. Boat is full of gas. I have PFDs for all, throwable, whistle, air horn, fire extinguisher, an extra dual use marine battery, and 100' of 3/8 nylon rope. I did find a bow line inside the front compartment on the bow, already attached, which appears to be 10' or 12' long. I am going to briefly crank the motor in the morning before we leave the house just to make sure it starts right up. I have a basic set of hand tools that I am assembling right now, which will include knives and flashlight.

The boat is a 2006 Hurricane 198 FD with Yamaha 115 4 stroke. 56 hours. I'll attach some pics of the boat that we took while we were out on the test drive. It's a fairly large boat, at least to me. I'm thinking I will try the manual load with the ropes if there are a good number of people at the ramp. If it's clear, then I might try driving on. I may even do multiple loads/unloads if time and conditions permit.

Hopefully I am not forgetting to answer any of the questions that you all asked. Again, I really appreciate all of the help. This is an awesome forum and I really look forward to becoming a part of the community.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: First boat outing this Saturday....need some loading tips?

you'll do a whole lot better than most starting boaters, and even those who have been out there for a while. It's clear now you have your act together; the first post didn't project that. have fun!

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: First boat outing this Saturday....need some loading tips?

Looks like you ready to go! Nice boat to. My wife also is not a good backer but until you have time to train her (good luck) they are very helpful at the straight backing. I usually back the boat in so I can still jump in and I switch spots with my wife. She backs the last few feet and I unload the boat while she drives up to the lot. This gives me a few minutes to take a quick spin, get it warmed up and check for anything obviously wrong. By the time I get back to the dock the girls are about done getting the makeup on to go fishing.