Launching with the wife...

[eeboater]

I have a question on what your experience has been with launching with your wife. I guess the question isn't as much about launching with your wife rather than with someone lacking experience.<br /><br />Here's my situation: for those who do not know, I have a 20' Bayliner Runabout which I trailer. I am very confident in my trailering/untrailering abilities, but I am having trouble wrapping my mind around the idea of doing it by myself. I wouldn't be doing it by myself because my wife is there but she:<br /><br />1. Cannot backup a trailer.<br />2. Cannot drive a boat.<br /><br />When I say cannot, I mean has never. There is a good possibilty she could learn - but that kind of stuff takes a lot of time.<br /><br />How do you guys handle the launching/retrieval of your boats in busy ramps? I have a bunk trailer - so it is a bit more difficult to load the boat. Which way would you go? Have the wife back the trailer in the water and then I can load the boat by driving it on the trailer?<br /><br />Sean

 

[JB]

Re: Launching with the wife...

Take wife to a vacant parking lot, with boat in tow, on a weekend.<br /><br />Teach her to back the boat into a marked parking spot. . . over and over until she can do it every time, with confidence.<br /><br />That is how I learned to back a trailer, and I was alone.

 

[QC]

Re: Launching with the wife...

I agree with JB, but let's just say she doesn't get all that proficient immediately, here are a couple of other things you can do to de-stress her and make it work:<br /><br />1) Scope out a final parking place for the truck and trailer together. Preferably one with empty spots on both sides. 2) Get to the ramp with your boat all ready to drop in. Plug in, straps off, the whole bit, everything but the winch hook ready to go. 3) You back the trailer all of the way down the ramp as far as possible (still allowing for you to get in the boat) with the truck and trailer and wheels as straight as you can get them . 4) Get out and have her move to the drivers spot. 5)Remove the winch hook, get in the boat and have her simply back the last few feet. If you have a back window, open it, and use hand signals and voice to get deep enough to start it then have her go the last few inches until it starts to float and have her tap the brakes. Usually she'll slide right off (the boat not the wife). Have her wait until you wave before pulling out in case you have an issue.<br /><br />Oh, and gently (I mean really gently) remind her to have it in drive before she starts to go up the ramp. Reverse at this point is really bad . . .<br /><br />That's how my wife and I started until she became a pro and started asking to back all of the way down the ramp. She really has no interest in doing the boat part. Also, make sure you have everything but her purse in the boat. Then she won't have to carry anything, increasing the likelihood of smiles when she gets to the dock.<br /><br />Retrieving may require you to tie off, and get her going again.<br /><br />May seem like babying her, but for me I want the most enjoyable day on the water possible. Of course this babying is a balancing act too. There is a babying level that will ruin the whole effort, but you already know that . . .

 

[jtexas]

Re: Launching with the wife...

That's how we do it, QC. ee don't worry, chances are a high %'age of those waiting on you know exactly what you're going through. You ain't in it alone, brother!<br /><br />Course, if she's interested in learning, why not take a day off during the week, find a ramp with no traffic, and practice.

 

[blouderback]

Re: Launching with the wife...

I launch and retrieve by myself all the time, even when the ramps are busy. Back the trailer down the ramp, jump in the boat, push off, tie off at the dock, run back to the truck, park it and run back to the dock. I'm taking up ramp space for 10 minutes tops.<br /><br />Retrieving is just the opposite, taking up dock space while waiting in line to get the trailer on the ramp.<br /><br />No biggie, everyone seems to understand that I'm by myself or with someone else who can't drive the boat or tow vehicle.

 

[tommays]

Re: Launching with the wife...

My wife pulls it out and parks after launch No problem BUT i am not holding my breath on the backing up part <br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[Dave Abrahamson]

Re: Launching with the wife...

What I do is have her hold the bow line as I back it down the ramp. When it floats off, I go park the truck/trailer, go back to the dock where she has already tied off, jump in, start up and go. When retrieving, I tie off at the coutesy dock, go get the truck/trailer, back down the ramp, get out of the truck and drive the boat on. She winches me up the last little bit and pulls me and the boat out to the parking area to get it road ready.<br />Sounds long and drawn out, but it goes surprisingly quick after lots of practice.<br /><br />Good Luck in whatever you decide!<br /><br />Dave

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Launching with the wife...

Tommays,Same here.She can drive it forward and park but don't want to back it in.<br />I can load or unload by myself in a couple minutes.<br />I put bunk slicks on my trailer and that made a huge difference!

 

[Surffx]

Re: Launching with the wife...

My wife handles the boat and I do the car. Each time she does it she gets better. When it's really busy she gets nervous but I make her go through with it anyway. It ends up being great expierance. The only time I worry is when she's picking me up or droping me off at the dock. She comes in pretty fast (no wake, just fast idle) and I worry about her hitting the dock, but she hasn't yet.<br /><br />In fact our last trip out the guy next to us left his boat tied up (with his wife in it) and went to get the car by himself. While my wife dropped me off and I went to get the trailer.When I backed it in she drove the boat on perfectly. At the top of the ramp when we saw the other guy and his wife, his wife complimented mine and said "I wish I could handle our boat that good." You should have seen my wife gleem with pride. <br /><br />I'm with JT, if it's important, go on an off day and practice practice practice.

 

[carljh]

Re: Launching with the wife...

I care more for the boat than the car so my wife does all the driving - including reversing. Main problem to avoid is not to have more than one person YELLING which way she must go!!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Launching with the wife...

mine has adult attention deficency. you tell her to turn right she goes left and so on. i do it myself. i tell her to walk the dog. she can pull it out thou.

 

[Rick K]

Re: Launching with the wife...

My wife does everything from the passenger's seat .

 

[arks]

Re: Launching with the wife...

RULE #1- When backing with a trailer, put your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel. The trailer will go the same direction as your hand.<br /><br />Rule #2- Always go s-l-o-w in reverse.<br /> <br /><br />My wife got the hang of it pretty quickly with those 2 simple rules!

 

[jtexas]

Re: Launching with the wife...

I see guys all the time, standing at the helm of the family boat, trying to wave the wife left (or right), which of course looks like they're waving right, left, both ways, just waving their arm back & forth. <br /><br />Then, they forget to raise the drive, or attach the bow line, when she's pulling up the ramp, they shout "WHOA! WHOA! WHOA!" Sounds like "GO, GO, GO!" <br /><br />Agree ahead of time, <br />The direction she needs to go, hold the arm on that side straight out, and move the other hand in circles. <br />Stop, show her both palms. <br />Forward, one hand palm forward, repeatedly push like you're pushing her away from you.<br />Reverse, palm toward you, elbow at your side, repeatly raise your hand.<br />"GO" means go, "STOP" means stop. <br />Or "VAYA!" and "ALTO!"<br /><br />Or however you want...just be prepared.

 

[dorelse]

Re: Launching with the wife...

Depending on how busy the ramp is, I may just do it myself. As long as the people in line see you're trying to hurry, they're usually cool.<br /><br />Otherwise, I'll put them all in the boat, undo the straps, leaving the winch hook and safety chain in place. I back them all down, close the the dock, make sure its started and she & the kids are off. Then park the van & trailer, and wait to get picked up at the dock.<br /><br />We've also done it following QC's method. She always picks a spot waaaay out in the back so she has plenty of parking room. I figure less door dings for me so it works.<br /><br />Honestly, either way works. As long as you're ready to go when the boat is wet, and you don't sit at the dock for 20 mins getting everything ready you'll be fine.

 

[michael-lagrange]

Re: Launching with the wife...

I am so proud of my wife for backing the trailer down the ramp, she only had to pull up 30 times .

 

[jtexas]

Re: Launching with the wife...

Originally posted by tashasdaddy:<br /> mine has adult attention deficency. you tell her to turn right she goes left and so on. i do it myself. i tell her to walk the dog. she can pull it out thou.

That's dyslexia, tashaspop...ever hear about the dyslexic agnostic who didn't believe in dogs?

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Launching with the wife...

I just save a lot of hassling and do it myself.....cause I'm picky. When the boat is ready (in the water, ready to go), I hold her hand while she boards; docking is the reverse. Makes for a real nice outing.....and I'm not taking any more time (blocking the dock) than the guy waving his arms and yelling. Besides, being retired, I like to go during the week and usually the launch is empty.<br /><br />Now if your wife is good at either (both), greattttttttt. But all women are not created equal.<br /><br />Mark

 

[S2100]

Re: Launching with the wife...

I had the same problem! Mine, [the wife that is], can't drive a boat or my truck, with or without a trailer! And when I say can't... I mean can't! Hey, she can really cook though. <br /><br />I learned to do everything myself and it was not a problem. It may take a few more minutes but you can streamline the process and like I said, no problem on your own.

 

[chopper_man]

Re: Launching with the wife...

My wife and i live on a lake.When we goto the public launch i do most of it myself.She gets in the boat before i back down the ramp all the way.Then i back up til the point where i can undo the winch hook,back the rest of the way in til it floats.She starts it and meets me at home.Great team work makes her feel good that she did almost half the work.