Launching with the wife...

[KRS]

Re: Launching with the wife...

Someone who wants to learn how to back a trailer can probably go to a parking lot and learn (like suggested), but if she's doing it for you and not because she wants to really learn... it could be a frustrating experience.<br /><br />I do it all when my family goes to the lake. She watches the kids and keeps them from falling off the dock (I'm happy she's doing that so I don't have to worry about them) and I backup, launch, tie off, run to truck, drive truck to parking lot, run back to dock, get everyone settled, and head out. Retrieving is opposite

 

[eeboater]

Re: Launching with the wife...

For everyone who does it themselves... do you guys ever get given a hard time because you're taking up a launch ramp for a while? The way the launch is setup at my location, there is a "line" that all the people waiting to launch sit in. You have to travel in that line in order to get your truck/trailer to the ramp. So, if there is a line of boats waiting to launch; I have to wait for all those trucks to clear out before I can get my truck and trailer in there.

 

[tommays]

Re: Launching with the wife...

If your prepared when you launch and not packing on the ramp i cant see people giveing you a hard time <br /><br />tommays

 

[QC]

Re: Launching with the wife...

I agree. Anybody that sees that you are prepared, hurrying etc. should be OK.

 

[swist]

Re: Launching with the wife...

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

No, but I heard about the dyslexic, agnostic insomniac. He stayed up all night wondering if there was a dog.<br /><br />Boating wives come in three categories: (1) hate boats and don't want to have anything to do with them, (2) tolerate boats as long as they can have a little fun and not have to do too much work, and (3) love boats as much as you do.<br /><br />If yours is a (1), just give up. Not worth divorce. If yours is a (3), you lucky b**tard.<br /><br />But I suspect most of our wives are in category (2) and our job is to make sure they don't slip into category (1). Communication is key. High praise for anything done even the slightest bit well. Never yell or otherwise lose it. If there is a buddy around who can help, use him instead. Etc, etc.<br /><br />It has taken me a long time to learn this, though...

 

[jtexas]

Re: Launching with the wife...

Originally posted by eeboater:<br /> For everyone who does it themselves... do you guys ever get given a hard time because you're taking up a launch ramp for a while?

Nah...don't dawdle...it takes as long as it takes...just don't make it take longer. Don't rush, either...that'll usually make it take longer.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Launching with the wife...

when waiting in line , make sure the plug is in, connect gas line, remove tie downs, untangle the bow line, when i had bunk trailers i even unhook the bow ( our ramps are no steep), and hooked the bow line to the winch stand. you back in bump the brake so it slips off and drifts out. get out get bow line and tie it to dock, park . caqn be done in less than 3 minutes. be ready when it's your turn.

 

[thunderroad]

Re: Launching with the wife...

My girlfriend..a farm girl who's driven all sorts of vehicles...volunteered to back my trailer down the ramp for the first retrieval last year. It took her several tries (ramp was vacant) but she finally got it down. Then when she realized that she had to get in far enough that the back wheels of the truck were touching the water she kinda freaked. I told her to put it in drive and set the parking brake. We then loaded it up and left. On the way home she asked how people who were by themselves got a boat in and out. I kinda described how it might work. She asked.."do you think you can do that next time we go?" I just smiled and said "sure". Problem solved....and didn't end up being the bad guy.<br />I agree...as long as a person is working briskly and making visible progress towards completion, only a real jerk would complain. It's something that's just gonna take a certain amount of time.

 

[dorelse]

Re: Launching with the wife...

My favorite is you always get some guys (my neighbor included) who has his wife back in while he sits in the back of the boat and tries to direct her.<br /><br />She has a tough enough time with it, and he just adds to the stress level, without actually helping any.<br /><br />He always ends up climbing out, and doing it himself...trouble is that he stinks at it worse than she does. I just smile and happily launch off the other side of the dock.<br /><br />I may be a suburbanite now, but in my area, you can always tell the farm kids from the city kids...city kids think they know how to back up a trailer and always have a 'trick', the farm kids just do it, and are gone so quick you never realize how quick they were. <br /><br />I'm sure you don't have to grow up on a farm to gain tailering experience, but I've been backing up trailers of all kinds since I could drive a tractor, so its second nature to me, and most other farm kids.

 

[borourke]

Re: Launching with the wife...

I am surprised that no-one has their wife back the boat off the trailer. My wife and I have the routine down solid. When we are done prepping the boat she climbs in with my daughter and then I back the trailer in. She starts the boat pulls off and putters around while I park. When I am done she justs heads in to the courtesy dock and picks me up. It is a lot easier to teach someone how to drive a boat in a circle then to drive a trailer down a hill backwards.

 

[JustMrWill]

Re: Launching with the wife...

I guess I am lucky in that my wife doesn't do boats/water etc. She won't even get on the boat while it is in the yard on the trailer...I have become proficient in solo loading/retrieving....shoot I do everything myself even if there are others around to help. I figure, if something gets broken/damaged...I am the only one to blame if I am the only one doing anything.<br /><br />-JMW

 

[QC]

Re: Launching with the wife...

I think I just figured this whole deal out. Just simply remove the word "with" from the thread topic . . .

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: Launching with the wife...

Originally posted by eeboater:<br /> For everyone who does it themselves... do you guys ever get given a hard time because you're taking up a launch ramp for a while?

EE, no one has ever said a bad word to me when I launch.

 

[jarata]

Re: Launching with the wife...

I drive it down ramp unload it and take it to the dock the wife drives the suv to a parking space .Pretty easy she doesnt have to back it down less pressure for her.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Launching with the wife...

This is a overly simple topic for my self, I back the boat in unload it and give her the reins to the boat. Get in the truck drive it up and its all safe and secure. You see if the boat was banged or the prop bottomed out it would be just another repair and we all know how costly that can be..... WIth that in mind i pitty the poor fool who would create a wake or get pushy unloading there boat a got to close, you see she view's my repair money (or restore) is lost shopping dollars forever.... ........... ......... and she can go fang's in a hurry..

 

[KRS]

Re: Launching with the wife...

Originally posted by RubberFrog:<br />

Originally posted by eeboater:<br /> For everyone who does it themselves... do you guys ever get given a hard time because you're taking up a launch ramp for a while?

EE, no one has ever said a bad word to me when I launch.

Fingers don't count

 

[johndoe]

Re: Launching with the wife...

What about the fact that you're not supposed to drive the boat on or off the trailer at most ramps!!! It destroys the ramp, creates holes,dropoffs and other hazards and costs more money in launch fees... There is such a thing as ramp etiquette and some of us old timers have been doing it a long time... Me and my wife have it down... I back in, stop when the trailer is wet, hop out, hand her the reins to the boat, unhook the winch and chain, back in and tap brakes... boat slides off, she takes control, I drive away to park... When I return the boat is tied at the end of the dock and a new guy is launching his boat... three to five minutes is average time... While waiting in line, I prep and load EVERYTHING and turn on blower...<br /><br />One more thing... aren't you supposed to start your boat, (after running blower for five minutes) and then start your engine, and let it warm up before leaving the dock... what if it dies while she is in there, "driving boat in circles"...? There is a safety factor here...<br /><br />Same system works for retrieval...

 

[jtexas]

Re: Launching with the wife...

johndoe, I respectfully disagree with your assessment of "most" ramps...if your ramp prohibits power launching/loading then don't do it...but it's not only allowed, but expected at "all" the ramps on "all" the lakes around here. Also note that "most" boats don't have blowers - they're only required when you have a fuel tank in the same compartment with a gas engine equiped with an electric starting motor.

 

[dorelse]

Re: Launching with the wife...

Yeah, gotta agree with johndoe...power launching is a no-no here too. It digs out all the sediment, creates holes, etc and leaves the water all churned up for the next guys motor to suck up.<br /><br />I dunno, never heard of it being the norm. All the ramps I launch you can easily put the trailer in deep enough that the boat will float right on the trailer, no issues. <br /><br />I always thought it was an etiquette thing as well, and will get you a free consultation from the Army Corps of Engineer officer once you're done. Really, its a 'tread lightly' conservation practice as much as anything.

 

[QC]

Re: Launching with the wife...

Power launch and light power retrieve is the norm here too. Some guys power all of the way up their bunks, but hey, some people start their boats dry too We use the brake check to slide her off, but she's already running, then I put her in reverse and idle away to wait for da chick.<br /><br />To be fair though, most of our ramps on the big lakes go waaaaaay down to allow for big changes in water level. No undercut issue. The water on Mead is down 80 ft. right now, but when you have 500 ft. depth to start with, not a real big deal