Not a stupid human trick, but got a compliment at the ramp yesterday...

[TBarCYa]

As a result of reading this forum, I've apparently gotten pretty good at launching my boat. Yesterday, after waiting over an hour to use the ramp because the USCG had brought in a medical emergency (I was backing down the ramp when the paramedics showed up and told me to stop) I finally got to launch the boat. I make sure my son is holding a line, back down the ramp until I can see the water on the fenders and hit the brakes. The boat slides off and my son ties up while I pull the truck out and park. While pulling the truck out, the guy waiting in line behind me says "that's how it should be done" to which I reply "nice and easy... thanks".

To all those who marvel at how easy some people make it look all I can say is get plenty of practice. This is my first season with a bunk trailer and the first couple times weren't pretty but as they say, practice makes... well much better.

 

[clmiller64]

Re: Not a stupid human trick, but got a compliment at the ramp yesterday...

My father and myself were at Lake Fork one morning loading our boat up. The water was kinda chopy. There was 2 men waiting to unload a boat. (It did take longer then it should have.) My dad is not the best at backing a trailer down a step ramp. He was having trouble seeing over the drop. These 2 men kelp mouthing. There was nothing that I could really say about it. We got the boat to the top of the ramp and pulled over to finish securing the boat down. The other 2 men backed down and unloaded there boat somewhat quickly. They pulled back up and parked next to us. One of the men said to me that we needed to learn how to dock a boat. I told him that I understood. But he need to learn how to tie a boat up. He looked up and his boat had came untied and was about 70 to 80 feet away from the ramp. I don't really think he enjoyed the swim.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Not a stupid human trick, but got a compliment at the ramp yesterday...

Great story. Isn't it fun when someone smarts off, then makes a bonehead mistake and has to eat his pride? Reminds me of the time this guy in a flashy bass boat made fun of my little aluminum boat at the launch. Couple of hours later, I got to tow him back to the ramp after his big Merc wouldn't start. I didn't say a word about it. Didn't have to.

 

[fixb52s]

Re: Not a stupid human trick, but got a compliment at the ramp yesterday...

I see a lot of folks here "brake launch" their boats here, but I don't have the balls to do that. I have seen TWICE where the untied boat would launch off the back of the trailer BEFORE it it the water, and they were both ugly. I would rather play it safe and untie the bow after the trailer is in the water and give it a push.​

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Not a stupid human trick, but got a compliment at the ramp yesterday...

^^^^I'm with you on that one. I back in until the boat floats off the bunks, then push it off and hang onto the bow rope. My feet get wet, but I'm waterproof.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Not a stupid human trick, but got a compliment at the ramp yesterday...

Fenders 1 inch submerged and a gentle push and my boat is away and floating. Never done it any other way and never will I dont think.

 

[scrat]

Re: Not a stupid human trick, but got a compliment at the ramp yesterday...

Ditto. but I like to wait until I get the motor cranked. Being a pessimist and knowing murphy lives in everyhting, I don't want to launch and then not be able to crank it THEN have to somehow pull it back up on the trailer.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Not a stupid human trick, but got a compliment at the ramp yesterday...

Ditto. but I like to wait until I get the motor cranked. Being a pessimist and knowing murphy lives in everyhting, I don't want to launch and then not be able to crank it THEN have to somehow pull it back up on the trailer.

I have faith in my motor, however I will most likely be suprised one day !!!!!

 

[Don Dickinson]

Re: Not a stupid human trick, but got a compliment at the ramp yesterday...

hey CATransplant, if it makes you feel better, when i'm learning to fish a new lake, i watch the guys in small aluminum boats. i watch what they're doing to catch fish. i've found that generally the guys in the little boats know where to go and find more fish. i do drive a bass boat, but its old and paid for ('87 skeeter)

-don

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Not a stupid human trick, but got a compliment at the ramp yesterday...

He looked up and his boat had came untied and was about 70 to 80 feet away from the ramp. I don't really think he enjoyed the swim.

Who says God doesn't have a sense of humor.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Not a stupid human trick, but got a compliment at the ramp yesterday...

hey CATransplant, if it makes you feel better, when i'm learning to fish a new lake, i watch the guys in small aluminum boats. i watch what they're doing to catch fish. i've found that generally the guys in the little boats know where to go and find more fish. i do drive a bass boat, but its old and paid for ('87 skeeter)

-don

Yah. We old geezers in the little aluminum boats know where the fish are on the lakes we fish. Sometimes. This year, though, I'm alternating between my favorite lakes and new lakes in my area. Since I'm in Minnesota, there are at least 25 lakes I can launch at within 25 miles of my house. Maybe more than that.

When I get to a new lake, I'm just another beginner, even if I have the contour maps. Still, the fishies seem to like the same sorts of structure wherever you so, so I'm rarely skunked.

Still. A guy motored up at my favorite lake...came up about 30 feet from my boat, right where I'd been casting. He was looking at a piece of paper and then at his fish finder/GPS. So, he looked over and noticed me there. I probably had a bit of an annoyed look on my face, since I'd just taken a 4 lb. largemouth from right where his boat was sitting. There's a web site in my area that posts GPS coordinates of hot spots on a bunch of lakes. Not nice.

"So," he said. "There's supposed to be a shallow spot somewhere around here. You know where it is?"

"Yah," I answered. "I'm anchored on it right now."

So, the guy popped into gear and slammed the throttle. I moved to another spot, since he had basically spooked all the fish in that hot spot.

Oh, well. That's how it goes sometimes. No harm, though. I found a new spot, with a nice rocky area off a point. Picked up a 10 lb. Northern off it. Sometimes misfortune leads you to new discoveries.

So, if you see my boat, please give me about 100 feet of space. Fish are everywhere.

 

[Don Dickinson]

Re: Not a stupid human trick, but got a compliment at the ramp yesterday...

hey ca, don't worry about me I learn from the geezers, but I keep my distance. I wouldn't dream of coming within 300 feet of another fisherman let alone 50 or 100.

Ever fish minnetonka? Holy moly joe, that lake is nuts. 10,000 boats on a 14,000 acre lake. 26' i/o boats on 1/2 plane coming within 20 feet of anchored fisherman; happens all the time, yikes. A lot of inconsiderate fisherman too ... people don't think twice about anchoring 20 feet away from other boats (myself excluded of course, i adhere to the 100 yard philosophy). I fish it because its close to where i live and it has muskies, but its downright dangerous some days. big muskies, though

Cheers,
-Don

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Not a stupid human trick, but got a compliment at the ramp yesterday...

Never been on Minnetonka. No way would I take my little aluminum boat out there. Biggest lake it's been on was White Bear, and I only go out there on calm weekdays. You'll find me most of the time on Bald Eagle.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Not a stupid human trick, but got a compliment at the ramp yesterday...

When I used to fish the BASS circuit .... you were allowed one launch attempt and if you failed you went to the back of the lauch line. It made both me and my fishing buddy very good at launching.

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Not a stupid human trick, but got a compliment at the ramp yesterday...

Ditto. but I like to wait until I get the motor cranked. Being a pessimist and knowing murphy lives in everyhting, I don't want to launch and then not be able to crank it THEN have to somehow pull it back up on the trailer.

Me too. I push it off the bow roller, with the boat still on the trailer, start the motor and then back off. If the motor ain't running, the boat don't leave the trailer.

 

[TBarCYa]

Re: Not a stupid human trick, but got a compliment at the ramp yesterday...

I've thought about powering off the trailer but since I'm the only one that can drive the boat and/or trailer, it means I have to get out of the truck, in the boat, out of the boat, in the truck... It just takes too much time to do alone.

 

[Uraijit]

Re: Not a stupid human trick, but got a compliment at the ramp yesterday...

While pulling the truck out, the guy waiting in line behind me says "that's how it should be done" to which I reply "nice and easy... thanks".

Yeah, 'till you pull one of these http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=265576

All the "cool launch" comments in the world, won't make up for even 1 guy seeing you dry-launch your tub...

I don't know, I guess maybe it's worth it to some folks, but 3 extra seconds to go back and un clip a winch-strap once the boats in the water, is worth it to me...

 

[j_martin]

Re: Not a stupid human trick, but got a compliment at the ramp yesterday...

When I launch the bass bote, I get it ready except for the bow strap, put a 10 - 20 foot dock line (depends on the dock) on the cleat on the dock side of the boat and lay it out on the bow. Then I back in till the bow is about even with the water, pick up the line and tie it to the dock, then release the bow strap, get in the towcar and brake launch it. I can park the trailer and get back to the boat in about the time it runs out of line, pull it to the dock, hop in, and motor off. Don't get in anybody's way.

I do get a kick out of the occasional good samaritan that sees it slide off the trailer and doesn't see the line attached, and runs to help. A thank you usually starts a pleasant conversation.

It helps to be an old burned out sailor. I can hitch to whatever, or get it loose in a second or so, and it don't go anywhere on it's own.

It's fun to teach the wife and kids to tie hitches with a flick of the wrist. It's fun to see their pride when others see em do it and marvel.

Recovery is almost as quick. Trailer goes into the water till the boat almost floats on. Bunks and windboards capture and line up the boat at any reasonable angle. Drive it on till it hits the block, and either the partner pulls it out, or I go over the bow, into the pickup or the open back hatch of the van, and drive it out. Don't even get the shoes wet. Only tie up the ramp for about 30 seconds.

 

[sprouticus]

Re: Not a stupid human trick, but got a compliment at the ramp yesterday...

My first year boating, I tried that trick where you back up and then hit the brakes. I didn't know that you needed bunkers for that to work...........my trailer has rollers. oops. boat fell off, but no real damage, except to my pride. I've learned a lot in the last 4 years or so, but still frequent this site to learn more.

 

[ebry710]

Re: Not a stupid human trick, but got a compliment at the ramp yesterday...

I'm a pusher. In California the lakes are getting lower and lower. I like to know what is happening. Last week Lake Mendocino was so low that you could walk you boat to the dock. Kinda of convenient if you don't mind walking in silt. It would not have been great to fire up your motor thought. Nothing like silt in your outboard.
As a pusher I am not as fast, but that 3 extra minutes doesn't hurt the line as much as the guy at the ramp trying to fire up his engine and there's a little water in his line. Last week a guy spent a hour trying to fire up his dream boat, taking up one of four lines. Not pretty.