Tips for boat retrieval for new boater?

[mike64]

Hi all,

Just bought an old 16' runabout with a 60HP Johnson. I'm currently finishing up some cosmetic work and getting ready to launch her for the first time. I've been running through a checklist of everything to do during launch and retrieval so I don't fumble things too much the first few times (and irritate other boaters waiting!)

The one part I'm not too clear on is, how best to line up the boat to the trailer at retrieval? You come up to the launch, tie to the dock, get your vehicle and back up the trailer, then use the tie line to guide the boat to the trailer from there? I'm sure this will be much easier with a friend, and I plan to bring a friend who knows what he's doing the first time, but there are times I'll just be out fishing with my five year old, so I want to be able to retrieve by myself efficiently. Any tips and/or tricks?

By the way, this is my second post. Got some great replies to my first. This is a fantastic forum! Lot of friendly people, and I've gotten a ton of useful info just browsing around.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Tips for boat retrieval for new boater?

The idea way would be to have some guideons mounted on your trailer to show where the sides of your trailer are.
Then make sure you have your trailer backed in far enough so all you have to do is pull it up to the winch post and hook the winch hook to it.
Not fun to get a boat up on the trailer when you are having to pull your guts out to get it all the to the winch post.

 

[cbavier]

Re: Tips for boat retrieval for new boater?

Mike 64 welcome to I boats;

Ready your boat in the Pre-Launch area (staging Area). Leave the winch strap and BOW safety chain on until the boat trailer is in the water. Then you can unhook them and back up until the wheels of your tow vehicle are just in the water NOT BRAKES Then just float the boat on as far as you can hook up the winch strap and crank it on. Pull it out away from the loading zone into the staging area. Then hook up the straps and put your gear away. That way your not holding up the launch ramp. I can float mine to within about 6 inches of the winch stand but my trailer tongue is five foot long. The longer the tongue is on your trailer the easier to back and load and unload the boat. Don't forget the drain plug and transom straps! HAPPY BOATING!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Tips for boat retrieval for new boater?

I wouldn't worry too much about lining it up to retreive. A 16' you should be able to man-handle pretty well. There is no dock at the ramp I usually use. When I'm by myself and ready to pull the boat out, I just beach it next to the ramp, go get my truck and back the trailer in, and then I just walk the boat out past the end of the trailer and pull it up on by hand. I just walk on the trailer. You do get your feet wet though.

This past week I took my boat out at a different spot and there is a really nice double ramp there with a dock in the middle. I was looking forward to being able to use that dock and not having to walk my boat on and off the trailer. Well when I got down there they had the river pulled down so low the dock was completely dry. So I had to do my usual man-handle routine. Not problem except I wasn't prepared to have to do that and I was wearing jeans and sneakers. UGH.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Tips for boat retrieval for new boater?

here is a good thread, lots of info. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=220968&highlight=unloading+loading+alone

 

[mike64]

Re: Tips for boat retrieval for new boater?

Thanks for the tips everybody! And cbavier, thanks for the welcome. Nice job on the starcraft, ezmobee-- I took a look at your Photobucket pics. I'll post some before/during/after pics when I get the inside of my boat put together. Tashasdaddy, that was a very informative thread-- missed it in my searches. Will definitely look into trailer guides mentioned by Spinnerbait and in the thread TD linked. those are just inexpensive PVC add-ons, right?

One more question-- someone said at launch I should start the motor and make sure it idles BEFORE parking the trailer, just in case. This sounds like a good idea on a low traffic day, but if there's a lot of people waiting to launch, is this good "launch etiquette"? Should I dock away from the launch and take my chances starting up on a busy day to keep things moving?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Tips for boat retrieval for new boater?

start the motor at home on muffs. have all you gear in the boat, before leaving home. all you have to do at the ramp, is remove the tie down straps, triple check the plug, and launch.

 

[mike64]

Re: Tips for boat retrieval for new boater?

td- ok, that's what I'll do, thanks.

 

[Willyclay]

Re: Tips for boat retrieval for new boater?

Before you launch for the first time, go to the ramp you plan to use without your boat and watch how others do it for a few hours. You will learn a lot and it can also be great entertainment. Do's and don'ts will be a lot clearer after that experience. Good luck and be safe!

 

[QC]

Re: Tips for boat retrieval for new boater?

You probably won't need this, but a tip I give new trailer boaters is to watch . . . Go to the ramp and park your rig. Grab a chair and sit down and watch the fun Best at a busy ramp, but you will quickly see who's got it right and who doesn't. Copy the good ones

 

[mike64]

Re: Tips for boat retrieval for new boater?

Funny, Willyclay and QC-- posting the same tip at exactly the same time. Great minds think alike, eh?

I just might do that. Just hope I won't be too much of a source of amusement to the watchers when I launch...

 

[AGENT 37]

Re: Tips for boat retrieval for new boater?

I have a method that works well for my boat and trailer but takes some practice. It's an 18 foot heavy duty aluminum boat on a trailer with bunks.

Loaded up before on the ramp; when I have a buddy one of us will also load up into the boat.
We back the boat down until the transom is in the water and the lower unit of the outboard is submerged.
Fire up the motor and switch on the electronics so that everything is warmed up on the trailer. (It only takes a short time for the motor to go through warm up with the automatic en richener)
Reach over the bow and unhook the strap and chain
Back the boat off of the trailer under its own power
Pull the tow vehicle and trailer up to the parking area

90% of the time we never even tie up to the dock. I dunk my trailer the minimum amount because I don't like submerging it into salt water. We ensure that the vessel is completely ready to go before getting it off of the trailer, I don't like putting a boat in the water and then find out that it is not going to run. If you have a hard starting or unreliable motor I wouldn't recommend this method at the ramp on a busy day as it could take too long and irritate other people. It works great in a launch area with high current or no dock. The recovery of the vessel is the same procedure reversed. We power the boat onto the trailer so that there is no winching involved. I simply motor up to the bow chock, leave the engine in gear, and reach over the bow to hook up the strap. Be sure that you have plenty of water under your prop any time that you are unloading and loading in this fashion so that you don't wreck your prop. And shut the motor off and trim it up before pulling out of the water. We are "cowboys" that get the boat out a minimum of 3 times a week, so we are practiced. This is fast and efficient and gets you through all of the checks before the boat is free floating.
The boat ramp is a place where learned watermen practice an art and where the rest of the boating community does what ever they do. The best advice is to think about what you are doing before you do it, have a plan, and develop a consistent method that suits you best. Most of all, turn it into something fun.

 

[QC]

Re: Tips for boat retrieval for new boater?

Funny, Willyclay and QC-- posting the same tip at exactly the same time. Great minds think alike, eh?

Wow, that is pretty weird and cool. My wife and I literally did that 25 years ago while we were waiting for our first boat. Worked well for both of us. I should do it again, just for fun and maybe we could help someone. The arguments I see at the end of the day are both sad and hillarious