how to lauch?

[deneng]

OK now that i bought a boat i will probably have to do a one man launch in most cases b/c the rest of my family is kind of lame to this... I will be using a v6 nissan frontier with a man. trans. The dealer was with me the first ime and kind of forgot b/c he was in the boat and started it and pulled it off the trailer.
Thanks in advance i don't want a catastrophe here..

[Wakebrad]

It kind of depends on your specific boat but what I do is pull it to the side above the ramp (Out of everyone's way). Then take off the rear straps. Turn on the batteries. PUT THE PLUGS IN. On my boat there's 1 plug in the middle next to the ski locker and 2 in the back (but we never take the ones in the back out so I don't have to put those in). Get everything loaded into the boat. Then back the trailer down the ramp. It depends on the ramp but I usually back my truck up until the back tires just hit the water. You can either take the car out of gear or turn it off. PARKING BRAKE ON. Unwinch the front hook. Start the boat. Drive the boat to the dock. Have all your people load and either tie off to the dock or if you trust your family they can hold it to the dock. Run over to your car and pull the trailer up. Park it. Then run to the boat. Reverse that order for docking.

[deneng]

Thats what i kinda thought. When you load the boat do you barely cover the
trailer wheels under water ,and that would be a good position to stop your trailer?

[raketball]

It may depend on the angle of the ramp. We have a tandem and usually we do fine with one wheel in the water. Sometimes we have to back down a little more if we are on a stepper ramp. Sometimes a little less. It may also depend of how high to car is. We have a Ford Escape (which is built on a car frame) so we may have to back down a little the ramp more. Good luck. Practice, practice, practice!! A good idea might be to take it to the Delta sometime soon while it's not crowded and practice launching it. This might save you a lot of time and embarrassment come when spring when the launch ramps are crowded.

[deneng]

Thanks! Thats a great idea. Every ramp is different..

[138jobe]

Just remember to put it in park. 2 years ago I was standing on my dock watching people unload and get ready to have a nice day on the water. Some guy was backing his truck up.....for some reason he got out and left it in reverse.....a brand new 2003 GMC Truck in the drink.


ohh well guess the saying "like a rock" came in for that......damn thing went under fast.


and remeber if you want your trailer to go right you have to turn left....vice versa.
Good luck

[deneng]

I hear these stories about people who forgot to remove their trailer , and are driving with the trailer still on or their boat sinks while towing it behind a house boat etc. etc so i dont think any question is dumb. Just think if we didn't have the internet and share safety concerns their would be alot more bone head accidents. I come from riding jet ski's . I didnt kill myself. A compitition ski boat is different and heavier though... I usually go out on weekdays when the crowds are smaller though.

[LFADAM]

The only time I have launched a boat is last year when I went with a friend. (My boat was bought on our lake and has stayed there, doesnt have trailer) Well It was one of those sucky trailers with the rollers instead of carpet. We had to back the truck so the exhaust pipe was under water bubbling up just to get it off! Lesson is, never get a poopy trailer like that. As for the actual process, Wakebrad has it down.

[Chad H]

When i was young we used to tie a roper from the trailer to the boat and back it in and then pull it to the dock. I know it is heavy but it CAN be done. It is water you can pull it from the dock and tie it then take the car away.