launching your boat in the ocean
 

Im new to boating period, It hasnt even been 2 weeks since Ive owned a boat. Now my question is... is there any other alternative to launching your boat into the ocean other then dipping your trailer into the salt water? I keep reading about how bad salt water ruins your trailer. My boat came with a extreme trailer and disc brakes, if I were to dip it in salt water whats the life expectancy of it?
Im really interested in driving my boat out to catalina island from long beach, I also hear you could lift your boat with a crane and then put it in the water? if so who in long beach does this?
Any advice from people with more experience boating in the ocean would be helpful. Whats the do's and donts? when is the best time to go to catalina etc,etc...


Thanks
George

Some marinas will lift off a trailer with their forklift. Check into marinas with dry rack storage- they have the big forklifts. Trailer type will determine if they can slide the fork lift right in, or if they have to prop up the boat and use slings.

Is your trailer steel or aluminum? If aluminum, I'd dunk it and rinse it really good when you get home. I only boat in salt water and that's what I do.

I bought an Alum trailer with mine recently. After fighting short ramps, low water, packed parking lots and trouble working with only a singe side-kick at times I went Dry Rack . It took a while to sign up and sling her off the traier last Saturday but when I came back from riding, the big fork lift placed my baby gingerly in a land cradle where I washed her down and checked everything out then whisked her away to her cozy rack up on the third floow of her condo. On Sunday it was a quick call to the marina as I approached and the only question I had to answer was rather I wanted it in a cradle or on the water. As I had all my stuff on from the day before I asked that she be launched and after loading the cooler we were rocketing away in less than 5 minutes. SWEET ! ! ! !!

If you wash/rinse your trailer after you dunk in the salt water it will help alot. Aluminum is obviously better for salt water use.

On a side note, if you are only two weeks new to boating, I would highly recomend putting in plenty of seat time in and around protected areas before making open ocean runs.

There are a bunch of guys on here in So Cal that go out on a regular basis. Try to get hooked up with them. I used to run out of Channel Island Harbor in Oxnard which isn't too far from you (it's a nice run to Santa Barbara from there).

Most of the ramps have washdowns (bring lots of quarters). Stop by West Marine and get a big bottle of Salt Away and the adapter. Make sure you have you own hose too. I used to wash down the trailer after launching and the boat and trailer after pulling out. Make sure to flush your motors too for at least five minutes each. I would flush the motors with water for a few minutes, then turn on the Salt Away and run them but shut them down before the water coming out clears. That way the Salt Away stays in the motors. I re-wash everything when I got home.

Running in the ocean is a blast! :evilb:

Lido Dry Stacks in Newport Beach, CA can lift your boat in and out for you. It won't be cheap, but its MUCH better than dipping a steel trailer in salt. It will rust away quickly in less than 2 years.

Steel trailer - DON'T DIP!

Aluminum w/ disc brakes and torsion axle - Your good to go, rinse well. Drum brakes - just can't rinse them thoroughly enough to keep them from rusting to dust!!!

Some of the guys with steel trailers hit Castaic after to dunk and flush the trailer. While their at it sometimes they take a quick lap around the lake to flush the motors as well. Since you live near by that could be an option for you. If you haven't been to Catalina before, go with someone who has some experience. This time of year, try to go in the morning and leave there to come back no later than 2pm. During the summer months the middle of the channel gets a little rough in the afternoon. I've been caught in 8' swells before. Get's pretty rough even for a 38' boat. You'll get your salad tossed in a 30'. If you want any details on anything PM me. I would be more than happy to help you out.

I have a 3900# Baja 232 which I keep on the trailer at Channel Islands Landing in Oxnard.
They use an 8000# hoist to launch and pickup the boat when requested as part of their
dry-storage service. They also have a great washdown rack for flushing and cleanup.
It's a fabulous option, especially when you don't even own a tow vehicle!

That would be a good option as well. Just run down the 126 and in less than an hour, you're there.

There's no better way to go boating :drink:

almost any marina should have a hoist..but it isnt cheap

They wont do it for you anymore unless you have a rack there:(

Marina Del Rey will sling launch you

I looked at the Pier-44 hoist and quite frankly, it's condition and proximity really scared the heck out of me, especially when the owner/operator told me he can only launch boats when the owner helps out!

The Seamark hoist only operates when the fellows decide to work that day :mad:

VERY good point! Also, make sure you have a GPS. Once you are out a few miles, it can get grey & you will not see any land or structures. Get to know your boat first.

Insurance baby, insurance:D

Thanks for the correction Ken.

Keep your eye out for some SCOPE events and show up to some of them - You will have a group to hit the water with and show you the ropes.

If you launch with a steel trailer in the ocean, you will get rust spots in time but it won't completely fall apart. I had a steel extreme trailer and I boated int eh ocean for about two years with that trailer and it was still in good shape when I sold the boat. Make sure to rinse the trailer after you launch, and fill the trailer tubes with fresh was as much as possible.

For me, the extra wear and tear on my trailer was worth it to boat in the ocean.

Damn, that salt water boating sounds like too much work! :D

I have seen what saltwater can do to steel trailers. My dad's trailer for his 21 Checkmate rusted through in 6 years. One of the main beams actually twisted and snapped due to the rust. I would say that he dipped it in saltwater 5-6 times a year and rinsed it thoroughly after each use. He always boated in freshwater before he put it away for the season. I guess that is the price he was willing to pay to have a nice matching painter trailer.

My galvanized trailer seems to be holding up, but the brake drums are shot.

I lived in Virginia Beach VA for 10 years; boated every weekend never had a problem. The ramp had a hose so I would just spray off quickly each time I put the trailer in the salt water. Flushed the engine each time I got home.

Scope is doing a gig in Los Alamitos bay next weekend (the 16th) you can toss the boat in at Second and PCH (Davies Ramp) and put right over to Acapulco or Tanalum (I forget which but they're right next to each other) and meet some of the guys. I'm new to the group this year and they seem like a decent bunch.

I wouldn't worry too much about the trailer, just wash and flush everything. Sh1t's made to get broken, it's the way of the universe!

hey tim
thats the same thing one of the guys told me over at howard boats, you know the place next to teague marine? that was when I was first looking at boats. anyway thanks for the info guys. As long as there is away to boat in the ocean without dipping my trailer in the water then im good. I wont go near it tho without a gps or radio. Im thinking late this summer ill be ready for a trip to catalina after some seat time in the river. What else is there to see out there and do besides catalina? Is there any places where boaters go and hang out by our beaches? thanks for all the help guys I hope to meet some local ocean boaters soon to show me the ropes. I dont need to get my salad tossed out in the ocean lol unwillingly.
another question what exactly is scope and who all belongs to the group?

I forget when it is, but over the line in mission bay can be fun, its also one of the few places I know where you can pull a boat up to the beach

George

Whatever you do......watch out for those SCOPE guys! All they know how do to is boat and have fun. :D :evilb: :drink: You know, I have a steel trailer for my 38' that is about 6 years old that I used to launch in the salt all the time. I rack my boat now cuz I'm lazy. It is one of those trailers that you can add air to, brake flush kit, blah blah blah.....really neat stuff! Used to launch the boat, tie it up, go back , wash the trailer wipe it down park it. THEN go boating. What a PITA.

A few years later, I washed it fewer and fewer times after launching and just washed it when I was washing the boat at the end of the day. Well......it rusts, but you know what, it's just a trailer. Every year or every other year you redo the brakes, repaint if needed, fix wiring.....I'd rather be boating more in the BIG BLUE than having a *****en trailer that is showroom. Taking care of the boat is a different story....I'm a nut about that!

Well....that is my take on it!

Come on to a SCOPE event! There is a San Diego trip this weekend, and a Lake Mead trip in about two weeks. Check it out! I hope to be out on fathers day to Catalina!

Yea, I've known Gene and Mike from Howard Custom Boats for quite a while now. I use to have one of their boats, great product. Scope is a group of people, a club, that does several boating events a year as a group. Not just off shore. As Nort mentioned they also do lake runs as well. Fore more information about SCOPE and it's events you can go to www.scopeinfo.com and find out everything you want to know. As for the trailer, screw it. Did you buy it look pretty or to use? Like Nort said, you can always repaint, rewire and repair anything and everything if need be. Just go out and play with your toy and have fun. Don't stress....:drink:

GENE! thats the guy I spoke to, nice guy... I see you live in scv? which city? if you ever see a huge lifted black diesel excursion with young dudes and hot blondes in it pulling a 30ft eagle thatll be me... :D

I kinda like having fun so I might just take a little walk on the darkside and look for those scope guys :drink: thanks for the help buddy.

Well........hope to see you soon! Hit the website !

I didn't know they had dry storage down there. What do they charge?

Michael