Green as Hell
05-21-2012, 04:14 PM
#51
I totally agree! It makes me furious when I see a truck back down the ramp (after sitting for 15 minutes waiting!) THEN, everyone gets out, mills around for a few minutes THEN they start loading everything from towels, to coolers, and whatever! The WHOLE damn crew sits in the truck LOOKING at the boats in line. By the time the GF and I are backing down the ramp, it's a quick down, boat floats, I start up and back away. I don't have to say a thing. She can SEE when I'm backing out and she pulls up the ramp and parks. The retrieve is just as fast. She backs down till the top bunk is wet, stops, I come forward and hit the bunks, get within 4-5 ft of the winch, climb over the front, hook the winch, pull it up snug and go back and shut off the motors, she sees me thumbs up and it's up the ramp to a spot AWAY from others trying to retrieve their boats and we unload what we need to. 1-2 minutes tops!
To the OP, even if your wife is not comfortable backing in the trailer, she should still know how to do it. Eventually, you will be confronted with a situation like strong current, high winds, approaching storm, etc., where it will make more sense for her to back the trailer in and for you to put the boat on the trailer. A helpful hint for backing down the ramp - keep your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel. Then if you want the trailer to go to the left, you just move your hand in that direction, and vice versa. Works like a charm. Oh yeah, and use your side mirror to guide yourself down. I try to find something like a joint in the concrete that goes straight down to the water to guide the wheels on the trailer - some ramps are nice enough to have a painted line.
05-21-2012, 05:25 PM
#52
I learned the routine from my friends I boat with. And although I follow the same prep routine, I launch with bumpers and lines, and my wife just holds it while I park the truck and let the blower run I'm still learning this boat, and not about to put the stress of trying the below on her.
We park in an empty area of the parking lot by the ramp, do a full inspection get boat all loaded(small stuff we didn't want to load at house) like cell phones, ipod, etc., take off all straps, then the wife jumps in the boat turns on the blower. Then they get in line, and when launching, back down to where the boat is just about to float, wife starts it up, lets it warm up for a few moments, then Husband backs the boat in just a little further wife pulls away from the dock, circles around in the area few hundred yards or so away, then after the husband has parked the truck she just swings by the dock, he jumps on and away they go. Launching like this takes about a minute max , and will obviously only work with several things: 1)a bunk trailer(no rollers) 2) a very shallow angle ramp 3) a mild engine that is not cold blooded 4)no heavy crosswind 5) a smart wife.
But it is amazingly fast! Peoples jaws drop especially when the idiot before was there for a good twenty minutes.
They put in just the reverse. Wife pulls up to end of dock, husband jumps off, goes and gets truck while wife circles around, then when the truck is in position, she drive the boat onto the trailer forcing it foward, then husband just clips on the winch strap, jumps back into the truck and pulls away.
Now again I don't do it this way, once we get into the no wake area; I climb foward and put a line on the bow cleat, and drape it back over the windshield, then put on a stern line and two bumpers, I then pull up to very back of the dock. The Wifey jumps out i toss her both lines and she wraps themp around aluminum posts at our main ramp or cleats at other locals, so she can hold it no matter what. I go get the truck, back the trailer in all the way, she takes hold of the bow line, walks the boat foward towards me; I hook on winch line, and pull it on all the way, we toss the lines in the boat, she jumps in the truck, and we pull away. ( all this time she was holding the boat steady from the stern line). Yes this does require me to get a little wet, but thats why I wear sandles. I just can't stand the idea of driving the boat onto the trailer forcing it onto dry bunks, I would rather have complete control, know its centered, and float it on the trailer.
We all end by parking in another empty part of the lot, pull plugs, coolers, wet gear, electronics etc., strap everything down, check the trailer and boat over one more time, then head home.
We park in an empty area of the parking lot by the ramp, do a full inspection get boat all loaded(small stuff we didn't want to load at house) like cell phones, ipod, etc., take off all straps, then the wife jumps in the boat turns on the blower. Then they get in line, and when launching, back down to where the boat is just about to float, wife starts it up, lets it warm up for a few moments, then Husband backs the boat in just a little further wife pulls away from the dock, circles around in the area few hundred yards or so away, then after the husband has parked the truck she just swings by the dock, he jumps on and away they go. Launching like this takes about a minute max , and will obviously only work with several things: 1)a bunk trailer(no rollers) 2) a very shallow angle ramp 3) a mild engine that is not cold blooded 4)no heavy crosswind 5) a smart wife.
But it is amazingly fast! Peoples jaws drop especially when the idiot before was there for a good twenty minutes.
They put in just the reverse. Wife pulls up to end of dock, husband jumps off, goes and gets truck while wife circles around, then when the truck is in position, she drive the boat onto the trailer forcing it foward, then husband just clips on the winch strap, jumps back into the truck and pulls away.
Now again I don't do it this way, once we get into the no wake area; I climb foward and put a line on the bow cleat, and drape it back over the windshield, then put on a stern line and two bumpers, I then pull up to very back of the dock. The Wifey jumps out i toss her both lines and she wraps themp around aluminum posts at our main ramp or cleats at other locals, so she can hold it no matter what. I go get the truck, back the trailer in all the way, she takes hold of the bow line, walks the boat foward towards me; I hook on winch line, and pull it on all the way, we toss the lines in the boat, she jumps in the truck, and we pull away. ( all this time she was holding the boat steady from the stern line). Yes this does require me to get a little wet, but thats why I wear sandles. I just can't stand the idea of driving the boat onto the trailer forcing it onto dry bunks, I would rather have complete control, know its centered, and float it on the trailer.
We all end by parking in another empty part of the lot, pull plugs, coolers, wet gear, electronics etc., strap everything down, check the trailer and boat over one more time, then head home.
05-22-2012, 07:05 PM
#53
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Well thats all great advise guys! Much obliged! I will be incorporating a lot if not all of these pointers.
Hope all of you have a safe and fantastic Memorial Day weekend, and remember our Veterans!
Hope all of you have a safe and fantastic Memorial Day weekend, and remember our Veterans!
05-23-2012, 12:02 AM
#54
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Break your checklist into sections:
1) Things to do/have before leaving home
2) Things to do once you arrive at the lake BEFORE putting in
3) Things to do before leaving the trailer/dock
4) Things to do before pulling boat out of the water
5) Things to do before leaving the lake
6) Things to do/remove when you get back home
Sounds complicated, but it really isn't.
+1 on practice. If you are nervous, take a vaction day mid-week and go early in the morning when things aren't crowded. Nothing can build your skills more than practice.
Relax and enjoy!
1) Things to do/have before leaving home
2) Things to do once you arrive at the lake BEFORE putting in
3) Things to do before leaving the trailer/dock
4) Things to do before pulling boat out of the water
5) Things to do before leaving the lake
6) Things to do/remove when you get back home
Sounds complicated, but it really isn't.
+1 on practice. If you are nervous, take a vaction day mid-week and go early in the morning when things aren't crowded. Nothing can build your skills more than practice.
Relax and enjoy!
05-23-2012, 08:02 AM
#56
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Break your checklist into sections:
1) Things to do/have before leaving home
2) Things to do once you arrive at the lake BEFORE putting in
3) Things to do before leaving the trailer/dock
4) Things to do before pulling boat out of the water
5) Things to do before leaving the lake
6) Things to do/remove when you get back home
Sounds complicated, but it really isn't.
+1 on practice. If you are nervous, take a vaction day mid-week and go early in the morning when things aren't crowded. Nothing can build your skills more than practice.
Relax and enjoy!
1) Things to do/have before leaving home
2) Things to do once you arrive at the lake BEFORE putting in
3) Things to do before leaving the trailer/dock
4) Things to do before pulling boat out of the water
5) Things to do before leaving the lake
6) Things to do/remove when you get back home
Sounds complicated, but it really isn't.
+1 on practice. If you are nervous, take a vaction day mid-week and go early in the morning when things aren't crowded. Nothing can build your skills more than practice.
Relax and enjoy!
05-23-2012, 10:09 AM
#57
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Great thread.
Although had been boating for years with friends, my first real boat that I had to be solely responsible for (including screw ups) was the one I have now. I can relate to being nervous the first few times I took on the task of a 29 Fountain with twins and a boat ramp with the girlfriend.
Even now, you can bet that I am paying attention a LOT and not wanting to make the stupid rookie mistakes. I am still a little nervous first couple of times each season. Its probably healthy. The thought of forgetting the drain plug or something equally silly is mortifying enough that it keeps me on my toes.
The checklist is the key, as is maintaining an even temperament even if something doesn't go exactly as planned. At least I've found that works for us. Over time, things fall into a rhythym when you keep doing exactly the same procedure each and every time.
Pretty awesome that this forum doesn't flame a guy who is trying to figure this stuff out. Also pretty awesome seeing the humility from seasoned boaters admitting that they still screw up sometimes. There are some good folks hanging out on this website.
Although had been boating for years with friends, my first real boat that I had to be solely responsible for (including screw ups) was the one I have now. I can relate to being nervous the first few times I took on the task of a 29 Fountain with twins and a boat ramp with the girlfriend.
Even now, you can bet that I am paying attention a LOT and not wanting to make the stupid rookie mistakes. I am still a little nervous first couple of times each season. Its probably healthy. The thought of forgetting the drain plug or something equally silly is mortifying enough that it keeps me on my toes.
The checklist is the key, as is maintaining an even temperament even if something doesn't go exactly as planned. At least I've found that works for us. Over time, things fall into a rhythym when you keep doing exactly the same procedure each and every time.
Pretty awesome that this forum doesn't flame a guy who is trying to figure this stuff out. Also pretty awesome seeing the humility from seasoned boaters admitting that they still screw up sometimes. There are some good folks hanging out on this website.
05-23-2012, 11:36 AM
#58
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I have made every mistake that is possible, some of them multiple times. Ask me how well my bilge pump works! I figure I'll stop making em when I quit boating!
I would never rush a guy or gal on the ramp if it looks like he is trying to do the right thing. I'll even offer to help if it looks like he or she is in trouble. The ones that just don't give a rats a$$ about anyone else are the ones that get my ire up.
I would never rush a guy or gal on the ramp if it looks like he is trying to do the right thing. I'll even offer to help if it looks like he or she is in trouble. The ones that just don't give a rats a$$ about anyone else are the ones that get my ire up.
Last edited by CrownHawg; 05-23-2012 at 11:39 AM.
05-23-2012, 12:55 PM
#59
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Don't be dissin my boat hook, I was able one time to use to snag the kill switch for a guy who left his jet boat running while he got out, forgetting that if it is running it will move. Now I have never needed the hook for anything I have done.
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