Green as Hell
 

I hate to sound like am idiot, but for some reason I'm nervous as hell when putting in or hauling out of the water.

This is my first boat (28ZX) - we had it in the water 6 - 7 times last year without any of what I'm experiencing now! Dont really have any trouble on or off the trailer, but the anxiety level is incredibly high!

Do I need to pop a couple of queludes or what???

My best advice is to take your time and establish a mental checklist of things to do. The times i screwed up at a ramp are usually my fault for being in a hurry.
ed

Slower is faster!
 

Interceptor +1 x 10 cubed

Don't worry about it. I have been boating for years and years. And I still have small anxiety attacks from time to time. More so on a strange ramp or if there is an audience.

Ever notice the guys in a big hurry and acting all cocky and arrogant are the ones that make the mistakes?

Often slower is faster!

What they said; good advice.

Better advice if you listen!

+1

I dont know why newbies or recreational boaters try to park a boat like a car. I've seen some people come in at darn near 10 MPH. (BTW - I am not referring to you)

Relax and ease the shifter in and out of Drive/Neutral/Reverse to get the boat directed as easily and slowly as possible in your desired direction. A friend of mine once said "Think of it as brain surgery in slow motion" Slow and precise...

Take your time, relax and enjoy the experience. Dont worry about the dip chitz at the ramp, its your boat and your wallet if you scratch the gelcoat.

pop a couple of ludes. mebbe some oxy. wash it down with half a keg of beer. you'll screw up huge, but you won't care...or remember!

there are only two scenarios where you need to be nervous
1) you are sinking
2) you are on fire

everything else can be delt with by taking you time and paying attention, remember even if you have to make several tries to get on the trailer without damaging you still had a great day on the water.
and if someone is getting frustrated that you are taking your time just remember you dont know any of them so who cares what they think.

I agree as well with everyone. Goes for everything in life as well. Whether I am drag racing, or boating, or going out in sector in a hostile environment, take your time, relax and think things through. You will do fine. Oh, and dont approach the dock faster than you are willing to hit the dock. I think about that every time I come in to dock lol.

There is a third and maybe more freightening!
 

compedgemarine said "there are only two scenarios where you need to be nervous"
1) you are sinking
2) you are on fire

3) Seeing these guys coming to save the day
http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/g...lls-sinks.html

Thanks for all the advise guys! Any words of wisdom for what the wifey can help with? She's not the most mechanically inclined gal, and, if I let her back the boat in while I'm at the helm, I'm afraid she'd float both boat and Tahoe! :whistle:

No, seriously, She and I am complete ameratures and I'd like her, and even the kids to help more, but where do I start without getting in too deep and causing damage to the boat or flooding the Tahoe? I have a great friend that was asked to set anchor, so he did... But didnt tie off after tossing in (no, not my boat!!!):stooges:

Here some launches that would cause some pucker.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ou22S3VluoI

When the wife & I started out, we went out to an empty parking lot and practiced backing up the boat on the trailer how it would react ect... Practice not just once, because most likely you'll forget under stress if you've only done it once or twice. When we put in and pull out, we are on speaker phone so if there needs to be any incremental changes I can tell her. All the advice given by everyone else is dead on, you might even want to have check list on your phone. I've never forgot my plug, but I have forgotten my transom straps. Wondering why I wasn't backing out!

Why don't you and your wife go to a ramp on a weekday in the middle of the day and just practice. When I first met my girlfriend (now my wife) I hooked everything up and took the truck, boat, and girl to a park with a huge parking lot and showed her how to back up a boat. Now she's the girl backing across 3 lanes to get to the open spot to avoid the idiots taking there time :)

I never thought of a parking lot... Fantastic idea. I also like the cell phone on speaker phone while backing in. Parking lot first though.

[QUOTE=Shag555;3691283]Thanks for all the advise guys! I let her back the boat in while I'm at the helm, I'm afraid she'd float both boat and Tahoe! :whistle:

don't worry. the tahoe won't float. :lolhit:

Good advice. Go the ramp on a weekday, when the ramp is essentially deserted, and there is no one there watching you, or putting pressure on you to clear the ramp. Then take your time, think things through, and get the know the procedure in detail. Even put the boat in, tie it to the dock, then put it right back on the trailer, and repeat that several times. I think after three or four times of that in one day, you would feel pretty confident.

If you need practice backing, go to just about any commercial office park area on the weekend, and it will be deserted. Then practice backing down a dead end street, and then into a driveway ramp. Repeat that a number of times. If the boat gets going too far in the wrong direction, you can just pull forward until it straightens out, and try again.

Michael

I don't have any anxiety or any issues, its a piece of cake i love it when people look at me and go damn how did you do that and make it look so easy, people really make it a serious production sometimes, best advise is have everything checked before hand, and if your really nervous throw your fenders and lines on the floor or in the back of pickup to make sure you know where they are, I often leave a separate set of lines in the back of pickup

I have forgotten to put the drain plug in on one launch. What I do now is have a plug with a hole on the end so that it attaches to my ignition key ring. Another good thing to have, is a spare plug on the boat, just so when you do forget, you just grab the plug, jump in and place the spare in the hole (engine off of course), tighten with a pre-fitted wrench. Yes I had to do this once also. Practice is good , check lists are great.

LOL that actually a good idea

It just takes practice, before you know it it won't bother you anymore. I usually park at the ramp take my tie downs off put ropes and bumpers on then back up to the ramp. Just take your time.

Im not too bad backing down the ramp, etc... Our drive is a couple hundred feet long and narrow, makes for good practice backing down the ramp, thats for sure!

Last time putting in, there was a good 15 - 20 mph crosswind, plus I had a drive out of commission. Everytime I'd come in, the boat would veer off course, even when leading it! Obviously, I eventually got it in, although quite embarassed.

Today there was a light breeze, but no problems. I'm actually pretty good at using forward thrust on one drive, and reverse in the other to skoot the stern over, etc.

I suppose I'll get there, like you all said, its gonna take some time and practice (and I got all summer baby)!

When I get to the launch I pull to the side, take my straps off, put my plug in( keep 2 in the boat and 2 in the truck) open the hatch check my fuel lines, shifter cables and turn my batteries on. While I back down the ramp wy wife holds the line and as soon as the boat floats I am out( takes me about 15 seconds down and up and out of the way) park and back to the boat. All in all it's about a 3 minute process. I do fire the boat up at home to get her warm so there is no problem at the ramp. Been launching boats since I was about 6 with my dad. Take your time and screw the guy behind you with the 1967 tri hull that is fishing where you re trying to put your boat.

One rule - "Never approach anything faster than you plan on hitting it."

I'd always heard it about driving the boat, but it works with the trailer, too.

That and, "If you're gonna be dumb, ya gotta be tough.":helmet:

I guess my lake avg a 20mph crosswind every day. Best advice when pulling in to trailer is to always have the bow facing towards the wind as much as you can before you turn towards the trailer.

Totally forgot, when putting in, ALWAYS turn on your blower and lift your hatch prior to turning over the motor. I also have a drain plug that is cabled to the inner transom, so there's no chance of losing it.

I made that checklist. I think I'm going to make part 2 as well. Did a walk around prior to pulling off from the marina and had left my drives down!

I did make a list and went through it prior to running down the ramp. I think that was part of my problem. Trying to make certain that I hadnt forgotten anything, while at the same time concentrating on putting in. The list makes it easy.

What a fantastic day today! Great weather!

Ain't that the truth! Seems like they are out there everyday! I always wanna tell them to go anchor in the channel with the rest of their buddies!!


Some great tips here. When you have your wife back up the trailer for the first time tell her to put her hand on the bottom center of the sterling wheel, which ever way she wants the trailer to go move her hand that way. Makes it easier on her.

I had a fisherman yesterday tell me that the lake is "dangerously low! Do you know the lake?"

We didnt get any fisherman comments today, but got the "azzhole cigarette boat" look. Bet they love my wake :thankyouthankyou:

I got out both days this weekend and, what a weekend it was!

[QUOTE=Shag555;3691766]I had a fisherman yesterday tell me that the lake is "dangerously low! Do you know the lake?"

Where do you boat? I'm gonna guess TX, with all the drought.

We didnt get any fisherman comments today, but got the "azzhole cigarette boat" look. Bet they love my wake :thankyouthankyou:

Fisherman come back: " I been hired to aerate the water so the fish can have more oxygen." lol

Ya where you at? I was referring to the clear lake area as I'm sure that's where B.U.B. was referring to

Northeast Ohio. West Branch, Milton, and Berlin Lakes. Essentially bathtubs, but two of three are less than 3 miles from me. Hoping to graduate to the Ohio River, and eventually Lake Erie later this year. Getting a Coast Guard radio first though.

Love the comeback, by the way!

Is it worth it to upgrade to a paid membership on here?

Some say yes, to help with the cost. Some say not worth it. Personal preference is what it is. In boat monies probably cheapest thing about hi-perf boating. I did it for convenience of pictures.

"Any words of wisdom for what the wifey can help with? She's not the most mechanically inclined gal...,"

Every once in awhile, I use to like to sit at our local ramp and watch the entertainment. It was amazing how many boaters launched without installing their boat plug. They'd launch, load up the boat with goodies and people, head out, and a few minutes later come zooming back to the ramp (boat riding very low in the water) hoping to get the boat on their trailer before it sunk.

Perhaps the funniest launching scenario I ever saw was a guy that had backed his boat down the ramp, his wife walked back as he launched and was standing on the pier holding the bow and stern ropes. The boat became loose from the trailer and a healthy cross wind started beating the boat against the pier (no fenders). The guy gets out of his truck and yells at his wife, "KEEP THE FREAKIN' BOAT OFF THE PIER!!!" She yells back to her hubby in a crazed panic, "I'M PUSHING THE ROPES. WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?!" (True story.)

The trick to a stress free launch is to make a step-by-step plan ahead of time and talk the procedure over with your wife well before you start to launch. If your kids are young, I suggest keeping them out of the way until you're ready to get stuff loaded. Here's a few suggestions for a launch list:

Before you start backing down the ramp:

* Ensure the boat plug is installed and any rear or center straps are removed (DO NOT disconnect the trailer's wench cable until the majority of the boat is in the water).
* Hang at least two fenders off the side of your boat which will come in contact with the pier.
* Connect a decent length rope to the bow and stern (I use 25 foot ropes)
* Align your boat trailer and vehicle so you can back straight back and so you won't have rely on backing directions from anyone (LEFT! NO RIGHT! NO LEFT, NO, NO STOP!!! etc). This will keep your stress level down.
* Check the winds. If possible select the side of the ramp which will cause the winds to blow the boat toward the pier, not away from the pier. This will make it easier on your wife holding on to the ropes.

Down the ramp ya go...

* Instruct your wife to watch for kids or animals as you start to back up (instruct her to yell STOP). Also have her yell STOP if you're angling the trailer the wrong way.
* Instruct your your wife to hold the ropes tight and walk back with the boat as you back it down the ramp.
* Once you see the boat floating in your rear view mirror, secure the vehicle's transmission and emergency brake, then get out and disconnect the trailer wench cable, then back the trailer a bit more if necessary for the launch, or have your wife pull the boat back a bit.
* When the boat clears the trailer (including the trailer fenders!), have your wife tie the boat off securely.

Work yourself a list something along these lines for launching and departing the water. and talk over the steps with your wife well ahead of time. The more you do it, the easier it will get.

Hope this helps.

As a 17 year old learning from his father, and also teaching my neighbor with a 32' Egg Harbor what to do when pulling in, here's what I have to suggest:

- Take it slow, don't rush even with people waiting on you. On that note, act like you know people are waiting. I always get annoyed when it looks like people are dilly-dallying at the ramp.
-Don't get nervous when someone on the boat starts flipping out that you're too close and gonna hit. Take everything in, but don't let them rattle you. (I notice the ladies tend to do this...)
- When coming it with heavy winds blowing you away from the dock, go past the dock and then head into it.
- Use short bursts; forward, neutral, forward, neutral...
- Assuming you have twin screws, I don't know if this will work but I know it does with singles. When you get the bow in, turn the wheel so the drive is toward the dock and throw it in reverse for a sec. This will pull the ass in.
- I suggest investing in a rubber chock to put behind the rear wheel of your truck for when you launch/retrieve. Watching the car start sliding down the ramp is some scary sh*t.


It always helps to have someone who can throw a line around a cleat, but with enough practice you'll be able to pull right in with no trouble.

Hope something I said helps! Good luck and safe boating.

we too enjoy the entertainment at the local ramp in the early season, the best is that wad yelling at his wife or kids,

So my words of wisdom are don't be "that guy"

Even if you or your crew commit a gigantic eff up, remain calm and speak in a normal tone. The minute somebody starts yelling a crowd gathers then your even more under the gun. As long as you dont start yelling 3/4s of the people watching at a ramp wouldnt know you screwed up anyway.

I saw a guy yesterday with his motor running before he even backed down the ramp. we were pulling out so I don't know how far he made it.

Yes sir. Egret bay blvd launch. If its not the fisherman it's the azzholes on wave runners making waves.

Hey don't worry. I have hauled boats, put them on trailers, took them off a million times. NEVER an issue. This weekend I did not do my normal walk around of my friends truck and trailer before I was going to back in and get my buddies boat. Backed right over a massive stump, tore the right nerf bar off my friends 2012 3500 dodge dually. I felt so bad I dang near puked. I high centered the truck and had to get a small tug. It just shows, no matter how good we think we are, I learned this weekend it can happen to anyone. Thank goodness it did not do an body damage, could have been WAY worse. Embarrassing to tell this story but I hope someone can learn from my mistake.