Mista bass Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 Today was my first day of practice with my partner Jeff. We were both concerned as I had never backed a boat. Well I did it first try with no a single hiccup. Backed it in to get the boat with no problem either. In 7 hours, only Jeff out a dink smallmouth in the boat. We just couldn't get on the fish. Overall it was a great day though, I got to show him I knew what I'm doing and that I can back a trailer. We also get along great so that's always a plus. Tight lines everyone! 1 Quote
Super User gulfcaptain Posted April 13, 2015 Super User Posted April 13, 2015 Cool, sounds like you found someone to fish with. Is he fishing the tour you signed up for? Quote
Mista bass Posted April 13, 2015 Author Posted April 13, 2015 Cool, sounds like you found someone to fish with. Is he fishing the tour you signed up for? No not the tour, just local tournaments. I think we'll be fishing a lot together though. Quote
GoTakeANap Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 Something to help you out or anyone having trouble with backing up a trailer. A little trick my grandpa taught me. If you put your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel and turn right, the trailer will go right. Turn it left, it will go left. Just gotta keep your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel. 6 Quote
moguy1973 Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 Something to help you out or anyone having trouble with backing up a trailer. A little trick my grandpa taught me. If you put your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel and turn right, the trailer will go right. Turn it left, it will go left. Just gotta keep your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel. That was the way I was taught also, and it works very well. 1 Quote
Preytorien Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 I need to learn to do this. I read in another thread that with me being a non-boater, the boaters will find my ability to back in the trailer invaluable. What's your take on this boaters? Quote
Super User J Francho Posted April 13, 2015 Super User Posted April 13, 2015 Uh yeah, partners need to learn this. Even if I just get the boat on the ramp, you dunk me in and park. It's a huge time saver. Thing is, I'm not into the trial by fire learning method. Pick a time you can practice when no one is around waiting to use the ramp. 5 Quote
BassResource.com Administrator Glenn Posted April 13, 2015 BassResource.com Administrator Posted April 13, 2015 Here's a few tips on how to back a trailer properly - even an experienced angler can learn a thing or two from this: http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/backing-a-trailer.html 1 Quote
hatrix Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 I just saw some Minkota video the other day where the boat is like remote controlled when you launch it. I think I saw it through lunkerville. It's pretty cool. Quote
Thornback Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 Learn by practice and experience. No matter which technique works for you, you will soon instinctively know which way to turn the steering wheel without thinking. I bet you presently don't have to think when backing up without a trailer. 1 Quote
GoTakeANap Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 Learn by practice and experience. No matter which technique works for you, you will soon instinctively know which way to turn the steering wheel without thinking. I bet you presently don't have to think when backing up without a trailer. yes sir. learned over time after using the trick my grandpa taught me. Quote
Vayned Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 This is really helpful information. Soon I hope to get my first boat. Quote
Super User K_Mac Posted April 13, 2015 Super User Posted April 13, 2015 Uh yeah, partners need to learn this. Even if I just get the boat on the ramp, you dunk me in and park. It's a huge time saver. Thing is, I'm not into the trial by fire learning method. Pick a time you can practice when no one is around waiting to use the ramp. I am with J on this; when there is a long line of boats at the ramp is no time to learn backing skills. Having a partner who can handle the trailer is a valuable thing that makes life easier for all involved. Do it a few times and it won't be anything to worry about. Quote
RAMBLER Posted April 14, 2015 Posted April 14, 2015 Mista - good job. Hope you get a chance to back the boat in a lot. Had a partner that I would NOT let back up my boat trailer. He can wreck his own stuff. He doesn't have one to practice with. It would be better if he kept his eyes closed and I stood at the door and told him what to do. Easier for me to just do it myself. Quote
Super User gardnerjigman Posted April 14, 2015 Super User Posted April 14, 2015 Uh yeah, partners need to learn this. Even if I just get the boat on the ramp, you dunk me in and park. It's a huge time saver. Thing is, I'm not into the trial by fire learning method. Pick a time you can practice when no one is around waiting to use the ramp. I am with J on this; when there is a long line of boats at the ramp is no time to learn backing skills. Having a partner who can handle the trailer is a valuable thing that makes life easier for all involved. Do it a few times and it won't be anything to worry about. x1000. Couldn't agree more. I've been a boater and a non boater and there is nothing more annoying than 30 boats waiting on 1 person that has to pull up and get straight 50 times. REALLY ANNOYING when it's a 4 lane ramp and he takes up 2-3 because of not knowing how to do it. Practice practice practice, and it sounds like you are doing just that! Good job! Nothing in the world prettier than the sun peaking over the horizon and 3-4 trucks backing in and dumping boats off in unison. Quote
Super User J Francho Posted April 14, 2015 Super User Posted April 14, 2015 There's one thing worse: that guy getting screamed at by everyone. Quote
Thornback Posted April 15, 2015 Posted April 15, 2015 I'm 75 and most of my fishing buddies are my age. I do all the backing in. There are two buddies I let drive the boat up on the trailer. There is one buddy I let pull me out when I drive up on the trailer cause he can't handle a boat. I warn him to keep his left foot on the brake and after adding a little gas slowly release the brake and pull me out very slowly. I once had two different guys pull me out on two different times and they didn't have a clue. One almost threw the boat off the trailer and the other would give the truck gas, then let off, then give it gas. He was bucking me back and forth. The boat ramp is a good place to have a mishap. Backing the trailer is easy if you back it all the time. I once had an old timer ask me to back his truck and trailer down the ramp for him. It was a stick shift which is no problem for an old timer like me but the trailer didn't respond exactly like my trailer. I just backed very slowly so I could correct the direction quickly. Quote
Vayned Posted April 15, 2015 Posted April 15, 2015 I hear on ramps you can't power load the boat because it messes up the ramp, so you just let it glide up on the bunks going slightly faster than idle speed? Quote
thomas15 Posted April 15, 2015 Posted April 15, 2015 I got my boat last summer and put it in the water about 20 times. All of them went well, maybe 2 or 3 times I had to start over again but not too bad. So, it has been 6 months of winter and last weekend I put the boat in for the first time and it was totally different. I started off on the worse angle possible but got it lined up like a pro and in it went. When I got home, I backed it up my 120 foot driveway right into the parking spot. What would normally be ten minutes of jockying too about a minute. Not saying I got this but the stress factor is much lower now. Placing your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel is a good ldea and is what I do. What I also do is point my thumb in the direction I want the back of the boat to go. Then turn the wheel in that direction. Quote
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