Launching/Loading Bass Boat - Beginner

[JakeFromStateFarm]

Hi all. Recently acquired a new-to-me bass boat, an ‘80 Lowe 16’ Bass Catcher. Fairly new to boating and fairly new to the Northwest Indiana/Southwest Michigan area. Anybody in the area can recommend some good spots that are low(ish) traffic to practice launching/loading and operating in general? I’d appreciate it, thanks! 

[GreenPig]

If you've got your reversing down pat, the biggest thing is figuring out just how far to back in for your rig. On most ramps my boat will launch perfectly when the top of trailer fenders are barely submerged. For loading I stop with the top of trailer fenders just above the water as I don't power load, I winch the last foot or so. 

Take your time and if you find that you're blocking folks, just pull out of the way and allow them to launch. Folks that seem to get upset are usually the experienced guys that can launch quickly and get out of your way, so you can continue practicing. It won't take you very long to master launching/loading. Solo I can launch my boat and park my truck in under 1.5 minutes.

Don't forget the plug. Don't for get the plug! 

[Susky River Rat]

Here’s my two cents. 
 

I never get mad with someone who is struggling. Everyone is new at some point. No matter how many times you do it you’re human and we all mess up. 
 

what does tick me off is the ramp and dock area are not to prep. Take a bunch of stuff out of you boat and put it in your truck area. Do that away from this area. It should be pull up. Back down launch. Tie off park and get back to your boat and go fishing. Someone struggling to back or get the boat on the trailer is just lack of experience. Doing the things above is just rude. 
 

Slow is fast. Do not get so hung up on trying to do it as fast as you can. That’s when mistakes happen. If you don’t have time to do it slow and right the first time how did you have time to do it twice? 
 

Get in a routine. I rarely let someone help me. Not to be rude but, I have a routine. I want things done a certain way. The boat is my investment and I just end up double checking anything they do anyway. 

[Craig P]

I remember my first time.  Fortunately, I was good at working a trailer as I towed other things previously so when I got in line to launch a couple spots back, I told the guys in front me that I was a newbie and asked them if they could give me some guidance in the process. They were more than happy to. So don’t be shy, if there are others there, let them know and you’ll learn a lot!

 

And if you are a towing newbie, spend 15 minutes in an empty parking lot getting use to how the trailer responds. None of us want to look like a newbie but we all once were….and looked it!

[Susky River Rat]

@Craig P absolutely most guys would rather you admit you are inexperienced than act like you know it all. 

[Functional]

For your first few times it might not be a bad idea to have a physical check list.

 

-rear straps

-boat plug

-kill switch in

-keys on boat

-Life jacket easily reach (if not on)

-Front strap hooked (or unhooked if you have a buddy in the boat)

-dock lines setup on boat cleats

-"specific items" on boat

 

I agree, I dont mind someone moving slow and learning. We all have off days or a particular wind condition that could throw many of us. What I cant stand is someone backing into the ramp, stopping and then spending 20 minutes doing stuff that should have been done in the parking lot or prep area. 

 

Other than that, practice in an empty parking lot to get a feel for it, longer trailers respond slower than shorter trailers. As far as how far to back in that will depend on the ramp angle and your boat. For me as long as the side bunks are just about to go under is far enough for me on most ramps. Steep ones I have to go deeper. Youll learn that. 

[gim]

Other than what has already been stated here, I would go when the launch or access is the least busy.  Summer time when 100 boats are trying to get on or off the lake is not the right time to experiment.  All you do is anger and frustrate everyone else.  Don't do it at peak usage times.

 

The last time I offered to help someone they gave me the finger and told me to fu** off.  That was the last time I offered to help someone at the access.

[casts_by_fly]

Aside from the launching and loading, if you're new to boating in general- take a boaters safety class.  get some hands on instruction either with a local instructor or with a friend who knows what they are doing.  I'm sure there are a few on this forum who would show you the ropes.

[Way2slow]

As suggested, make you a check sheet to follow.  Also make sure you check your states safety requirements, like some require a signaling device, whistle, air horn etc.  Some require you have a paddle, which is a good have anyway to use a push pole, some require a throw cushion and serviceable fire extinguisher if you have a gas motor.  All cheap items to have but can be very expensive if you don't have. 

As for practice, you can do that in your driveway or anywhere, find you a large parking lot during a slow time.  Use a spot about 10 feet wide as your practice ramp, drive to it and make your turn like you are approaching a ramp and turn up away from it to get the boat aligned so you have a straight shot back to it.  For beginners, it's better to go a few extra feet away from it to make sure the boat is straight with it rather than trying to do a dog leg onto it.   Practice the dog leg after you are comfortable with going straight back.   LEARN TO USE YOUR MIRRORS!  

If you are having to wait on someone else for your turn, start doing all your prelaunch routine so you can be read to back it in when your turn.  Just leave the front strap hooked but you have everything else done. 

If launching by yourself, there are a couple of things you can do. 

1.  Leave the front strap hooked but back it off a couple of turns so it doesn't bind the front of the boat against the stop.  Back in, unclip strap, get in boat, back it out and park at the dock, and walk to vehicle and go park it.  

2.  Unlock the winch after you have the boat trailer tires in the water and then finish backing, the winch will unwind, then pull forward slowly letting the winch strap pull the boat back to the ramp.  Unclip strap, park vehicle, leaving the boat on the ramp unless there is room off to one side you can move it to, then come back and get in the boat.  

3.  Basically the same a 2.  but use about a 15' rope clipped into eye on the boat and to the back of trailer so it pulls the boat back.  Some winch straps are too short to use.  Just make sure the rope is laying down the trailer in a way it won't get caught as the boat slides back.  

 

One other thing I've always made it a habit to do is to make a quick feel of my trailer hubs as soon as I get to the ramp.  Make sure one is not getting too warm.  

 

 

 

 

[Functional]

14 minutes ago, Way2slow said:

1.  Leave the front strap hooked but back it off a couple of turns so it doesn't bind the front of the boat against the stop.  Back in, unclip strap, get in boat, back it out and park at the dock, and walk to vehicle and go park it.  

 

Just a word of warning to all doing this (its what I do), make sure your safety latch on the hook is there and working correctly. If not you'll be stripping down and swimming to your boat....ask me how I know....

[Bankc]

Learn to back up.  That's the big thing and you don't need to practice at the dock.  You can do that anywhere with your trailer.  It won't take long to get the feel for it.  And you don't need to be an expert who always nails it the first try.  Just don't be that guy that takes 20 tries.  And don't rely on your mirrors or backup camera.  Turn around and watch the trailer with your own eyes.  You can still use your mirrors and backup camera to help see things more clearly, but you want to do most of your driving with your head turned around, watching the trailer directly.  It's much easier that way. 

 

Next, make sure to pull up, out of the way somewhere in the parking lot, and get out to check the boat and everything and get it all ready before you attempt to back up.  Check the plug as the first and the last thing you do.  You'll forget the plug one day, so make it a habit of being paranoid about forgetting it.  And while you're checking the plug, check the rear straps.  You'll probably forget about the rear straps one day as well.  Leave the front strap on until your trailer is in the water and unhook it when you crawl into the boat.  But use this time when you're out of the way and not in a rush to go over everything.  Take your time.  Visualize what you're going to do when you're on the water, and make sure everything is where it needs to be. 

 

Then, when you're ready to launch, if anything goes wrong, stop, take a breath, get out of the boat and double check everything.  If you panic because you're in a rush, you'll likely make things worse and take even longer.  But if you stop, breathe, and go slow, you'll figure out the problem much more quickly.  Slow is fast, and fast is slow here. 

 

Also, keep your windows rolled all of the way down and car running at all times on the ramp.  And get everyone else out of the car before backing up.  Even get the dogs out.  Brakes can fail and the car can slide into the water.  Ice and moss on the ramp can cause your car to slide even if the brakes don't fail.  Once your car doors get below the water, you probably can't open them until the cab is fully flooded.  The water rushing in will generate a literal ton of force pushing your door shut.   So the open window gives you a way out before the car is fully submerged. 

[Bolar]

13 hours ago, JakeFromStateFarm said:

Hi all. Recently acquired a new-to-me bass boat, an ‘80 Lowe 16’ Bass Catcher. Fairly new to boating and fairly new to the Northwest Indiana/Southwest Michigan area. Anybody in the area can recommend some good spots that are low(ish) traffic to practice launching/loading and operating in general? I’d appreciate it, thanks! 

 

Were do you plan to call your "Home" lake?  Unless you plan on launching on Lake Michigan, most launches are not real busy.  If your just practicing, give way to anyone who wants to launch/recover.  You might pick up a few ideas watching them.

 

I would advise against practicing at a river.  Some of the rivers around here can be a little swift.  One less challenge, while you figure things out.  Also, there are a few launches in the area that have fees.  Something else to consider as you plan your day.  

 

 

 

 

[gim]

Please don't leave the boat sitting against the dock right in the access point either when you go park your vehicle.  The next person is going to have to wait for you to go park, walk back, and then move your boat before they can launch or load.  Move it out of the way before you go park.

[Choporoz]

Slowest times often are Mon, Tue, Wed, between 8 and 10 AM.

Lots of great advice above.  I endorse the checklist idea.  My wife and I did it together the first several times and it went great, but we were careful to change up the responsibilities so we wouldn't forget something the other usually did if we were alone at a later time.  One thing she did that has helped me was to break down the prep area list into 3's.  Three things at the bow (safety strap, graphs, trolling motor), three mid (dock lines, key, power), three aft (plug, stern straps, trim).  There's other stuff, but if I get those nine every time, chances of serious issues is mostly eliminated. 

[Way2slow]

Whether you leave it at the ramp or leave the vehicle at the ramp while you dock the boat, either way, the next person is going to have to wait.  I know it looks like it sucks but usually it's a shorter wait leaving it at the ramp than leaving the vehicle at the ramp while you dock the boat and then park the vehicle.  Ideally there would be an area next to the ramp you can move the boat to and then park the vehicle.

 

Take if from and old man with severe arthritis.  Learn to use the Mirrors to back.  There's going to be the day you might not be able to turn around enough to see how to back.  Also, if having to maneuver in a tight area and you can't see the fenders turning around to see.

[airshot]

Also, is the trailer set up correctly to center the boat easily ?  I often see experienced persons having difficulty because there trailer is not setup for their boat.  Go to a launch and observe....soon you will see what to do, and what not to do !!

[WRB]

My advice is go to an empty parking lot to practice backing  up the trailer.

The key to start with is straighten out the tow vehicle and trailer so can see the trailer fender in the side view mirror.

If you align the trailer path to back up straight it’s easy to keep it going straight.

I put my hand on the bottom of the strirring wheel and make small adjustments moving my hand the direction I want the trailer to go, just watch the fender in the mirror, the trailer goes where the fender goes.

practice turning the trailer takes more time but the same method as backing straight but you need to watch right side mirror turning right. Left side turning left. Make smooth adjustments so you don’t snake back and forth.

At the lake get everything ready before you approach the ramp. I start at the back of the trailer to check the drain plug, take off the engine support and lower the engine so the slag is about 6” off the ground surface. Take off the trailer tie downs, prime the gas line, then go to the tow vehicle and put away tie downs and tilt support.

Now the front of boat. Attach your sonar units, get out what ever you use in the boat, PFD’s, tackle, lunch, water/drinks etc. put them on the boat.

Now loosen the bow wench strap about a foot, I use a launch rope attached to bow eye and wench a little longer the the trailer.

Put on dock fenders the side the dock is on and attach a stern dock rope.

Ready to launch.

Like you practiced turn your rig around so you are straight with ramp and dock. Slow down and back down easy like you practiced and forget whomever is around, it’s you and the trailer fender backing down until the fender is about an 1 “ about water. Check to see if the boat is starting to float. If the boat is floating disconnect the wench and take the bow rope and walk the boat to the far end of the dock. If not floating back down until it does. 
Secure the dock lines and bumpers, then park your vehicle.

Recovering is the same, back down the trailer until the trailer is straight both fenders about 1” above water and drive the boat onto the trailer, tilt the engine up. Attach the wench strap and tighten until the boat is fully on. Drive the rig until out of everyone’s way and reverse the launch sequence.

Check the trailer lights and ready to go home.

Tom

[Woody B]

I usually go early when there's no one at the ramps.  If this is the case I back most of the way down the ramp (after prepping my boat in the parking lot).  I'll tie a rope from a rear cleat to a cleat on the dock, untie the front of the boat, and back in just a little more to "send it".  I've got a tough, beat up aluminum boat so I'm not worried about a little bump on the dock.  If the landing is crowded after I've back in far enough I take a rope and lead my boat to the end of the dock.  This get's my boat out of the way for others while I'm parking my truck/trailer.   

 

 

Everyone, follow Toms advice above regarding backing a trailer.   

[Alex from GA]

I have a 25' anchor line attached to a front cleat of my boat with a mushroom anchor.  I put the anchor either in my truck bed or under the winch stand on the trailer and coil the rope and lay it on the bow of the boat so it'll flow off.  I then go to the back of the boat, remove the straps, check the plug, pump the bulb and lower the motor to just clear the ramp.  Next remove the winch strap and back the boat just off the trailer.  Pull up to grab the anchor rope and pull the boat to a dock, ramp or the shore.  Park the truck and go fishing.  It takes longer to type this than to launch the boat.  To retrieve I pull the boat up to the bank, ramp or dock, get the truck and power load.  It's twice as fast with another person to drive the truck to the parking lot.

[Way2slow]

I would suggest you make a mental note of each of the suggestions, reason being, not all ramps are the same and many of these fit their unique situation.  After about 60 years' experience of launching boats all over the country, there is no one method that's going to work every time.  

You will find some ramps don't even have docks.

Some are so shallow you have to back your vehicle a good way into the water to get the boat deep enough to float off the trailer.  I've had to use the back tire to climb over the side into the bed of the truck and them walk down the trailer to get to the front of the boat to keep from having to walk in the water.

Some ramps are so steep, they are actually scary to back down and the boat floats off the trailer before your hitch is even close to the water.  

Some ramps do have very long docks right beside them so you can pull the boat way back out of the way as soon as it comes off the trailer.  

Some have the docks 30 feet or more away and extend way out so you have a pretty good walk to get back to your vehicle to go to park it.  Usually, you have a area you can move the boat over to, to get it out of the way of the ramp.  

Some off the beaten path ramps are not "ramps" at all, just where they took a bulldozer and made an angled path into the water.

 

So, while one might fit your favorite place to go perfectly, it may not work at all for another ramp.

The ideal situation is to have a partner, one gets into the boat before you launch and the other backs it in and goes parks the vehicle.   One thing to remember doing this, if it's a steep ramp, only back the winch strap off several inches but do not disconnect it until the boat is in the water.  I have seen a couple of boats launched onto the ramp before it made it to the water where they slid off the trailer.  

I also hope you are levelheaded and not subject to road rage.  A lot of public docks with have big signs saying no fishing off them, but you will find people fishing a get ticked at you because you need to park your boat where they are at.   I've even been to less use ramps and people in the middle of the ramp fishing and give lip about launching the boat. 

[Obi_Wan]

I have a rubber tire chock tied to a line.  I don't want my truck rolling down the ramp on me.  I back up and put the chock under the driver front tire.  The rope goes in the window.  I follow the procedures above to launch and get in the truck to pull up.  I ease up and lift the chock up with the rope.  I know I'm paranoid, but I don't want to end up with my truck in the drink.

 

Funny, I'm not likely to screw up when I'm alone and un distracted.  the only time I've had a close call was when I was with my brother and dad and they were distracting the hell out of me. I went to pull up and realized the truck was in reverse.  Nearly backed it right into the lake.  Learned to tune them out and double check what I'm doing.  

[JakeFromStateFarm]

My first launch ended up going well! My nerves did get the best of me though and I forgot the plug. I realized before the trailer was even all the way in the water so just pulled back out and put it in. Other than that, no issues! Not a fan of power loading so just lining the boat back on the trailer with a lead rope and winching it the rest of the way. 

[Bazoo]

2 hours ago, JakeFromStateFarm said:

My first launch ended up going well! My nerves did get the best of me though and I forgot the plug. I realized before the trailer was even all the way in the water so just pulled back out and put it in. Other than that, no issues! Not a fan of power loading so just lining the boat back on the trailer with a lead rope and winching it the rest of the way. 

Glad you had a successful first attempt.

[Susky River Rat]

Glad it went well! First time jitters always get people. I do recommend getting comfortable with power loading. In wind and current it will save you a lot of head aches and struggling.

[GreenPig]

Excellent. I believe your were told twice " DON'T FORGET THE PLUG". 😁 It'll get easier once you've done it 3 - 1,800 times.