The do's and donts of boat launching

[done]

Alright, this is the last one I am putting up here about this.

I just could not resist. He spends about 30 minutes to launch, then hits the dock.

[Palomar]

LOL, so true ;D

[RobbyZ5001]

For tournament anglers the blood pressure rises even higher while waiting 10+ minutes. I cannot stand when there is a line and then people wait to situate things while they are half int he water.

[done]

I am curious guys,

given these 2 scenarios alone or 1+ partners what is your average Launch/Retrieve time?

Mine.

Launch.

From the second I am backwards on the ramp to the second I push off the dock - (includes jogging from truck back to dock to leave)

Alone 5-7 minutes, Partner 4-6 minutes

Retrieve: Once again second I tied to the dock to pulling out to trash cans to reattach straps, etc

Alone 5-7 minutes Partner 2-4 minutes

[Dan:]

"...and don't forget about that big piling in front of you!"  lmao

[Raul]

Don 't forget the drain plug !

Been there done that.  :

[Tin]

"...and don't forget about that big piling in front of you!" lmao

x2

The man has no business operating a boat. He has been in it and launched it "about three times".  :

[RobbyZ5001]

By myself it takes about 5 minutes to launch with a partner that can back my vehicle up it takes about 2 minutes. Undo transom saver, undo strap in back of boat and the winch strap, jump in the boat, partner floats me... done. The boat gets pulled out quick, but in the parking lot I am in no hurry.

[grimlin]

I'm just curious,is there a video out there that shows how to do it the right way?I know most of it is common sense,but some of it specially with just one person launching the boat just looks hard to me.

I've watched a few people,and you can tell quickly who has experience from the new inexperience guys.

I just hope when i get a boat one day,trying to launch it in a timely fashion.

[fishfordollars]

Less than 30 seconds. If it is a large tournament the ones that are fishing alone just unhook the bow and stern, trim the motor up, back down the ramp, and turn it loose. It will move out away from the ramp, everyone knows they are coming so they watch for them. They just use their feet to keep it off other boats. After parking walk back down to the ramp, and anyone will allow you to step in their boat and give you a ride out to it(Just be sure you don't track a big muddy foot print in their boat).

Works every time. Never had or ever seen a problem doing it this way.

[done]

Less than 30 seconds. If it is a large tournament the ones that are fishing alone just unhook the bow and stern, trim the motor up, back down the ramp, and turn it loose. It will move out away from the ramp, everyone knows they are coming so they watch for them. They just use their feet to keep it off other boats. After parking walk back down to the ramp, and anyone will allow you to step in their boat and give you a ride out to it(Just be sure you don't track a big muddy foot print in their boat).

Works every time. Never had or ever seen a problem doing it this way.

That is nice...if I could trust others that way around my launch, man that would definitely work. There is no way folks around my area would do that though.

[burleytog]

Less than 30 seconds. If it is a large tournament the ones that are fishing alone just unhook the bow and stern, trim the motor up, back down the ramp, and turn it loose. It will move out away from the ramp, everyone knows they are coming so they watch for them. They just use their feet to keep it off other boats. After parking walk back down to the ramp, and anyone will allow you to step in their boat and give you a ride out to it(Just be sure you don't track a big muddy foot print in their boat).

Works every time. Never had or ever seen a problem doing it this way.

That is nice...if I could trust others that way around my launch, man that would definitely work. There is no way folks around my area would do that though.

You don't fish tournaments though, do you?

[fishfordollars]

Less than 30 seconds. If it is a large tournament the ones that are fishing alone just unhook the bow and stern, trim the motor up, back down the ramp, and turn it loose. It will move out away from the ramp, everyone knows they are coming so they watch for them. They just use their feet to keep it off other boats. After parking walk back down to the ramp, and anyone will allow you to step in their boat and give you a ride out to it(Just be sure you don't track a big muddy foot print in their boat).

Works every time. Never had or ever seen a problem doing it this way.

That is nice...if I could trust others that way around my launch, man that would definitely work. There is no way folks around my area would do that though.

It beats backing down, crawling in the boat, backing it out, trying to find a place to put it, walk back to the truck, pull it up out off the ramp, then find a parking place. Trust me, everyone appreciates it and they never mess with your stuff. Not to mention you've blocked one of the ramps for 5-10 minutes. I've seen 200 boats launched in a little over 30 minutes with a five or six lane ramp. Heck the guys with partners have one behind the wheel, cranking the engine just as the lower unit hits the water and the truck driver never breaks stride. He's got it in drive just as the boat starts to leave the trailer and he gone to park. 20-30 seconds if that long. When you have everyone knowing what they're doing it takes no time.

At the McDonals tournament back in May on Rayburn(7,000 entries) I was in line out on the road 1/4 mile from the parking lot(Not the ramp) and I was in the water in 31 minutes(Four lane ramp),(Monterrey Park).

[fishfordollars]

I'm just curious,is there a video out there that shows how to do it the right way?I know most of it is common sense,but some of it specially with just one person launching the boat just looks hard to me.

I've watched a few people,and you can tell quickly who has experience from the new inexperience guys.

I just hope when i get a boat one day,trying to launch it in a timely fashion.

Get you a 40' rope with a bow clip, hook it up, throw the excess in the bed of the truck(Tie the loose end to a cleat or anything to keep it from getting away from you). Back down launching the boat, pull up several feet to keep yourself out of the water, and pull the boat to you. I also reccommend that you cut the trailer at the last minute just a hair to your right. This will send the boat out to your side. It's no fun trying to crawl over the bed or the trailer tounge in the dark(Not to mention all the work you did to keep your feet dry is up in smoke). Also keep the motor trimed up high. Otherwise you will wade to it if the lower unit hits the bottom when the bow is still 10 feet from the bank.

Good luck.

[slider head]

Less than 30 seconds. If it is a large tournament the ones that are fishing alone just unhook the bow and stern, trim the motor up, back down the ramp, and turn it loose. It will move out away from the ramp, everyone knows they are coming so they watch for them. They just use their feet to keep it off other boats. After parking walk back down to the ramp, and anyone will allow you to step in their boat and give you a ride out to it(Just be sure you don't track a big muddy foot print in their boat).

Works every time. Never had or ever seen a problem doing it this way.

This is the way we have always done it as well. We call it the float and catch. I get someones attention allready in the water that it is coming and to watch for it. Once parked and back to the dock just put the thumb out and hitch a ride out to your boat. Always worked great except for one time down at Gaston when the wind was blowing 20+ mph.

If there are two of us. Once started down the ramp less than 2 minutes. I am always as quick as possible at the ramp.....it is my #1 pet peeve!

[boneil]

I hate the guy that brings an old pontoon boat with the ancient motor that leaks oil and gas everywhere on the ramp and parking lot, pulls his boat out of the water and parks at the top of the ramp to pack everything up. And since there is oil every where, everyone else including myself now has to check there boat and truck to see if anything is leaking. Plus it's slippery as you know what. >

[Sam]

Will park in parking lot, install lights, sonar units and get rope out, unhook front fishing seat, plug in trolling motor cord, put key in lock, double check to make sure plug is in, and unhook trailer light connection from SUV.

If possible, unhook boat's stern and motor straps.

Back down to in front of ramp, line boat up and unhook bow winch line.

Back up, if along tie rope to dock, and then launch boat.

From the time I get to the ramp to launch to putting the boat in the water is less than a minute.  

[Sfritr]

I would say 5 minutes is the maximum time by myself, that may be pushing it.  The fisherman are not the ones who are to blame most of the time.  Its JOHN Q weekender.

You want a comedy?  Get a six pack, a folding chair, and prop yourself up at the launch on a weekend.  

It is a comedy of errors......

It solidifies my theory that Stupid people should not breed..

[cart7t]

3-4 minutes tops for myself.  30 seconds if I've got a helper.  

[ValkyrieRider]

I'm in the "30 second crowd" I'm a nonboater, but I usually do the "backing" while the boater is in the boat. Soon as he gets buoyant, he's off the trailer and I'm parking the rig.

Make sure your partner knows how to back trailers and your in good shape!

[flechero]

I'm in the "30 second crowd" I'm a nonboater, but I usually do the "backing" while the boater is in the boat. Soon as he gets buoyant, he's off the trailer and I'm parking the rig.

Make sure your partner knows how to back trailers and your in good shape!

Same here but I am the boater.  

Everything except turning the key should be done before you hit the ramp.  

[Daniel My Brother]

Question:

I think I'm pretty fast at the ramp, but I do not undo the winch strap until the boat is in the water. I have this fear in my head that the boat is going to fall off on the ramp. Does this ever happen? I notice almost everyone else undoes the winch strap before they back in. Am I just being paranoid?

[fishfordollars]

Question:

I think I'm pretty fast at the ramp, but I do not undo the winch strap until the boat is in the water. I have this fear in my head that the boat is going to fall off on the ramp. Does this ever happen? I notice almost everyone else undoes the winch strap before they back in. Am I just being paranoid?

Probably; however, I have seen it happen a couple of times over the years. It's usually when they power load and do not attach the bow strap. A steeper ramp will cause the boat to slip off the trailer if they gass it coming up the ramp.

On a normal ramp you don't have the power and traction to throw a boat off a trailer.

[slider head]

Everything that needs to be done is done before getting to the ramp. I have some what the same fear too about the bow strap. I stop right before the water and undo it. Some of our ramps are kind of steep and I just feel better undoing it at the waters edge.

We had a guy in the club years ago who backed it down the ramp too fast with the bow strap undone, locked the brakes and slid in some gravel and dern near dropped it on the ramp. This reaffirmed to me to never undo the bow strap until the tires hit the water. With all that said the guy was a idiot. Backing down that fast was dumb. His rig was only 2 years old top of the line Nitro. From what I saw that poor boat go through in just one year if it was offered to me at half price I would of had to pass.

[flechero]

Question:

I think I'm pretty fast at the ramp, but I do not undo the winch strap until the boat is in the water. I have this fear in my head that the boat is going to fall off on the ramp. Does this ever happen? I notice almost everyone else undoes the winch strap before they back in. Am I just being paranoid?

If you had roller bunks or those slicktabs on the bunks, you sure would dump it on the ramp.  ...lol