KnightAngler
Recruit
- Joined
- May 5, 2017
- Messages
- 4
Hey guys,
I'm a boat newbie and recently purchased an inflatable raft, the Mariner 4, and plan to get a trolling motor for it soon. My question here is launch procedure as I want to try my best not to look like an idiot on my first trip out.
What are the appropriate steps to launch from both a dock and a gravel/cement boat ramp?
I know one should have all their gear ready to go into the boat, as to avoid taking up space for a long time. I assume that we inflate the boat in the parking lot, attach the motor (but not battery), and then carry it to the dock. At which point, we drop the nose into the water first and then the back end (motor side). From there, one person gets in the boat while the other hands him gear. But how about on the return; is taking the boat out of the water with the motor attached going to be an issue?
The boat ramp also seems a bit tricky since we have to be careful not to drag the boat too much on a hardy rocky surface. In this case, do you basically just have to carry the boat all the way out into the water and get in from there? Obviously in this case, there is no way to prevent getting some water into the boat.
Any directions/tips would be greatly appreciated.
I'm a boat newbie and recently purchased an inflatable raft, the Mariner 4, and plan to get a trolling motor for it soon. My question here is launch procedure as I want to try my best not to look like an idiot on my first trip out.
What are the appropriate steps to launch from both a dock and a gravel/cement boat ramp?
I know one should have all their gear ready to go into the boat, as to avoid taking up space for a long time. I assume that we inflate the boat in the parking lot, attach the motor (but not battery), and then carry it to the dock. At which point, we drop the nose into the water first and then the back end (motor side). From there, one person gets in the boat while the other hands him gear. But how about on the return; is taking the boat out of the water with the motor attached going to be an issue?
The boat ramp also seems a bit tricky since we have to be careful not to drag the boat too much on a hardy rocky surface. In this case, do you basically just have to carry the boat all the way out into the water and get in from there? Obviously in this case, there is no way to prevent getting some water into the boat.
Any directions/tips would be greatly appreciated.