Etiquette on the boat launch

TimBobCom

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 21, 2007
Messages
139
Re: Etiquette on the boat launch

The nice thing about most other boaters is that none of us will give anyone any real grief over a mistake such as forgetting to trim up your drive when retrieving or launching without a plug. We will get testy if you take too long and don't have a "mistake" though, so make sure you're ready to launch (rear ties off, plug in, lines/fenders out, blower running, coolers/tackle boxes loaded, etc) before you get in line for the ramp and you'll be fine.
 

airshot

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 22, 2008
Messages
5,214
Re: Etiquette on the boat launch

The nice thing about most other boaters is that none of us will give anyone any real grief over a mistake such as forgetting to trim up your drive when retrieving or launching without a plug. We will get testy if you take too long and don't have a "mistake" though, so make sure you're ready to launch (rear ties off, plug in, lines/fenders out, blower running, coolers/tackle boxes loaded, etc) before you get in line for the ramp and you'll be fine.

Very good statement, as a seasoned boater for more years than I care to admit, I have never been upset with a new boater that forgets something, or is willing to allow someone to help them out. It is the person that takes 30 minutes to back up or after getting his boat in the water waiting another 20 minutes for all his family to get their belongings together. A few years back some idiot brought his boat to the ramp, put it in the water, then commenced to do a tuneup and maintaince while tied to the dock. It is a 3 place ramp and he has one taken for more than three hours. Next thing you know his buddy sees this idiot's boat and pulls his boat in at the dock beside the idiot and proceeds to help him. Now we have two of the three ramps tied up. A call was made to the local law enforcement which did send an officer out, but that took another hour. Worst part is they were quite beligerent as they felt that because it was public it was first come first serve and they should not have to move. Unfortunately they are among us, fortunately I have only had this happen on a few ocassions.

Airshot
 

littlerayray

Lieutenant
Joined
Feb 17, 2013
Messages
1,456
Re: Etiquette on the boat launch

oh and if your ready to retrieve be patient and be prepared to float a while till it is your turn
remember your getting on your boat to relax and part of relaxing is launching and retrieving
 

Home Cookin'

Fleet Admiral
Joined
May 26, 2009
Messages
9,715
Re: Etiquette on the boat launch

if you are in line, tell the guy behind you that you are new and ask for tips. Even if you don't need any, he will be more patient and forgiving.

There is very little at the ramp that a man can do that a woman, or anyone over 16, can't do. Have everyone in you r family able to do all of the tasks, even if they prefer not to. You may need it in an emergency or unusual situation. It's nothing but pure selfishness to have a guy do the ramp thing as if solo while wifey sits in the AC.
 

Campylobacter

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 4, 2007
Messages
503
Re: Etiquette on the boat launch

Around here we have a rule that keeps things moving at busy ramps:

Your trailer is line, not your boat.

On busy days we sometimes have people decide to pull their boat up to the ramp, tie up, and then go get the trailer. This screws everything up. Its busy, so theres a line. They have to wait in the line, but the line now goes slow because their boat is now taking up one of the ramps!

Everything works much smoother if you leave the boat tied to the courtesy dock/beach, or better yet, have the admiral drop you off and then back off until you can get the trailer on the ramp.
 

Silly Seville

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Dec 5, 2009
Messages
798
Re: Etiquette on the boat launch

Since it's the beginning of the season, I'm going to harp on a point that I've presented before so it is fresh in the minds of everyone.

Please use wheel chocks behind your back tires when launching/retrieving! It is your greatest insurance against having a YouTube moment for the rest of the world to enjoy...namely, your truck in the water! I cannot stress it enough how simple it is to put a 4"x4" piece of wood behind your tires immediately after exiting the truck while backed down the ramp. If you have others with you, have a responsible person set the block of wood behind your tires BEFORE you put it in park and set the brake. That takes a ton of weight off the tranny! When solo, I have asked a bystander to set the chock for me before I back down the ramp, and have never been told no or looked at funny. Folks who understand this extra precaution appreciate it. ANYONE who has ever driven a commercial vehicle understands it. It takes 10 seconds max to do it, and could save you from an insurance claim or an injured passenger/innocent bystander. For those who think this is overkill, I dare you to try stopping the combined weight of 5-10k lbs. of stored kinetic energy just waiting to roll down the ramp with your bare hands and feet. Ain't gonna happen. CHOCK YOUR WHEELS!
 

saumon

Lieutenant
Joined
Aug 2, 2004
Messages
1,452
Re: Etiquette on the boat launch

Re: chock the wheels

Here's an interresting method I saw. Scroll down to "Launch & Recovery at a Ramp" part. Never tried myself but clever.
 

MarkSee

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Sep 10, 2010
Messages
1,172
Re: Etiquette on the boat launch

Please use wheel chocks behind your back tires when launching/retrieving!

I agree that chocking a tire or two is a good idea but why the rear tires which in many, many cases will be in the water and/or in the slimy part of the ramp instead of the front tires which will be high and dry?

I used the left front tire chock method back in the early 80's when solo launching my 16' Bayliner but instead of a 4 x 4, built a stepped chock that was more to the contour of the tire then using an eye hook on the top, attached a piece of rope that was then tied to the outside mirror so when I was pulling up, I simply grabbed the rope and it came up with me.

Mark
 

saumon

Lieutenant
Joined
Aug 2, 2004
Messages
1,452
Re: Etiquette on the boat launch

I used the left front tire chock method back in the early 80's when solo launching my 16' Bayliner but instead of a 4 x 4, built a stepped chock that was more to the contour of the tire then using an eye hook on the top, attached a piece of rope that was then tied to the outside mirror so when I was pulling up, I simply grabbed the rope and it came up with me.

That's exactly what the guy in the article linked above is doing.
 

MarkSee

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Sep 10, 2010
Messages
1,172
Re: Etiquette on the boat launch

That's exactly what the guy in the article linked above is doing.

Bum stole my idea from what I did 30 years ago........though I'm sure I wasn't the first....

Mark
 

Gnatboy911

Cadet
Joined
Apr 9, 2013
Messages
7
Re: Etiquette on the boat launch

If you spend enough time at the ramp, you may even be lucky enough to witness the famous "boat dumped on the concrete", which I still haven't seen...or the one that go out of his truck while still in Reverse...

I was lucky enough to see this one while on the Hood Canal in Washington. If the boat launch is steep, make sure you keep the boat hooked to the trailer until you get in the water! These guys managed to use the hand crank winch to get the boat back on the trailer.

100_1800.jpg

100_1799.jpg
 

Silly Seville

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Dec 5, 2009
Messages
798
Re: Etiquette on the boat launch

I agree that chocking a tire or two is a good idea but why the rear tires which in many, many cases will be in the water and/or in the slimy part of the ramp instead of the front tires which will be high and dry?

I used the left front tire chock method back in the early 80's when solo launching my 16' Bayliner but instead of a 4 x 4, built a stepped chock that was more to the contour of the tire then using an eye hook on the top, attached a piece of rope that was then tied to the outside mirror so when I was pulling up, I simply grabbed the rope and it came up with me.
Mark

I absolutely agree with you Mark; chock any wheel you can. It didn't occur to me that there would be those folks who were indeed in the water/slime when launching. Our ramps and the length of my trailers have always kept my rear tires a foot or more from the water.

In any event, a physical barrier to rolling backwards into the drink is a great way to extend the enjoyment of your day. :D
 

UncleWillie

Captain
Joined
Oct 18, 2011
Messages
3,995
Re: Etiquette on the boat launch

Repeating a few and adding a twist....

Plug goes in at the same time the stern straps come off.
The winch strap is NEVER Removed until the boat is over the water.

If towing with an SUV, with the rear seats down, looking out an open rear hatch while backing helps more that you might imagine.

Do not rely on the transmission's parking brake.
Back up to the launch point.
Set the Manual Emergency/Parking Brakes.
Release your foot from the brakes. Brakes holding? (Primary!)
Shift into park. (Secondary!)
Shut off engine. Yes! You will be back in 2 minutes! Shut it off!
Otherwise; Getting the Transmission out of park may be a problem.
 

tpenfield

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 18, 2011
Messages
18,099
Re: Etiquette on the boat launch

If the truth be told . . . one time after setting the parking brake, I left the vehicle idling and in reverse (forgot to put it in Park). :eek: It is a good thing I also use wheel cocks behind the rear wheels, just in case. :thumb:

Fortunately nothing bad happened, as the brakes and wheel chock held. I found the vehicle still in reverse fairly quickly, as I went to stick the rig in a little deeper.
 

Home Cookin'

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Joined
May 26, 2009
Messages
9,715
Re: Etiquette on the boat launch

the reason most people chock the rear wheel is b/c it won't turn and therefore is a more solid block. However on a ramp with the wheels straigth it shouldn't matter; better to avoid slime.

A block of 4x6 cut with a 45* slope, an eye in the back side, a rope/chain to the eye: tie off to the trailer hitch and chock the rear (or front bumper and front wheel). when you drive off, the chock gets pulled to the center of the rig and drags to be retrieved later. just be sure the line is short enough that the chock when dragged doesn't get hit by a following tire.
 

boataway

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 4, 2011
Messages
123
Re: Etiquette on the boat launch

lots of good material on YouTube on how to do it right AND wrong.

I must admit, I've never seen anyone chock the wheels at the ramp before. When you're out of the truck, the boat is floating (whether lanuching or retrieving) and the trailer is in water. That means there's not much pulling back on your truck. Obviously use the parking break real tight and put it in park or gear.

Also, no advantage to shutting off your engine in terms of pulling it out of park.
 

UncleWillie

Captain
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Oct 18, 2011
Messages
3,995
Re: Etiquette on the boat launch

lots of good material on YouTube on how to do it right AND wrong.

I must admit, I've never seen anyone chock the wheels at the ramp before. When you're out of the truck, the boat is floating (whether launching or retrieving) and the trailer is in water. That means there's not much pulling back on your truck. Obviously use the parking break real tight and put it in park or gear.

Also, no advantage to shutting off your engine in terms of pulling it out of park.

There is so much variation in launch and recovery techniques that almost every assumption is incorrect for someone else out there.

When I launch, the boat is not floating on the trailer.
No part of the bunks are even in the water.
Slick bunks, unhook the winch strap, and give it a starting shove and off it goes.
Trailer stays dry. Your technique WILL vary!

If I only put the transmission in park there is so much weight pulling backwards that getting it out of Park again requires an uncomfortable amount of force on the shift lever.
The manual brake is my Primary.

Shutting off the engine requires that I must have the Transmission in Park and serves as a backup to remind me to take it out of gear.
It is not a requirement, just a routine, so the moment I go brain dead I won't accidentally roll the truck into the drink.

Once again, Your Technique will vary!
 

Natty Light

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 11, 2012
Messages
120
Re: Etiquette on the boat launch

There is a "magic" point for how far your trailer should be when you are loading / unloading your boat. For me it is when the tops of the trailer wheel wells are just under the water. You'll have to expierement until you find yours. When cranking your boat back on the trailer it should not require a significant amount of effort. If you are struggling to crank it, the trailer is not far enough in the water. I always power off, but that is because the ramps where I boat do not have docks along side of them. I would not advise powering back on the trailer though. There is a chance that you could ding your prop on the concrete ramp and even stainless steel versions don't survive that without damage.
 

QC

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 22, 2005
Messages
22,783
Re: Etiquette on the boat launch

I agree with Willie on the Park and Parking Brake deal. I will add that I "two foot" when I go up the ramp. I do this to guarantee that if I screwed up and left her in Reverse then I already have a foot on the brake when I start to apply the throttle. Also helps with traction. If I have the brake on it is less likely that the wheels break loose as I start to apply some throttle. Of course as soon as I am rolling the left foot comes off the brake and I go back to single foot operation. My little fail safe procedure. Seems like accidentally going in reverse when the tailpipe may already be bubbling would be bad ;)
 
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