How to use a boat launch

[Thajeffski]

Re: How to use a boat launch

I used to get pissed.

Then I bought a train horn for my tow vehicle.

Nothing gets people moving faster than someone using a train horn to point out that the WHOLE LINE of boats want to go!

 

[TerryMSU]

Re: How to use a boat launch

Be sure you know what you are talking about when you criticize people. Years ago I was a Hobie cat sailor on a trailer. One particular ramp where I went a time or two had no area where I could beach the boat and run up the sails. As a result, it was absolutely necessary to run the sails up with the boat on the ramp. Sorry, but that is the way that boat works. Most folks were very patient and did not give me a hard time. On sail boats you dare not hoist the sails with the boat on the trailer. That is roughly equivalent to trying to launch a motor boat with the motor going full throttle. On a Hobie, it is very difficult to raise the with the boat floating. At the same launch (different time) I also had someone criticize me because I backed the boat in and let my fiance pull it off the trailer. They though that I should be the one in the water. Great idea, except she was not comfortable driving my manual transmission. Mind you, this launch was not that busy. Never had any issues at any other launches except that one. The other issue is that to raise the mast, you need a lot of distance behind the boat and a lot of overhead clearance ( 30 ft minimum on that boat) between the spot where you throw the mast and the spot where you finally get to launch it.

By the way, here in Michigan, there are very rarely people backed up that far at any of our ramps (at least the ones that I use). Rarely I will have parking space issues, but I can't say as I have ever had a ramp issue. Parking issues come from where boaters and non-boaters share a parking area. Non-boaters seem to ignore the parking signs as well as take the pull-thru spots, leaving only the single depth spots around the edge.

Some earlier said that you should have the kids in the boat when you launch. Not a chance. Too dangerous. Ideally they should be a distance away on shore with an adult.

TerryMSU

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: How to use a boat launch

Be sure you know what you are talking about when you criticize people. Years ago I was a Hobie cat sailor on a trailer. One particular ramp where I went a time or two had no area where I could beach the boat and run up the sails. As a result, it was absolutely necessary to run the sails up with the boat on the ramp. Sorry, but that is the way that boat works. Most folks were very patient and did not give me a hard time. On sail boats you dare not hoist the sails with the boat on the trailer. That is equivalent to trying to launch a motor boat with the motor going full throttle. At the same launch I also had someone criticize me because I backed the boat in and let my fiance pull it off the trailer. They though that I should be the one in the water. Great idea, except she was not comfortable driving my manuak transmission. Mind you, this launch was not that busy. Never had any issues at any other launches except that one.

By the way, here in Michigan, there are very rarely people backed up that far at any of our ramps (at least the ones that I use). Rarely I will have parking space issues, but I can't say as I have ever had a ramp issue. Parking issues come from where boaters and non-boaters share a parking area. Non-boaters seem to ignore the parking signs as well as take the pull-thru spots, leaving only the single depth spots around the edge.

TerryMSU

Sorry dude, Have to disagree. Seen many hobie cats doing it fine inthe parking lot.....

and have seen lots of other types do it in the parking lot too.

You get the sails ready to go, but don't hoist them all the way......works fine.

 

[TerryMSU]

Re: How to use a boat launch

Getting them started in the track, sure, no problem. That is a no-brainer. (At least as far as the main sail. The jib on a 16 is a whole different issue. They do not roll or furl, so there is no half way on the jib on a 16.)

Sails up, in the parking lot, on the trailer, no way. You want to watch my boat blow over and flip the trailer at the same time. Even in dead calm, to much risk. (Any small puff will fill the sails and then it is all over.)

Mast up, yes, if there is sufficient clearance (and there usually is).

More importantly, you don't always know (or understand) what someone else is facing in launching. That was my point.

TerryMSU

 

[bigskiohio]

Re: How to use a boat launch

Wow you guys are wound to tight i see high blood pressure and a stroke for some of you. Give people a break and relax. Agreed i have seen some people on the ramp figure out their boat wont start or batteries dead then try to jump it. Yeah they should run it at home first but those people won't change so you being upset only hurts you. You are upset just writing about it??? And you wonder why wives or girlfriends are afraid to help. if a guy launches alone you just have to wait the 5 extra minutes. Enjoy the day not your early demise.

 

[SuperNova]

Re: How to use a boat launch

Some earlier said that you should have the kids in the boat when you launch. Not a chance. Too dangerous. Ideally they should be a distance away on shore with an adult.

TerryMSU

Maybe with a small sailboat or Hobie, but with a decent size powerboat (15' and up) it's not a problem or dangerous, if you are competent.

 

[CAUGHTACASE73]

Re: How to use a boat launch

Here in Minnesota we are a bit crazy about walleye fishing. On openning weekend there are people coming out of the wood work that want to get on the water. Many people have not taken the time to prep the boat from winter storage and many (myself included) may be a bit rusty not having launched the boat in the last 6 months.

I have found the most stress free time at the ramp during a busy weekend involves a lawn chair, a cooler of beer, and leave your boat in the garage. You would not believe how entertaining it is to just sit at the ramp sipping on a cold one watching everyone "try" to launch the boat.

In all seriousness, I am pretty good at launching but like many others stumble from time to time. From time to time I plan my trips (mostly fishing) to avoid the busy times at the ramp. I don't like the stress and don't want others to become stressed waiting for me. If I see someone that appears irritated I will offer to let them launch first. If they decline, they really have nothing to complain about. We are all out to enjoy the water and if it takes me 5 minutes longer to wait for someone else, so be it. I do agree with many other post, prep is the key and when you reach the ramp be as prepared as you can be.

Have a good season everyone.

 

[Volvoartictech]

Re: How to use a boat launch

Here is one we get quite a bit at the lake we frequent. You have a tow rig back in the water with an operator navin the boat at mach 4 from off the lake and up on the trailer, guy throws a huge wake through the whole dock area. When he hit the trailer he guns the throttle.....shoots water every where. What a jerk. I have seen the same guy do this twice with a weldcraft jet boat in our area. Make ya wana slap the you know what out of him.

 

[made in china]

Re: How to use a boat launch

Wow you guys are wound to tight i see high blood pressure and a stroke for some of you. Give people a break and relax. Agreed i have seen some people on the ramp figure out their boat wont start or batteries dead then try to jump it. Yeah they should run it at home first but those people won't change so you being upset only hurts you. You are upset just writing about it??? And you wonder why wives or girlfriends are afraid to help. if a guy launches alone you just have to wait the 5 extra minutes. Enjoy the day not your early demise.

Agreed!

 

[stylesabu]

Re: How to use a boat launch

I too was new to boating last year, and here in northern Illinois there isn't a lot of water to launch.I too very nervous first time, and I made a point of waiting until on the water to crack my first beer.Its bad enough if a guy is a novoice, but then drinking to boot. I have taken my boat over to empty school parking lot to practice. It took me a while to learn to look straight out back of van. after 8-10 times I could put it right between parrall parking lines.
But unlike other novioces I was concerned that i would make others wait on me.

 

[ezwitter]

Re: How to use a boat launch

some people just don't care about others. but around here sometimes it happens (some butt hole parked on the ramp) but most times people are good about not holding up things. we try help when help is needed

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: How to use a boat launch

Forgive the Newbee Boat owner here.

My wife is the Boat Driver when off loading and loading the Boat. The last time we were out a little over a week ago she was having difficulty loading the boat in heavy cross wind. So it may have been 20 minutes at the ramp while she attempts to get the boat lined up with the trailer. She was frustrated and I keep telling her to take her time and who cares what others think. I hope you experience boater understand situations like this and have patience. We are hitting the lake almost every weekend for practice before the heavy boating season hits. We understand Staging, Launching and Parking ettique.

 

[SuperNova]

Re: How to use a boat launch

Forgive the Newbee Boat owner here.

My wife is the Boat Driver when off loading and loading the Boat. The last time we where out a little over a week ago she was having difficulty loading the boat in heavy cross wind. So it may have been 20 minutes at the ramp while she attempts to get the boat lined up with the trailer. She was frustrated and I keep telling her to take her time and who cares what others think. I hope you experience boater understand situations like this and have patience. We are hitting the lake almost every weekend for practice before the heavy boating season hits. We understand Staging, Launching and Parking ettique.

When I see people having trouble at the ramp, I try to help if I can. But to be honest, sometimes I get worried that I'll look like a know-it-all who's just interfering. One time we got to the ramp and there was this toyota truck pulled halfway up (down?) the ramp with an empty trailer and the guy and a lady were just sitting in it. I'm like "What the hell??" so I dropped my attitude and went over to see what "the hell". Turns out the thing died on them right there on the ramp. Took me about five minutes to find the blown fuel pump fuse caused by a faulty fuel pump relay. I swapped it out with the A/C relay and a spare fuse....it started up and off they went.....without so much as a thank-you by the way. (Just in case they are out there reading this).

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: How to use a boat launch

When I see people having trouble at the ramp, I try to help if I can. But to be honest, sometimes I get worried that I'll look like a know-it-all who's just interfering. One time we got to the ramp and there was this toyota truck pulled halfway up (down?) the ramp with an empty trailer and the guy and a lady were just sitting in it. I'm like "What the hell??" so I dropped my attitude and went over to see what "the hell". Turns out the thing died on them right there on the ramp. Took me about five minutes to find the blown fuel pump fuse caused by a faulty fuel pump relay. I swapped it out with the A/C relay and a spare fuse....it started up and off they went.....without so much as a thank-you by the way. (Just in case they are out there reading this).

I welcome all help if and when I need it. Just don't give me that I know it all attitude. During my Wife Cross wind Troubles She kept telling me "do you want to try loading the boat" I said no "You need to learn" and wouldn't give in. She managed to get the boat close enough to the end of the trailer where I can snatch the bow and guide the rest of it in with a rope.

 

[Old & In the way]

Re: How to use a boat launch

My all time favorite was guy that disconnected the boat from the wench at the top of the ramp. As he backed down the ramp - his wife screached at the kids, he slammed on the brakes - the stern was on the ramp about 5 feet from the water. So he gets out surveys the situation, yells at his wife (her fault ?) , decides to pull up so the bow is also on the ramp. This is a 22 foot cuddy. He then decides to use the trailer to push the boat into the water. Then while he is parking the tow vehicle and trailer, his wife and kids get in the boat. When he returned his wife and kids were in the boat with about six inches of water in the boat. Seems he cracked the hull.

I thought to offer to help, early on, but it was clear - he didn't need or want any help.

 

[cmhouser]

Re: How to use a boat launch

I've been going out with friends boating for quite some time but for me this year will be my first actually owning and operating a boat (still looking btw).

I read this post and thought back to ten years ago when my buddy was chewing people out on the ramp for being inconsiderate. I laughed at the time but reading this made me remember the situation and take it more seriously.

So being a newb to boating here's what I will do to try and avoid getting my arse kicked or hopefully not kicking someone elses.

1. Take time to go out during the slowest time I can find and do some test runs - launching and trailering my boat. Practice makes perfect right?!

2. Obviously have things ready to go at the staging area before I hit the water.

3. Have my wife drive the boat extensively. I've got an auto SUV but I barely trust riding with my wife in her Camry let alone having her try and park the SUV AND the trailer (trust me you would thank me for that). It also scares me to think of her driving the boat near others but I'll have to choose the lesser of two evils or be good at both myself.

4. Be patient myself with others and ask they do the same for me. I'm not challenged at learning how to do things so I know in time I'll be very quick and will have to wait on others who might not be.

Good post though!

 

[Proselect]

Re: How to use a boat launch

Wow some of you make me afraid to have something go wrong while launching or trailering. I practice good etiquette and if not in a hurry will let somebody go before me. Once I was in the staging area loading the boat and getting everything ready. Another guy came into the area as well and pulled behind me. By the time I went and filled out the launch fee envelope and put my money in and stuffed it in the box he looked annoyed already. While walking back I told him he was welcome to go ahead of me if he was ready to go. He and his wife get in and back down to launch the boat. Then they both get out and walk over to the launch fee box and continue to fill out the envelope and pay. Boy that kind of burned may *** a little bit when he did that. I was nice about it though. Maybe they just had a brain fart or something.

 

[PitchFork]

Re: How to use a boat launch

That is crazy! I launch alone once a week or so during the summer, and not to brag but I can launch, park my rig, and be out on the water faster and safer than the majority of the other boaters using the ramp.

I feel the same. During the summer on the weekdays I go out with the kids all under 13 and leave the boat at the dock for no more than a minute as I park the tow truck and trailer. On the weekends the wife can load and unload the boat just not back the trailer. I usually pick the least busy ramp to go to and usually do not have any problems. The problems occur mostly on the weekends with other people that seemed to park their boat at the ramp for 10 minutes while they load or unload coolers, tubes, people or whatever. That is what the staging area is for.

With so many ramps at Lanier we usually do not have a problem.

 

[JimMH]

Re: How to use a boat launch

If I sounded like I get angry with people on the Ramp I didn't mean too. I always will help out someone and I too sometimes worry that I will come off as some type of know-it-all. I usually don't interject myself unless someone is getting into a situation that could cause harm to themselves or their property. 99% of the time I get a very heart felt thank you.

 

[PRW]

Re: How to use a boat launch

Nothing pisses me off more than the people fishing right on the ramp slips blocking access for boaters coming in and out. Some of them have attitude if you actually use the ramp for purpose it was intended.

This is my favorite. And then they give you dirty looks because you need to use the ramp.