Launch Procedures

[manykids]

I am new to boating this year. I have looked on this site, a boaters safety site, and listened to experienced boaters. I put together a list of things for me to do once I am at the lake. I have 4 kids and a wife, so I know I will be distracted. What am I missing?<br /><br /><br />Launch Procedures<br /><br />1. Turn on blower<br />2. Raise the outdrive<br />3. Check the fluids<br />4. Install the drain plug<br />5. Unplug the lights<br />6. Remove tie-down straps except the winch<br />7. Load the boat with supplies<br />8. Check the drain plug<br />9. Put window down on vehicle<br />10. Back into water, set brake and put in park<br />11. Sniff bilge and start engine<br />12. Release winch<br />13. Back away<br />14. Proceed to dock<br />15. Move vehicle<br /><br /><br />Retrieval Procedures<br /><br />1. Tie off at the dock<br />2. Turn on blower and turn off engine<br />3. Have passengers depart<br />4. Lower window on vehicle<br />5. Back trailer into water<br />6. Set brake and place in park<br />7. Power boat most of the way onto trailer<br />8. Turn off engine and electronics <br />9. RAISE OUTDRIVE!!!!!<br />10. Winch the boat up<br />11. Move vehicle<br />12. Remove drain plug<br />13. Attach boat tie downs<br />14. Plug in lights and check for operation<br />15. Unpack the boat

 

[JB]

Re: Launch Procedures

Looks good to me, manykids.<br /><br />One thing: Some ramps forbid launching or retrieving under power. You will need to push her off the trailer and winch her on at those places.<br /><br />Good luck, and. . .

 

[QC]

Re: Launch Procedures

Good lists. A couple of suggestions etc.<br /><br />#1 Before you leave the house, make sure the battery(s) is charged.<br /><br />Launch list<br /><br />#2 has already happened, right? i.e. you were moving her to the ramp?<br /><br />#10 needs to include some reference to backing down until she starts to barely float<br /><br />Between #10 and #11 you need to lower the drive to the highest "trim" setting if the drive would hit the ground all of the way down<br /><br />Retrieval list<br /><br />#7 should have the drive trimmed up to top of "trim" limit, again if the drive would hit all of the way down.<br /><br />#10 usually requires that you slooooowwwwwly back the trailer down as you winch up. If not, this is a really good way to break a winch strap . . .

 

[jlinder]

Re: Launch Procedures

I would add running the engine in the driveway before you leave home. This does 2 things:<br /><br />1. You find any problems and can fix them before you leave your home/tools.<br />2. You get an engine that has been sitting for a while (all week?) started and nice and hot.<br /><br />I find that by the time I get to the lake the engine is still warm and starts up beautifully (a 1988 carbed engine).

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Launch Procedures

Charge battery the day before,check trailer lug nuts for tightness and pump up bearing buddies and put keys in the ignition the morning of and leave them there.I recommend taking a buddy with you instead of the family if this is your first outing.Preferrably a buddy who has boating or trailering experience.It is best to have a little experience before you have the kids to distract you.

 

[AJ168]

Re: Launch Procedures

As JB said, some places forbid launching and retrieving under power. I just don't do it anymore, that's what the winch is for. Learned this the hard way with my 18 footer. Idled up to the trailer, had a hard enough time keeping her straight with a stiff head wind, cut it into nuetral about 5 feet out, expecting the hull to gently hit the bunks. Well, when that didn't happen because the trailer was too deep, I slammed it into full reverse, but by that time the bow already hit the trailer above the front roller, scratching it up pretty bad.<br /><br />It's much easier to guide the boat on with bow and stern lines and once it's lined up winch it on.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Launch Procedures

Add this one and I consider it VITAL. Whether launching or retrieving put a hefty chalk block behind one of the rear wheels just before you put the tranny in park. I have an eye bolt screwed into the side with a rope attached that I hold on to. When you pull off the ramp the chalk block is dragged with you so you don't have to have someone tied up pulling it out - - or even worse forgetting about it and trying to drive over it as you come up the ramp.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Launch Procedures

Originally posted by SoLittle:<br /> put a hefty chalk block behind one of the rear wheels just before you put the tranny in park.

Gotta ask, how you gonna do this from the drivers seat, especially BEFORE you put it in park?

 

[SteveNix]

Re: Launch Procedures

One thing to that really ticks me off, is the people that do absolutely nothing to get ready for the day on the water until they're backed down 10ft from the water. Its there they decide to take off the boat cover, check the life jackets, put the ski's in the lockers etc. <br /><br />So all in all, on a busy day on the launch, when you've got 10 trucks lined up for the ramp, this guy who's getting everything ready now takes almost 20 minutes to even get the hull wet.<br /><br />Do what you can from home, or in a parking lot close to the ramp. dont waste other peoples times!<br /><br />I guess it depends on how far away you live from the launch...but there's no reason why you can't check the fluids, install the drain plug, and load the boat with the jackets and lunches before you come close to the water.

 

[JStutz]

Re: Launch Procedures

Sounds like you have everything covered in your list. Your missing one thing, HAVE FUN!!!! Make sure you bring things to keep kids occupied.

 

[hal2814]

Re: Launch Procedures

It's not only the ramp hogs that tick me off. It's the dock hogs, too. Every time the ramp is busy they're always this one family that decides to wait until they're docked at the ramp's dock after launching to bring every single item they need to bring with them on a day trip from the tow vehicle to the boat. Now I can understand not wanting to tow those items in your boat but it's a good idea to put your grill, coolers, skis, etc. on the boat in the parking lot before you drop it in instead of holding up everone else. Don't plan on loading more than you can carry after launch and preferably less than that.<br /><br />There are even some that decide that at the dock right after launch on a busy day is a good time and place to figure out how a bimini top works. If it can be done out in the water, do it out in the water.<br /><br />Common courtesey should always be observed when using a shared resource like a boat ramp. I don't mean to pick on anyone in particular. I just know that manykids is new to boating and I'd like to see new boaters pick up good habits early.

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Launch Procedures

If you cannot power the boat off the trailer, make sure the line handler has two lines attached to the boat, for and aft. You cannot control the boat with just a single line. One gust of wind and the end without a line can swing into other boats or worse.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Launch Procedures

Here are few things: You mentioned being distracted. Your wife's responsibility is to keep the kids away from you and the vehicle while preping for launch. Put the plug in at home. Check fluids at home. Load the supplies at home. Secure supplies in the boat at home. In other words get the "ramp hog" stuff taken care of before you leave the driveway. You are one of the few apparently understand the importance of setting the parking brake BEFORE you put the vehicle in PARK. This prevents the heavily loaded vehicle from stressing the parking pawl in the transmission and eliminates the bang when taking it out of park. In fact its possible to actually load the pawl so hard that you can't get out of PARK. When you pull out, take it out of park before releasing the parking brake. Upon retrieval, do the unload process away from the ramp. The ramp is for launching and retieval, not loading, unloading, and preping. If there are other people waiting when your turn comes, ask the next in line for help. They will be much more accommodating than watching you struggle.

 

[gator68]

Re: Launch Procedures

AMEN!!!