Nooby question - how to launch from a rocky boat ramp? Need Help!

[SierraMark]

Hello All,

I picked up my new to me 1991 Starcraft 165C Fishmaster last week and have been getting it ready to go out. this is my first boat. The boat and truck are ready to go and I have this Friday off of work so me and the Mrs. are planning on taking her out.

Today we drove by the boat ramp just to look it over and have the game plan. I'm glad I did. I have fished there before but only in a canoe so I never paid much attention to the ramp. Today I noticed that on each side of the ramp there are a ton of large rocks.

Before seeing this what I had planned to do was to get the boat off the trailer and throw the bumpers out and hold it against the side of the ramp....that is obviously not going to happen.

I also noticed a small beach area next to the ramp, not a swimming beach and out from the beach, right around where the motor would be is a drop off. I am guessing my new plan would be to move the boat from the trailer and bring it up to the beach slowly, making sure the motor is raised enough to not hit the prop.....am I right?

Just to be clear this is my plan....

1. Back the trailer/boat into the water. (I have my checklist to make sure I put in the plug)
2. I get into the boat and lower the motor enough to start the engine and let it warm up.
3. Mrs. unhooks the bow straps and I slowly back the boat off the trailer
4. Mrs. parks truck and trailer.
5. I pull the bow of the boat up onto the beach...slowly....making sure the motor is raised enough to not hit the prop but low enough to keep water going through it.
6. Mrs. gets into boat.
7. put boat in reverse and back off beach.

Does this sound right?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

-Mark

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Nooby question - how to launch from a rocky boat ramp? Need Help!

be sure you have a paddle.

depending which of you is the most spry, you might let her drive the boat off and you go park, hoof, wade and climb.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Nooby question - how to launch from a rocky boat ramp? Need Help!

You can also use line (long rope) to shove the boat off the trailer and pull it over to the beach (depending on those rock piles). I used to do this quite a bit because my wife didn't like pulling the trailer or driving the boat.

 

[SierraMark]

Re: Nooby question - how to launch from a rocky boat ramp? Need Help!

be sure you have a paddle.

depending which of you is the most spry, you might let her drive the boat off and you go park, hoof, wade and climb.

Yes, I have one in the boat.

I gave her the option and she does not want to drive the boat.

Thanks for the reply.

-Mark

 

[SierraMark]

Re: Nooby question - how to launch from a rocky boat ramp? Need Help!

You can also use line (long rope) to shove the boat off the trailer and pull it over to the beach (depending on those rock piles). I used to do this quite a bit because my wife didn't like pulling the trailer or driving the boat.

That was actually my original thought but tonight I noticed the wind and the current would blow the boat into the rocks if I didn't push it far enough. I guess I will look at how the wind is on Friday and make adjustments as needed.

Thanks.

-Mark

 

[tomdinwv]

Re: Nooby question - how to launch from a rocky boat ramp? Need Help!

Main thing is not to get flustered when launching/retrieving. If there are other folks there putting in, maybe take a moment and watch what they do and that may give you an idea or two. Maybe go down to the ramp one evening and watch what people do to launch (asuming people use the ramp during the week). You will find that most boaters are really nice folks and would be glad to help you if you have a problem or a question. If there are people behind you in line, don't get in to big of a hurry trying to get launched. It's better to get a few "dirty looks" from people than to end up in the Stupid Human Tricks part of this forum. In short, take your time, relax, and think things through as you go about your routine launching. Hope all goes well with your first launch. Get out there, be careful and have a good time. Report back and let us know how it goes. Good luck and happy boating!

 

[Beefer]

Re: Nooby question - how to launch from a rocky boat ramp? Need Help!

^ Exactly what he said. Watch and learn.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Nooby question - how to launch from a rocky boat ramp? Need Help!

WADR you guys whose wives won't drive the boat or trailer are really missing the boat. You handicap yourself, and impact the line at the ramp. I come from a long line of female boaters--mother, aunt, sisters, wife, daughters, nieces--all do it all--but usually sweet-talk a guy into doing it for them!
Now, my wife didn't grow up boating, and had to ease into stuff, especially the trailer aspect, and she's not as comfortable with it, but she still can, and will, do any of it, and is quite pleased with herself when she does. The one line she drew was pulling the boat up the ramp with a manual transmission.

There is nothing about driving a motorized device that requires man-size or man-parts. In fact, the time greater strength is needed, is in the docking and ramp process, when the stronger of the two should NOT be behind the wheel, but acting as deck hand.

Dragging a boat around the rocks with a rope while your adult companion just sits there is just wrong.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Nooby question - how to launch from a rocky boat ramp? Need Help!

One of the reasons why I like having an older aluminum boat is because I do frequently have to launch from less than ideal ramps that don't have nice (or any) docks next to them. I do basically what you're proposing. If I have help, I back the boat in, help pushes it off and holds rope, I drive trailer out from under boat and park, help holds boat on ramp (may tap bottom a bit, thus why I like not caring about my old keel that much), I come back and we all climb in and paddle out a bit before lowering the motor. This situation is not ideal if you don't full trust your motor to start.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Nooby question - how to launch from a rocky boat ramp? Need Help!

WADR you guys whose wives won't drive the boat or trailer are really missing the boat...Dragging a boat around the rocks with a rope while your adult companion just sits there is just wrong.

I get where you're coming from HC, but it's not always the case. My wife doesn't like it (it ain't that she can't do it). So, while I HAVE launched awkwardly in the past (used a line to yank the boat to a spot). I now go to launches that suit single handed splashin' for that specific purpose. On the upside, my first "driving" kid is has successfully pulled the trailer out and parked it this past weekend - allowing us to get out of the way a little quicker. SHE did a great job too, and was complimented by a couple of the fellows at the ramp.

As a note to the OP: If you're gonna' take a few minutes longer to launch or recover (and sometimes ya' just know you're gonna'), wait until the line thins out before you get in que. I've done that often when I was under some condition I knew would take extra effort getting in and out. Most people are pretty patient, but it helps to be considerate on the other end too. If help is offered ... accept and learn.

 

[SierraMark]

Re: Nooby question - how to launch from a rocky boat ramp? Need Help!

Thanks for all the feedback...most of it was very useful.

To answer some questions...

This is a very small lake and even on July 4th weekend it would not be too crowded so given that it will be a weekday and its still only in the high 50's / low 60's I don't think there I am going to be holding up any lines....even with my "handicap"

My boat is a 1991 Starcraft with a 1991 Mercury 40HP outboard....even though it srtarted right up at the dealer and the compression test was good I still do not have 100% confidence that it will start right up and get me out of the way quick enough so that I am not "that guy". I'm sure after a few times out before the good weather I will get better at it and I will know the boat and the motor better.

Thanks again for the replies and I will post an update after this weekend.

-Mark

 

[SierraMark]

Re: Nooby question - how to launch from a rocky boat ramp? Need Help! - Update

Re: Nooby question - how to launch from a rocky boat ramp? Need Help! - Update

All,

Thank you for your help. My first (and second) outing were successful. I went out yesterday and did the beach thing with no problem. While we were out the wind picked up which mad getting the boat back on the trailer more challenging but I did it. I held nobody up and I caused no problems.

Today we went to a larger lake with a very nice launch with docks and nice deep water. I had no problems getting the boat off, tied it up to a dock and off we went.

Thanks again for all the help.

-Mark

 

[oops!]

Re: Nooby question - how to launch from a rocky boat ramp? Need Help! - Update

Re: Nooby question - how to launch from a rocky boat ramp? Need Help! - Update

practice practice practice....

watch and learn.....then practice

it is a sport to sit at a boat launch with a chair and a umbrella and watch boat launch follies.

 

[coreybv]

Re: Nooby question - how to launch from a rocky boat ramp? Need Help!

Everything sounds good except for this part:

2. I get into the boat and lower the motor enough to start the engine and let it warm up.

If your engine has to sit and warm up before it can putt over to the beach a few yards away, you need to have a good mechanic figure out what's wrong with your engine.

Arguably, you should let it reach normal operating temp before you put the pedal to the metal and try for a top speed record, but there should be no reason to wait for anything to warm up just to move the boat a little ways down the shore.

 

[jdlough]

Re: Nooby question - how to launch from a rocky boat ramp? Need Help!

Any really high quality noob, helping you launch or load a boat, will NOT DO ANYTHING except that which you tell them to do.

This is a very very really very good thing. Stupid cousins helping you launch your boat are usually not a good thing.

I'll take a noob wife over a know-it-all cousin every time.

I find my wife might not be the fastest trailer hauler/backer, but she does nothing stupid.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Nooby question - how to launch from a rocky boat ramp? Need Help!

Re: "On the upside, my first "driving" kid is has successfully pulled the trailer out and parked it this past weekend - allowing us to get out of the way a little quicker. SHE did a great job too, and was complimented by a couple of the fellows at the ramp."

There little better for a teenage girl than to drive a boat and even better, a trailer. Of course, they can do it. But they get tremendous sense of accomplishment as well as respect and envy from the boys--in a good and healthy way. For as we see here, there is still a division by gender in boating. With that confidence, and pride in handling a "guy thing" they will be much better off handling the challenges the boys will present.

My girls were driving boats solo at 14 and one drove the boat and trailer over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (2 two-lane tunnels and a high-level) when she only had her learners permit. As did I.

 

[SierraMark]

Re: Nooby question - how to launch from a rocky boat ramp? Need Help!

This is what I "thought" might need to happen being that this is 1, my first boat, 2, my first motor over 4 years old...I "thought wrong" and the motor started right up and ran great right from the beginning both times out this weekend.

The marine that I bought the boat from had done a tune up to it before I bought it and the boat ran great.

Thanks for the feedback.

-Mark

Everything sounds good except for this part:



If your engine has to sit and warm up before it can putt over to the beach a few yards away, you need to have a good mechanic figure out what's wrong with your engine.

Arguably, you should let it reach normal operating temp before you put the pedal to the metal and try for a top speed record, but there should be no reason to wait for anything to warm up just to move the boat a little ways down the shore.