How Do I learn to Launch?

Crosis

Crosis

Member
Jul 14, 2012
62
Tampa Bay
Boat Info
1999 180 Bowrider
Engines
Mercruiser 3.0 w/Alpha 1
I grew up with yachts but we always had sailing yachts that were too large to trailer so they were moored or docked. Now I have a Sear Ray 180 or a trailer. I have obviously seen boats launched at the ramp thousands of times and can see the most important part is controlling your trailer as you back in. I SUCK at this. I assume I can practice in large parking lots when no cars are there but what else do I have to do to learn to launch? I dont want to be "that guy" that pisses everyone off at the ramp. :huh:
 
Place one hand at the bottom of the steering wheel. Move that hand the direction you want the back of the trailer to go. Go practice.

Have your boat completely ready to launch prior to backing down the ramp (prep it in parking lot).
 
First, hats off to you for not wanting to be "One of those guys." Learning to back up your trailer is a good place to start. And you're right about practicing in a parking lot. Maybe set up some cones or empty trash cans and practice maneuvering between them pretending you are backing down a launch lane. Practice makes perfect. When I was trailering a 24' boat and trailer I got to where I could parallel park the whole works. It really impresses the neighbors. But that's not all there is to launching. Go to your local ramp on a busy day and watch others. Notice who gets in and out quick and what they do to make that happen. Notice who doesn't and what they do. Try and imitate the fast ones.

In my opinion there can't be too much courtesy at the launch ramp so I feel that preparation is the key. Before you back down the ramp:
-Decide who will be in the boat and who is driving the tow vehicle
-If its the first time at a new ramp, watch the traffic for a few minutes to get the lay of the land
-Turn on blowers
-Load your gear (skis, bags, coolers, etc.)
-Remove the tie downs
-Remove the bow strap (not on a roller trailer)
-Put fenders out
-Get dock lines attached to cleats and ready

Once this is all done now you can:
-Back the trailer into the water far enough to cover the water intake on the drive
-Lower the drive
-Start the motor
-Let it warm for a minimum amount of time. The engine will warm up as you idle to the dock or finger pier
-Back the boat off the trailer
-While you are doing this have your partner move the truck and trailer immediately
-Tie up to the dock and wait for you truck driver. If the wait is going to be lengthy then back away from the dock so others can get in. When your driver gets to the dock go back and pick them up.

I believe perception is key - know what is going on around you. Plan everything out in advance.

Be courteous towards others even if they are not. You don't want to start your day on the water with an altercation. Boating is supposed to be fun.

Shawn
 
Last edited:
Search for some good instructional you tube videos: How to launch a boat; How to back a trailer up; etc.
 
When you practice backing use you outside mirrors
don't look over your shoulder. The mirrors will treat you better with some practice
and don't use the center of the ramp when possible... an outside lane will give you a better reference of what is straight.
 
Well, almost right. you try to get lined up straight first so that backing is easier.
Remove all the straps, place lines on cleats, make sure drain plug is in, DO NOT UNHOOK PULLING EYE STRAP OR CABLE
When it`s your turn, back up SLOWLY making small steering wheel corrections.
Sometimes it best to hold the parking brake release with 1 hand and a foot on the parking brake pedel,this allows 4 wheel braking.
lower trailer into water to your launch depth, rollers to the center of the wheel ,bunks to over the wheel. Give or take a foot
remove engine cover and start motor checking for leaks.
Remove bow eye strap/cable and pull off trailer,
 
NorCal Boater said:
First, hats off to you for not wanting to be "One of those guys." Learning to back up your trailer is a good place to start. And you're right about practicing in a parking lot. Maybe set up some cones or empty trash cans and practice maneuvering between them pretending you are backing down a launch lane. Practice makes perfect. When I was trailering a 24' boat and trailer I got to where I could parallel park the whole works. It really impresses the neighbors. But that's not all there is to launching. Go to your local ramp on a busy day and watch others. Notice who gets in and out quick and what they do to make that happen. Notice who doesn't and what they do. Try and imitate the fast ones.

In my opinion there can't be too much courtesy at the launch ramp so I feel that preparation is the key. Before you back down the ramp:
-Decide who will be in the boat and who is driving the tow vehicle
-If its the first time at a new ramp, watch the traffic for a few minutes to get the lay of the land
-Turn on blowers
-Load your gear (skis, bags, coolers, etc.)
-Remove the tie downs
-Remove the bow strap (not on a roller trailer)
-Put fenders out
-Get dock lines attached to cleats and ready

Once this is all done now you can:
-Back the trailer into the water far enough to cover the water intake on the drive
-Lower the drive
-Start the motor
-Let it warm for a minimum amount of time. The engine will warm up as you idle to the dock or finger pier
-Back the boat off the trailer
-While you are doing this have your partner move the truck and trailer immediately
-Tie up to the dock and wait for you truck driver. If the wait is going to be lengthy then back away from the dock so others can get in. When your driver gets to the dock go back and pick them up.

I believe perception is key - know what is going on around you. Plan everything out in advance.

Be courteous towards others even if they are not. You don't want to start your day on the water with an altercation. Boating is supposed to be fun.

+++1 :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
 
Find a little used ramp and practice launching and retrieving at a down time during the week.

Good luck. I think you're off to the right start.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2
 
One more thing.....you do not need to be in reverse when backing down the ramp.....go with neutral.
 
Unbelievable suggestions. You guys rock. Thanks for all the help. :thumbsup:
 
I would also add spend some time practicing putting the boat on the trailer and thinking what your process is for when you are done. I grew up across the street from a ramp and the end of the day was much worse than the beginning of the day. Between the beer and other libations, the frustration level on the ramp is much greater at the end of the day.

Make sure you understand how you are going to get attached to the trailer and pulling it out. With the ramp wet and slick lots of people have issues getting the fully loaded boat out of the water.

Good luck and it is awesome you are asking.
 
Great thread,I and the gw sometimes walk over to the state launch about 1/2 mi from our slip just for the entertainment value.Last time i had a trailor boat i was pulling up that ramp when a guy with a 25" bayliner was backing down ,It was his first time and a new boat,his gf was in the tiniest bikini and a ponytail,then crunch it slid off the trailor about 20 ft shy of the water.he had been in a hurry and taken the safty chain off the bow eye,when he braked because he was going to fast to controll the trailor off she went,i saw 4 tow trucks heading there as i drove home.As a side my winch broke once also while backing down it stayed on the trailor but it was kinda scarry,so check your equipment often for wear on the tether and on the mechanicals.
 
Go buy a hardtop camper, pull it with a minivan on the weekends to a local campground. Pick a campground with lots of seasonal campers who are always around.
Make sure the 3 kids (aged 8 to 3) with you are tired & hungry. Make sure the cat didn't sneak into the trailer before you closed it up to pull it.
Once they see a "rookie" coming in for the weekend they line the chairs up in a row to watch, just for amusement.

Best advice already given : hand at bottom of the wheel, moving it in the direction you want the trailer to go. Gentle increments are best. Practice makes prefect.
 
NorCal Boater said:
-Remove the bow strap (not on a roller trailer)
Click to expand...

Mostly good advise in this thread.

Shawn, under what conditions would one ever remove the bow strap and safety chain before one wanted the boat off the trailer?

To the OP, NEVER REMOVE THE STRAP AND SAFETY CHAIN BEFORE YOU WANT THE BOAT OFF THE TRAILER!!!

MM
 
One important thing to keep in mind is that the better you can handle your vehicle without a trailer, the better you can handle it with a trailer. If parallel parking is a challenge, if you can't back straight, if you can't back into a parking spot safely, then practice all of that FIRST. Make sure you are perfectly comfortable putting your car through the paces necessary to trailer before you put a trailer on it.
 
When I had a trailer I used the school parking lot to practice backing the trailer, using cones as a spot to back into. Now I have a 16' work trailer that keeps me accustom to backing in tight blind spots... Good luck!
 
NorCal Boater said:
In my opinion there can't be too much courtesy at the launch ramp so I feel that preparation is the key. Before you back down the ramp:
-Decide who will be in the boat and who is driving the tow vehicle
-If its the first time at a new ramp, watch the traffic for a few minutes to get the lay of the land
-Turn on blowers
-Load your gear (skis, bags, coolers, etc.)
-Remove the tie downs
-Remove the bow strap (not on a roller trailer)
-Put fenders out
-Get dock lines attached to cleats and ready

Once this is all done now you can:
-Back the trailer into the water far enough to cover the water intake on the drive
-Lower the drive
-Start the motor
-Let it warm for a minimum amount of time. The engine will warm up as you idle to the dock or finger pier
-Back the boat off the trailer
-While you are doing this have your partner move the truck and trailer immediately
-Tie up to the dock and wait for you truck driver. If the wait is going to be lengthy then back away from the dock so others can get in. When your driver gets to the dock go back and pick them up.
Click to expand...

Most of this is good advise and as noted in my previous post, I do not remove bow strap or safety chain until ready to have the boat off the trailer. The other thing I see here is "Back the boat off the trailer", I have never "backed" a boat off a trailer. If you back the trailer deep enough to float the stern a little shove will send the boat off the trailer. On larger vessels, (240's, 260's, 270's, and bigger) after the person onboard signifies they are ready, I drive the truck forward a couple of feet and then back quickly, abruptly stop, and the boat glides off.

MM
 
Quint4 said:
One more thing.....you do not need to be in reverse when backing down the ramp.....go with neutral.
Click to expand...

For those with manual trannys, this will apply to you...once you have the boat pulling you backwards down the ramp (gravity), put the truck in 1st gear, and of course with the clutch pedal down, and your right foot modulating the brakes, you can let the transmission be your "fail-safe" braking system if the service brakes were to fail.

I would rather be in a forward gear that I can use immediately, rather than reverse or simply neutral if the brakes failed while backing down a steep ramp.
 
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