It takes the marina about 30 minutes from the time they turn the key in the travel lift until I punch the two start buttons. Thank goodness I only have to do that once a year.

 

Rex, I wouldn't worry about it. It shows a lot of consideration that you would even ask that. The first boat that I ever had (with a motor) was a 1970 14' Geneva. This is the smallest boat I have ever had, and believe it or not the hardest to get on it's trailer. I used to take forever, and still most others were patient with me. I am a master at loading and unloading my boats now, and still am courteous at the ramp. If you know there are people waiting behind you, and you are going to be slow, just let them go first. It never annoys me when people are slow at the ramp, just when they appear to not care. If I am taking a little while longer than usual, I apologise to people waiting, and go on about my business. The people that you don't want to tick off are the people that are nice. I am not usually the vindictive type, but if someone is waiting and I can hear them sighing and making snide comments, I definetly do not care what that person thinks! Just take your time, and be careful, boating is about having fun! Don't worry so much about it that you hurry and forget something (like putting your drive up). And yes, having to park the truck is normal.

 

IMHO - If it is a busy ramp.
Do all pre lauch before you start down the ramp including turning on the blower.
If the wife can't/won't back back down the ramp. You back it down 99% You then hop out and fire it up marking sure its running, unhook front hook wife backs last foot or so so you can back off. Wife pulls truck/trailer out and parks it since you don't have to worry about backing up. You pick up wife at dock.
Total time on ramp couple minutes.

When it comes time to retrieve,
Wife drops you off at dock, you go and get the truck/trailer and back in. Wife comes back and swaps places with you on the boat, You put the boat on the trailer. Wife pulls you out to a place that you can unload the boat. Total time on ramp a couple minutes.

There is a good ramp thread on the board, you may want to do a search.

 

I think once you get comfortable it will take less time. I have not been boating a long time and I dont take but maybe 5 minutes or so with my wife backing the boat off the trailer or on. :thumbsup:

I see some guys take 20-25 minutes arguing and backing and straightening their trailers with beat up jon boats. So as far as I am concerned unless they want to chip in on my maintenance for dents and dings I am going to do what I need to so we have a good day. Heck, I have to rush Mon-Fri. as it is!:lol:

 

I'm wondering if there is a "courtesy" time at the launch?

Being that I am a newbie I'm wondering if I have the time to take my time and make sure I don't screw up anything.

Also I will be going out with my wife only so I assume I can launch the boat, drive it to a holding place and tie up, then go back to park my truck. Is that all normal?

Thanks.

Rex, don't ever feel so rushed that you make mistakes. Take your time, just don't doddle and be ignorant to a line of boaters on land and in water wanting access to the ramp. Every location will have it's nuances. Most ramps I go to I never have to fire up my boat until I'm ready to leave the docks. I just float the boat off the trailer, tie it up at the dock along side the ramp, park the tow vehicle and then make fast back to the boat to shove off.

When you arrive at the boat ramp, do all your prep work before getting in line to launch. e.g.: put in garboard plug, attach lines for docking, load your gear, get your canvas up or down, etc. Then get in line, when it's your turn, you'll know the boat is ready and you only have to worry about the backing down and floating of the boat.

The same works when returning with the boat. Make sure the only thing you need to do, is tie up to dock when a spot opens up, go get tow vehicle and back down, load boat and pull away from ramp. Then once away from ramp, do all your clean up, remove gear, ready the boat for travel away from the rush.

You may want to "observe" the ramps you intend to frequent on a busy day to see how the flow goes so you can look like "you've been there before". There will always be a lone jerk who insists on pushing you along, or cutting you off to get in front of you. Don't let the one a-hole ruin you day.

Remember, you bought a boat to relax, so relax. Just don't be wasteful of other's time. The best way to do that is to always think, "what can I do now, before I get in line."

 

My rule of thumb is to try not and hold the ramp for more then 10 minutes. Anything longer the next in line gets PO'd.

Do all the prep work away from the ramp - so to take your time prep lines, bumpers, loading, etc.
This link sums it up:
http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1813

 

My rule of thumb is to try not and hold the ramp for more then 10 minutes. Anything longer the next in line gets PO'd.

Do all the prep work away from the ramp - so to take your time prep lines, bumpers, loading, etc.
This link sums it up:
http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1813

Yep that is the link I was talking about:thumbsup:

 

I think 5 minutes is reasonable and about the max. If you find you've got issues that will take longer than that, pull back up and get back in line.

Funny you bring this up. We went by the block house saturday evening and watched the boat ramp for a little while. A guy backed down with a 25 ft canbote. Got out of the truck into the boat, managed to get it sideways partially blocking another ramp. Motor dies. He stays on the ramp for a long time , putting his foot on the motor (don't know why) then he'd push against the side of boat, get in and try to crank it. He did this over and over. :smt021

Mean while kids with a jet ski back down, put about a third of the ski in the water and then two of them push really hard to get it in the water.:huh:

What was amazing is not one person got upset with the guy in the canbote and just worked around him.:grin: No one offered help either. I guess it was such a good day that everyone was laid back that day. When we left he was still there going through the same tricks.

 

Active thread - I was posting for #3 LOL

 

Thanks for the replies guys. This really does help as does that link.

I know I'm going to look like an idiot but I figured the more prepared I am the less of an idiot I'm going to look like.

Should I carry a wrench to tighten the drain plug? (not sure right terminology)

 

Thanks for the replies guys. This really does help as does that link.

I know I'm going to look like an idiot but I figured the more prepared I am the less of an idiot I'm going to look like.

Should I carry a wrench to tighten the drain plug? (not sure right terminology)

Only if you don't want it to leak. (Sorry I could not help myself):grin:

 

do that earlier! I always put mine in in my shop, and then do walkarounds religiously before splashing

 

Well I know you could probably put too much torque and strip the threads?

 

You'd have to wrench on it pretty tight to strip 'em. But, they're brass so the male/female threads gel together pretty easily (brass is soft). Snug it down with the wrench and then just give it a bit more. No need to try and drive it all the way home - just a little more than snug. You'll feel it in the handle when the teeth really start to mesh - don't do too much after that.

If you're unsure, just look into your bilge when you get on the water. Don't worry - you won't sink. I've hand-tightened a plug on more than one occasion and not gotten a drop of water inside - not that I recommend doing that!!!

 

I don't think there is a right and wrong here, do what makes you comfortable. I do not take mine out until I have time to watch what comes out. I know a lot of people take theirs out on the ramp, and then get in the truck and go. I like to watch what comes out closely.

 

5-10 minutes max at a boat ramp. If you cant get in or out in that amount of time, stay away until the ramp is cleared. My frikkin wife and her girlfriends get the boat in or out in less than 10 minutes.

EVERYTHING should be ready to go to drop the boat in when it's your turn. It shoudlnt be more than starting the engine on the boat and docking it out of the way for the next launch.

When I say EVERYTHING should be ready, I mean blower should have already been on, the boat should have already been loaded with whatever you are bringing, passengers ready to hop on at the dock, plug should be in, transom straps removed, etc.

Sorry, I have limited patience with people at ramps. Ive seen way too many rude people decide to load the boat up with coolers, rafts, food, towels etc ON the ramp!

Get the f in, get the f out.:grin:

 

a couple yrs ago... just as it started getting dark, (past dusk), one person got a flat on their tow vehicle, and decided to change it at the top of the ramp. So those of us waiting to come in, had to sit and wait for them to go thru all that.

Don't do that! They should have pulled their rig over to the side, so the rest of us could get out of the water. Luckily, it was a gorgeous night, and we sat on the calm water, and enjoyed the moon and stars reflecting off the water.

-VtSeaRay

 

If it's buisy, I get annoyed when people are bringing coolers, ect. to the boat from the truck while on the ramp. The ONLY thing that should be done on the ramp is launch and retrieve the boat. That's it. Everything else (transom ties, put plug in, check pfd's....) can be done in the parking lot. Also, when out with guests I tell them what the plan is and what I would like them to do BEFORE we get to the ramp. Usually stop in the parking lot, load the boat with gear from the truck, then say "Okay, here's what I would like to do. I will back the truck in while Ben holds these two lines and walks along the dock....." Makes things go MUCH smoother when someone isn't trying to "help" and doesn't know what my plan is.

 

Also, when out with guests I tell them what the plan is and what I would like them to do BEFORE we get to the ramp.

+1. Which is usually just "wait on the dock to hold the boat" while I go park the truck. Or one of them parks the truck depending on who I am with.

Either way, it is always smooth. :thumbsup:

 

I agree - 5 mins is about right. We load up everything at home which is going on the boat - cooler, towels, etc and so the only thing which needs to go on at the ramp is people. On really busy days - mainly holidays - I'll even warm up the engines at home before I go to the ramp. I get the boat straight at the top of the ramp and then my wife takes over and can back down and park the truck so I can stay on the boat. She doesn't like to park so if there is no line I'll get off the boat and park it instead. With practice you'll get it in the 5-7 min range without rushing and making mistakes. If it's windy or weird currents (comment in my area) I give people a lot of slack and offer to help if they appear to be having problems.

 

Rex I think you're getting the picture. The inexperienced just may not have considered that time it takes to load the coolers, towels, bags of groceries/snacks and the kids going to the restroom all while the truck and trailer are at the ramp.

Most ramps have a staginig area. We in to the two ramps we use most frequently. Luckily at both, when busy, there are huge staging areas. Before we leave home we have put everything we need on the boat. When we get to the launch, We pull up in the staging area, I remove the tie downs and my wife hops aboard. I hand her the two kids, they go below and put their PFDs on. My Wife ties on fenders to the side we'll be launching, I tie a long line from the bow to the stern. (She likes to hold only one line when I'm launching). Another line is ready. She's on the boat still. I drive to the launch, a few hundred yards, I stop, she hops down and walks onto the dock. I back down until the tires are wet, then release the safety chain and winch strap hook. I then back own, boat floats, and may wife walks it down the dock out of the way, then uses the second line to tie the boat. I pull the trailer out and go park. We're not there more than 2 minutes. Do take your time to be careful of your stuff and the routine will become more normal.

Here's the launch we use about half the time. There are LAUNCH lanes and Retrieve Lanes

BTW ~ DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN YOUR GARBOARD PLUG(Drain Plug). It doesn't need to be that tight.

 

When we get to the launch, We pull up in the staging area, I remove the tie downs and my wife hops aboard. I hand her the two kids, they go below and put their PFDs on. My Wife ties on fenders to the side we'll be launching, I tie a long line from the bow to the stern. (She likes to hold only one line when I'm launching). Another line is ready. She's on the boat still. I drive to the launch, a few hundred yards, I stop, she hops down and walks onto the dock.

Todd, sounds like there's a window of time that the two kids are alone on the boat? Am I reading that right?

 

Hey Todd,

Can you make the picture bigger? I cant see the microorganisms on the water line.

 

Sorry plucked it off the Google Machine ........

Todd, sounds like there's a window of time that the two kids are alone on the boat? Am I reading that right?

No, the Admiral's standing there. If I Launch alone with them I walk the boat back out of the way, tie up and they'll come with me.

 

It's been awhile since I've trailered, but I can tell you that-especially on weekends- the local ramps are a zoo. Quick in, quick out. All the prep done while you're waiting in line.

I would suggest that the first few times you do this to hit the ramp on a weekday when it's empty. Practice launching and retrieving until you've got a "system" down.

No reason to hold everyone else up while you're "learning". You'll find that patience is short and tempers long on a busy day; save yourself the aggravation and know what you're doing before you hit it at a busy time.

 

All the above info is spot on.

WRT the Garboard plug: hand tighten plus 1/2 wrench turn is more than enough. As was mentioned, the fitting is soft metal.

Your wife needs to be part of the solution or she is part of the problem. If possible, you two could practice backing down a ramp mid week when nobody is waiting to get into the water to get a better feel for it. I speak from experience when I say the few that see you practicing mid week will have a lot more patience and respect for you if it takes you a bit longer on a weekend. If a ramp is not available near by, use a parking lot and cones. Whatever gets you comfy with the rig will help.

I don't trailer any longer, but spend countless hours practicing docking to keep my skills up. Plus it's fun and doesn't burn much fuel!

Of course If you are launching for a bass tourney you'll need a lot more practice. There, the launch time is measured in seconds. The retrieval time in nanoseconds.

 

Im always the guy with the truck. Im HORRIBLE at pulling my own boat on the trailer. Its actually kind of embarrassing lol. Everyone does it differently, I always like to use some of the same people when i go boating.

When im out early morning for fishing, i've usually got the same 2 guys and we've got a system down. In the afternoon I always try to have someone with me that has launching experience. My usual public launch is very small and the parking lot is across a busy street. It will take you 10 minutes just to get the truck across the street on a busy afternoon. So i think the 5/10 minute rule stated above will vary depending on the launch.


I always like to prepare at home or at a near by gas station. Fill up the boat, grab ice, load the boat ect.... Pull up to the ramp remove tie downs then back the boat in the water. We usually head out in the afternoon and pull the boat out way past sunset. This gives us all kinds of time to load it on the trailer.

 

Todd,
That is one sweet ramp. Most of the ones around here are a couple lanes and if we are lucky a small platform dock off to one side. No way you can float your boat off the trailer and tie it up.