1000 Launch and Recovery’s ?

[Bamer]

After watching all the 1st time boat owners (let’s call em the ronna owners) this year create chaos around the ramp/dock....I got to thinking and figured out my wife and I have probably launched and recovered our boats over these 20yrs somewhere around 500 times at a minimum.

So my questions are, how many launch and recoveries have you performed and is there anyone on here who has launched and recovered a boat around 1000 times?

Please share some lessons learned so the ronna owners can benefit from your experiences! If there are enough responses, I’ll add them to my checklist and post it here.....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[boatwakes]

LOL. It's certainly been a time to remember. I've logged several thousand launches but we all started somewhere and at one point (before YouTube and the internet could show you the good, bad and ugly) I was there too. At 16 years old I would go to the lake by myself to perfect how to launch single handed and for everyone, it's gonna be different. I'm and ******* but here's my list:

- For married or dating couples, the launch ramp is the great divider of relationships. Often, the most beautiful relationships in the world can be seen withering in the midday sun as an egotistical so and so belittles their partner whom they profess to love in good times and bad. Even if you're the dynamic duo, it is imperative the following needs to be done in a peaceful setting without input from your partner. EVER!!!! Only advise the driver of the vehicle if they are going to hit something (as in within 1', not 30'. Keep your mouth shut and let them figure it out on their own). Do not criticize, do not yell they did something wrong, just be quiet, removing yourself from their line of sight. Otherwise, go look at your phone and shut up.
- Practice backing your trailer BY YOURSELF in a safe and non-trafficked area like an IKEA parking lot. Repeat practicing how to back your trailer multiple times for multiple days until you are comfortable and can knowingly predict where your trailer will go when you steer certain ways. It is important for your partner to stay silent at all times during this process. You have insurance (if you don't, then ha ha, you definitely shouldn't be boating) and honey catches more than vinegar.
- Don't prep your vessel in the immediate runway or area where vehicles need the space to launch their vessels. (I.E. stay the **** out of the way of the launch ramp until you're ready to drop your vessel in the water. I will move your vehicle out of the way if you don't.)
- Have a plan how to prep, launch and retrieve your vessel and do it the same EVERY TIME. Changing the plan introduces exponentially increased opportunity for failure. Prep, launch and retrieve with as little deviation as possible. However, be prepared to make adjustments as required and roll with the punches, wind being a strong uppercut for most people.
- For newbies, use 2 way radios between the boat operator and vehicle BUT ONLY USE THEM IF THERE'S A PROBLEM. Yelling at your significant other because they didn't turn the vehicle wheel the correct direction makes you a GIGANTIC ASSHAT. If you're behind the wheel of the boat and they're in the truck, let them figure it out. If you had practiced in IKEA's parking lot prior to launching, you wouldn't be in this position in the first place. And if you can hear the words "HEY, ASSHAT!", know my wrath and I are close by.
- Don't freak out if you forget your drain plug and the bilge pump kicks on. The drain plug hole will only allow about 1 gallon per minute into the boat (the ballast pumps are about 10 times that each), you have plenty of time to install the drain plug while the boat is in the water or when you get it back on the trailer (two way radios on a crowded weekend can alert the vehicle driver to the situation in time to avoid awkward panic or you can decide to keep them out of the loop. Again, you can always jump in the water on a warm day and install the drain plug. It happened to me last weekend.) Side note, you really don't need to install the drain plug with a wrench, finger tight has been plenty good.
- Unless totally necessary, do not tie up to the launch ramp dock, you are impeding other boaters' ability to drop off and pick up passengers. I will and have heckled EVERYONE who does this where we boat much to the chagrin of my better half. Did I mention I'm an *******?
- Finally, when hauling your boat out of the water, don't pull up a couple feet from the water and pull your drain plug, wipe down the boat, unload the boat, stand around talking. Get the hell out of the way so other people can haul their boats. It does not matter how wide the launch ramp is, you are again making yourself the center of attention by blocking a launch lane. None of us care how cool your new boat looks, you're blocking our way and taking away our time from our family and friends by being stupid. Don't be stupid.
- Be safe, do safe things, and stay safe while on the water. Simply put, think about being courteous and safe on the launch ramp and while unloading.

Keeping all this in mind, ask yourself if you're the launch ramp champ or the launch ramp chump and that should help keep things in perspective.

[BrentP]

To summarize Freeheel (who should publish the above post as a book and make some money and save people due to its accuracy)

1) dont yell
2) practice practice practice
3) don’t be an ******* and block the ramp. For any reason. Ever. Drop the boat. Move. Retrieve the boat. Move
4) just don’t be an *******

Also, have you ever been to an IKEA? The only place with more idiots who can’t drove then an ikea parking lot is a public boat ramp IMhO. At least here

To answer the above question, I’ve been backing boats down a ramp since i was 15. I’m not sure I’m at a thousand. I think my dad made me start doing it because my mom can’t. Still. She ran my truck into a pole last fall. Why was there a pole on the boat ramp you ask? Beats me. She still hit it though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[AJMichael]

I started with racing jet skis and back my small trailer into the water from small dirt trails at Sattle Cove when Lake Mead was full. Jumping to a boat was not much diff just a bit longer of a trailer.

[boatwakes]

I was thinking Covid IKEA, they're closed and the parking lots around here are wide open.

[BrentP]

I was thinking Covid IKEA, they're closed and the parking lots around here are wide open.

Fair point


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mikemcclain8]

My tips:
1. Practice with a small utility trailer to get the feel.
2. Practice on an incline to simulate a ramp, it changes as your ramp falls out of view.
3. I learned the most by keeping one hand on the wheel while turning head/shoulders to actually look at the trailer vs mirrors. I realize some of the new vehicles make that difficult to see, but it's so much easier for me.
4. Last resort, if the launch is crowded and you can't see yourself doing it right, offer a beer/soda to the best launcher you've seen and ask them to back your boat in. Risky, I know, but stressing about the launch can make your performance worse and then the whole world hates you and yell from the back (Boatwakes )

Finally, I am fortunate to be able to keep my boat on a lift during season so I launch once, retrieve once per year. Wasn't always the case so I've had plenty of practice but my numbers are nowhere near 1000.

[SONIC]

I grew up launching and retrieving in tidal creeks on the coast in SC. Whole different ballgame when the tide is ripping out (or in) at 10+mph and you have to get the boat on the trailer.
The lake is a joke by comparison.
I'm probably in the 3-500 launches range I'd imagine. Most in the creeks.

We load everyone up in the boat while waiting in line to the ramp. Everyone but the vehicle driver is already in the boat.
Driver backs the boat down, I start the boat and hop up front and unhook the rope and reverse off.
We're in the water in under a minute.
Then I nose up to the dock when the driver is there, and only when they are there don't tie to the dock (launching recovering alone it's ok obviously)

Same for pulling out.
Nose in and let the vehicle driver hop out.
Then pull back out away from the dock and wait.
We use this time to clean up the boat and pack everything up.
Driver backs the trailer in and as I see it coming down the ramp I start heading for it.
Drive on, hop out and winch up.
Everyone else stays in the boat.
Pull way up out of the way and unload people and stuff.

Done and done.


Biggest thing is don't block other people from doing their thing.
Be ready when it's your turn, when it's your turn it's your turn, do things your way that's fine. if you're learning or slow that's fine.
Once your turn is over get out of everyone else's way so they can have their turn.
Don't pull halfway up the ramp to deflate your tube, don't help grandma out of the boat on the ramp etc.
Get out of the way.

Always give way to the less maneuverable boat.
I have little outboard bassboats zip in behind me all the time while I'm in reverse, they have no idea I can't turn. They just assume Ill maneuver around them.
I drop my driver at the down nose first and then back out. If someone is behind me they need to move because I can't turn.
As a rule I don't get behind another inboard if I can help it.

[UNSTUCK]

Sure it's always great when you have team of people that know what they're doing. For the important stuff I'm a one man band. My wife just isn't comfortable even wanting to learn backing the trailer, or operating the boat in the marina. So that means I'm on my own. My wife will park the truck/trailer so that is a big help. I get the trailer in the water all but the last few feet. My wife jumps in the driver seat while I climb up the bow ladder and then start the boat. I take my time getting the boat running and checking vitals. I then motion for my wife to back us in the rest of the way. All she does is back straight up 5-6 more feet till we can float away. She parks the truck while I float in the marina.
At take out, we park the boat and tie up to the dock. I run for the truck and put it in as far as I can. I then head to the boat while my wife gets in the truck. Either I or my kids untie the boat and push us off and we head for the trailer. I get us on the trailer and my wife pulls all the way out, but stops on the ramp. I jump off to verify the boat is sitting right, remove the drain plug and run the rest of the ballast empty. Being on a steep ramp really helps get the rest of the ballast out. At that point, most of the time my wife will drive us to the parking lot where we clean the boat.

Could it be done faster? Sure! Have we ever cussed at each other? Nope! I think we make a great team. One thing I'm very careful about is not getting in a hurry at the ramp. Am I going to make a 6 figure mistake so you can get in/out of the water a minute sooner? Nope. The BIG signs at the ramp say I have 15 minutes. I might be in anothers way for 5-10. Doesn't bother me. If you need to be in the water a minute sooner, you're the one that needs to fix something.

We've been doing it this way for 5 years and probably 100 ins and outs. The only mistake we ever made was NOT tying to the dock. It was calm when I went for the truck and NASTY windy 3 minutes later when I got back. My wife and kids almost lost the boat on the dock while trying to hold on to it. We tie up EVERY time now.

[Bamer]

UNSTUCK. I here ya. does your wife drive the boat in open water? Don’t think my wife would ever be capable of backing the trailer or getting it out of tights spot around the parking lot. But she does a good job of putting it on the trailer. Lots of practice of course.

Your ramp is likely less crowded than the one I use cause you’re more likely to have a major mishap by leaving the boat at the dock. Our dock can get very very crowded and quick! No way I’d ever tie my boat to the dock at the ramp I use. If your ever at a busy dock, it might pay off to have her practiced enough to be able the putt the boat around to stay away from idiots coming up to the dock and nose up to dock to pick you up so you to load onto the trailer.....

The reason I started this thread was because some idiot wasn’t paying attention and pushed off from the dock right behind my trailer with my wife inbound and less then 100ft away. Then he erratically lays into the throttle with wheel fully turned and heads right at her. It was a 2sec game of chicken with only 1sec to react!! Only then did she hit reverse to avoid the idiot. He passes, she collects herself and gets the boat mostly onto the trailer. Not sure I’d have done any better....I connect the strap and ratchet the boat rest the way to the bow eye.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[UNSTUCK]

My wife does operate the boat in open water, but my 15 year old daughter is showing way more interest in driving than my wife. I always drive unless I'm in the water. Now my daughter drives for me. I'm sure it will be her that puts the boat on and off the trailer soon.

[freeheel4life]

https://youtu.be/Ajrwuv7aCLw

^^there are parts of this video that I change personally. Other parts I dislike...but all in all...I send the link to customers that are trying to figure out how to do it solo. This is how I do it.

I have dock lines and bumpers out and ready in the boat, but not tied on so I can clear guide poles. I just slack off the winch strap a few feet first. Back in CLOSE to the dock. Tap the brakes when trailer is deep and slide off. Jump in boat, start it and put it in FWD just enough to slack winch strap. Go thru bow, reach over the front, unhooked strap. Back out of launch into no wake and put out bumpers and lines and pull up to OPPOSITE side of launching lanes and tie off. Run back to truck and park. Usually can get it done fast enough on a busy day that I don't catch $hit.

When with a crew Im with boatwakes . I make everyone meet in town first. We get life jackets, boards, coolers, and all other gear sorted and in the boat before we head to the launch. So much easier than dealing with all that at the lake at a busy launch(noone calls me an A$$HAT). Then when we get to the launch its "shoes off and in the boat". If there's noone that can back a trailer its the same as above. If there's someone shaky but competent Im on the same program as UNSTUCK and back the truck in close and have them do the last bit and go park. Will tie-up out of the way and repeat on retrieval.

Have one friend that can handle the truck side flawlessly and its drop the winch strap, he backs up, taps brakes, and its off to the races. Repeat on the way in. Always love it, but a rarity.

A lot of this has some variables.....single lane launch, current, wind, no dock to tie off to at the launch at all, ramp angle, etc. All in all theres a lot of universals that others have nailed. Don't be a **** and have your poop in order being at the top of the list. Others will never have a clue. If I had a nickel for every skeg guard I've seen drug up the concrete I wouldn't have to wrench anymore.

[NICKYPOO]

I’m with Sonic on this one. We have the same exact program so I’ll spare everyone the write up.

What I’m not onboard with is only one driver. Unstuck, if your wife ain’t got the balls, I certainly hope the kid will get it together soon. I’m using you as an example right now but, you’re certainly not the only one in that boat, no pun intended. Two of my best friends are right there with you. I give their wives **** all the time for it. They just cannot get over it though. I’m very lucky that my wife is an excellent boat driver. What happens if I die out there? Everyone is just going to float around until they can get somebody off of another boat to drive our boat back and put it on the trailer? Not acceptable. Tie up to the dock while I go get the truck and then put it on the trailer myself while there is a perfectly capable human on board that could handle it? Nope. Not acceptable either. Not out of my operation. My oldest is 12 and my youngest is 6. They are both learning to drive the boat. Obviously the 6yo has to sit on my lap but, he at least knows what the controls are and what they do and how the boat will react. The 12yo is getting close to being able to launch and retrieve and can operate the boat under general conditions. Boating license age is 14yo here so that will be happening kinda soon. At some point, they won’t need me at all. That’s goal at least. If my kids end up going out with a friend and that friend’s parents are stupid, I know my kids can get the crew and vessel back safely should the worst happen.

The other item I wanted to touch on is anger. Always been an issue for me. I’ve completely lost sight of what it’s like to be a beginner on the ramp. It’s hard for me to comprehend. That has led to some angry moments that I’m not proud of. Some I am proud of though. Anyways, I do my best anymore to keep my mouth shut unless it’s to say thank you. The truth is, I don’t know what situation other people are in. I don’t want to know. As long as my crew and craft are not in danger, I try to avoid fixing stupid. That road is a dead end.

[UNSTUCK]

Yes....Thanks for stating the obvious. My wife has no balls. I'm quite happy about that.

[NICKYPOO]

Ha! Nice one.