HD FLD

My wife and I just bought a 14ft fishing boat with a 8hp evanrude. Looking for a easy place to launch our boat . We are not pros at this an need not embarrassing ourselves launching.
Thanks

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

HD, I can't help you with your location other than to advise you to go to a parking lot like at Wal mart or someplace similar and practice a little before you go to a launch site. Take something to mark the left and right and back up your vehicle between them.

Once you have that backing up nailed down, lowering into the water will be less stressful.

HD FLD

Thanks, I'm a retired truck driver so backing is not the issue. It's doing it solo or with my wife and not tying to hold up other boaters. I'm in phoenix AZ.

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

You are welcome HD. Being a retired Truck driver it should be easy for you then. As long as you back in straight you will not hold up anyone.

The biggest hold up are from the guys that load up their boat on the launch instead of prepping the boat before getting in line. Plug in, straps removed except the one at the vehicle, gear in the boat and a tow line at the ready if you have help.

Have all that in order, back her in and take your time. Safety is priority 1.

Still above water Loc: San Francisco ca

Just remember, a left turn on the tow vehicle turns the trailer to the right and a right turn of the wheel turns the trailer turns the trailer to the left.Use you mirrors and make small adjustments when turning in either direction. Practice your trailer skills before heading to the ramp. Never make aggressive turns to the wheel. Keep your steering wheel at full straight and adjust your backing up with slow non aggressive adjustments. Every turn of the wheel while backing up has a double effect to your trailer . Keep your turning movements while backing down to slow adjustments. Remember turn the wheel to the left and the trailer will go t right! Just something that comes with experience. But not something that u want to learn on the launch ramp!

ranger632 Loc: Near Yosemite Park Ca.

Said he was a truck driver so he knows how to back up

Still above water Loc: San Francisco ca

Ok! Maybe I misunderstood the question! Other then that, I think Plumb covered ramp etiquette!

ranger632 Loc: Near Yosemite Park Ca.

DVTracker Loc: Harrisburg, PA.

You won’t hold anyone up at the ramp, you will take as much time as most people do backing the trailer & boat into the water if you have everything ready to launch your boat prior/at pre-launch to when actually backing up to the water.

Most people where I launch are in the launch lane prepping their boat, if someone is behind you and sees you’re not ready yet to actually back into the water they politely ask if they can go ahead of you. They go around my vehicle and launch, and I do the same.

Another thing I’ll mention, and you probably already know is to have your tow vehicle and boat in a straight line with the ramp you’re backing down, you will mostly just need to keep your vehicle and trailer straight to get the boat in the water.

Also, if I can see my entire boat behind me, it’s easier than using the side view mirrors. So, when I had a 4Runner I opened the hatch to see the boat while backing, now I have a Tundra truck with a hard cover on the bed, that tilts on hydraulics, so opening the tail gate does not improve my view. I use the camera on the top-rear of the cab and on the tailgate to back the trailer up. If none of that works for you maybe put a plastic (PVC) pipe on each side of the rear of your trailer that also guides your boat back onto the trailer.

Me, when I launch, I get the trailer wheels in the water only, I unhook the wench eye hook (I do not have a roller boat trailer) from the boat and hook a 50’ rope in its place, (the front of the boat is out of the water enough so my feet don’t get wet) hook the other end to your wench hook, float the boat off and with a small sudden stop the boat will go out 50’, I get out of my vehicle, unhook the rope from the trailer strap, walk down the dock and tie the boat off at the end of the “L” shaped dock, out of the way of the next boat launching until I park the tow vehicle and trailer.

Hope this info helps and have fun out there.

The bus Loc: San Francisco ca

Well HD the advice I can give you is to get out on that ramp and just do it if you have a good size ramp that helps. Do it on a weekday,start by having ur truck and trailer lined up straight that helps a great deal, and slow slow slow till you get use to it.Learn to use ur mirrors and as far as embarrassing urself ur going to feel that way no matter if there’s 10 boats on the ramp or zero boats but after a few launches that will go away I’m sure you’ll be fine good luck

Whitey Loc: Southeast ohio

Just have your boat ready before you get to the boat ramp and don't forget the boat plug🤪. I also like to run my boat at home with the ears on it if I haven't been using my boat for a while. Good luck guys and share your pics. Also make sure you have your I's dotted and your T's crossed as in like safety gear and that kind of stuff 👍

Tim Carlisle Loc: AL

Using a rope when you launch solo and even with your wife is a great time saving technique. That is what I do now since I have gotten too old for the climbing acrobatics required launching solo without the rope.

HD FLD

Thanks, great info about being ready before backing in. All that should make our day and others have a good day. Thanks again

HD FLD

Thank you so much for all the great info on how to launch my boat. With all that information this should be a great time for us.

Bcmech1 Loc: Clinton Wisconsin

I found that telling people they need to turn the steering wheel the opposite direction you want the trailer to go confused more than it helped. So now if I'm teaching someone to back up a trailer, I tell them to grip the bottom of the steering wheel and just turn the direction you want the trailer to go. Much easier.