Launching Your New Boat

First time boat owners are faced with the daunting task of launching their boat. I remember launching our boat for the first time. Questions circled my mind about what we should do first, how far we needed to back into the water and how we were ever going to get the boat back onto the trailer?

If you are lucky, you have a friend that owns a boat and they may be willing to help you with the ins and outs of launching. Some boating enthusiasts are not that fortunate - or boating friends may raise an eyebrow and ask, "What, are you new?"

I suggest going to the ramp without your boat on a busy day and observing how the ramp traffic moves. Some lawn chairs and a cooler filled with the beverage of your choice may help with this task. Watch how other boaters operate their trailers. Observe different techniques - and mistakes. Most of all learn your boat ramp manners so you can launch like a pro.

For tips on preparing your boat for a day on the water check out Boating Checklist - Step One Be Prepared. Remember to install the plug before you practice launching so you don't sink your boat on your first launch. Once your boat and trailer are hooked to the tow vehicle, the coupling and chains are secured and the trailer lights are operational, here are some launching tips to put you on the water without a hitch.

Who's Doing What?

Teamwork makes launching your boat a breeze. Designate a boat captain - the person who is going to man the boat during the launch and exit. Also decide who is driving the vehicle, handling parking and retrieving the rig when you are ready to exit the water.

Practice Makes Perfect

Go to the nearest boat ramp on a slow day (such as a Wednesday afternoon) and practice backing your boat down the ramp. When you are backing your trailer, you will find that the stern of the boat goes the opposite way of your steering wheel as you turn it. For me this was not the easiest thing to get used to. The more you practice, the easier it gets.

Use your mirrors and physically turn to look back at the boat. Actually, I found that I do not use the mirrors until I am nearing the water; then I check that both trailer tires are even in the water and I am parallel with the slope of the ramp. You also do not want to be too far to one side or the other - the center of the ramp is best.

Go slowly and easily until you are an old hand at backing your trailer down. You can correct your direction better if you are going slow and watching the stern to see where it is going. If you make a mistake put the vehicle in drive and move forward to straighten yourself out.

You should practice backing your boat several times to get the hang of it. Move your steering wheel and watch where the stern goes with the direction you are turning. Learn to correct your position as you back down the ramp to speed up your launch.

Putting Your Boat in the Water

Back your trailer until the tires are in the water and the engine's lower unit water inlet is under water, but the boat is still resting securely on the trailer - and not floating. Your captain should be able to direct you as to how far you are and when you should stop. We use simple arm and hand signals: Fists closed and arms crossed over the head means stop; An open-palm hand motioning toward the driver means back down more; The index finger pointing to the bow means move forward.

When you are positioned, remember to set your parking brake. Unhook your winch and chain so your boat is no longer tethered to the trailer. We forgot the chain once, only once. The engine was in reverse and the stern was floating, but the boat would not launch. Thinking the trailer was not far enough in the water, we noticed the boaters on the ramp next to us laughing, waving and pointing at the bow. Then we realized the chain was still attached. After explaining to the other boaters that we meant to do that, we unhooked the chain and proceeded to launch. It was embarrassing, but things like that happen. Back to launching...

While the boat is still sitting on the bunks and the lower unit is in the water, the captain should start the engine to ensure it will fire up and idle well. It's no fun to let your boat slide off the trailer and float away from the ramp only to find out that your engine won't start. Once it is idling, the captain should direct the driver to back the boat until the stern is floating.

Depending on the depth of the ramp and your boat, you may put the rear wheels of your vehicle in the water to get to this point. The captain should signal to stop when the boat is floating so you do not get your vehicle in too deep. The captain should put the boat in reverse and back the boat off the trailer.

Congratulations, you have launched your boat! Once the driver has parked the rig, they should be picked up at the boat dock.

Returning Your Boat to the Trailer

Putting your boat back on the trailer is pretty much the reverse of launching. The driver should back the trailer until bunks are in the water but not too far. Remember, trailering the boat takes practice too; it may take a few tries to find the trailer sweet spot and its placement in the water. Remember to set the parking brake before loading the boat.

To load the boat, the captain should center the bow to the trailer and drive the boat on slowly. Once the boat is centered, you should winch it until the bow is tight to the roller. Lock the winch and secure the chain. The captain should power off the boat and prepare for exiting the ramp.

Remember your boat ramp manners and attend to stowing any equipment or offloading gear in the parking area, not on the ramp.

Enjoy your boating experience!