2010 Trailering tips

[8theB8]

We've all been there, waiting in line to launch your boat while "jack-knife Johnny" takes 30 minutes to get his in the water! Or Mr. Lookatme feels the need make the world wait and watch as he details his high dollar rig right after it leaves the water! I sometimes wonder if anyone actually goes out and practices backing up their trailer after buying a boat or watercraft? Or do they just "figure it out" at the launch?. Sure, I suppose sometimes unfortunately alcohol plays a roll in the mayhem, but geez can it get comical!! So, I thought it might be a good idea for us all to share some trailering / launching tips for the upcoming fishing / boating season..... Here are a few things I have picked up, or learned the hard way over the years:

1) Make small corrections when backing, to avoid the all embarrassing jack knife situation. If you start to get out of shape, simply pull forward to straighten out and start again.
2) Don't get two of your buddies, one on each side of your rig, waving you back...they tend to contradict each other!
3) Be ready to launch BEFORE you launch! Don't prep your boat right before it touches water, do that crap in the parking lot or staging area first!
4) Be courteous, put in, move the boat out of the way and secure it, then move your vehicle to the parking area as quickly and safely as possible.
5) Once you feel your boat start down a ramp, shift your vehicle into neutral and let the weight of the boat ease you into the water, that way you aren't trying to brake against your vehicles transmission as well, and you will be far less likely to skid!
6) Try to avoid very wet slick ramps during take out if you only have a 2-wheel drive, especially if you own a fairly heavy boat! If you only have a one lane ramp, try to get your drive wheel (passenger side) on the driest section available.
7) Be conscious of the wind speed and direction to better maintain control of your craft once it starts to float.
8) EASE the craft into the water, there are no points for distance! It can also be a good idea to walk to the waters edge and check for underwater hazards, or that the lake is deep enough to float your craft off of the trailer?!
9) Take out the same way you put in, don't pull your boat five feet up the ramp and start wiping it off and tying it down! Again, there are usually areas away from the launch to do this.
10) Don't be afraid to lend a hand! If the person in front of you is struggling, as entertaining at times as it may be to sit and watch, feel free to jump out and assist them! Share the knowledge.

I had someone on here once accuse me of being a "professional boat launcher", because I have days where I may fish 2-3 lakes in a single day depending on my mood...and the fact that there are just so many lakes around here that I love to fish for various reasons! I took it as a compliment! Hopefully, anyone who has ever been behind me at a boat launch, has never had a reason to complain, or felt "held up" as a result of my launching skills, that's my goal everytime I launch, that and getting on the water and after the fish as quickly as possible!

So, those are some of my tips, I am sure I forgot some, or there are a few I haven't heard of yet, so feel free to add any of your own.... we all start somewhere, and knowledge and practice are the only keys to a successful and enjoyable launch experience!

Good fishing, and boating to all in 2010!

['OL GREY DOG]

yea you forgot 1...and as "entertaining"as it might be...PUT THE PLUG IN

[fishaholictaz]

This should be moved to the boating topics page. Great info though!!!

[spindog]

Dont park in the staging or turn around areas! I saw a guy leave his rig right in the middle of the turn around, making it allmost impossible to get your own boat launched.

[YellowBear]

Learn to use the mirrors to back up.
When your buddy is holding the rope, don,t pull out fast.
Its tough to start a day with wet feet.
If you have a camper on the rig and you don't know how to use the mirrors, put a ball on the front bumper.
Keep your party in check, to many times I have had kids and pets even adults that should know better walk between my prop and the water.
If you are on a gravel ramp with a 4x4, lock it in before you need it. This will keep you from pelting the boat with rocks and tearing up the ramp for the next guy.
Be thoughtful of others.

[Rich McVey]

Learn to use the mirrors to back up.
When your buddy is holding the rope, don,t pull out fast.
Its tough to start a day with wet feet.
If you have a camper on the rig and you don't know how to use the mirrors, put a ball on the front bumper.
Keep your party in check, to many times I have had kids and pets even adults that should know better walk between my prop and the water.
If you are on a gravel ramp with a 4x4, lock it in before you need it. This will keep you from pelting the boat with rocks and tearing up the ramp for the next guy.
Be thoughtful of others.

Yea, dont laugh at me when I turn my boat sideways in the launch. It wasnt intentional, Glad it was a VERY slow day.

The fam and I are making it a point to practice our launch and recovery each time we go out so we can prevent launch/recovery mishaps so that the ones of you NOT laughing, wont have to wait to long. LOL. Thanks.

[BentRod]

General tip: If you're new to backing a trailer, you don't have to go to the launch to practice. Head to the nearest store with a big parking lot (preferably empty ) and try using your mirrors to back your trailer into the parking spots. The lines will help guide you and there isn't anything to run into. If you have a launching partner, take'em along to work on the directional verbage. Better to get into an argument about "NO, I said to turn LEFT!" in an empty parking lot then on a crowded boat launch. LOL. :thumleft:

[tight lines]

love watching people try and trailer their boats at blue creek. its good for laughs everytime. lmao

[Bodofish]

Yet another sniveling whiner that thinks they are too important to wait for their turn. Sorry but if you have to wait for someone else to launch, it's all your own fault. Next time manage your time a little better and get to the launch earlier. It's a public launch, they can take as much time time as is need to launch. If you need a little critique, I'd be happy to send my wife over to show you how it's done.

[8theB8]

Calm down Mr. Bodofish, I have no problem on waiting my turn...just trying to throw some helpful tips around, I am sure it's no fun for the guy struggling to launch knowing he's being waited on by everyone else, if tips on here help someone be a little smoother, then what's the harm in sharing the knowledge?

Now, on the other hand, if the person thinks they are God's gift to the world and wants to take 30 minutes loading all the crap out of their rig and into their boat right at the launch, because it's a "public" launch and they have the right to take all the time they need, then what about the "rights" of the people behind them wanting to use the same "public" launch? Oh, well screw them, they should have beat him to the launch blah blah....well, sooner or later I am sure they will find the altercation they deserve...

Fortunately I have a very wonderful wife of my own, so I won't be able to accept your offer of yours coming over and showing me how she "backs that thang up"!!! LOL [-x

[spindog]

Yet another sniveling whiner that thinks they are too important to wait for their turn. Sorry but if you have to wait for someone else to launch, it's all your own fault. Next time manage your time a little better and get to the launch earlier. It's a public launch, they can take as much time time as is need to launch. If you need a little critique, I'd be happy to send my wife over to show you how it's done.

Wow! Save us all, You happen to have just taken first place in the sniveling whiner dept! I didn't know public meant
inconvenience others. This thread is about boating etiquette, "not what is your right".......unbelievable!
8theb8
Great idea for a thread!

[Coastfishin]

Well said 8theB8 and Spindog! :thumleft: :thumright

[mav186]

Every year...never fails....common sense and being courteous of others prevails....people who only think of themselves do not....

[fishnislife]

Lots of great info here and I'm sure someone will benefit from it. Great thread 8theB8. I always look forward to your reports. Don't let anyone get to you and keep posting quality info and reports. We could all use the advice you could bring to the table




fishnislife

[Blackmouth]

Yet another sniveling whiner that thinks they are too important to wait for their turn. Sorry but if you have to wait for someone else to launch, it's all your own fault. Next time manage your time a little better and get to the launch earlier. It's a public launch, they can take as much time time as is need to launch. If you need a little critique, I'd be happy to send my wife over to show you how it's done.

Ya, but theres something to be said for others who are waiting in line. Just be swift, do it right and no ones gonna be pissed. Don't dally fart around and no ones gonna get pissed.....

[Bodofish]

Yet another sniveling whiner that thinks they are too important to wait for their turn. Sorry but if you have to wait for someone else to launch, it's all your own fault. Next time manage your time a little better and get to the launch earlier. It's a public launch, they can take as much time time as is need to launch. If you need a little critique, I'd be happy to send my wife over to show you how it's done.

Wow! Save us all, You happen to have just taken first place in the sniveling whiner dept! I didn't know public meant
inconvenience others. This thread is about boating etiquette, "not what is your right".......unbelievable!
8theb8
Great idea for a thread!

Hear the same crap from at least two members a year. We know what to do at the boat launch. The rave is wasted on us. Please check the archives for additional tip for launching.

[Bodofish]

Lots of great info here and I'm sure someone will benefit from it. Great thread 8theB8. I always look forward to your reports. Don't let anyone get to you and keep posting quality info and reports. We could all use the advice you could bring to the table




fishnislife

Just like all the others.

[Rich McVey]

General tip: If you're new to backing a trailer, you don't have to go to the launch to practice. Head to the nearest store with a big parking lot (preferably empty ) and try using your mirrors to back your trailer into the parking spots. The lines will help guide you and there isn't anything to run into. If you have a launching partner, take'em along to work on the directional verbage. Better to get into an argument about "NO, I said to turn LEFT!" in an empty parking lot then on a crowded boat launch. LOL. :thumleft:

Just to clairify, my incident was not backing the rig.

The trailer was backed in to far by another and when I went to attach the tow hook, the boat drifted sideways in the launch as the trailer was to deap to make any contact with the bottom of the boat.

Were going to add roller guides to the trailer here in the next month or so.

[YellowBear]

Good thred 8theB8.
Keep them coming.

[BentRod]

General tip: If you're new to backing a trailer, you don't have to go to the launch to practice. Head to the nearest store with a big parking lot (preferably empty ) and try using your mirrors to back your trailer into the parking spots. The lines will help guide you and there isn't anything to run into. If you have a launching partner, take'em along to work on the directional verbage. Better to get into an argument about "NO, I said to turn LEFT!" in an empty parking lot then on a crowded boat launch. LOL. :thumleft:

Just to clairify, my incident was not backing the rig.

The trailer was backed in to far by another and when I went to attach the tow hook, the boat drifted sideways in the launch as the trailer was to deap to make any contact with the bottom of the boat.

Were going to add roller guides to the trailer here in the next month or so.

Ra, just to let you know, it wasn't directed at you or anyone. Just a general tip I learned when I got a travel trailer. Figured it'd be a good tool for boat trailers too.

Bodo, yes, it might be the same crap every year, but WL also has a lot of new members every year and not everyone thinks it's crap, so a thread that takes up a bit of cyberspace for the benefit of the new members shouldn't do any harm.