"Don White" wrote in message
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"CalifBill" wrote in message
news

"Don White" wrote in message
...

"Vic Smith" wrote in message
...
I was reading some comments about it elsewhere and got to thinking.
When/if I get to the point of launching my own boat, I'll have to
spend some time watching ramp activity before I do it myself.
Used to launch/retrieve with my buddies years ago, but I forgot
everything except how hard it was to crank the boat onto the bunks.
I think the owner was leery of backing in far enough to float it.
Oddly, I don't remember any problems pushing it off when launching.
Maybe we were stronger setting out fishing than we were when we got
back, or maybe it's just how gravity works.
I don't remember any problems at all.
But from my reading it seems the ramp is a good comedy show sometimes,
and a good drama when the hotheads get involved.
Anybody care to share some "outstanding" experiences?

--Vic

I back down until the truck rear tires touch water. I'm especially
careful when in salt water due to potential corrosion.
My open aluminum boat will be partially floating at this point so it's
easy to push off & control. I pull the boat next to the trailer and
lift the bow up enough to slip a couple of fenders under it. I then lay
the anchor forward on the ramp to avoid the boat floating away while I
park the truck/trailer.
With my bigger and much heavier sailboat... solo launch/retrieval was
more troublesome because the boat sat too high to float off/on.


And you screw up the ramp for others while you park the truck. Pull it
off to the side of the ramp area or tie it off to the dock out of the
way.

Don't screw up anything. Here, it's usually quiet at the ramps during the
week and I do move the boat too one side where it waits for me.
Unfortunately, they usually put the little finger docks a small distance
from the ramp.
Makes it a bit of a hassle for solo launches/retrievals.
examples..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...launchramp.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...d/Hpim0187.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...d/Hpim0155.jpg


Pull it over to the docks and tie it off or to the rocks if calm. If
someone else comes up they do not want to wait for you to fart around.
One of our ramps that just reopened.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/10...0226091747.jpg
Has been the low water gravel ramp for 6 months at least to launch. And
this paved ramp is the normal low water ramp. the normal ramp at highwater
is 8 lanes wide.