"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

"CalifBill" wrote in message
m...

"John H" wrote in message
news
On Sat, 28 Feb 2009 14:57:32 GMT, Blazer wrote:

On Sat, 28 Feb 2009 09:40:17 -0500, Gene
wrote:

On Sat, 28 Feb 2009 09:03:14 -0500, John H
wrote:

On Fri, 27 Feb 2009 22:55:20 -0800, "Mike" wrote:


"Vic Smith" wrote in message
news:es2hq4h31778524t9uqd19nd6e1t5i8lbk@4ax. com...
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

Vic,

Unfortunately, some can't offer advice without taking an unwarranted
shot at
another, and not answer the question. You have a legitimate question
that
deserves a
legitimate answer.

You are correct. Go to the ramp, and watch how the experienced guys
(and
gals) are doing it. You'll learn alot. If you offer a hand (which is
always
appreciated), ask questions.

The best advice I can give is to make sure you
back down far enough to wet all of the bunks, then pull back out to
the
proper depth. It's a LOT easier to move a boat on wet bunks rather
than dry.
I actually power my boat all the way up to the stop. You can do this
w/out
revving the engine at the last second. You just need to get a feel for
the
headway speed you need to do it. Many ramps frown of folks revving
their
boats up to the trailer stops. It can make a mess of the bottom of the
ramp,
and kick up all sorts of stuff. So, wet the bunks, and coast up as far
as
you can.

Leave the boat in forward, connect the winch strap, and winch her the
rest
of the way up.
Keeping the boat in forward, even at idle, will help immensely. Jump
back to
the helm,
put her in neutral, and cut the engine(s).

I hope this helps.

--Mike



I have to disagree with having the engine running at all when
retrieving or launching the boat. Our local county ramp has had signs
up for a few years now showing the damage caused by the scouring
action of the propellor when the engine is in gear and pushing water.
Finally, the county has started imposing fines when folks are caught
doing it. I agree wholeheartedly with the idea.

The practice washes the sand/dirt away from the concrete end of the
ramp and even from under the ramp. Without support the ramp begins to
break off, or at the least provide a dropoff to catch trailer tires.

Wetting the bunks helps. But, that can be done with a coffee can in
about four seconds.

That's weird. However, our ramps tend to be rather flat.

Everybody around here bought a drive-on trailer and uses it as
such....

Winching is good exercise. That's why God made 'em. They should be
used.

I agree. Nothing 'weird' about using the winch.
--
Calling an Illegal Alien an "Undocumented Worker" is like calling a
Crack Dealer an "Unlicensed Pharmacist"

John H

Takes too long and if the strap breaks, what then. But we build the ramps
longer here because of big tide changes or large lake level changes.
2-300 ft level change in some lakes.

What? You sippin Kalifornia wine again?
How could a lake... or even the ocean ..raise& lower 200-300 feet?
We have the highest tides in the world here at about 53 feet.
http://www.bayoffundy.com/highesttides.aspx

On Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:11:45 -0600, Vic Smith
wrote:

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.
Melt yourself some paraffin wax get a brush, and put a skimpy coat of
the stuff on the bunks. You can even just rub things down with the
stuff. Of course there will be streaks of wax on the boat, but who
cares how the fish feel about the looks of it. There is also soap,
specifically the big bars of ivory.

Casady

On Sat, 28 Feb 2009 16:47:34 -0400, "Don White"
wrote:

How could a lake... or even the ocean ..raise& lower 200-300 feet?
We have the highest tides in the world here at about 53 feet

The Corp of Engineers lets that much water out, and it will drop that
far.

Casady

"Richard Casady" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:11:45 -0600, Vic Smith
wrote:

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.
Melt yourself some paraffin wax get a brush, and put a skimpy coat of
the stuff on the bunks. You can even just rub things down with the
stuff. Of course there will be streaks of wax on the boat, but who
cares how the fish feel about the looks of it. There is also soap,
specifically the big bars of ivory.

Casady

Some here use the liquid dish soap....... a favourite used to be Joy.... or
Dawn

John H wrote:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/art....html?cat= 11

Again, the purpose of the drive on trailer, according to your cite, is
to save on winching.

If your ramps are not scoured or otherwised damaged by the flow of the
water, then by all means drive on. However, this is not the case for
most concrete ramps.
--
John H


They guy that wrote this article is no expert at boating, or writing.
It is basic information any one of us could write with some bad info
included.

What's up with this?

"A cheap boat trailer more often than not, won't hold up."

Cheap or undersized? What does "won't hold up." mean?

"There won't be as much heat or tread wear on the tires if they rotate
more times per mile."

Really?

"It's fairly safe to say that most boat trailers are weatherized and
protected from rust. If you are in doubt, it would never hurt to have it
rust coated."

Rust coated?

OK, he's an idiot.

On Sat, 28 Feb 2009 16:32:25 -0500, gfretwell wrote:


Your tide is a daily thing. The drop in western lakes is probably going
to just be forever. When they built the dams the rivers were flowing
wild and the valleys filled to 300-400 feet behind the dam. Now the west
is using water a lot faster than the river can put it back so the lakes
are drying up.

Add to that, a drought. Just this past week, Schwarzenegger declared a
drought emergency.

"Don White" wrote in message
...

"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.

"Don White" wrote in message
...

"CalifBill" wrote in message
m...

"John H" wrote in message
news
On Sat, 28 Feb 2009 14:57:32 GMT, Blazer wrote:

On Sat, 28 Feb 2009 09:40:17 -0500, Gene
wrote:

On Sat, 28 Feb 2009 09:03:14 -0500, John H
wrote:

On Fri, 27 Feb 2009 22:55:20 -0800, "Mike" wrote:


"Vic Smith" wrote in message
news:es2hq4h31778524t9uqd19nd6e1t5i8lbk@4ax .com...
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

Vic,

Unfortunately, some can't offer advice without taking an unwarranted
shot at
another, and not answer the question. You have a legitimate question
that
deserves a
legitimate answer.

You are correct. Go to the ramp, and watch how the experienced guys
(and
gals) are doing it. You'll learn alot. If you offer a hand (which is
always
appreciated), ask questions.

The best advice I can give is to make sure you
back down far enough to wet all of the bunks, then pull back out to
the
proper depth. It's a LOT easier to move a boat on wet bunks rather
than dry.
I actually power my boat all the way up to the stop. You can do this
w/out
revving the engine at the last second. You just need to get a feel
for the
headway speed you need to do it. Many ramps frown of folks revving
their
boats up to the trailer stops. It can make a mess of the bottom of
the ramp,
and kick up all sorts of stuff. So, wet the bunks, and coast up as
far as
you can.

Leave the boat in forward, connect the winch strap, and winch her the
rest
of the way up.
Keeping the boat in forward, even at idle, will help immensely. Jump
back to
the helm,
put her in neutral, and cut the engine(s).

I hope this helps.

--Mike



I have to disagree with having the engine running at all when
retrieving or launching the boat. Our local county ramp has had signs
up for a few years now showing the damage caused by the scouring
action of the propellor when the engine is in gear and pushing water.
Finally, the county has started imposing fines when folks are caught
doing it. I agree wholeheartedly with the idea.

The practice washes the sand/dirt away from the concrete end of the
ramp and even from under the ramp. Without support the ramp begins to
break off, or at the least provide a dropoff to catch trailer tires.

Wetting the bunks helps. But, that can be done with a coffee can in
about four seconds.

That's weird. However, our ramps tend to be rather flat.

Everybody around here bought a drive-on trailer and uses it as
such....

Winching is good exercise. That's why God made 'em. They should be
used.

I agree. Nothing 'weird' about using the winch.
--
Calling an Illegal Alien an "Undocumented Worker" is like calling a
Crack Dealer an "Unlicensed Pharmacist"

John H

Takes too long and if the strap breaks, what then. But we build the
ramps longer here because of big tide changes or large lake level
changes. 2-300 ft level change in some lakes.

What? You sippin Kalifornia wine again?
How could a lake... or even the ocean ..raise& lower 200-300 feet?
We have the highest tides in the world here at about 53 feet.
http://www.bayoffundy.com/highesttides.aspx


Lake Oroville is 700+' deep at highwater levels. Drop it 300' and still
400' of water in the deeper channels.

"Richard Casady" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 28 Feb 2009 16:47:34 -0400, "Don White"
wrote:

How could a lake... or even the ocean ..raise& lower 200-300 feet?
We have the highest tides in the world here at about 53 feet

The Corp of Engineers lets that much water out, and it will drop that
far.

Casady


http://www.lakeoroville.water.ca.gov...WPbenefits.cfm