Stupid boat launching question
 

I bought a 13-foot aluminum boat and trailer this summer. I never owned one
before, so I had to figure out how to get it into the water using a boat
launching ramp. As far as I can tell, part of that process includes backing
the trailer into the water and then actually having to wade into the water a
short distance to push the boat off the trailer.

My stupid question is: Now that it's getting cold outside, if I want to
launch the boat in cold weather, do I actually have to wade into icy cold
water on a cold day to do that? I assume there must be another way to do
this.

Stupid boat launching question
 

Alta47 wrote:
I bought a 13-foot aluminum boat and trailer this summer. I never owned one
before, so I had to figure out how to get it into the water using a boat
launching ramp. As far as I can tell, part of that process includes backing
the trailer into the water and then actually having to wade into the water a
short distance to push the boat off the trailer.

My stupid question is: Now that it's getting cold outside, if I want to
launch the boat in cold weather, do I actually have to wade into icy cold
water on a cold day to do that? I assume there must be another way to do
this.




The question isn't stupid, especially for a newbie.

If you have a roller trailer, which I suspect you do not, the boat will
roll off the trailer into the water, assuming any sort of incline on the
boat ramp. Make sure you keep the boat attacked to the trailer until you
want it to roll off!

Bunk trailer requires you to back down the ramp far enough for the stern
of the boat to float free. Once it does, you usually can push a light
boat off the trailer with an oar or boathook at the bow.

Stupid boat launching question
 

On Nov 4, 10:04*am, Boater wrote:
Alta47 wrote:
I bought a 13-foot aluminum boat and trailer this summer. *I never owned one
before, so I had to figure out how to get it into the water using a boat
launching ramp. *As far as I can tell, part of that process includes backing
the trailer into the water and then actually having to wade into the water a
short distance to push the boat off the trailer.

My stupid question is: Now that it's getting cold outside, if I want to
launch the boat in cold weather, do I actually have to wade into icy cold
water on a cold day to do that? *I assume there must be another way to do
this.

The question isn't stupid, especially for a newbie.

If you have a roller trailer, which I suspect you do not, the boat will
roll off the trailer into the water, assuming any sort of incline on the
boat ramp. Make sure you keep the boat attacked to the trailer until you
want it to roll off!

Seeing how you found it just incredible that Justa made a spelling
error, it's ATTACHED, not attacked.

Stupid boat launching question
 

On Tue, 4 Nov 2008 10:01:02 -0500, "Alta47"
wrote:

I bought a 13-foot aluminum boat and trailer this summer. I never owned one
before, so I had to figure out how to get it into the water using a boat
launching ramp. As far as I can tell, part of that process includes backing
the trailer into the water and then actually having to wade into the water a
short distance to push the boat off the trailer.

My stupid question is: Now that it's getting cold outside, if I want to
launch the boat in cold weather, do I actually have to wade into icy cold
water on a cold day to do that? I assume there must be another way to do
this.

You can push the boat with an oar. It is small enough to row if the
motor goes on strike, so you really ought to have a pair. If you are
on a starvation budget, get a piece of 1x2 about ten feet long.

Casady

Stupid boat launching question
 

On Nov 4, 11:20 am, (Richard Casady)
wrote:
On Tue, 4 Nov 2008 10:01:02 -0500, "Alta47"
wrote:

I bought a 13-foot aluminum boat and trailer this summer. I never owned one
before, so I had to figure out how to get it into the water using a boat
launching ramp. As far as I can tell, part of that process includes backing
the trailer into the water and then actually having to wade into the water a
short distance to push the boat off the trailer.

My stupid question is: Now that it's getting cold outside, if I want to
launch the boat in cold weather, do I actually have to wade into icy cold
water on a cold day to do that? I assume there must be another way to do
this.

You can push the boat with an oar. It is small enough to row if the
motor goes on strike, so you really ought to have a pair. If you are
on a starvation budget, get a piece of 1x2 about ten feet long.

Casady

When I was younger and in college, one quarter I "coded" accident
reports for the Florida Highway patrol meaning that I read the report
and filled in computer forms about them. The best one I ever read
involved someone at a boat ramp.
When he backed his truck down to the ramp and launched his boat, it
slid off the trailer into the water by itself. He decided to take off
his clothes and swim out to the boat. When he got to the boat, he
turned to see his truck roll backwards into the water. Sitting in the
boat, he realized he didnt have the drain plug. The trooper remarked
that the poor guy had a bad enough day that charging him with indecent
exposure would have been cruel.
Another accident I remember involved someones pet turtle that crawled
under the brake pedal.

Stupid boat launching question
 

"Alta47" wrote in message
...
I bought a 13-foot aluminum boat and trailer this summer. I never owned
one before, so I had to figure out how to get it into the water using a
boat launching ramp. As far as I can tell, part of that process includes
backing the trailer into the water and then actually having to wade into
the water a short distance to push the boat off the trailer.

My stupid question is: Now that it's getting cold outside, if I want to
launch the boat in cold weather, do I actually have to wade into icy cold
water on a cold day to do that? I assume there must be another way to do
this.


That's what I do... and our water is way colder in the early spring than it
is now. (North Atlantic)
I suppose the girliemen might use fishing type waders.

Stupid boat launching question
 

"Boater" wrote in message
...

The question isn't stupid, especially for a newbie.

If you have a roller trailer, which I suspect you do not, the boat will
roll off the trailer into the water, assuming any sort of incline on the
boat ramp. Make sure you keep the boat attacked to the trailer until you
want it to roll off!

Bunk trailer requires you to back down the ramp far enough for the stern
of the boat to float free. Once it does, you usually can push a light boat
off the trailer with an oar or boathook at the bow.

Thanks. I didn't know there were roller trailers and bunk trailers. So, I
just did an Internet search about the two and found some good information,
including a forum where people were comparing the pros and cons of each one.

I'll try the idea of using an oar or boathook to push the boat off the
trailer instead of standing in the water and pushing it off. I'll bet that
will work.

Stupid boat launching question
 

"Richard Casady" wrote in message
...

You can push the boat with an oar. It is small enough to row if the
motor goes on strike, so you really ought to have a pair. If you are
on a starvation budget, get a piece of 1x2 about ten feet long.

Thanks. I am about to buy a pair of oars anyway. The boat came with one
oar/paddle. But it already has oar hooks installed so I just need to buy
the oars.

Stupid boat launching question
 

Boater wrote:
Alta47 wrote:
I bought a 13-foot aluminum boat and trailer this summer. I never
owned one before, so I had to figure out how to get it into the water
using a boat launching ramp. As far as I can tell, part of that
process includes backing the trailer into the water and then actually
having to wade into the water a short distance to push the boat off
the trailer.

My stupid question is: Now that it's getting cold outside, if I want
to launch the boat in cold weather, do I actually have to wade into
icy cold water on a cold day to do that? I assume there must be
another way to do this.



The question isn't stupid, especially for a newbie.

If you have a roller trailer, which I suspect you do not, the boat will
roll off the trailer into the water, assuming any sort of incline on the
boat ramp. Make sure you keep the boat attacked to the trailer until you
want it to roll off!

Bunk trailer requires you to back down the ramp far enough for the stern
of the boat to float free. Once it does, you usually can push a light
boat off the trailer with an oar or boathook at the bow.

Tell him about your 300' bowline theory.

Stupid boat launching question
 

"Alta47" wrote in message
...
I bought a 13-foot aluminum boat and trailer this summer. I never owned
one before, so I had to figure out how to get it into the water using a
boat launching ramp. As far as I can tell, part of that process includes
backing the trailer into the water and then actually having to wade into
the water a short distance to push the boat off the trailer.

My stupid question is: Now that it's getting cold outside, if I want to
launch the boat in cold weather, do I actually have to wade into icy cold
water on a cold day to do that? I assume there must be another way to do
this.


Put a line / rope just a little shorter than the boat attached from the bow
the winch post of the trailer. Back down enough to float the boat a little
and let the boat drift back. Pull forward enough to get the line without
getting wet and pull the boat over to the dock. You want the rope a little
shorter than the boat so if the line falls overboard, it does not get
tangled in the prop.

Stupid boat launching question
 

"Calif Bill" wrote in message
m...

Put a line / rope just a little shorter than the boat attached from the
bow the winch post of the trailer. Back down enough to float the boat a
little and let the boat drift back. Pull forward enough to get the line
without getting wet and pull the boat over to the dock. You want the rope
a little shorter than the boat so if the line falls overboard, it does not
get tangled in the prop.

Interesting idea. Thanks. I'll try it.

Stupid boat launching question
 

wrote in message
...
I load a pontoon on a trailer and it needs some coaxing sometime. The
trick is to get a "salt water treated" PT 2x12 and bolt it down on the
trailer next to the center roller. Then you can walk on the trailer
instead of that slimy ramp.
I used hot dipped carriage bolts and backer plates from the trailer
guy under the stringers so I had the rounded heads on the walking
surface.

Thanks. I'll check that out and see if that looks like something I can do
on the trailer I have (probably, "yes").

I am amazed at all of the different ideas and tricks people here have
suggested.

Stupid boat launching question
 

On Nov 4, 8:33*pm, DK wrote:
Boater wrote:
Alta47 wrote:
I bought a 13-foot aluminum boat and trailer this summer. *I never
owned one before, so I had to figure out how to get it into the water
using a boat launching ramp. *As far as I can tell, part of that
process includes backing the trailer into the water and then actually
having to wade into the water a short distance to push the boat off
the trailer.

My stupid question is: Now that it's getting cold outside, if I want
to launch the boat in cold weather, do I actually have to wade into
icy cold water on a cold day to do that? *I assume there must be
another way to do this.

The question isn't stupid, especially for a newbie.

If you have a roller trailer, which I suspect you do not, the boat will
roll off the trailer into the water, assuming any sort of incline on the
boat ramp. Make sure you keep the boat attacked to the trailer until you
want it to roll off!

Bunk trailer requires you to back down the ramp far enough for the stern
of the boat to float free. Once it does, you usually can push a light
boat off the trailer with an oar or boathook at the bow.

Tell him about your 300' bowline theory.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Now that's funny!!!

Stupid boat launching question
 

On Wed, 5 Nov 2008 12:32:27 -0500, "Alta47" wrote:

wrote in message
.. .
I load a pontoon on a trailer and it needs some coaxing sometime. The
trick is to get a "salt water treated" PT 2x12 and bolt it down on the
trailer next to the center roller. Then you can walk on the trailer
instead of that slimy ramp.
I used hot dipped carriage bolts and backer plates from the trailer
guy under the stringers so I had the rounded heads on the walking
surface.

Thanks. I'll check that out and see if that looks like something I can do
on the trailer I have (probably, "yes").

I am amazed at all of the different ideas and tricks people here have
suggested.

Here's a real easy one. Get to the launch ramp early and watch other folks.
You'll learn some good techniques, and laugh your butt off at some of the
'not so good' techniques.
--
A Harry Krause truism:

"It's not a *baby* kicking, beautiful bride, it's just a fetus!"
[A Narcissistic Hypocrite]

Stupid boat launching question
 

"JohnH" wrote in message
...
Here's a real easy one. Get to the launch ramp early and watch other
folks.
You'll learn some good techniques, and laugh your butt off at some of the
'not so good' techniques.

Oh, so THAT'S why I always see people laughing while my 13 year-old nephew
and I are trying to get my new (used) boat in and out of the water! :-)

(Actually, we're usually the ones laughing. It's a real Keystone Cops
routine so far, but I'm getting better at it each time.)

Stupid boat launching question
 

On Wed, 5 Nov 2008 15:03:46 -0500, "Alta47" wrote:

"JohnH" wrote in message
.. .
Here's a real easy one. Get to the launch ramp early and watch other
folks.
You'll learn some good techniques, and laugh your butt off at some of the
'not so good' techniques.

Oh, so THAT'S why I always see people laughing while my 13 year-old nephew
and I are trying to get my new (used) boat in and out of the water! :-)

(Actually, we're usually the ones laughing. It's a real Keystone Cops
routine so far, but I'm getting better at it each time.)


You'll get it. Just go slow the first few times. It's those who try to set
speed records and show their 'expertise' that make most of the big
boo-boos!
--
A Harry Krause truism:

"It's not a *baby* kicking, beautiful bride, it's just a fetus!"
[A Narcissistic Hypocrite]

Stupid boat launching question
 

When you get to the ramp, there is usually a place to pull off and prep your
boat without being on the ramp itself. You can take all the time you need,
making sure everything is ready for launching.
Many beginners pull onto the ramp and then take up valuable time loading and
prepping the boat for the actual launch, and that is exasperating for other
boaters that may be waiting to use the ramp. When you are on the ramp and
launch your boat, the only thing that you should have to load into it is
people, and the bowline.