Things I Wish I Knew Then--Boat Ramp Edition

[BRS]

I cannot turn off my headlights at night.. I have a 02 Suburban and the lights have a sensor.

On some vehicles you can just barely press the emergency brake in and that will kill the lights.

[Dave Stewart]

I have over the years seen many boats sitting on the ramp or bouncing down a ramp because someone unhooked the bow strap before they got the boat down to the water and the boat came sliding off. Have assisted some folks a number of times in getting their boats back on the trailer or in the water because they were blocking the ramp because they did this. It is rare that this happens...but it does happen..and it doesn't take but once to put your boat out of commission. Unhooking a bow strap before launching is NOT a good practice and you will never see me doing that.

[FlyLie]

Did that ONCE when I got my first boat. At the time I mostly fished by myself, so had no help in launching the boat. Thinking/or NOT Thinking at the time was; Remove the Tie Down, Unstrap the boat and put out about 20 feet of slack bow line. Then, just as trailer goes into the water, HITTHE BRAKES HARD, and whamO, the boat would be in the water. Tie it off, park the truck and go fish!...... Didn't work that way.....

Half way down the ramp, had to touch the brakes, not hard, just touch them. Looked back and got a sick feeling as I saw the boat sliding off the trailer. Man did I luck out. Boat stayed on the trailer and the motor lower unit was still about 2 inches from the the ramp. Huffed and Pushed the boat back on to the trailer. LESSON LEARNED!

[bmck25]

I actually had a friend who had a ski boat, he would not unstrap his boat until he was right at the edge of the water. Once I asked him about it and he thought I was crazy. He actually thought that his boat may slide off the trailer while backing in. This was a 24foot with an inboard V8. You couldn't have drug that thing off with a truck.

That is why people do that dumb stuff they just don't know.

That ski boat may not slide off, I don't know. I have seen 2 bass boats end up on the ramp though. Both were being backed in and the person driving hit the brakes a little too hard. Both boat slid right off. This was at the same ramp, different times. The ramp is kind of steep. I always leave my bow hook on until I get into the water.

[Duayne]

That ski boat may not slide off, I don't know. I have seen 2 bass boats end up on the ramp though. Both were being backed in and the person driving hit the brakes a little too hard. Both boat slid right off. This was at the same ramp, different times. The ramp is kind of steep. I always leave my bow hook on until I get into the water.

I saw this happen once, almost. But the guy had only loosened his bow tie up some and he had rollers instead of carpet. Luckily, it didn't roll down too far and he was able to crank it back up some.

I also unplug my lights just in case there is a leak, which will happen sooner or later to most housings.

[BRS]

I actually had a friend who had a ski boat, he would not unstrap his boat until he was right at the edge of the water. Once I asked him about it and he thought I was crazy. He actually thought that his boat may slide off the trailer while backing in. This was a 24foot with an inboard V8. You couldn't have drug that thing off with a truck.

That is why people do that dumb stuff they just don't know.

Hunter I had a couple of my friends that were backing their boat down the ramp at Beaver Creek in Cumberland and they had all straps loose. So some where part of the way down the ramp... Woops boat came sliding off. And to make things worse one of them had borrow it from his Father N Law. Just the ideal of lossing the boat off trailer would have done my night in let on having to go and tell my Father N law about it but not these guys they pushed the boat on down the ramp and still went fishing. Boat was a Tracker aluminum boat and not that old either. So I might loose all other straps and have the plug in but I do not release the main strap till I am ready to put in. Better safe then sorry.

[ON3 3Y3D WILLI3]

I'm usually ready to launch my boat before I leave my driveway so I do fine getting her in in a timely fashion. My problem comes when I am solo and I'm trying to get my boat back on the trailer. Tie up to the dock, haul-a** up the hill to the truck, haul-a** back down the ramp, jump back in the boat, line her up, and winch her on. My boat likes to drift a little in the back leaving it unaligned so I usually have to get wet and manually guide it onto the bunks. This is difficult when you're solo. Sometimes she'll go on, no sweat, other times (in wind esp.) it can be a nightmare. Now, I am the most considerate guy you're going to meet on a ramp. I'm going to automatically assume that you know more than me, and that you are in a bigger hurry than me, and I'm going to show you that respect. I'm going to go as fast as I can while insuring that me, my equipment, and those around me are safe and secure. What I won't tolerate, however, is impatience and sideways glances from impatient people. If I'm having trouble getting my boat on and I'm wet to the ****, noticeably frustrated, and noticeably in a hurry so you can back in don't say anything snide, and don't look at me like I'm insane. I'm not baiting my hook or re-spooling my reels on the ramp (I've seen this), I'm actively attempting to get outta your way and on my way.
I guess my suggestion boils down to this: Help out your fellow boaters and one day (that day will come), maybe you'll get the help you need. If some old salty dog is completely rude to the new guy on the ramp, new guy could get all jumpy and nervous rushing to secure his equipment...well, things tend to crack under pressure and it's best to be calm, cool, and collected so that no one's person or property gets hurt. Everyone's boat and time costs money, everyone's trip is equally special and planned out, and everyone was new to boating, trailers, and ramps sometime in their lives.

[gocards40]

"Everyone's boat and time costs money, everyone's trip is equally special and planned out, and everyone was new to boating, trailers, and ramps sometime in their lives. "

I concur!

[rme hunter]

If you are having trouble with your boat drifting when loading try leaving the trailer out of the water a little farther and give her a little more juice and run the boat up on there. It will help with the drifting. I had the same problem.

[jamesdenson]

i think that is about 99 percent of most peoples problems everyone wants to back the trailer in to far. my first time to the lake. a friend of mine showed me how to do it 15 years ago and since then i have had several boats big and small. never had a problem loading any of them.

[bigboyjon]

A lot of trucks have auto headlights. Mine you can keep emergancy brake on before starting, and keep it on, to keep lights off. Kinda hard to do with out restarting truck a few times. Just never like to turn truck off on that steep of a hill with only one way to go.

[Wichita]

If you are having trouble with your boat drifting when loading try leaving the trailer out of the water a little farther and give her a little more juice and run the boat up on there. It will help with the drifting. I had the same problem.

I tend to scoot more towards the center of the boat so that mine goes on the bunks straighter!