How to Launch Your Inboard Boat Like a Pro!
Busy Boat Ramp
No one is born knowing how to launch your inboard boat like a pro. Have you ever sat in line on a busy day at the boat ramp? There are usually two types of people launching and retrieving boats. There are people who look like they know exactly what they are doing. They are efficient and don’t waste a lot of time fiddling around on the ramp. Then there are those that look lost, frustrated, agitated and look more stressed out than a stockbroker during a market crash. There is a way for the boat ramp to be a happy place and not a nightmare. I will go through the steps to launching your inboard boat like a pro.
1. Before Lake Day
Pro inboard boat launchers are built, not born. The other thing to consider is launching your inboard boat like a pro is actually a two person job. You need a co-launcher. It needs to be someone that is with you the vast majority of the time that you go boating. In my case, my co-launcher is my wife. When we started boating I took the boat trailer and my wife over to an empty church parking lot and we practiced. She also practiced launching and loading the boat off and on the trailer (on slow ramp days). I have always given her the choice of which part of the launch equation she wants to be. She prefers being the boat driver during launches, but everyone is different. Give your co-launcher the option that they are most comfortable performing.
One of the most difficult parts of launching any boat is backing up the trailer. One of the last places you should learn this skill is on a busy boat ramp. Take a big chunk of stress out of launching your boat by practicing to back the trailer. Go to an empty parking lot. A church on most days other than Sundays is a great choice. Boat ramp lanes are wider that parking lot stalls, so allow yourself two stalls width and practice backing up into those stalls. Also practice backing up the trailer some distance, 100 feet or more, as some ramps are long. Get used to how the trailer reacts with input from the steering wheel. Get used to using your side mirrors when backing. Spend some time practicing until you feel comfortable with your new found skills.
2. Pre-Launch at the Ramp
When you get to the boat ramp area, there should be an area where you can get ready to launch your boat. Too many times I see people on the ramp taking one of the launch/retrieve lanes and they are transferring their gear, unhooking tie downs, discussing what they are going to have for dinner that night… This is not the place. The ramp is for launching and retrieving boats and not anything else. Use the parking lot or some pre-launch area to take care of everything prior to launch.
Prior to launch make sure you get your boat driver and any passengers on the boat that want on. Transfer your equipment, coolers, towels, etc on to the boat at this time. Unhook your tie downs for the transom (back of the boat) if you have transom tie downs. Leave your bow winch strap attached to the bow of the boat until you are at the water on the ramp. Leave that bow strap attached so that as you go down the ramp your boat doesn’t make an early exit from the trailer.
Once you think you have everything and everyone on board, take a quick walk around the boat to make sure all is well. I have seen a person back in his boat with the transom tie downs still attached to the trailer. Despite his attempts, he was unable to launch the boat while still attached to the trailer which was attached to the truck. It did make for some great entertainment at the ramp. However, our goal is to not be the entertainment, so take a few seconds and do a final check around the boat and trailer.
Getting ready for fun
3. Co-Launcher
You know the old saying, ‘it takes two to tango…and launch a boat’. OK, well the first part you have heard before and the second part is just as true. Sure you could launch a boat solo and I see far too may people work this way as others in their crew watch helplessly. This is the slow, tedious and often times stressful way to launch your boat.
Remember in step 1 you trained the other half of your team to back up the trailer, so this is where the co-launcher steps up. One person in the boat driver seat and one in the tow vehicle. Time to put that practice to use and back on down that ramp. Remember, use and trust your side mirrors.
When you first line up to back down the ramp make sure your truck and trailer are straightened out. Don’t start backing down the ramp with your trailer 45 degrees misaligned with your truck. Get them straight and aiming the general direction you want to go.
A helpful hint is to pick a perpendicular line to the water that is on the ramp. It could be an actual painted ramp lane line, a joint in the ramp cement, or the dock itself going into the water. Find a line that you can keep the trailer parallel with as you back down the ramp.
Make small corrections as you back down. Too many people look like they are painting huge S’s on the ramp as they back down. Do not get rushed. Many make the mistake of rushing and then jack knife the trailer on the ramp. Take it at a comfortable rate backing down the ramp. Stop to unhook your bow strap just after your trailer wheels disappear below the water line.
4. Launch Depth
At this point your boat is free of all attachments to the trailer other than gravity. The back of the boat is in the water and most likely floating at this time. It is safe for your boat driver to start the boat if your boat hull is in the water.
I generally have my wife start the boat once in the water and I finish dropping the boat in to launch depth. The depth will vary between different boats and trailers, but the tow vehicle driver can tell when the bow of the boat moves up from the trailer. Once the boat is floating, the boat driver can put the boat in reverse and back it off the trailer.
Once the boat has cleared the rear trailer guide posts, the tow vehicle and trailer can head to the parking lot. Find a parking spot that will be easy to get out of when it is time to pick up the boat at the end of the day.
5. Reversing an Inboard
The boat driver has had a pretty easy job up until this point, but now it is time for them to earn their keep. Those that have tried to reverse an inboard boat know that this is not an inboard boat’s strength. As the boat driver coming down the ramp, make a get away plan. How you are going to get away from the ramp area? Take note of where the dock and other boats are in relation to where you want to go.
There are two primary considerations when backing an inboard. 1. Which direction will the back of my boat pull towards? 2. If there is any significant wind, which direction will it push the boat?
What Steering in Reverse?
Inboards generally have no steering control in reverse no matter what you do with the steering wheel. Inboards also will almost always pull to either Port or Starboard, depending on the rotation of the prop. Most boats will pull to the Starboard (right facing the bow) side while a few manufactures including pre 2007 Nautiques will pull to the Port side. When formulating your get away plan, keep the direction your boat pulls to and wind direction in mind.
Get it Turned Around
My advice is to get your boat turned as soon as possible. Use the pull to your advantage and just keep the rudder cranked to the direction you want to go when you going forward. Remember, you can have the rudder anywhere when backing and it really won’t effect direction. Put the boat in gear for just a second or two to keep your speed down when maneuvering at the dock. This will allow you to make corrections and keep the speed down. Remember, take your time and stay calm when maneuvering around the dock and other boats. As long as you are going slow then others on the boat can catch a dock or keep boats from hitting one another.
Get Clear of the Ramp Area
Get clear of the ramp lanes. Do not be the person who pulls their boat off the trailer then ties up to the dock right where the next person wants to launch. It is like parking your car in a lane on the freeway and then wondering why everyone is honking and waving with one finger as they go by. If you want to tie up to the dock go around the dock to the other side away from the ramp lanes.
6. Pick up the Driver
Do not forget your tow vehicle driver. When my wife drives the boat she generally likes to stay clear of the ramp traffic and people tied to the other side of the dock. She likes to just come in and put the bow of the boat near the dock and have me step in. This makes for a fairly easy pick up and get away. Others may prefer to come in like they are tying off the side of the boat to the dock. If you are bringing the side of the boat into the dock to pick up just make sure you have spotters on the front and back of the boat to keep that boat ding free.
Once again, take it slow when using either method. Use short bursts of prop engagement by putting boat in gear for just a second or two at a time. This will keep your speed down and make steering adjustments much easier.
Now it is time to go enjoy your time on the water and have some fun, you earned it!