I’ve been using boat ramps for the last 40 years. I’m an old Florida native so I know what I’m talking about. Every single thing in this video is spot on. For beginners, watching this video will teach them a great deal.
I always open a window in the tow vehicle while backing up. That way if there is an issue someone can warn you. It could be a kid, dog anything. Too many time I see the windows closed, AC On, radio on. There is no way anyone can warn you of a possible problem
I do the same along with all of those reasons even though I don’t plan on it of my truck were to slip down the ramp it’s a hell of a lot easier to jump out if the windows are down
I have dropped my boat hundreds of times. And yet, here I am watching this video. Nothing I would change about what is said. Everyone should watch this when they get their firsr boat.
I know most people unhook the boat from the winch before backing down, but I’ve seen two boats end up on concrete doing this. I always keep the boat hooked up until my winch is close to the waterline. Takes 10 seconds to get out of my truck and unclip…. worth the peace of mind. Both boats were 20 foot aluminum bass boats with large (but factory recommended) outboards. Slide right off the trailer on dry bunks.
Exactly so. I take off the safety chain when I set up the boat but I leave the winch on until it's in the water. It only takes a second to undo, but it can save you from a very bad day.
I keep the winch and safety chain both hooked until the boat is in the water and it is time to launch. There is no way that I would trust using the winch only.
Love the pickup with 231,000 miles. I drove my Tahoe for 21 years and had about the same. No payments. Saved me a lot of money and towed my boat great.
NEVER EVER leave the helm with your motor in gear! I've been trailering since 1973 and I've seen my share of boat ramp incidents! Another rule of thumb is to back the trailer until the trailer fenders are barely under water. And with a pick up lower the tailgate before backing down the ramp, this helps visibility and a platform to access the winch.
Motor in gear??? yeah agreed. But WTF does that have to do with this? Trailer fenders...what size of trailer?, flat bottom or deep vee boat, rollers or bunks. Relative you think? Maybe you've only been launching one size boat/ trailer on similar grade launches.. Because otherwise you would recognize the difference. OBTW... been launching boats in Maine, Alaska, Oregon since I was 18, I'm 70 now... so you know.
@@bobsouthwick4857 He had the motor in gear and left the helm in this video. I've had bunk and roller trailers for the boats I've had. When backing down a ramp and good rule of thump is to stop just when the trailer fenders are barely submerged. It's not absolute depending on tide, the pitch of the ramp and style of boat but it's a good starting point.
@@bobsouthwick4857 I've been launching boats since I was 14, and I'm 65 now. I grew up working our family marina since I was 5 years old. I was launching boats before I was licensed to drive.
Never shut your vehicle off when launching or loading. We had a truck that couldn't restart due to a bad starter. One of the busiest days of the summer too. Took over an hour to get a tow truck to pull it out. Some people weren't too happy either!
The best advice I would add to this video is to purchase a mechanic's helper which is short adjustable pole that you can use to apply the brakes with the helper wedged under the front seat. With brakes applied both front and back wheels are locked with brakes while you are out of the vehicle. Putting a truck in park or using a parking brake only locks the rear wheels which may be sitting on moist, slippery moss. Check out tow vehicle retrieval videos and you will see the back wheels are locked as they are towed out. The mechanics helper is about $40 and takes seconds to apply and prevents a major catastrophe every time.
To learn to drive the boat onto the trailer find a time to practice when the ramp is empty or uncrowded if there are multiple ramps and then just get the boat centered on the bunks. You don’t have drive all the way on just get it on far enough you know you can drive or winch it. Back off far enough that you have to make a new approach. Keep repeating until you feel competent. Try doing this in different wind and current combinations. You will be glad you did when the pressure is on.
1. 4 wheel drive will not help you stop on a slippery ramp. 2. Trailer position in the water changes with tide, rain, water releases etc. 3. Instead of practicing trailer backing at the boat ramp with eyes on you and pissing everyone off, try practicing in an empty parking lot.
I am a truck driver with over 25 years of experience. I never turn my head because it confuses me. I only use mirrors, even if the right one freaks me out.
Yeah, my problem is the opposite, I spend most of my time moving boats with a forklift from the front so it takes me twice as long to use the mirrors so I just turn around still :/
Awesome content thanks. I have a similar rig and launch solo. For me I have a point memorized where I keep the front bunks out of the water. This is so I can “stick” the front of the boat in all conditions. Windy, tide ripping etc. Also on that rope attached to the truck - careful not getting distracted and forgetting to undo the rope. When you take the trailer back to park you might drag your boat with you!
Very well done! I will add that a standard wheel chock doesn't help on a steep ramp unless it is a really large one that costs quite a bit. I found that out when actually testing mine out to see if it would fail!
Thank you brother now I know how to offload and load a boat from a trailer the right way. God bless you and your family brother. See you on the next one
Great instructional video. I launched a boat many times with my dad before I was old enough to drive; I watched and learned some, but I don't remember him ever going through the process step-by-step with me. I wish he'd been patient and taken the time to explain it the way you did. As an adult I tried to remember what I'd seen him do, and got it mostly 😄 right. I just picked up some good tips. Thanks.
Great advice. My shifter cable broke when my wife was backing the boat in the water. On top of that we had a Nissan pickup that are notorious for having poor parking brakes. Luckily for us there was a good samaritan at the ramp that bailed us out. Now we have chokes and a tow strap.
Great video and I love the boat coming off on to the ramp . The boat and guys are from an Aussie tv show . No damage was done and I had one of those tough Aussie boats
Even if you're an experienced boat launcher, watch this video. There is a cool tool I made to lock all four weeks using my brakes. Measure the distance between the front of the seat and the applied brake pedal. Using a piece of 1.5" PVC cut it to that length. Add end caps to the PVC. The end caps protect your seat and add the little more length you need for a friction fit as the front of the seat will give when this PVC is installed. Now all four wheels have applied brakes.
I launch a 25 Foot Panga Boat with my 2017 Kia Sedona Minivan and it's super easy with that vehicle because I open the back gate open , I turn sideways in my seat, hold the steering wheel with one hand and looking straight back I back straight back into the water every time. With a Pickup Truck you can lower the back down and you can see everything behind you. So many guys in SUV's and Pickups leave the back gate closed and use the rearview mirror to back up. I never use the rearview mirror , I just look at the sideview mirror a couple times to see if anybody /vehicle is nearby. I'm 60 years old , I launch my 25 footer all by myself and never had any trouble. Very easy to handle a Panga Boat at the Ramp. And you don't need a Mack Truck to tow it either. My FWD Minivan pulls it out every time , even at dead low tide when there's a very sharp incline and the ramp is wet. Keep the Boat strap(s) on and the bow connected to the Winch chain until you're very close to the water, otherwise the boat could roll off going down . Same going out, make sure you connect the winch chain to the hook in front, otherwise the boat might roll off if the outboard motor hits the bottom at low tide at the ramp. That happened to my Boat once, no damage at all . I thought just having it connected to the Winch strap was all I had to do to secure the boat. I pulled the boat out at dead low tide and the bottom of the engine hit the bottom and pulled the boat off the trailer about 2/3's of the way. Thank goodness there was no damage with the flat Panga hull in back , skid on the metal keel protector strip on the bottom. After that I always secure the bow with the WINCH CHAIN.
When putting the boat back on the trailer, try to get it lined up. Wind and or current may not allow for that. The key is to have the bow between the bunks/rollers. The boat will stop and be crooked. Nothing to worry about as boat is between the bunks. The bow may still be floating or just barely on the trailer. Turn the steering wheel so the bow will turn towards the trailer bow stop. Put the boat in forward and the boat should now be starting to align itself on the bunks. Slowly power up the boat using the steering wheel to keep the bow of the boat center as it moves up and onto the trailer.
One thing you didn’t mention. After pulling out of the water, move to a location that allows others use the ramp.. Don’t block the ramp while you uncork the drains. Do your tie downs scratch your butt and admire how well you did. Be courteous to others and get out of their way.
I launch my boat 3-4times a week and I will say with confidence I never was that guy at the ramp. Since day 1 I was that guy who did it 1 and done. That being said did I get better over the years… most definitely
For the past 50 years I have been launching mostly on rivers in current which always changes due to water level. Every boat trailer combo is different but usually the most common mistake is getting the trailer to far or deep in when trying to load back up, the boat must have some contact in front whether bunks or rollers to straighten itself out as boat is winched.
Another great video from you. I would also mention launch and retrieve is a lot of muscle memory so when I’m launching a lot it all makes sense, but if it’s been awhile it’s easy to lose some skills! Good to do a practice run in your head before jumping in line.
The D with overdrive was the only complaint I have. As a car guy, I know that the truck has no intention of shifting into overdrive until you are moving at least 40 mph. Shifting to 1 or 2 will only prevent it from shifting past those gears. But leaving it in D will be no problem.
For most vehicles, putting it in 2nd keeps it on 2nd, not 1st and 2nd. Therefore, when pulling the boat out of the water, it's better to put it in 2nd to reduce the possibility of wheel spin.
Nice video, however I would suggest using the side mirrors while backing instead of looking out the back window. Also have driver and passenger windows down so you can hear for warnings better.
Turning around and actually using your vision to back, the trailer is a learned skill. Once you learn it, it is much better than using your mirrors. In fact, backing without a trailer It is better to turn around and look.
I never drive the trailer so far into the water the boat float up. My trailer has rubber rollers, and this is the most common in Norway. I avoid having the trailers break drum in the water also. I guess in US this is mostly a freshwater phenomen, and not that much corrosion. Greetings from Oslo Norway😊
I guess theres many right ways to do it. I tie the bow line to a cleat near the ramp, unhook the winch, back in and stomp on the brake, boat floats away but is tethered, go park the trailer, come back and haul the boat in to the dock. Cant do this everywhere but it works where I am and its works solo. I only ever had to swim after the boat once.
Great video could you make some handling videos as well like from start to finish? Launch, load, handling and basic boating I like how you present the material in an easy to understand format!
There's a few extra tricks using the parking brake with manual transmissions, or even with automatics, but that applies to any hill start not just boat ramps. Great video BAB 👍😎✊
Good idea, thanks. It Could be interesting to see a video on how to set up the bow stop. A common issue for most new boaters is taking the boat out of the water because it is too high.
Get AAA towing just in case you can't get the trailer up the ramp. TowBoat USA and Maybe Sea Tow have Trailer Assist you can call for help if you're having a problem with your trailer or can't get it up the ramp.You don't wanna waste time trying to get a tow with the tide coming in.
How about adding that to be sure it is legal at your ramp to power load your boat. Most of the ramps I've been to in Michigan say no power loading. Power loading can damage a ramp by washing away the sand/dirt supporting the bottom of the concrete.
There are ramps here in Australia that forbid this, too. Reason being, it churns up the sand at the bottom of the ramp and creates a hole for people to inadvertently reverse into (I'm talking salt water ramps here). A lot of fishing clubs have private ramps for their members and they will ban anybody from using them if they are caught doing it. My tip: Get an electric winch with a remote control ;)
I was going to make the same comment. Many ramps discourage or outright prohibit power loading. This is especially the case where there is little or no paved ramp as power loading will dig out pits in the bottom causing different length trailers to potentially hang up. Best bet is to get the boat on as straight and far as possible with your initial approach, then finish with the winch.
If you are from the rust belt and don't use the parking brake often, don't use it to launch your boat... it won't disengage and you will have locked up brakes... also, putting your truck in drive is just fine. It won't shift out of 1st until you reach 5-10 mph any way. If you have a heavy boat, and a four wheel drive truck, then I would use 4 low, that will give you more torque to pull it out... just my 2 cents.
If you unload your boat by yourself, you should have a pre-measured length of rope, slightly longer than your trailer, attached to the most front located cleat and then tied to your trailer winch. Once your winch line is removed at water line, the boat can be backed into the water until it floats off. Then, slowly pull forward and your rope will pull the boat behind the trailer so you can unhook it from the trailer without getting your feet wet. It's quick and you can get out of everyone's way. Also, your reference on the water line when you launch may not be the same as when you take your boat out of the water due to tidal movement. Use the depth of your trailer when you launch as your reference for how far you back your trailer in.
Its interesting to see how different you do it in the US. Here in Denmark we have rollers on the trailer (I dont think ive ever seen bunks), and we rarely back the trailer further down than the tires. Saltwater and trailers do not mix well.
Pretty good video other than the fact you needed to look over your shoulder to reverse. If you can reverse a small trailer using mirrors only you can reverse anything.
I figure I've been out 19 times. I sure hope #20 is magical LOL Luckily mine is a kayak because so far everywhere I've been the ramps suck and I doubt they ever get deep enough to float off. I got sick of trying and push it off/lift it on. I'm learning where not to go when I get a bigger boat. Tip: non-slip tape for the trailer.
Great video simple to the point, although a very stressful situation the first few times you can assure it will get better later, my rule of thumb is "no kids around during this process", trust me...thanks Aaron for sharing.
When loading my bass boat I’ll dunk the bunks and pull up so the longer bunks are about 2-3in out of water and drive up, idk if that would be the same for larger boats but I’ve see a few guys smack the hull and crack it on the roller bracket from the trailer being in too deep.
I noticed you used a block of wood for your transom saver. With all the different options out there for transom savers it would be nice to see a video of the pros and cons of the various options and if a cheap block of wood is just as good as an expensive transom saver someone can buy. Great videos!
Depends on how far you are going and what the set up looks like, a true transom saver is going to go from the lower unit down to the trailer, but they all call them transom savers lol :) the block of wood mainly helps the trim unit when going down the road, doesn't really take a ton of the stress off the transom, but it does take some off of it
@ Thank you. I have a 2022 Pathfinder 2200 TRS on an Ameratrail trailer. My understanding of the transom saver is it attaches to the roller on the trailer, however, my trailer doesn’t have a roller so not sure it will work. I will be trailering it far distances from Orlando to the Keys and other areas over an hour away.
good tips. I put my drain plug in the night before I go boating...I've had to do that embarrassing jump in the water and put it in after I launched too many times...
If you ever want to see unbridled anger and stress from everyday people - go to a boat ramp. It doesn't matter if you are good or not, at a busy ramp things will always get out of hand even if you aren't involved.
the mounting triangle piece is above my hitch. i have an 2"x2"x8 feet square tubing for my trailer is under the crank and the V mounting for the front of the boat, , example, instead of everything welded like on your trailer mine can extend 8 feet more in launching the trailer into the water where my truck sits out side the water. here in ca , there a lot of ramps that are slippery and not maintained from moist condition of the ramp, the extention gives me the extra length to launch , now my boat is a open style boat much like yours( WEIGHT 2500 BOAT, MOTOR AND TRAILER WEIGHT) . in order to lock the 8 foot extention in place there is a stopper at the bottom A block that stops the extended tube from coming out. also there a place to lock it up when traveling down the ramp and when traveling down the road. . the extended square tubing is solid making it so it doesnt bend under pressure,! TO NOTE ON MY TRAILER WHEN THE TOP OF THE FENDERS ARE UNDER WATER THE BOAT LIFTS OFF,! nNO PLACE IN TOW HAUL AND 1 ST GEAR , IF YOUR TRUCK DOESNT HAVE A LOCKING AXLE ALWAYS POWER BRAKE THE BRAKE SO IT DOESNT SLIP ON THE RAMP SURFACE. IF IT HAS A LIMITED -SLIP OR FULL LOCKING THATS GREAT.
Make your bow/launch line into a rope chain, so when you back down the ramp you can control the boat without having to tie to the dock,etc. you never know what the wind/current might be day to day.
Everything on point except for disconnecting the lights. When you have surge brakes on your trailer you need that reverse power to disengage the trailer brakes. Great video.
Disconnecting the trailer lights is not necessary with modern sealed LEDs. Plus this way you don't leave them disconnected when you drive off after a long day on the water. Says "use mirrors" then immediately looks over his shoulder (haha). If I could go back in time I would learn to use my mirrors more because the over the shoulder trick becomes a problem when you get a different vehicle or boat and your visibility becomes blocked. Those 18-wheeler semi drivers only use their mirrors so if they can do it so can you (with practice of course). I do the same thing with the rope from the bow to the truck. Having the rope tied to the truck means you can grab it without getting your feet wet or getting anything tangled on the dock. I also run the bow line around two posts and tie off to the stern, this way the boat stays parallel to the dock regards of wind or tide.
Didn’t see him mention if truck want get traction or to small pull boat out. Pull boat up on trailer lock it in. Then use boat motor push truck out. Just give it enough push truck and don’t forget trim it off ground.
never unhook strap until your back end is in water, whether you have bunks or rollers. With bunks, your boat can definitely slide off if the ramp is steep enough.
Practice backing up your trailer into your driveway or an empty parking lot, BEFORE trying to learn how to back up at a boat ramp! That’s asking for trouble…too many other things to think about, you don’t want to be distracted by trying to figure out backing up
Don’t put it in 1st. Leave it in Drive. Your truck will automatically stay in 1st until the rpms are high enough to warrant a gear change which will not happen while pulling up the ramp. Manually selecting 1st keeps the truck in 1st no matter how fast you are going and is a great way to accidentally redline your engine for no reason. Push the tow/haul button instead if you’re worried about it. Otherwise great video 👍
I always comment on these videos. I have the same boat. 2006 1720. I have a dock line permanently tied to my trucks tie down cleat with a stainless carabiner. I just hook my bow line and back in. The rope just lets the boat glide off. Also your scuppers are letting a bunch of water in. Mine has the ping pong balls that float up and seal the scupper. They seem to work well. This winter I will be doing a buff and wax, she’s showing her age.
I can't believe you were looking over your shoulder to back the boat. Learn to use both mirrors. That will keep you in line and backing straight. Plus it is a lot more comfortable than turning your body to see how to back. Try a few more times. By the 20th time, you will have it.
Excellent! Do you have any more suggestions for very busy ramps on a bay? I mean, open (salt) water as I live on the island of Puerto Rico and the ramps are usually pretty busy.
The biggest stumper at a boat ramp is backing it down.. You do not have to be at a boat ramp to practice. My parents had a field that wasn't big, but it was big enough to drive in, and before I even had my license I would practice backing up a trailer.. Even figure 8's. Empty parking lot works just as well.
Yeah, that truck is weird, I thought the same thing when I bought it but it's not got a regular reese receiver, the bar is welded to the frame from under the bed and then goes under the bumper there and the ball screws through the bumper into the bar, it's weird :/
Same way I do been doing it for years I hook to trailer had to learn nobody could always go fishing with me so wasn't going let that stop me from going .it works great
It does help your trim unit out if you are long hailing, but it just slightly helps the transom, they just call them transom savers, the best ones that save from stress cracks on the transom will go down to the trailer bar
Great vid once again. Was hoping you would show bunk adjustments and how they could help launch/retrieve and make towing more efficient. Any who... wondering what the consensus is regarding leaving the boat idling while parking the trailer: let the powerhead warm up or don't risk a yahoo taking your boat for a joy ride?
I’ve been using boat ramps for the last 40 years. I’m an old Florida native so I know what I’m talking about. Every single thing in this video is spot on. For beginners, watching this video will teach them a great deal.
one of the best videos on this :)
I always open a window in the tow vehicle while backing up. That way if there is an issue someone can warn you. It could be a kid, dog anything. Too many time I see the windows closed, AC On, radio on. There is no way anyone can warn you of a possible problem
I do the same along with all of those reasons even though I don’t plan on it of my truck were to slip down the ramp it’s a hell of a lot easier to jump out if the windows are down
Same here
Open all windows if your hard of hearing or not.
I have dropped my boat hundreds of times. And yet, here I am watching this video. Nothing I would change about what is said. Everyone should watch this when they get their firsr boat.
💐💐👍👍
Same here.
same here !!!
I know most people unhook the boat from the winch before backing down, but I’ve seen two boats end up on concrete doing this. I always keep the boat hooked up until my winch is close to the waterline. Takes 10 seconds to get out of my truck and unclip…. worth the peace of mind.
Both boats were 20 foot aluminum bass boats with large (but factory recommended) outboards. Slide right off the trailer on dry bunks.
Exactly so. I take off the safety chain when I set up the boat but I leave the winch on until it's in the water. It only takes a second to undo, but it can save you from a very bad day.
Speaking from personal experience, you only need to drop a boat once, before your advice is really worth paying attention to!
@@kishidabu sensible people learn from their mistakes. Wise people learn from other peoples' mistakes.
@@SandmannOZ Sage advise...
I keep the winch and safety chain both hooked until the boat is in the water and it is time to launch. There is no way that I would trust using the winch only.
Love the pickup with 231,000 miles. I drove my Tahoe for 21 years and had about the same. No payments. Saved me a lot of money and towed my boat great.
Paid $1200 for that truck in 2017 :) lol That's the way to do it to save money :)
The secret to a good landing is a good approach.
NEVER EVER leave the helm with your motor in gear! I've been trailering since 1973 and I've seen my share of boat ramp incidents! Another rule of thumb is to back the trailer until the trailer fenders are barely under water. And with a pick up lower the tailgate before backing down the ramp, this helps visibility and a platform to access the winch.
Motor in gear??? yeah agreed. But WTF does that have to do with this?
Trailer fenders...what size of trailer?, flat bottom or deep vee boat, rollers or bunks. Relative you think? Maybe you've only been launching one size boat/ trailer on similar grade launches.. Because otherwise you would recognize the difference. OBTW... been launching boats in Maine, Alaska, Oregon since I was 18, I'm 70 now... so you know.
@@bobsouthwick4857 He had the motor in gear and left the helm in this video. I've had bunk and roller trailers for the boats I've had. When backing down a ramp and good rule of thump is to stop just when the trailer fenders are barely submerged. It's not absolute depending on tide, the pitch of the ramp and style of boat but it's a good starting point.
@@CapeAnnImages I think he only did that to record the POV to see the line up of the winch roller
@@bobsouthwick4857 I've been launching boats since I was 14, and I'm 65 now. I grew up working our family marina since I was 5 years old. I was launching boats before I was licensed to drive.
I have slick bunks. If I don’t have it in gear it will slide back.
Never shut your vehicle off when launching or loading. We had a truck that couldn't restart due to a bad starter. One of the busiest days of the summer too. Took over an hour to get a tow truck to pull it out. Some people weren't too happy either!
The best advice I would add to this video is to purchase a mechanic's helper which is short adjustable pole that you can use to apply the brakes with the helper wedged under the front seat. With brakes applied both front and back wheels are locked with brakes while you are out of the vehicle. Putting a truck in park or using a parking brake only locks the rear wheels which may be sitting on moist, slippery moss. Check out tow vehicle retrieval videos and you will see the back wheels are locked as they are towed out. The mechanics helper is about $40 and takes seconds to apply and prevents a major catastrophe every time.
That's a smart idea for steep slippery ramps and a heavy boat.
In manual vehicles we park them in gear. But this could still be a good fail safe
To learn to drive the boat onto the trailer find a time to practice when the ramp is empty or uncrowded if there are multiple ramps and then just get the boat centered on the bunks. You don’t have drive all the way on just get it on far enough you know you can drive or winch it. Back off far enough that you have to make a new approach. Keep repeating until you feel competent. Try doing this in different wind and current combinations. You will be glad you did when the pressure is on.
Thanks, figured most of this but did not know about hands on the bottom of the steering wheel. Useful!
1. 4 wheel drive will not help you stop on a slippery ramp.
2. Trailer position in the water changes with tide, rain, water releases etc.
3. Instead of practicing trailer backing at the boat ramp with eyes on you and pissing everyone off, try practicing in an empty parking lot.
One of the best how to videos I've seen
Thanks.
I am a truck driver with over 25 years of experience. I never turn my head because it confuses me. I only use mirrors, even if the right one freaks me out.
Yeah, my problem is the opposite, I spend most of my time moving boats with a forklift from the front so it takes me twice as long to use the mirrors so I just turn around still :/
Some people are just the opposite !
Awesome content thanks. I have a similar rig and launch solo. For me I have a point memorized where I keep the front bunks out of the water. This is so I can “stick” the front of the boat in all conditions. Windy, tide ripping etc. Also on that rope attached to the truck - careful not getting distracted and forgetting to undo the rope. When you take the trailer back to park you might drag your boat with you!
Very well done! I will add that a standard wheel chock doesn't help on a steep ramp unless it is a really large one that costs quite a bit. I found that out when actually testing mine out to see if it would fail!
Excellent video for those new to boating
This is exactly how my Dad taught me when i was younger, EZ,..great video..Keep looking up!
Today I'll be teaching my son how to launch and retrieve our boat. Your video is an excellent training aid. Thanks.
Thank you brother now I know how to offload and load a boat from a trailer the right way. God bless you and your family brother. See you on the next one
Great instructional video. I launched a boat many times with my dad before I was old enough to drive; I watched and learned some, but I don't remember him ever going through the process step-by-step with me. I wish he'd been patient and taken the time to explain it the way you did. As an adult I tried to remember what I'd seen him do, and got it mostly 😄 right. I just picked up some good tips. Thanks.
I love this boat ramp; its a great place, low-key Not many people know its there
I always have 2 rubber wheel chocks right with me. Never know when you'll need them but when you do you'll be thankful for them
Great advice. My shifter cable broke when my wife was backing the boat in the water. On top of that we had a Nissan pickup that are notorious for having poor parking brakes. Luckily for us there was a good samaritan at the ramp that bailed us out. Now we have chokes and a tow strap.
Chocks
Great video and I love the boat coming off on to the ramp . The boat and guys are from an Aussie tv show . No damage was done and I had one of those tough Aussie boats
Even if you're an experienced boat launcher, watch this video.
There is a cool tool I made to lock all four weeks using my brakes. Measure the distance between the front of the seat and the applied brake pedal. Using a piece of 1.5" PVC cut it to that length. Add end caps to the PVC. The end caps protect your seat and add the little more length you need for a friction fit as the front of the seat will give when this PVC is installed. Now all four wheels have applied brakes.
I launch a 25 Foot Panga Boat with my 2017 Kia Sedona Minivan and it's super easy with that vehicle because I open the back gate open , I turn sideways in my seat, hold the steering wheel with one hand and looking straight back I back straight back into the water every time. With a Pickup Truck you can lower the back down and you can see everything behind you. So many guys in SUV's and Pickups leave the back gate closed and use the rearview mirror to back up. I never use the rearview mirror , I just look at the sideview mirror a couple times to see if anybody /vehicle is nearby. I'm 60 years old , I launch my 25 footer all by myself and never had any trouble. Very easy to handle a Panga Boat at the Ramp. And you don't need a Mack Truck to tow it either. My FWD Minivan pulls it out every time , even at dead low tide when there's a very sharp incline and the ramp is wet.
Keep the Boat strap(s) on and the bow connected to the Winch chain until you're very close to the water, otherwise the boat could roll off going down . Same going out, make sure you connect the winch chain to the hook in front, otherwise the boat might roll off if the outboard motor hits the bottom at low tide at the ramp. That happened to my Boat once, no damage at all . I thought just having it connected to the Winch strap was all I had to do to secure the boat. I pulled the boat out at dead low tide and the bottom of the engine hit the bottom and pulled the boat off the trailer about 2/3's of the way. Thank goodness there was no damage with the flat Panga hull in back , skid on the metal keel protector strip on the bottom. After that I always secure the bow with the WINCH CHAIN.
When putting the boat back on the trailer, try to get it lined up. Wind and or current may not allow for that. The key is to have the bow between the bunks/rollers. The boat will stop and be crooked. Nothing to worry about as boat is between the bunks. The bow may still be floating or just barely on the trailer. Turn the steering wheel so the bow will turn towards the trailer bow stop. Put the boat in forward and the boat should now be starting to align itself on the bunks. Slowly power up the boat using the steering wheel to keep the bow of the boat center as it moves up and onto the trailer.
One thing you didn’t mention. After pulling out of the water, move to a location that allows others use the ramp.. Don’t block the ramp while you uncork the drains. Do your tie downs scratch your butt and admire how well you did. Be courteous to others and get out of their way.
I launch my boat 3-4times a week and I will say with confidence I never was that guy at the ramp. Since day 1 I was that guy who did it 1 and done. That being said did I get better over the years… most definitely
How was that first launch? What kind of tips do you have for newbies?
Refresher course never hurt anyone. Thanks!
Several different boats over the years - this is great info -- I would add I always would have had bumpers on the dock side … thanks for sharing
For the past 50 years I have been launching mostly on rivers in current which always changes due to water level. Every boat trailer combo is different but usually the most common mistake is getting the trailer to far or deep in when trying to load back up, the boat must have some contact in front whether bunks or rollers to straighten itself out as boat is winched.
Another great video from you. I would also mention launch and retrieve is a lot of muscle memory so when I’m launching a lot it all makes sense, but if it’s been awhile it’s easy to lose some skills! Good to do a practice run in your head before jumping in line.
The D with overdrive was the only complaint I have. As a car guy, I know that the truck has no intention of shifting into overdrive until you are moving at least 40 mph. Shifting to 1 or 2 will only prevent it from shifting past those gears. But leaving it in D will be no problem.
For most vehicles, putting it in 2nd keeps it on 2nd, not 1st and 2nd. Therefore, when pulling the boat out of the water, it's better to put it in 2nd to reduce the possibility of wheel spin.
One, two, or D, the transmission starts in the same lower gear...not referring to 4 wheel drive units.
Nice video, however I would suggest using the side mirrors while backing instead of looking out the back window. Also have driver and passenger windows down so you can hear for warnings better.
Why ?
Definitely a back saver on us older or fatter guys lol
@@jutnjenrasmussen8637 😂
Turning around and actually using your vision to back, the trailer is a learned skill. Once you learn it, it is much better than using your mirrors. In fact, backing without a trailer It is better to turn around and look.
@@JohnDaker_singer I agree ! So easy and fast for me.
I never drive the trailer so far into the water the boat float up. My trailer has rubber rollers, and this is the most common in Norway. I avoid having the trailers break drum in the water also. I guess in US this is mostly a freshwater phenomen, and not that much corrosion. Greetings from Oslo Norway😊
I guess theres many right ways to do it. I tie the bow line to a cleat near the ramp, unhook the winch, back in and stomp on the brake, boat floats away but is tethered, go park the trailer, come back and haul the boat in to the dock. Cant do this everywhere but it works where I am and its works solo. I only ever had to swim after the boat once.
Swimming after my boat once would be one too many!😅
Well done and this should help folks out and give them the confidence to make the “ramp” and friendly place to be vs stress.
Very nice video, really good info for people new to boating!
Good lesson ❤❤
Thanks 😊😊
Well said - good video
Next time bring up the point of end of ramp @ low tide & I always trim my motor up a little when driving it up on the trailer
Forgot about that detail! Thank you
Great video could you make some handling videos as well like from start to finish? Launch, load, handling and basic boating I like how you present the material in an easy to understand format!
There's a few extra tricks using the parking brake with manual transmissions, or even with automatics, but that applies to any hill start not just boat ramps. Great video BAB 👍😎✊
I'll never tow a boat with a manual transmission ever again. Wears out the clutch very quickly.
A great refresher video. Thanks for posting. 🚤🎣😊
Great instructional video great job there is a lot of first time boat owners
Very good explanation, thank you 👍👌
Good idea, thanks. It Could be interesting to see a video on how to set up the bow stop. A common issue for most new boaters is taking the boat out of the water because it is too high.
Another great video king! Keep up the great content. I’m sure this will help a ton of your followers. Happy Thanksgiving
Thank you, hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
Get AAA towing just in case you can't get the trailer up the ramp. TowBoat USA and Maybe Sea Tow have Trailer Assist you can call for help if you're having a problem with your trailer or can't get it up the ramp.You don't wanna waste time trying to get a tow with the tide coming in.
I got my first boat this summer and backing the trailer up the first time was nerve racking. After about 14 times it's easier still need practice.
Find an empty carpark or similar and spend an hour or two reversing your boat around it, you'll never have a problem at the ramp again.
How about adding that to be sure it is legal at your ramp to power load your boat. Most of the ramps I've been to in Michigan say no power loading. Power loading can damage a ramp by washing away the sand/dirt supporting the bottom of the concrete.
There are ramps here in Australia that forbid this, too. Reason being, it churns up the sand at the bottom of the ramp and creates a hole for people to inadvertently reverse into (I'm talking salt water ramps here). A lot of fishing clubs have private ramps for their members and they will ban anybody from using them if they are caught doing it. My tip: Get an electric winch with a remote control ;)
Same thing in Minnesota
I was going to make the same comment. Many ramps discourage or outright prohibit power loading. This is especially the case where there is little or no paved ramp as power loading will dig out pits in the bottom causing different length trailers to potentially hang up.
Best bet is to get the boat on as straight and far as possible with your initial approach, then finish with the winch.
If you are from the rust belt and don't use the parking brake often, don't use it to launch your boat... it won't disengage and you will have locked up brakes... also, putting your truck in drive is just fine. It won't shift out of 1st until you reach 5-10 mph any way. If you have a heavy boat, and a four wheel drive truck, then I would use 4 low, that will give you more torque to pull it out... just my 2 cents.
If you unload your boat by yourself, you should have a pre-measured length of rope, slightly longer than your trailer, attached to the most front located cleat and then tied to your trailer winch. Once your winch line is removed at water line, the boat can be backed into the water until it floats off. Then, slowly pull forward and your rope will pull the boat behind the trailer so you can unhook it from the trailer without getting your feet wet. It's quick and you can get out of everyone's way. Also, your reference on the water line when you launch may not be the same as when you take your boat out of the water due to tidal movement. Use the depth of your trailer when you launch as your reference for how far you back your trailer in.
I always use 2 ropes. 1 hooked to the tow vehicle and a anchor rope attached to cleat anchor in tow vehicle.
With no dock and current angle the trailer down current. Boat floats off easier and loads easier.
That’s an extra step. Just tie it or have some kind of quick release in the bed or rear of the tow vehicle.
Good video - Thanks for sharing!
Its interesting to see how different you do it in the US. Here in Denmark we have rollers on the trailer (I dont think ive ever seen bunks), and we rarely back the trailer further down than the tires. Saltwater and trailers do not mix well.
Pretty good video other than the fact you needed to look over your shoulder to reverse. If you can reverse a small trailer using mirrors only you can reverse anything.
I figure I've been out 19 times. I sure hope #20 is magical LOL Luckily mine is a kayak because so far everywhere I've been the ramps suck and I doubt they ever get deep enough to float off. I got sick of trying and push it off/lift it on. I'm learning where not to go when I get a bigger boat. Tip: non-slip tape for the trailer.
Great video simple to the point, although a very stressful situation the first few times you can assure it will get better later, my rule of thumb is "no kids around during this process", trust me...thanks Aaron for sharing.
Thank you Chugaaa you the man!
When loading my bass boat I’ll dunk the bunks and pull up so the longer bunks are about 2-3in out of water and drive up, idk if that would be the same for larger boats but I’ve see a few guys smack the hull and crack it on the roller bracket from the trailer being in too deep.
Getting the bunks wet first helps the boat slide on them without burning the paint
I noticed you used a block of wood for your transom saver. With all the different options out there for transom savers it would be nice to see a video of the pros and cons of the various options and if a cheap block of wood is just as good as an expensive transom saver someone can buy. Great videos!
Depends on how far you are going and what the set up looks like, a true transom saver is going to go from the lower unit down to the trailer, but they all call them transom savers lol :) the block of wood mainly helps the trim unit when going down the road, doesn't really take a ton of the stress off the transom, but it does take some off of it
@
Thank you. I have a 2022 Pathfinder 2200 TRS on an Ameratrail trailer. My understanding of the transom saver is it attaches to the roller on the trailer, however, my trailer doesn’t have a roller so not sure it will work. I will be trailering it far distances from Orlando to the Keys and other areas over an hour away.
LOL - same as me.. I say use the mirrors and then turn around and look out the back window :)
good tips. I put my drain plug in the night before I go boating...I've had to do that embarrassing jump in the water and put it in after I launched too many times...
most of our Michigan launches don't want power loads. it washes out the ramp. thanks for other tips
If you ever want to see unbridled anger and stress from everyday people - go to a boat ramp. It doesn't matter if you are good or not, at a busy ramp things will always get out of hand even if you aren't involved.
the mounting triangle piece is above my hitch. i have an 2"x2"x8 feet square tubing for my trailer is under the crank and the V mounting for the front of the boat, , example, instead of everything welded like on your trailer mine can extend 8 feet more in launching the trailer into the water where my truck sits out side the water. here in ca , there a lot of ramps that are slippery and not maintained from moist condition of the ramp, the extention gives me the extra length to launch , now my boat is a open style boat much like yours( WEIGHT 2500 BOAT, MOTOR AND TRAILER WEIGHT) . in order to lock the 8 foot extention in place there is a stopper at the bottom A block that stops the extended tube from coming out. also there a place to lock it up when traveling down the ramp and when traveling down the road. . the extended square tubing is solid making it so it doesnt bend under pressure,! TO NOTE ON MY TRAILER WHEN THE TOP OF THE FENDERS ARE UNDER WATER THE BOAT LIFTS OFF,! nNO PLACE IN TOW HAUL AND 1 ST GEAR , IF YOUR TRUCK DOESNT HAVE A LOCKING AXLE ALWAYS POWER BRAKE THE BRAKE SO IT DOESNT SLIP ON THE RAMP SURFACE. IF IT HAS A LIMITED -SLIP OR FULL LOCKING THATS GREAT.
Excellent video with lots of Good tips.
You should use your mirrors to reverse no look over your shoulder
I wish I had a small boat like that for where I am at :)
Make your bow/launch line into a rope chain, so when you back down the ramp you can control the boat without having to tie to the dock,etc. you never know what the wind/current might be day to day.
Very good tutorial.
Thanks!
Happy thanksgiving hope you and your family have a great day
Thank you! Hope you had a great day yesterday as well :)
Everything on point except for disconnecting the lights. When you have surge brakes on your trailer you need that reverse power to disengage the trailer brakes. Great video.
True
I believe surge brakes don't use power, reverse power or lights don't go thru to the trailer on a 4 flat connector which is most common.
@@casinoj77 correct they don't use power to stop but power is needed when you reverse to disengage the brake actuator.
Excellent tank you.
When you're in D, you will always start out in 1.😊 Also, power loading a boat on the trailer is illegal in some states.
Yeah, its not like its going to try and shift when you are driving 4 miles an hour up the ramp.
Disconnecting the trailer lights is not necessary with modern sealed LEDs. Plus this way you don't leave them disconnected when you drive off after a long day on the water.
Says "use mirrors" then immediately looks over his shoulder (haha). If I could go back in time I would learn to use my mirrors more because the over the shoulder trick becomes a problem when you get a different vehicle or boat and your visibility becomes blocked. Those 18-wheeler semi drivers only use their mirrors so if they can do it so can you (with practice of course).
I do the same thing with the rope from the bow to the truck. Having the rope tied to the truck means you can grab it without getting your feet wet or getting anything tangled on the dock. I also run the bow line around two posts and tie off to the stern, this way the boat stays parallel to the dock regards of wind or tide.
On my new trailer, I don’t unhook the trailer lights so the reverse solenoid will operate on the surge brakes.
I feel like you came to Sebastian to do this video. It would have been awesome to see you in person
Didn’t see him mention if truck want get traction or to small pull boat out. Pull boat up on trailer lock it in. Then use boat motor push truck out. Just give it enough push truck and don’t forget trim it off ground.
Great info thank you
Hope you put your plug in
Put your plug in at the house/shop
never unhook strap until your back end is in water, whether you have bunks or rollers. With bunks, your boat can definitely slide off if the ramp is steep enough.
I like video 👍👍👍
Practice backing up your trailer into your driveway or an empty parking lot, BEFORE trying to learn how to back up at a boat ramp! That’s asking for trouble…too many other things to think about, you don’t want to be distracted by trying to figure out backing up
I have the same transom saver
Don’t put it in 1st. Leave it in Drive. Your truck will automatically stay in 1st until the rpms are high enough to warrant a gear change which will not happen while pulling up the ramp. Manually selecting 1st keeps the truck in 1st no matter how fast you are going and is a great way to accidentally redline your engine for no reason. Push the tow/haul button instead if you’re worried about it. Otherwise great video 👍
I always comment on these videos. I have the same boat. 2006 1720. I have a dock line permanently tied to my trucks tie down cleat with a stainless carabiner. I just hook my bow line and back in. The rope just lets the boat glide off. Also your scuppers are letting a bunch of water in. Mine has the ping pong balls that float up and seal the scupper. They seem to work well. This winter I will be doing a buff and wax, she’s showing her age.
Nice! Yeah that cheap ping pong ball scupper drain already broke off! :/
I can't believe you were looking over your shoulder to back the boat. Learn to use both mirrors. That will keep you in line and backing straight. Plus it is a lot more comfortable than turning your body to see how to back. Try a few more times. By the 20th time, you will have it.
Awesome tutorial Aaron!
How did you tie rope to post, back into bed of truck and back to post. Magic?
Excellent! Do you have any more suggestions for very busy ramps on a bay? I mean, open (salt) water as I live on the island of Puerto Rico and the ramps are usually pretty busy.
No I don't, busy ramps are jsut the same as this, just busy :/
The biggest stumper at a boat ramp is backing it down.. You do not have to be at a boat ramp to practice. My parents had a field that wasn't big, but it was big enough to drive in, and before I even had my license I would practice backing up a trailer.. Even figure 8's. Empty parking lot works just as well.
Great ! Thank you!!
I would strongly recommend a receiver that is attached to your truck frame and not rely on your bumped to hold the weight of a boat that size,
Yeah, that truck is weird, I thought the same thing when I bought it but it's not got a regular reese receiver, the bar is welded to the frame from under the bed and then goes under the bumper there and the ball screws through the bumper into the bar, it's weird :/
Same way I do been doing it for years I hook to trailer had to learn nobody could always go fishing with me so wasn't going let that stop me from going .it works great
Can you talk more about the transom saver sometime (or that block of wood) haha. Is there a real benefit when trailering/towing your boat?
It does help your trim unit out if you are long hailing, but it just slightly helps the transom, they just call them transom savers, the best ones that save from stress cracks on the transom will go down to the trailer bar
I have the same boat. KW 1720
Great vid once again. Was hoping you would show bunk adjustments and how they could help launch/retrieve and make towing more efficient. Any who... wondering what the consensus is regarding leaving the boat idling while parking the trailer: let the powerhead warm up or don't risk a yahoo taking your boat for a joy ride?
If the tip about putting your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel is such a great tip, why does he ignore it and move his hands around the wheel?