10 Tips for Hassle-Free Launching

Launching the boat can be one of the most stressful parts of a day on the water, but it doesn’t have to be this way. If you’re prepared and systematic, launching is quick and easy. Here are 10 tips to streamline the whole boat launching process.

1. Load up First

Boat launches are busy places, so be courteous and prepare for your day afloat in a nearby parking lot rather than on the ramp itself. That’s where you can remove the travel cover from the boat, and transfer all your gear from the vehicle to the boat. Apart from saving you from having to haul coolers and other gear any farther than you need to, it keeps the ramp clear for people who are actually launching.

2. Be Prepared

Make sure you’re ready to launch before you back down the ramp. Is the drain plug in and tightened securely? Did you remove all the tie-downs from the trailer? Have you secured your fenders in place to protect the boat from scuffing against the dock? Did you attach the dock lines?

Load your boat and prepare for your day in a nearby parking lot or a designated staging area, so you can leave the actual ramp free for other people to use.

3. Perform a Walk-Around Inspection

Before you head for the water, perform a final walk-around inspection to ensure everything is ready for launch. This is your last chance to notice that remaining tie-down strap, or the missing drain plug.

4. Inspect the Ramp

Visually inspecting your boat and trailer is important, and so is performing a quick inspection of the ramp itself. You’ll want to check the water level to see if it’s unusually high or low. Pay attention to the direction of any current. Check for the presence of any debris or broken glass that could puncture a tire. And check the dock itself for any damaged bits that could scratch your boat or injure one of your crew.

5. Take Your Time

Take your time loading the boat and preparing for launch, especially if you’ve driven a long distance to get to the boat ramp. Immediately submerging hot wheel bearings into cold water can accelerate bearing failure. Giving them a few minutes to cool off before they go in the water can extend bearing life. It also prevents them from seizing altogether, which makes it very difficult to pull the trailer out of the water.

6. Disconnect the Lights and Safety Chain

Take a moment to disconnect the trailer lights before you back down into the water, to avoid a short circuit. If your trailer has surge brakes, this should automatically cancel out the circuit that applies the brakes, which would otherwise prevent you from being able to back up. This is also a good time to disconnect the trailer’s safety chain.

7. Communication is Key

If you have new guests, let them know your launch procedure beforehand, so they can either help or stay out of the way. This is especially important if there are young children or pets in your party. For their own safety, children and pets should be kept clear of the launch area until it’s time to board the boat.

8. Drive or Walk?

When the ramp is busy, having someone start the engine and idle the boat away from the dock while you park frees the area for someone else to use.

Will you have a companion drive the boat off the trailer, or simply float it free and have someone on the dock hold it while you park the tow vehicle? When the ramp is busy, having someone start the engine and idle the boat away from the dock while you park frees the area for someone else to use. After you’ve returned to the dock, they can pull in to the dock to collect you.

If your companion will hold the boat at the dock while you park, ask them to move the boat to the end of the dock so the next person in line can launch behind you.

9. Back Down Carefully

The boat ramp is not the place to learn how to reverse with a trailer on the vehicle. Practice in an empty parking lot until you’re confident driving in reverse and maneuvering in confined quarters with a trailer in tow. Then when the time comes to actually launch your boat, you’ll be confident enough to do it with ease.

One trick for backing up is to grip your tow vehicle’s steering wheel with only one hand, placed at the bottom of the wheel. When reversing, the trailer will go in the same direction that you move your hand.

After you’ve launched the boat, pause for a moment to allow time for the boat to clear the trailer. Then drive ahead slowly until you’re clear of the actual ramp.

10. Look Before You Leave

As the boat floats off the trailer, pause for a few seconds before you put the vehicle in forward gear and slowly pull out. This will allow time for the boat to drift clear of the trailer. Drive forward slowly until you’re clear of the ramp.