Boat ramp question.

[Road King Cole]

There is a sign that says $100 fine for powering off...

I know it sounds like allot of steps, but I don't dilly dally...even though there was no one else there...

I am not sure if getting back on and off the boat to power on would actually be any quicker. Perhaps I could give that a try next time.

So it would be:

Pull up and tie off at the dock.

Get the truck, put trailer in water.

get back in boat, start engine, untie and drive boat on trailer.

(leave engine in gear so boat doesn't slide back)

Climb to front, lean over and secure chain\winch cable to bow eye bolt.

Go back and turn off engine.

Climb down in front of boat onto trailer (I'm a little worried about this step).

Get in truck and pull out.

If there are any tricks to make it quicker, I'm all ears...

I'm with ya on the "Dude thing".

rkc

[reelapeelin]

Sorry...was using the dally thing in comparison to what goes on down here...all the striper tournaments I've loaded/unloaded for, those guys dunk 'em and chunk 'em cause there might be a hundred boats tryin' to get in before blast-off(one reason I quit tourneys)...I hear ya on the over-the-bow-thing...at 57 goin' over mine would be tricky if I hadn't intentionally set it up for that long ago...and doing it alone adds to the trick...my spare-tire is my step-down off the front of the bow...if my buddy's in the truck, I hitch it up, give him the OK and we're off...if no buddy, then it's another trip...you'll work it out...just remember...PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE...and of course fish each time you practice...

[garagenc]

I do exactly what you described in youre last post Cole, power on and off, I also have to climb over the bow if I didn't get the trailer close to the finger pier.

Alot of ramps around here in NC and VA at low tide if you have bunks you have to power it off and that also keeps the launch area dredged out.

I have bunks and I always drive on, Tip: I put a bolt on my winch and installed a small diameter garden hose on it so it is vertical and that lets me line my bow up perfectly each time I load.

[phatdaddy]

agree with all of the above, local customs prevail. one thing i do when alone is make sure i back trailer close enough to finger pier, i can step off foredeck to finger pier. i have a bunk trailer and power up. when launching, i dip it until it floats off....
also, common sense would tell me not to make a lot of "wake" next to someone trying to load or unload. but common sense at a boat ramp is a rare find...

[nipper]

I power up most of the way, but not with much throttle at all. Just enough power to get it centered on the bunks. I am always afraid to power it up hard and have the bow smash into the winch/winch stand. I then get up on the deck and step from the deck down to the spare tire and from there down to the tongue of the trailer. I hitch her up and crank it up the last foot or two. I always pull out 2-3 feet of the winch line before backing the trailer into the water so I can just clip on the winch cable and crank her up. I have to knock on wood here, but I have never had to go in the water (unless it is warm and I want to). I can step from the trailer tongue to the bumper of my suburban, then swing around to the rear driver side tire (while holding on to the luggage rack) and then down from the tire to the ramp.

Depending on the ramp, people powering up hard can really cause problems by creating big holes in the bottom beyond where the ramp ends. I have seen people back in too far and drop a trailer wheel in the hole causing difficulties with getting the trailer back out.

Hey, this is my 1000th post! Am I now among the "God" ranks?

[nipper]

Yep, just checked my last post and I am now listed as a "God". Nice to be among such good company. I have enhoyed every minute on this site over the past several years. Y'all are a very fine bunch of folks.

[willy]

congrats Lord Nipper