Lake Havasu City Real Estate

Launching a Vessel from a Trailer

Prepare your vessel well away from the boat ramp so you don´t block ramp traffic following these suggestions:

• Transfer all equipment and supplies to the vessel.
• Disconnect trailer lights from towing vehicle.  To extend the life of the bulbs, be sure you allow them enough time to cool down before launching.
• Remove all tie-downs except the winch line before backing down the ramp.
• Make sure your drain plug is placed in the drain hole of your vessel.
• Tie a line to the bow to maintain control of the vessel while launching

Initially back the vessel into the water far enough so that the lower unit of the engine can be lowered and submerged with the vessel still on the trailer.

• As an added precaution always set the parking brake on the towing vehicle.
• Start the vessel´s engine with the lower unit submerged.  If you engine is till on the trailer and you have engine trouble, you can easily retrieve the vessel.

Once the engine is started and is warmed up, back the trailer further into the water until the vessel floats.  Undo the winch line, put the vessel engine in reverse and back slowly off the trailer.

• When launching (and retrieving) a sailboat, watch for overhead wires

Retrieving the Vessel

• Back the trailer into the water so that approximately two-thirds of the rollers or bunks are submerged in the water.  Set the parking brake of the towing vehicle and put it in park (or first gear if you have manual transmission).
• Drive the vessel onto the trailer far enough so that the winch line can be attached to the bow eye of the vessel.  Finish pulling the vessel onto the trailer by cranking the winch.
• Shut off the engine and raise the outboard or stem drive.
• Tow the vessel out of the water and off the ramp well out of the way of others.
• While still at the landing, remove and dispose of all weeds from the vessel; remove the drain plug to release bilge water, and drain any live wells.  This will help prevent the spread of nuisance plants and aquatic animals.
• Secure items inside the vessel.
• Reattach tie-downs and plug in the trailer lights.  Check to see that the trailer lights are working before departing.
• Loading a vessel using engine power can cause damage

Courtesy on the Boat Ramp

• Use at lease two experienced people to launch and retrieve the vessel, one to drive the towing vehicle and one to operate the vessel.
• Never block a ramp with an unattended vessel or vehicle.  The vessel operator should move the vessel away from the launch lane immediately after removing it from the trailer.  Return briefly to pick up the vehicle driver once that person has parked and is at the ramp.
• When retrieving, do not pull your vessel into the launch lane until the towing vehicle is at the ramp.  The line is formed by vehicles with trailers, not by vessels in the water.  Drop off the vehicle driver and wait off shore and clear of the ramp until that person arrives with the trailer.
• After retrieving your vessel from the water, pull it out well away from the ramp before preparing vessel for the drive home.

Taken from Today´s News Herald