 | Ok, after this weekends escapade at Calville Bay, I feel compelled
to try to help speed things up at the launch ramp. |
| First, when you are in the launch lane you should be "ready" to
launch your boat! The 'ready' lanes are there so you can get your boat
"ready" for the launch lane. Hmmm... |
| The pier at the launch ramp is for PICK UP and DROP OFF only! There
should be no reason for you to have to "park" your boat there. This is
especially true for Jet Skis! You can hold your ski in the shallow water
off to the side. The only reason you should be using the pier for a
parking place is if your boat is broke down. If this is the case, please
don't sit there all day trying to fix it! Put it back on the trailer and
fix it up on the shore so that the rest of us can get out for the day. A
good way to begin your day is by starting your boat "before" you head
out to the lake! This way you know it will start when you drop it in. |
| When you get to the water, there shouldn't be any last minute things
that need to be done. Have a driver in the boat and a driver in the
truck. When you get to the water, start your boat, drop your trim, and
get the hell out of the way :) |
| Here are a couple of hints that may help you at the ramp. If you are
new to backing up a boat try some of the following: |
| When you are ready to launch, drive close to the water and then make
your turn to straighten your trailer up. This is especially true for jet
ski's. As you begin your backing in, put your hand on the bottom of your
steering wheel. If you want the trailer to go left, move your hand to
the left. If you want the trailer to go right, move your hand to the
right... Get it? |
| Once the vehicle in front of you is in the water, the next vehicle
in line should make the turn and wait to back up. Make sure to leave the
launching vehicle before you enough room to pull around you. Once they
pull around, you can back in and the next vehicle can prepare his launch
approach in front of you. Some people may disagree here, however this is
the most efficient way to launch. |
| VERY IMPORTANT: The launch ramp is not a place to learn how to
launch a boat. Go to Home Depot and buy a couple of orange pylons. Set
the pylons up in an empty parking lot. You can practice all day there.
Jet ski's are harder to launch because of the smaller trailer. This is
worse if you have a long wheel base tow vehicle. The ideal set up for
jet ski's is a Jeep. |
| Do not turn your motor off in your tow vehicle! This is bad for two
reasons. One, water can back up into your exhaust. Two, this tells
everyone you are going to be there for a while and we will want to hurt
you. :) |
| One more thing... The pier at the launch ramp is for PICK UP and
DROP OFF only! There should be no reason for you to have to "park" your
boat there. This is especially true for Jet Skis! You can hold your ski
in the shallow water off to the side. The only reason you should be
using the pier for a parking place is if your boat is broke down. If
this is the case, please don't sit there all day trying to fix it! Put
it back on the trailer and fix it up on the shore so that the rest of us
can get out for the day. A good way to begin your day is by starting
your boat "before" you head out to the lake! This way you know it will
start when you drop it in. |
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