While boating is a fun activity the whole family can enjoy, you must follow a few specific steps before you can actually get out on the water. Both launching and loading your boat can be a complex process, especially for new boat owners or for those who haven’t been on their boat for a while. Still, it’s a necessary part of the experience that all boaters must know.
This guide provides all the techniques and tips you need to make launching and loading a boat as simple as possible.
Launching a Boat
Knowing how to launch your boat properly means you can get in the water more quickly without damaging it.
There are a few ways to launch a boat:
- Boat ramps: Boat ramps or launching ramps are inclined surfaces between land and water, allowing boaters to launch or retrieve their boats. They usually consist of one or more concrete launching lanes and boarding floats.
- Trailers: Trailers are the most common and convenient way for launching and loading as they are designed to transport boats on land. You should use a trailer that matches the size, weight and type of your boat to ensure you launch and transport it safely.
- Lift systems: In some situations where launching a boat with a ramp or trailer is not suitable, a lift system is used. These systems typically involve using a lift to hoist a boat.
- Boat ports: Residential boat ports provide a simple drive-on, drive-off method of launching and docking. These boat ports can accommodate boats of many sizes with various hull shapes.
How to Launch a Boat by Yourself
Sometimes, you may travel alone with your boat on a trailer and want to launch it at a boat ramp. Of course, having someone there to help you is always a bonus, but launching a boat alone can be easy once you know what to do in what order. It takes some preparation, the right trailer positioning and guiding your vessel off the trailer.
These are the steps you should follow once you get to the port:
- Place your gear onboard: Load your boat with all your personal items and safety and watersports gear. Getting everything you need on the boat before you head for the ramp ensures no unnecessary running to and from the vehicle to load your things while blocking the dock.
- Insert the necessary boat parts: Insert the boat key in the ignition and install the drain plug.
- Back up into the water: Once at the ramp, position your trailer and back up slowly, making sure the winch stays out of water. To make this process easier, keep your trailer and vehicle as straight as possible.
- Release the boat: Release the strap and trailer’s winch from your vessel. Tie one end of a rope to the front of your boat and the other end to the dock or an anchor. This technique will keep the boat in place when it’s in the water.
- Guide the boat from the trailer: Continue to back up down to the ramp until your boat starts to float. Do a hard stop to create the momentum to help the boat slide off the trailer. Alternatively, push and guide your boat off.
- Park your car and trailer: Once your boat is safe and secure in the water, drive your truck and trailer forward slowly and find parking.
- Enjoy the water: Untie the rope from the dock or lift the anchor, put your safety gear on and head out on the water.
Loading a Boat
Knowing how to load a boat back on a trailer requires a bit more strategy than simply doing the reverse of a boat launch. When you’re ready to come back to shore, follow these steps to load a boat:
- Tie your boat off at the back of the dock: This step allows other boaters to use the ramp while you fetch your vehicle and trailer.
- Back your trailer up: Back down the dock in a straight line and position the trailer deep enough into the water so you can float the boat most of the way onto the trailer.
- Load the boat on the trailer: Get back on your boat and untie it from the dock. Slowly drive the boat toward the trailer and nudge the bow into the center. Move your boat in far enough to attach it to the winch.
- Attach your boat to the trailer winch: Pull your boat further onto the trailer using the winch, making sure to stay away from the winch cable line.
- Pull your boat out: Shut the engine off and make sure the boat is secure on the trailer. Raise it out of the water and drive away from the ramp slowly.
Strategies for Loading in Bad Weather
The water current and other weather factors can make loading — or retrieving — your boat a bit more tricky, especially when you’re on your own. Follow these tips and alternatives when dealing with windy conditions or strong currents:
- Watch how other boaters load their boats to get an idea of the situation.
- Back the empty trailer in only as far as needed to load the boat, as a strong current can push the downstream tires off a ramp.
- Slowly work upstream and use the thrust of the boat’s engine to work your way in slowly until you’re in an ideal trailer loading position.
- Use a little more power to secure your boat on the trailer before the wind or current drifts you off.
- Alternatively, when tying your boat to the dock, attach a long line to the bow and stern cleat. You can then use this line to control the boat as you walk down the dock and guide it onto the trailer.
Launch and Load Your Boat Easily With EZ Dock Products
Launching and loading your boat doesn’t have to be complicated when you live close to the water. EZ Dock boat ports and lifts can be customized to create the perfect modular floating dock system for your watercraft and property. As a result, you can get to your boat quickly and enjoy what it was made for — cruising the water with your friends and family.
EZ Docks can connect you with the most suitable EZ Dock option. Browse EZ Dock products and contact us for a quote today.