Tips

Launching a boat for the first time is quite exciting. Every boat owner has experienced it, there's a long line, the trailer takes on a mind of its own as soon as your car backs up and there is a crowd watching or giving tips. To make “the launch” as fun as possible, there are a number of simple things that you can pay attention to...

  • Make sure to keep calm in the case of a busy boat ramp to avoid damage to the boat, car or trailer.
  • Bring a friend. Once the boat is launched, one can moor the boat while the other parks the car.
  • Check the boat ramp length, angle and smoothness beforehand to make a good estimate. Check whether the boat ramp extends underwater long enough.
  • Make sure the boat and trailer are ready before driving to the ramp so others don't have to wait:
  • - Pay a fee first in case of a paid ramp
  • - Check if the key is in the ignition and if the battery is full
  • - Remove the lightbar from the trailer and straps from the boat
  • - Fix the fenders and a line for mooring
  • - Trim the boat's engine to the correct position
  • - Check that the drain plug is in place
  • - Put all necessary items in the boat (fishing gear, coolbox, waterskies)
  • Watch out for children, make sure bystanders keep a safe distance and certainly don't stand behind or between a driving combination.
  • Drive with trailer and boat off the boat launch, don't drive too far down the ramp! Are the first rollers wet? That is often far enough. Do not drive your wheels into the water if you only have rear-wheel drive on a slippery boat ramp.
  • Apply the parking brake to the car!
  • Have someone hold the line at the dock.
  • Launch or push the boat with the winch.
  • Place the boat in a spot so that there is room for the next one to trailer.
  • Drive the car to a parking space, put it neatly in the parking space and lock the car and trailer.
  • Get out again? Get your boat out of the water using the winch, “Power-Loading” often damages the boat but also the boat ramp by washing away sand at the bottom of the slip.
  • Enjoy your day! 😀

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vd Kuit August 14, 2020

Very good and clear app. Map works smoothly and quickly, when zooming in there are many details about the waterway, buoys, etc. People give clear feedback about the experience of a boat ramp. 100 points!

Henry Nooteboom August 8, 2020

Top app for determining location for sailing and launching your boat. Tip. Read the reviews too!
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