Tips for Launching Your Boat at a Ramp

Launching a boat from a trailer on a boat ramp can simultaneously feel both straightforward and counterintuitive. Straightforward because, after all, it’s simply backing a trailer up; counterintuitive because we typically try to avoid driving our vehicles into open water instead of eagerly backing right in.  counterintuitive and straightforward at the same time. Add in some of the steering challenges involved with backing a trailer and add in the pressure of a busy, crowded launch slip, and you may have something of an emotional pressure cooker. Thankfully, Twin Falls Chevrolet has tips to help make the process smooth, quick, and stress-free. 

Practice Backing with Your Boat and Trailer 

As always, preparation is the key to success, and it should really start before your tow vehicle and boat trailer get anywhere close to the water. If you’re not already fairly experience at maneuvering a trailer – especially while backing up – it is worth taking time to practice. Hook up your trailer, find a large, open parking lot, and practice backing up in a straight line. Get accustomed to the small (and inverted) steering corrections needed to keep your trailer backing in a straight line. Do this until it feels natural.  You will definitely appreciate the time you spent practicing once you get to the boat ramp. 

Prep Your Boat Before You Reach The Ramp 

You don’t want to be the person taking forever at the boat ramp, fussing over tasks that could have been done earlier and elsewhere, subsequently taking way too much time, blocking too much traffic, and delaying everyone else’s fun on the water. Everything you do at the ramp should be for removing your boat from the trailer, and essentially nothing else. This means more prepping before you reach the ramp itself. Find a spot off to the side to prepare your boat for the launch and the boat trip itself:   

• Load the boat with everything you want to take with you. Cooler, flotation devices, everything.  
• Remove all the tie-downs and anything else you did to secure the boat for being towed. 
• Put in your drain plugs 
• Tie in place your dock ropes and the winch to the bow eyelet if not already attached 
• Disconnect your trailer light connector 

Line Up Before You Back Up 

No matter how you approach the ramp, drive far enough ahead of it so the trailer lines up straight behind the tow vehicle before shifting into reverse. If you’re accompanied by someone willing to serve as a spotter and guide, use them as an aid, and make sure your communications are clear. If you are solo, go more slowly or ask for assistance, possibly from the person waiting next in line. Back up as straight as possible while aiming for the center of the ramp.  

Once your boat’s stern begins to float in the water, stop – and definitely stop before your winch goes underwater. Put the vehicle in park and engage the emergency brake – there are too many YouTube videos showing someone who forgot one of these two steps and wound up with a submerged vehicle. Also, note your position so you can match it when you retrieve your boat. 

Guiding Your Boat From the Trailer 

Use your dock rope to guide the boat back off the trailer. Once that is done, clear the ramp. Your guide can direct the boat to tie it off at a dock out of the way of the ramp while you pull your vehicle away from the ramp, or vice versa. If it is just you, tie your boat to the dock and quickly return to remove your vehicle from the ramp.  

On Your Return 

The return is essentially everything above, done in the opposite order.  Just remember to approach slowly.  Never approach a dock or your trailer any faster than you are willing to hit it. 

You will likely stop at the dock first to retrieve your vehicle and trailer. Once your boat is winched back into place, pull out of the ramp. Now you can take your time to unload your boat, secure it, reconnect your trailer lights, and prepare everything for road travel again. 

Practice, preparation, and courtesy will help you get in and out of the boat ramp like a pro. If you have any questions about towing with your Chevy, don’t hesitate to ask the service professionals at Twin Falls Chevrolet for assistance.