Steering

[Sled491]

What can we say. This is oh so familiar for most of us and our learning curves. Just don't try to fool anyone and take your time.

[jmvotto]

I would advise you to approach the dock at ruffy a 30 degree angle and use the in gear out of gear way to control speed and drift. Once close turn the wheel hard right to swing the rear of the boat in. The whole thing is practice, practice practice.

Just remember to only go as fast as your willing to hit something advice.

Aqua

Aqua, i will have to try it from that direction, i bring mine from 30 degrees from the port side, bump it into reverse to slide the rear around , then bump forward nice and straight..

great adive on the speed , very funny.

[jester]

Sled sad it right. Just take your time. Also don't feel sorry if you keep doing 180's right in the boat launch. I keep doing them becase it is alot easer to drive forward then in reverse. Just watch the depth.

[mmandley]

Ok ill repost again since my internet went out last night right as i tried to post grrr..

This is what me and my GF do when launching and loading the boat.

I generaly back the truck down to the water, i always try to get the Port < Left lane> as close as i can to the edge of the dock. Then she gets in the truck i get in the boat. She backs it into the water and once i get the boat running and unlatched from the trailer, i will back it off using light to medium throttle to break the dry seal on the trailer bunks.

Once the boat is floating off the trailer ill just push myself threw the pylons and wave her to pull out. If the boat is drifting Right < normaly is > i put it in forward a little and straighten her out. Then put her back in reverse real slow like and she generaly goes back pretty straight.

If your lucky enough to get water currents moving to the Port side then i would lanuch on the Starbard side < right > and you can easily back the boat up becuase the water current will help ya stay straight.

She will park the truck and walk down with the dog.

When i goto dock the boat i come in at the normal 30% angle and when im about 3 or 4 feet from the nose hitting the dock ill put it in reverse slowly and use that as a break and let my GF push the nose off and the rest of the boat will swing around, also using reverse to ease this task and bring the rear of the boat around.

When loading the boat ill do the same for unloading as for trailer positioning. I will aim the nose a little to the right towards that pylon and as the boat gets real close i can reverse it and slow it down, then i will generaly go grab that pylon and center the boat and pull it threw the pylons as much as possible, then get back in and throttle it to the eye hook stop on the nose. If the water is working with me and not against me i can generaly drive it right up real slow but V drives are worthless for slow steering.

One thing i have learned is people who dont own or never been in a V drive have no respect or no idea how hard it is to trailer and un trailer one. They take more time and more coasing since you cant turn them in reverse very well. I always seem to get some person in another O or I/O that loves to pull into the dock as im backing up and expects me to jsut go around him. Im like i have the dock buthead, wait your turn ill be out of it in a minute LOL.

[newty]

I do the same thing as Mmandley except I make the B!&$h swim.
Ok I'm kidding, she'd kill me if she herd me say that.

[jester]

What you guys dont unhook the boat at the top of the ramp. Back down as fast as you can and once the trailer hits the water slam on the breaks causing the boat to release from the trailer. And during this time asking yourself if you connect the 100 foot line to the bow so you can hop out of the truck really fast before the boat floots away.

Ok that would be ruff. Anyways i thought i was the only one that would back the trailer down the ramp until the boat hits the water then get in the boat and have someone else back me in the 3 more feet. Good to know i am not crazy.

[zegm]

Gosh wish I could help you but the wife puts the boat on and off the trailer while I drive the truck.
However we both drive to the dock and in the lift! Just practice, practice and practice and after awhile it comes to you and you can put that boat anywhere you want and you won't even think about how you did it! I do know that we never back up very far, the end will start to come around and then you steer the other way drop it in forward and bump the throttle and make her turn on a dime! Again Practice out in the middle of the lake and have some fun doing it!

[moombadaze]

[quote=Ed G;62332 the bow eye locks into the perfect pass. When this happens, she gives me the thumbs up and off the ramp we go.[/quote]


not the perfect pass---he means the boat buddie 2

[kaneboats]

I like to take about 30 min. to get the truck perfectly straight with the ramp. Then I go down and test the temperature of the water with my big toe (while I'm blocking the ramp). Then I start unhooking all the tiedowns and taking a separate trip to the truck to stow each one of them. Then I start backing down. Then I stop and get in the boat and put the plug in. Then I get out and go to the truck but oops! I set the keys down when I was in the boat. I climb back into the boat and retrieve the keys. Then I back up till the boat is almost wet. Then I get out and go unhook the winch and look around to see if I can find a bow line. Then I back up a little more till the boat's not quite floating. Then I get out and check to see if I'm straight with the ramp. Then I get out to see if I'm in deep enough. Then I back up a little farther but still not far enough. Then I open the hatch and grab the cooler to put it in the boat. Then I back in just far enough to start the boat. Then I remember I wanted to grab the CD out of the truck stereo so I go get it. Then I check to see if the battery is up but the boat won't even turn over. Of course I then have to start looking around for any jumper cables. Then I back up some more and push the boat off the trailer. Then I paddle over to the dock and tie up (blocking the only other ramp with my boat). Then I walk back up the hill and down the ramp to my truck. Then I pull the truck out and go park way over on the other side of the lot in the shade. Then I come back and start asking people for a jump. Finally I get is started and realize it's about out of gas. So I go get the truck to load up for a quick run to the station. When I come back I take about 30 min. to get the truck perfectly straight with the ramp. Then I go down and test the temperature of the water with my big toe (while I'm blocking the ramp) . . . And I do all this at about noon on Memorial Day.

[fingerstick]

i hear you on that! I like to get into an argument with my wife on the ramp and talk about her parents in front of everybody! Then yell at her for embarrassing me!Not really,but I have seen the Fattersons` do this with their pontoon and load and unload on the courtesy dock including groceries,kids,toys and dogs that do not wish to go on the lake!