How to launch a boat like an old hand

Launching your boat quickly and proficiently is key to ensuring a quick getaway and a great day on the water.

If you are new to boating and haven’t reversed a trailer before, I would advise heading down to the boat ramp midweek whilst it's nice and quiet to have a practice.

Trust me when I say, there is nothing worse than the pressure from a group of on-lookers watching you try to reverse for the first time on a weekend when the ramp is busy.

It is a good idea to organise your gear at home before you leave, to ensure a quick safe launch on arrival so that you’re not holding up other boaters.

A checklist is a good idea when starting out as one small error could end in disaster. If launching at a new location, it’s a good idea to park to the side and walk the ramp, inspect any drop-offs or dangers before backing the boat in.

Ensure the boat is correctly secured to your vehicle and double-check everything is safely secure and your safety chain is on.

Pull over to the side on arrival, remove your tie-down straps and screw in your bungs – too many times I've seen where the boat is launched and quickly sinking soon after.

It sounds like such a simple task, but it’s easy to miss.

The next thing to do is trim your outboard up as you do not want the prop to scrape whilst backing in.

Tie a rope onto the bow of your boat to easily manage the vessel once it is in the water. If you have any fenders, throw these over the edge before backing in, so that everything is ready for you to pull the boat up to the jetty.

When reversing, if you go too deep the back of the boat will start to float which is not ideal.

If you are not deep enough, the boat will be hard to move and difficult to get off the trailer.

To avoid both of these things from happening, pick a reference point on your trailer that is the perfect mark.

This is different for every boat and trailer depending on the size; however, you will quickly work out what works best for you.

Keep in mind, that every ramp varies in steepness and angle, so your reference point will change slightly.

Always leave your safety chain on until your boat is in the water. This will prevent your vessel from slipping off the trailer.

Once your boat has been backed in at the correct depth, release your winch strap and glide the boat off whilst holding onto the bow rope.

Launching and retrieving on your own is doable, however, if starting out, it is ideal to have two people – one to manage the car and trailer, and the other to manage the boat.

If you’re unable to drive your boat onto the trailer, make sure you have a rope attached to the bow of the boat.

Start cranking your winch and if it's windy, it helps to also have another rope attached to the stern of the boat for easier control.

Once you have your boat on the trailer, try to be as quick as possible and once loaded, move away from the launching area and out of the way of others.

Always try to be courteous to others. You can do this by finding a suitable parking spot that isn’t obstructing other boaters from getting in and out of the ramp.

Start unloading your items for travel, lock your outboard into place, throw your tie-down straps back on and remove the bungs to let any water out.

When taking a deep dive into the ocean there is nothing better than getting off to a seamless start, make sure you take it slow and steady to ease the pressure off.

These little tips and tricks have helped me get off to a great start on many of my trips over the years, if you are ever in doubt don’t be afraid to ask for help as we are all in the same boat.

With consistency and practice you are guaranteed a seamless launch, so choose your waterway and be on your way.