When you launch your boat do you............?

[Ziggy]

Unhook the bow strap or leave it hooked because you got butterflies? [emoji1]
.
Old boat I always unhooked, dropped wife off and be gone in under 10 seconds.
.
New boat I've only unhooked bow strap once so far. Haven't made myself 100% comfortable with it yet.

 

[25Elmn8r]

Always leave it hooked up. Fire the boat up, then go unhook. Gives the motor a chance to warm up a little bit. Then off we go.

 

[BUDMAN]

I back the boat in halfway, unhook how strap, jump in boat, and wife backs rest of the way in. Done and launched within 30 seconds.

 

[YoPengo]

Always leave it hooked up. Fire the boat up, then go unhook. Gives the motor a chance to warm up a little bit. Then off we go.

This. :thumbsup

 

[Singleton]

Always leave it hooked up. Fire the boat up, then go unhook. Gives the motor a chance to warm up a little bit. Then off we go.

X3

 

[RitcheyRch]

Leave hooked-up until I am out of the truck and ready to get it off the trailer.

 

[CobraDave]

Leave it hooked. I like to make sure the motor is running right. And I have a weird fear the boat is going to slide off the trailer onto the concrete

 

[Yellowboat]

depends on the boat. some are fine, others are not.

 

[redone76]

I leave it hooked. I don't want to be that guy who smears his gel coat down the launch ramp.

 

[DMF]

Wait...people actually use that strap?

 

[Willie B]

... Leave it hooked up truck running...when boat is floating...unhook the boat, tie the boat to the dock and go park the truck and the trailer... Then fire the boat to warm up the motor... Untie the boat spin it around and away I go...

 

[Ziggy]

Leave it hooked. I like to make sure the motor is running right. And I have a weird fear the boat is going to slide off the trailer onto the concrete

This is what I'm wondering.....is the fear of boat sliding off trailer making some stay hooked?
I asked the guys at Nordic about this when getting the new boat...they said it has happened to them once on a brand new boat, freshly waxed bottom on a brand new trailer.
.
Right now I'm backing wife and boat into water hooked, she'll fire it up as I unhook it. Usually I will push her back a bit more before pulling truck/trailer out. She never goes over idle within the marina.
lol, guess I just don't like walking from parking lot to dock with wet feet and flops[emoji14] [emoji1]

 

[DMF]

I leave the front strap hooked and back the boat in the water just deep enough to start the motor. Then I unhook the strap, everybody gets in the boat, wife backs us up the rest of the way for us to get off the trailer.

 

[OldSchoolBoats]

Leave it hooked up, back in and then unhook and hop in the boat, start up......warm up and back off. Tie up to dock, run back over to truck and pull trailer out.

 

[BHC Vic]

I leave it hooked till motor fires. I haven't had an issue w the cobra but I'm always afraid it might not fire right away

 

[chase800]

Back into water... then fire the boat... then unhook and back in deeper.

 

[BHC Vic]

I back all the way in then fire and sometimes I have to hold the trailer to unhook because I start floating back

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

I unhook at the top of the ramp, and tell my wife to stop backing up when the outdrive is in the water, but the boat is still on the trailer, then I fire up the boat. Once fired she backs it the rest of the way down, boat floats off the trailer and I go.

 

[JD D05]

I get everyone loaded prior to backing down. I like to be in the boat with the strap hooked. Back in far enough to fire it make sure it is good than have driver back me in more to float off. I also make everyone go to the front prior to starting and am paranoid as hell of water filling engine bay. Usually check 3 to 5 times in marina.

 

[TBI]

I unhook it when I leave the house, hook it back up when I get home :tbi

 

[RiverDave]

Depends on the ramp.. If they are steep we back it halfway in and unhook.. If they aren't then I unhook it before I get in the boat.

 

[spectracular]

This is what I'm wondering.....is the fear of boat sliding off trailer making some stay hooked?
I asked the guys at Nordic about this when getting the new boat...they said it has happened to them once on a brand new boat, freshly waxed bottom on a brand new trailer.
.
Right now I'm backing wife and boat into water hooked, she'll fire it up as I unhook it. Usually I will push her back a bit more before pulling truck/trailer out. She never goes over idle within the marina.
lol, guess I just don't like walking from parking lot to dock with wet feet and flops[emoji14] [emoji1]

Previous trailer had rollers and no bunks...needless to say...we always used the strap

 

[milkmoney]

What is a bow strap , any pics or video demonstrations [emoji2][emoji202]

 

[JBS]

I unhook it when I leave the house, hook it back up when I get home :tbi

Good use of a thumb hook[emoji106]🏻

 

[McKay]

I unhook it. I have a stepped hull so it would be damn tough to slide off.

 

[downriver34]

Unhook, get the drive wet and start her up wife backs in in deep enough and we gone!

 

[FreeBird236]

Windsor is not very steep, I unhook at the top of the ramp. I can't even power off until it's almost completely floating.

 

[Advantage 1]

We actually prep prior to getting onto the ramp... turn on batteries, turn on pump, blower, plug, stereo, etc.

Leave it hooked.

The launch ramp we use has docks... the wife backs the boat down, I will unhook when the boat starts floating then tie up to the end of the dock. She goes and parks. By the time she gets back, she can walk right on the boat and off we go. Pretty good system :thumbsup

 

[plaster dave]

I back up in the water so drives in water grab my kid and unhook the bow eye strap. I fire the boat and tell the wife to back the rest of the way in and I'm off. 2-3 mins tops.

 

[t&y]

Always leave it hooked up. Fire the boat up, then go unhook. Gives the motor a chance to warm up a little bit. Then off we go.

This:thumbsup

 

[Chili Palmer]

I have all my peeps and boat loaded before I hit the ramp or pick them up at the dock (I hate people who load up at the ramp). The wife backs the boat in, I leave the boat hooked until the outdrive is submerged, hatch is open, fan on, and fire it up. Once it's running the wife unhooks the bow and backs the truck so the boat will float off. She parks the truck and trailer, I idle out, put up the bimini if it's a scorcher, hook up the iPod, put her purse and towels under the seats. I see her walking to the docks, I idle over there and nose it in to a slip, she hops on and away we go!

 

[rivermobster]

Always leave it hooked up. Fire the boat up, then go unhook. Gives the motor a chance to warm up a little bit. Then off we go.

This.

Until the engine is running with a steady idle, I don't untie it from a dock or unhook from the trailer. Parker current yano. You lake guys I'm sure are different.

 

[guest hs]

I grab a beer unhook my strap then take a sip of my beer then sit in my seat take another sip then my lovely wife backs me down to where the back just starts to float then I take another sip then I fire the engine up take another sip warm the engine up finish my beer then I back my boat off the trailer and grab me a fresh one!

 

[Flying_Lavey]

Leave it hooked up til I'm ready to walk it off the trailer (no reverse yet). I wait til I have a nice pee stream and H2O pressure. Then I get up on the bow and have the gf back down slowly til the boat is floating and I walk it off the trailer while spinning it around then jump in and idle around the marina (people that tie up to the dock on a somewhat busy ramp annoy the crap out of me) and then swing into the dock to pick up the gf.

 

[Rajobigguy]

I start the boat at the house and get it warmed up then drive to the ramp (about 1.5 miles), get everybody and everything in the boat and unhook while still in the parking lot. Then I get in to the line up and when it's my turn I swing around to the top of the ramp through it in reverse and back down at about 15 mph, then slam on the brakes just as the boat hits the water. while shes sailing backwards I do a burn out up the ramp and whip into the first available parking slot fast enough let the trailer skid sideways just until it's perfertly lined up with my tow rig. Then I make ad dash to the dock, the wife sould be close by then. run to the end and do a forward somersalt onto the forward deck with a two point landing that Kathy Rigby could only dream about. after that we make a beeline for the channel at top speed find a good parking spot and stay there for the rest of the day.

 

[BHC Vic]

I start the boat at the house and get it warmed up then drive to the ramp (about 1.5 miles), get everybody and everything in the boat and unhook while still in the parking lot. Then I get in to the line up and when it's my turn I swing around to the top of the ramp through it in reverse and back down at about 15 mph, then slam on the brakes just as the boat hits the water. while shes sailing backwards I do a burn out up the ramp and whip into the first available parking slot fast enough let the trailer skid sideways just until it's perfertly lined up with my tow rig. Then I make ad dash to the dock, the wife sould be close by then. run to the end and do a forward somersalt onto the forward deck with a two point landing that Kathy Rigby could only dream about. after that we make a beeline for the channel at top speed find a good parking spot and stay there for the rest of the day.

I totally pictured this lol

 

[Sonic45SS]

Electric winch cable and 2 big 2" safety winch straps stay connected till the boat is down the ramp and most of the way into the water at launch depth, then I unhook them all to launch.

Seen too many winch straps, winch brakes, winch gears, cable/strap hooks, cables, etc break when backing down or pulling out. My previous trailer I had a big safety chain to the bow eye also along with the electric winch cable. Had the winch brake let loose once when pulling out. Safety chain prevented the boat from sliding back. I doubt it would have came off the trailer it just slid back some. On that trailer, the chain and cable never were disconnected till I was at launch depth on the ramp also.

Ive seen boats come off the trailer and onto the ramp, outdrives drag because the winch, strap or cable let loose. IMHO, leave it connected, including a safety chain until you are ready to launch. A lot of trailers didn't come with a safety chain, easy to add one and I highly suggest it. Might save your boat or more one day.

 

[rvrrun]

Electric winch cable and 2 big 2" safety winch straps stay connected till the boat is down the ramp and most of the way into the water at launch depth, then I unhook them all to launch.

Seen too many winch straps, winch brakes, winch gears, cable/strap hooks, cables, etc break when backing down or pulling out. My previous trailer I had a big safety chain to the bow eye also along with the electric winch cable. Had the winch brake let loose once when pulling out. Safety chain prevented the boat from sliding back. I doubt it would have came off the trailer it just slid back some. On that trailer, the chain and cable never were disconnected till I was at launch depth on the ramp also.

Ive seen boats come off the trailer and onto the ramp, outdrives drag because the winch, strap or cable let loose. IMHO, leave it connected, including a safety chain until you are ready to launch. A lot of trailers didn't come with a safety chain, easy to add one and I highly suggest it. Might save your boat or more one day.

You don't hand winch that back on the trailer?

 

[236eagledave]

I unhook it. I have a stepped hull so it would be damn tough to slide off.

This.

 

[TOBTEK]

Why take the chance of a EPIC FAIL over saving 15 -30 seconds ? I don't get it ! Zig, not sure if you've ever had a Tunnel hull before. But keep in mind you now have two 12" runways holding up pretty much if not ALL your new Mega dollar, slum Lord, Pimp daddy, Big Baller Shot caller boat. PLEASE leave the stap on it. Back when I had the Mach22, I needed to move the boat forward about a foot on the trailer after retrieving it. Thought I would be a good idea just to "tap" the brakes with the strap loose. BAD IDEA! I got So lucky! One more inch and the boat would have been into my tailgate. Those tunnel boats slide really EASY on the trailers.









think these three people regret taking the strap off ? There's only one Strap I can think of you want to get off in a hurry. Same one with three clasps

 

[TOBTEK]

here's the picture I was looking for..........


LEAVE IT secure till your in the water. Unless you don't mind your FAIL pictures up on the web...:cool

 

[HAVASUSUN]

Always leave it hooked up. Fire the boat up, then go unhook. Gives the motor a chance to warm up a little bit. Then off we go.

X2

 

[rvrrun]

here's the picture I was looking for..........


LEAVE IT secure till your in the water. Unless you don't mind your FAIL pictures up on the web...:cool


View attachment 465854

That put a ding in the wallet

 

[Havaduner]

I always leave the strap hooked till I get the boat into the water, my wife runs the boat. I back the boat in, till the drive is good and wet, she fires it up while I unhook, she makes sure water is running out the exhaust before I back in till the boat will come off the trailer.

But the real two reasons I don't take the strap off early is....

1. I don't want to end up with a fail pic all over the internet

2. Since I unhooked it, I don't want a video all over the internet of my wife beating the shit out of me for scratching the bottom of the boat on the ramp.

 

[riverbrian]

Always leave it hooked up. Fire the boat up, then go unhook. Gives the motor a chance to warm up a little bit. Then off we go.[/QUOTE

We do this, you just never know.

 

[McRib]

my bow hook stays hooked till my boat is far enough in to fire it up. usually till my exhaust tips are just above the water. at that point I fire the boat then look over the transom and wait till the water is flowing properly out of my tips. once that is done I unhook the bow eye then go the rest of the way in with the boat. all in all. 60 seconds tops on the ramp for initial launch.

I also let my hook dangle about a foot below the reel for retrieval. makes landing the boat a lil eaiser. I hook it then crank while some one gently powers up the bunks while I crank. keeps the side to side at a minimum.

 

[ChiliPepperGarage]

I solo boat a lot. Most ocean harbor ramps are not crowded at all so you can take your time.

I prep before hitting the ramp and leave the bow line attached until I get the trailer lined up next to the dock. I have the dock lines attached to the stern cleat and the mid-ship cleat, coiled and sitting on the boat.

Once lined up to the dock, I jump out and unhook the trailer bow line and throw on my short "launch line" too the trailer and bow cleat. Then I back all the way in until the boat floats and give the brakes a slight tap. The boat floats off the trailer until the launch line get taught and stops the boat from going any further back. Then I can grab the dock lines and tie off the boat, unhook the launch line and pull the trailer out to the wash down area for a good scrubbing.

I found this video of a guy doing it pretty much the same way. Go to about the 3:20 mark to see his "launch line".

[video=youtube;Ajrwuv7aCLw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ajrwuv7aCLw[/video]

 

[Sonic45SS]

You don't hand winch that back on the trailer?

That would be a big no..... And I know your kidding. I did at one time have manual winches on the trailers for my 42' & 45' boats.
Boats got most of the way on by floating on. Hand cranked the last few feet instead of powering on. Myco trailers are actually built with the intention of powering on the trailer. I did at some point install electric winches on those trailers too.

The new Myco under my 45', everything is electric, with self sufficient on board power. The boat winch is a Superwinch 5000 with a hand held wireless remote control. I like everything as easy as possible now, so I outfitted this new trailer with every possible option and several of my own designs and creation, hence the control panel and layout I designed and had built into the trailer pictured below, with winch and battery boxes visable. The trailer jack/landing gear is electric also with manual backup. Trailer Power is controlled via a key locked Perko switch. Batteries are charged via #2 guage cable from a special plug in on the back of the Sport Chassis. So in essence I have a total of 4 Batteries at all times.

 

[Danger Dave]

First boat we owned was a 16' Glastron outboard. It had an EZ Loader trailer. First outing, my dad sticks me in the boat, starts backing down the ramp. Of course the winch wasn't locked, we hit the slope the boat starts moving faster than the trailer was going. Slides right off the trailer onto the launch ramp at Mission Bay. I jumped out of that boat so fast that the old Asian guy that was fishing next to the launch ramp is probably still laughing to this day. Ever since then, I don't unhook anything until it's floating.

 

[coolchange]

This is how I solo launch. lol
[video=youtube_https;y5ejwRj9t1Q]https://youtu.be/y5ejwRj9t1Q[/video]