Boat launch turn-around tricks? (eg, Newport)

[Thomas Gilg]

When launching our 21' NR Seahawk at say the Port of Newport 3-lane boat ramp, with walkway docks on both sides that run for several hundred feet, with incoming boats often lined up on the downwind dock, with wind blowing, ..., I'm at a loss for the best way to handle the boat at launch, get it turned around, and buzz out.

How do you launch your boat and get it turned around?

====================================dock-S======
lane1 |~~~<<boat-in-1~~~<<boat-in-2~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
lane2 |~~~~~~~~ water ~~~~~~~~~~~<~~~~>~~~~~~
lane3 |~~<<boat-launching~~~~~~~~~<~~~~~~~~~~>~~
====================================dock-N======

^^^^^^^^ wind direction ^^^^^^^^^^.............................crabs waiting for us

Most often at Newport, I find the wind blowing south and boats coming in lined up along the south dock. I launch in the north lane, but struggle with whether I can back up fast enough to not drift south into the incoming boats, and then get turned around (pink ~ marks with < bow direction marks) and head out without bumping/backing into the south dock.

Should we walk the dock and escort the boat off the trailer with ropes off the bow and stern until past the other boats? Should we then hold the bow rope close to the dock and use the motor to pivot the stern around the bow (saw it in a book)? Should we man-handle the boat to turn it around.

--tg

[foxer]

Back it out under power?

[Joe Schwab]

When launching our 21' NR Seahawk at say the Port of Newport 3-lane boat ramp, with walkway docks on both sides that run for several hundred feet, with incoming boats often lined up on the downwind dock, with wind blowing, ..., I'm at a loss for the best way to handle the boat at launch, get it turned around, and buzz out.

How do you launch your boat and get it turned around?

====================================dock-S======
lane1 |~~~<<boat-in-1~~~<<boat-in-2~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
lane2 |~~~~~~~~ water ~~~~~~~~~~~<~~~~>~~~~~~
lane3 |~~<<boat-launching~~~~~~~~~<~~~~~~~~~~>~~
====================================dock-N======

^^^^^^^^ wind direction ^^^^^^^^^^.............................crabs waiting for us

Most often at Newport, I find the wind blowing south and boats coming in lined up along the south dock. I launch in the north lane, but struggle with whether I can back up fast enough to not drift south into the incoming boats, and then get turned around (pink ~ marks with < bow direction marks) and head out without bumping/backing into the south dock.

Should we walk the dock and escort the boat off the trailer with ropes off the bow and stern until past the other boats? Should we then hold the bow rope close to the dock and use the motor to pivot the stern around the bow (saw it in a book)? Should we man-handle the boat to turn it around.

--tg

Use the wind! Remember, single engine has right hand turn prop and in forward will push stern to the right. Reverse will push the stern left into the dock if left in straight ahead steering. Hold the bow tight with a line and turn the wheel hard port, forward throttle. The stern should come right around and head the bow out. You may be able to back straight out but the pull of the prop is going ot keep you against the dock, again depending on the force of the wind.. Anytime I was in that position I wanted to get the bow around as quickly as possible and go out in forward gear. Too many things happen in reverse. I always like launching starboard side to the dock so I could use reverse and hard port to throw the stern out and quickly come about with forward gear hard to starboard. Thats is probably not possible if there are boats returning.

[Coastalfisherman]

Use the wind! Remember, single engine has right hand turn prop and in forward will push stern to the right. Reverse will push the stern left into the dock if left in straight ahead steering. Hold the bow tight with a line and turn the wheel hard port, forward throttle. The stern should come right around and head the bow out. You may be able to back straight out but the pull of the prop is going ot keep you against the dock, again depending on the force of the wind.. Anytime I was in that position I wanted to get the bow around as quickly as possible and go out in forward gear. Too many things happen in reverse. I always like launching starboard side to the dock so I could use reverse and hard port to throw the stern out and quickly come about with forward gear hard to starboard. Thats is probably not possible if there are boats returning.

Have someone hold a stern rope and allow the bow to float away from the dock. Once it is facing the other dock, have the person get into the boat from the stern and motor away from the dock bow first.