O
PERATION
3
3-31
BACKING YOUR TRAILER
It takes practice to back a trailer suc-
cessfully. If you are not familiar backing
up with a trailer, practice first in an open
area away from obstacles.
Keep the following points in mind:
•
Back slowly. Make steering adjust-
ments in small steps.
•
Turn the towing vehicle’s wheels
opposite the direction you want the
trailer to go.
•
After the trailer begins moving, turn
the towing vehicle to follow it.
•
Have a second person stand by to
help direct you with hand signals
LAUNCHING
As a courtesy to other boaters, prepare
your boat for launching before using
the ramp.
Each launch may have particular dif-
ferences, such as ramp angle, prevail-
ing wind, waves, and water currents.
If possible, watch a couple of boaters
launch their boats first to notice any
problems. While every boater develops
a preferred launch procedure, here is a
recommended general procedure:
1) Perform the Pre-Operation Checks
shown on page 3-4 that can be per-
formed on land, including operating
the blower for at least 4 minutes.
2) Remove all trailering tie-down lines
from the boat and attach your dock-
ing lines and fenders, if used.
3) Back the trailer down the ramp as
close to 90° to the shoreline as
you can. If possible, have a second
person stand aside as an observer.
Stop when the wheels are at least
halfway submerged. Set the parking
brake.
4) Remove the bow line from the bow
eye.
5) Back the trailer farther into the water
until just the tops of the fenders
show, then reset the parking brake.
Board the boat and start it. If pos-
sible, remain on the trailer until the
engines are warm and are respond-
ing to throttle.
6) Back the boat out into the water,
watching carefully for people, other
boats, or obstacles.
