Safety Is Simple - Have a Plan!
Sunday, April 18th, 2021 11:37 am
From our friends at BOATING ONTARIO...
Ontario is home to one-fifth of the world’s freshwater, with over 250,000 lakes!
Boating opportunities are endless and can be an extraordinary experience, but open water carries risks too. No matter what activity you enjoy, or your experience, make sure you know what you’re doing before dipping your toe in. For the safety of yourself and others, it is essential that you are fully prepared.
Plan a safe and fun day out on the water by keeping these tips in mind:
1. Learn how to launch your boat
2. Learn how to dock your boat
3. Don't drink or do drugs while boating
4. Wear a properly fitted life jacket
We Believe An Informed, Confident Boater Is A Safe Boater
Safety is Simple - Learn How to Launch Your Boat
Learning to safely and efficiently launch your boat is a very important skill for any boater.
Launching a boat is a skill that requires practice in order to do it comfortably. The best place to practice is in a low stress environment that is not too busy, and has a quality boat ramp.
It is important to respect others waiting in line, so we do the prep the boat BEFORE pulling up to the ramp.
When you arrive on site, find a place to park that is out of the way so you can prep your boat and trailer.
Once you're parked, you can prep your boat for launch.
- Start removing the canvas,
- Undo and remove the transom straps
- Replace the drain plug that has been removed
- Prep your mooring lines and fenders
- Load up any additional gear you may need
Once your prep is done and the ramp is clear, it's time to pull your vehicle up to the ramp and prepare to back in. It's best to line yourself up first so all you have to do is back straight down the ramp.
- Check all around you to ensure there is no one or anything around that you may back into. It's always a good idea to have someone outside the vehicle keeping an eye on you so they can let you know if you are getting close to anything.
- It's important to remember that if you steer to the right, the trailer will begin to push to the left and vice versa.
- Make SMALL adjustments when steering and backing up, using your mirrors to keep an eye on your trailer. Take your time. If you're feeling rushed, it is best to pull away from the ram and let others go ahead so you can take your time.
- Have someone hold the mooring lines on the boat as you back down the ramp.
- Once you've backed up far enough that the stern of the boat is floating, you can have someone carefully unclip the boat from the trailer.
- Continue to back up until the entire boat is floating and the person holding the mooring lines can pull it back and away from the trailer.
- Once the boat is floating and clear of the trailer, your spotter should give you the ok to pull forward. You can then slowly and carefully pull your vehicle forward and away from the ramp, and into a designated parking spot.
- If you're not comfortable or having trouble with this process, don't be afraid to ask others for help.