Top Tips for launching your trailer boat.
Many would-be trailer boaters are put off by the potential difficulties of launching and recovering a boat. However launching and recovering does not have to be a stressful experience.
The following tips from www.boatlaunch.co.uk will ensure a smooth start and finish to your day.
1. Plan ahead. Choose a slipway carefully, plan for tides and phone ahead if possible.
2. Take your time at the slipway. Park up and have a good look around. Make sure everyone understands what’s going on.
3. Get everything ready to go to sea BEFORE you reverse down the ramp.
4. Practice reversing somewhere quiet before you first launch.
5. If the slipway is very slippery, use a long rope attached to the car.
6. Check your engine is working before you launch.
7. Use a launch method that is safe and works for your boat and trailer.
8. If a winch handle spins out of control, NEVER try to catch it.
9. Avoid recovering in a cross-current. If you have to, drift downstream onto the trailer and keep the boat aligned with the trailer.
Full details of how to launch your boat can be seen at www.boatlaunch.co.uk/launch_and_recovery.aspx
And for details of all the slipways in and around the UK take a look at www.boatlaunch.co.uk
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