Advice on how to launch

[geoff]

I wrote this article a while ago for PBO and finally got around to posting it on the web site.
There is a rather neat graphic showing how to recover in a cross-current at the end of the article.

Hope you like it
http://www.boatlaunch.co.uk/launch_and_recovery.aspx

Comments welcome.

[shirehorse]

A very good article and one that should be read by every new launcher the main point being get everything ready, this will save all those rude words and fall outs thanks.

[bedajim]

Originally Posted by shirehorse

A very good article, this will save all those rude words and fall outs thanks.

Thats the best bit + the silent treatment all the way home

[Cypman]

Fantastic article and a MUST for all novices. The only point I would like to make is regarding the use of the winch for launching. I am anti its use for launching as it (a) tends to let the boat out too slowly, (b) the ratchet is easily set the wrong way and the boat can be inadvertantly released (spinning winch-handle syndrome!!) I prefer to use a warp attached to the bow U bolt with 1 or 2 turns around the trailer winch post (depending on weight of boat and slipway gradient), with this you can easily pay out the the line at any appropriate speed whilst always maintaining full and easy control of the boat.