Launch and Recovery Techniques
Near
the slip prior to launch
The
object of the exercise is to reverse the boat down the slip, launch the boat off
the trailer into safe water and clear the slip without delay.
Before
commencing, ask yourself a couple of simple questions
Is
the boat ready to launch -
Empty of kit
Launch fees paid?
all items checked,
fuel on,
vents open,
engine spins,
engine support removed,
Controls
set to neutral, choke
set, bung in,
trunk up,
painter free and correct length,
boat secured to trailer whilst on slip,
easily freed from trailer,
can I reverse down the slip safely,
can I stop at the bottom,
is there enough water,
Am
I convinced that the engine will start?????
OK
so we’re ready to go, first, be prepared to delegate, before attempting to
launch, tell everyone what you expect them to do, and when and how to do it.
Be
prepared for things to go wrong and plan how to deal with unexpected
occurrences.
Decide
how deep you’re prepared to immerse your vehicle, don’t get any deeper than
the tyres unless you’re insured for chassis rot!
Be
aware that others may wish to use the slip, so vacate immediately the boat is in
the water, but remember to leave it in safe hands, preferably a drysuited diver,
while you park the vehicle and trailer, and fit the wheel clamp.
Try
to reverse the trailer to a wall or other obstacle, to deter any would be
opportunists.
Also
a good idea to have a floating dry container for keys cash, and fags, if your
diving with big ash and also spare keys hidden on the vehicle.
Recovery
Recovering
the boat is probably one of the most difficult operations for the uninitiated.
The
main questions to ask are:
Is
there enough water at the end of the slip?
Is
it calm enough to recover?
Will
my vehicle tow the boat up the slip on seaweed?
Does
the boat need to be emptied before I winch it onto the trailer?
You
will only be able to answer these questions with experience, but general rules
would be:
·
Always remove all heavy kit before attempting to winch the boat onto the
trailer
·
If the nose of the boat won’t float into the first pair of guide
rollers it’s too shallow
·
If the slip is covered in seaweed and steep, and your car is front wheel
drive, you may have problems
Again,
think it through before you start, make sure all divers are available to help if required, if things look bad
consider alternative slips or co-opting a four wheel drive.
Always
try to avoid recovering on a falling tide--
If
recovering on a rising tide be quick
Having
recovered the boat onto the trailer, don’t be in to bigger rush to zoom up the
slip, tyres and clutch smoking.--Check that the boat is tied on--check that the
engine support is in place--make sure that no kit is balanced on the tubes or
that no tubes are balanced on the kit!- and finally make sure everyone is clear
of the trailer and wheels--then-
Golden Rule -
Try not to come home without the boat!