Boating 101 | How to Launch a Boat 

Don’t even have a boat but I’ll be damned if I end up on a boat ramp fail compilation

Well done. Get my first boat in a couple weeks and “launching anxiety” is real!

IS THAT A SUPRA!?!? In all seriousness that’s a very beautiful boat

Dad didn’t get to teach me how to launch a boat before he took his life, I’m 20 and was so afraid to learn by myself but this eased my anxiety

One the best 'how to videos' for first timers I have seen and I've watched hundreds. Thanks !

Ah, I remember the first few launch micro-disasters with multiple boats so I have many words for the newbie... With my current outboard bass boat I quantized the pre-ramp checklist to Four in the Front, Five in the Back - Front: remove bow strap (leaving some slack and resetting it to winch in for later), unhook safety chain, unplug trailer lights, raise motor. Back: remove transom straps, insert plug, remove motor travel bar, connect battery, and hand pump gas to the carbs. Just by having a count on the number of things to do greatly helps in not skipping any of them, your counts [& items] may vary. Now load 'the middle' with ALL gear. Next, because my girlfriend won't back a trailer (and is terrified at the thought) I back the boat and trailer down to the water. I turn off the radio, lower windows, and put it in 4WD just before backing. I put the boat in as far as possible while still having a foot or two of dry ramp behind the truck (because getting your feet wet is not a good look). You have to have the boat and truck absolutely square to the launch at this point; this is so she is comfortable that she only has to go back, then forward without turning the steering wheel. Now, climb in the boat [you have welded a step to the trailer tongue, right?], lower the motor fully to ensure the lower unit is submerged, and start it. Check all gauges and put the motor in reverse. I have seen many boats cold idle fine in nuetral then stall when it is put in gear - not a good look. If all is well, I give the sign to back up until the boat disengages then immediately give her the hand sign to stop (don't rely solely on voice here, fully prebrief exactly what is going to happen and what the hand signals are, even if she has done it with you a dozen times - trust me, a rolling of her eyes at this point is a very small price to pay). Mentally note carefully how deep the trailer was in when the boat separated, you'll usually want to be slightly less deep when you recover the boat, and it differs from ramp to ramp due to angle and on how the boat is loaded (you'll instinctively get this part over time). Make sure you have fully cleared the trailer before giving her the go ahead sign to pull out. When she has pulled the boat and trailer forward enough to clear the water she exits the truck and she and the dog come out to sit/organize with the boat while I go park the truck (note: she is now comfortable parking the truck and trailer since all she really has to remember is to put it in 2WD and make very wide turns). When I have to launch by myself I do all of the above except I leave the bow strap slack but attached and back in until I see the ass end float - I then jump in the bed of the truck (not a good look!), through the bed, into the boat, lower the motor, start it, unhook the bow strap, then put it into reverse and gas it, sometimes with wet feet. Easy and faster to do than describe; sorry for the novel. --- I suppose I should now go find a video to comment on regarding recovering the boat by driving onto the trailer and running the carbs dry...

Nice video! Only two things I'd add. ... 1st when you are pre-launching and loosening up the which strap, be sure to re-lock the pin so the winch isn't still in free mode. Give the slack needed, but lock the pin so the boat doesn't drift off, unspooling the winch line with it. (Yes, this happened to me once haha). ... 2nd, ALWAYS use a wheel chuck or two behind your truck tires once you leave the vehicle and go to move your boat. No one wants to be docking their boat only to witness their truck and trailer drifting down the dock and into the water. Parking breaks aren't great and do tend to slip. Emergency breaks are a must, but when you are in a hurry, sometimes one forgets to set it. So I just have a habit to grab a wheel chuck and toss under the back wheel when I'm walking down to get in my boat and start it up. Harbor Freight has a couple big chunky rubber ones that are cheap. Get one, tie a rope to it, and keep it in the truck bed.

Best tutorial thus far - thank you and SWEET BOAT 🤙🏼🤙🏼

Just bought a 2021 Supra SA 450, your videos have been really helpful, both before the purchase, and will be after as well. Great stuff.

Just subscribee!! Thank you so much for properly explaining it, without going into useless details that divert my attention..! Just buying a boat and this is helping tremwndously!

Just got my first boat, 93 Ragin Cajun Bass Boat. Excited about getting it out on the water for the first time. Thanks for the video, it helps us newbies alot!

Nicely done, good instruction. I worked at a marina when I was a kid, the most entertaining and dangerous place in the marina was the boat ramp. People do not follow your steps and I have seen some crazy things. Your video is great!

I love it, clear and precise. I think I subscribed because you have my boat lol.. great job

Excellent video, clear, simple and informative. Thanks for taking the time!

Thank you! Great video! I sent this video to my daughter to reference as she launch’s the boat for her first solo trip to the lake.

Beautiful boat! Love that baby blue! Nice vid too

Nice video, boat ramp courtesy seems like its rarely taught. But a little hustle is so easy.

Amazing aerial view is ideal for this tutorial. Thank you for a great video.

Good job, as a experienced boat owner it’s nice to be reminded of best practices!

Great info, thanks for all the tips. We're new to boating so this helps a lot.

Thank you! awesome video, helps a ton, the videography is excellent

Great Advice,have more knowledge,like you said with practice,I definitely will have more confidence now.Thank you 👍

This was amazing!! Please keep making tips content like this!🎉

Chantel, thank you for the great videos. My wife and I just bought a 2006 Larson 280xi. Watched all your videos on how to launch a boat, trailer it and so forth. For first time boat owners this might have been a little too much boat for us? We took the boat to a lake for the first time today. My wife was freaked out and petrified by all the other boats at the dock so I had to launch the boat myself. I wouldn't suggest to anyone that your first time putting a boat in the water is done solo on a busy Sunday morning. Got the boat in the water, never drove one before so had to figure out the throttle - almost hit someone trying to back up and struggled to get to the dock so I could run to get the truck off the dock - way too stressful for our first time. Finally got on the water, just spent the day getting to know the boat and how to operate it. Then we had to go back to trailer the boat at the end of the day - that was a little easier, had to do it all solo, still a stressful operation for the first time trailering a boat. With all that being said, I kept asking myself "What did Chantel do and explain in the video?" We found ourselves saying before launch "Chantel said to loosen the hitch strap but not to take it off". Your videos really did help! Ultimately, we can say we launched a boat, trailered it and got home safely - but what a shit show for the first time going out. Video suggestions - 1. Driver's view of launching/loading while other boats in the water or at the dock. 2. Driver's view of throttle use - backing up/ docking. 3. We had a good directional wind when loading. I was able to compensate to one side of the trailer and let the waves center me on the trailer but a driver's view of loading while windy would be good. Thank you for your videos!

What a great video. As a new boat owner this was very helpful

Well done thank you. I shared with my scouts who were taking the motor boating merit badge.

Super clear video tutorial. Very professional. Thx.

Videography needs to be paid! Nice video. I love the checklist. I learned 4HI and parking brake is a must. Maybe even add chocks to your tires and a brake pedal depressor if your by yourself. Awesome video. 😎

Love all those aerial camera angels. Great work filing this.

Excellent video. Planning on getting a boat next spring and already stressing about launching! Thanks Chantel. Very helpful!

Great video and truly helpful. Thank you!

Great Video. Very well detailed and videography is excellent.

I bought my first boat ever and this is The only launching video that I’ve seen that mentions to run the blower… and I’ve seen at least 100 lol. Thank you!

Hey Chantel; My wife and I wanted to thank you for helping us. We watched 3 of your Boating 101 videos twice through and were able to gain a level of confidence with the basics before heading to the boat launch/dock. Super helpful and we're very grateful!

Just bought a boat for the first time and ur video was best one on here 👏👏 it has helped me

Thank you Chantel! We just bought a Moomba and I had to launch it with my husband the first time and I was visibly shaking. Wish I would have seen this video first.

Comprehensive and concise at the same time. The use of a drone helped by adding a visual to your instruction. It is always better to show what you are talking about rather than have the camera on the speaker. Excellent video. I'm subscribing.

One of if not the best boat launch video I've come across! Not surprised its by a "Wake" crew, you guys rock! I've always been able to click my v-drive in reverse and back out no problem after getting as little nudge from the truck driver as you mentioned. No extra gas or going back into neutral just click into reverse and the into drive once your clear and idle out of the way. Unless you have a good wind that day and even then what are you doing putting in with the wind blowing? lol i know there are times and circumstances just being silly like hey we pull out when the wind kicks up so make us a boat retrieval video where your racing the storm front that just blew up out of nowhere! lol great job and beautiful boat! Yes I know the video is 4 years old still a pretty boat

One thing that I have been doing more recently on my pre-check is to also check my bearings on the trailer with a slight hand tap near the bearing buddy to check for heat. If they are hot (untouchable) to touch that needs to be addresses immediately.

Great video, Chantel ! I'm not a beginner, but I always like to watch other people's methods to see if I can learn a new trick ! Thanks !!

Pretty good basic tips thanks! My moms BF left and now she wants me to help her launch and retrieve her boat! pretty excited actually to take it out!

Very descriptive, very easy to understand. Thank you very much!

Nice video, and my favorite place to launch in Portland!

We were just at that boat ramp yesterday! Just bought a Tige R20 2018 wakesurf & boy is it different than our Yamaha twin turbo jet. We had no idea how different it drives. It was very stressful but these videos are amazing! Thank you!

Thanks for this thorough video! Very helpful! 🙏🏼

This was an incredibly helpful video. Thank you so much!

Very helpful video! New boat owner here....thank you!

Thank you! This was super helpful!:)

I found the channel so clear & fruitful

Thanks for the detail and including etiquette.

Exactly what I needed! Thanks so much!

Very informative video! Just like your other ones! The only little thing I would add, because I’ve done it, 😀 is when you release the winch out. Make sure you flip the switch back to the locked position. So whatever slack you released, it will hold it there. Hope it helps!

Great informative video. Thanks!

Clear and concise, great. May I add that don't switch off the truck engine on launch or recovery because just like at Maccas drive thru and airport drop-off, that's when you will get a battery failure!

This is a great tune. Enjoyed the vid too.

Definitely the best laughing video I’ve seen and super nice boat.

Great video, excellent advice!

Great video. Can’t wait to share with my wife!

these videos are so great!!! THX!!

Calling out of work this thursday just so I can do this on a less busy day at the dock for my first time launching my boat lol !! Nervous, but pretty confident after watching this video .

So helpful! Thanks. 💜

Great job. Very informative.

Great video! .... and I want an auto follow drone now... thanks Chantel...

Wonderfully clear!

Great video, thank you.

This was really great. Thank you!

Sweet boat, nice tutorial.

Super helpful, thanks.

Great video. You make it look so easy. Hoping this will help me at the launch. Thanks, Mark in Portland

Finally a woman doing a video. Very well presented. I launch and load my 22 foot center console alone. I start at the back of the boat with the battery, plug, straps, and motor supports. Then undo the safety chain and loosen the winch some. This after getting all the gear in the boat, but before getting in position to back the boat down the ramp.

great video, thanks so much !!!

Great video thanks for sharing 😊

Thanks for the video very informative

Great video.....new to launching my boat solo, so this was super helpful!

New boat owner here and definitely feel some of that anxiety, but you did a great job of covering those items.

I’ve done this for years but I’m still here for some reason. 😂😂 good vid tho

really cool video ...thanks

Great vid Well done lil sis your the 💣

Great video, just got me a knee boat. Haven’t had one in 10 years I’m nervous is hell.

I also like to use 4x4 during the launch because if you drive into the water (which so many do), your rear tires can loose grip in that slippery slimy algae that nobody can stand up in and your truck could slip away. Where if you're in 4x4 your front drive tires will prevent that. Keep in mind that incoming waves are powerful and can easily lift the back of your vehicle causing the front wheels to roll down the ramp. Happy boating.

Very helpful thank you

Very nicely done

Best explanation ever.

This is super helpful thank you! Can’t wait to check out your other videos. I’ve been boating for a long time with my family but it’s time for me to learn and get my own boat. Could you do a video on how women’s wakeboards are different than guy’s wakeboards or how riding is different. Id say I’m not a complete beginner but I’m not jumping the wake yet. My bro in law designs Ronix boards but I wanted a woman’s advice, I’ll take all I can get, thanks in advance!

Awesome great video

This is a super awesome video

Thank you for this

Doing this for the first time this Friday! I am super nervous but thank you for the tips! Helped a lot

Nice 👍 set up!

best boat launch video on youtube

This was awesome super helpful. Would like to see you recover the boat next.

Nice to see a boating instructional video with a woman! :) Not many of them. Thanks. Building my confidence.

Coool video! You’re Bad Azz!! 💯🙌🏽

Excellent

Great video. I like to tip of putting in reverse for short bursts when backing up to keep stern from pushing starboard . Will use that next time. By the way, what video drone is that? That's pretty good video, very stable. Thinking bout bying a drone for wakesurfing footage, just recreational use.

Great vid. nice job. Shouldn't you disconnect your boat tow power before putting in the water though?

Thanks Chantel...

that is a nice boat, damn!

Ahh I needed this! I’m fishing more with my cousins and I want to help out a bit and launch the boat for them😂

Thank you!!