Low pressure launching experience for a rookie?

[Amx]

I don't say this nearly enough. I love you guys! :thumright I can always come here for reassurance and not get laughed at, not too hard at least. :joker:

Oh you'll get LAUGHED at. [lol] BUT we've all been there, done that.

One time with my first boat I moved the steering lever the wrong way, and backed the prop into the chain at the launch at Sawyer. It was a stick steering with the driving position way up forwards where it's normal to fish from on a modern bass boat. This was a 1972 Chrysler Bass Runner, bass boat. Yes people saw that. No I didn't look at them.

[reigndawgs]

Are internal combustion engines allowed on Morton and/or Sawyer? If so, are there speed limits. As long as I have her on the water I want get a feel for her.

[Amx]

Yes gas motors are legal for Sawyer. Speed limits very depending on weekends/holidays or during the week. Sunday the speed is 6 mph until 11 am, then goes up to 35. Goes down again at 3pm. Cost $5 to use the launch/and park.

[rjn cajun]

Yes gas motors are legal for Sawyer. Speed limits very depending on weekends/holidays or during the week. Sunday the speed is 6 mph until 11 am, then goes up to 35. Goes down again at 3pm. Cost $5 to use the launch/and park.

That`s why I love it. Morton I don`t think allows gas motors. Although I see them from time to time. It`s a small lake.

[Amx]

reigndawgs is your truck a stick shift, or auto tranny? 4x4?

[Toni]

I've screwed up a number of times at the launches. Still get crossed up now and then. It happens. Just cooly get out of it and try again. :-)

One night after midnight I got home and tried to back the trailer under the awning. COULDN'T do it. Kept jacknifing the rig. So I left it in the middle of the back yard, jacknifed, and went to bed. The next morning I backed it right in with no troubles. Was just TOO tired to do it right the night before.

I find that if I am tired I don't back it up as well, either.

[reigndawgs]

reigndawgs is your truck a stick shift, or auto tranny? 4x4?

Auto. 4X4 but have to lock the hubs.

[Amx]

You won't need to lock the hubs on Sawyer, unless it's cold and icy in the winter. At the Game Dept. launch on Meridian you probably will, and be prepared to wade at Meridian. Or pay $5 or $7 at the Meridian Kent City launch. I use the game dept. launch.

[The Quadfather]

Reindawg, so please do not keep us in the dark. What is the details of your boat (possilbe) purchase? Your thread has been hangin' out there for almost a year!

Let me second the idea of going to Coulon. More launch lanes than an LA freeway. All very straight and plenty of room. Believe me, if you take 10 minutes to practice backing your boat trailer into a parking spot in a deserted large parking lot.... you will be just fine pointing it into the water. The only other two things to concern you are the drain plug,, yeah, you got that... but importanly is the disconnectig the boat from the trailer before it hits the water. Honestly though... it is better if you screw up on that, and leave it attached and the wino from the park bench starts yelling at you.
(This is what happened to me on my first launch. I have never had that problem again, LOL)
Sammamish is cool... it is only 2 lanes I think,,, but there is PLENTY of shoreline within the parking area to just back it in the water.
Do it right, and go to Coulon or one of those smaller, "Sawyer" lakes, etc.,
Can't wait to hear what you got!!

I have the same size boat. Just back it in until the transom floats just a wee bit. Wear a pair of hip waders for dryness/comfort. Go back and push it off, while hanging on to the bow line. (have a good 20' bow line) with the trailer in the water... walk the bow line over to the dock and tie her off. Of course have a transom line of equal length. Tie them both off,, and go park your vehicle.

Let me say that the only tricky thing in the whole process if you have a typical 14' aluminum, deep v hull, etc. When you go to pull your boat out of the water... I assume that you don't have guide posts for that size of a boat... You will HAVE to have your trailer going STRAIGHT!!! into the lake. Straightly aligned with your vehicle.
At least on my very same boat, if the trailer and car are not PERFECTLY aligned, when you pull it up on the winch it will come up slightly off angle. I cannot just BUMP my boat by hand onto the trailer, straight. If it winches up out of sync. just push it off the trailer, and straighten your trailer/boat. Otherwise you will drive home with a boat that is not properly seated on the trailer, and a hazard. I still have issues with this, and it's a little embarrasing, but oh well!

[kzoo]

Another very helpful tip, especially on retrieval, is dropping the tailgate (Assuming you are using a pickup). It can help out A TON! Be careful that you don't jackknife the trailer with the tailgate down though, it will dent your tailgate in if you turn to sharp while it is down. The other big plus to dropping the tailgate is you can use it as a step to get out closer to the boat.

A truck is so much easier than a SUV or a car, because of dropping the tailgate. Like Matt says, the vision helps a ton. The second is that you can load your boat by sitting on your tailgate and tie up and crank your boat on to your trailer. You don't need to get in the water.

Good luck, it's always exciting for your first time. And don't worry about screwing up, I see tons of the pleasure boaters screwing up all the time.

[kzoo]

What does otw mean?

Ramp should be empty of the tourny boats by early/mid morning, and I'm guessing the weight-in is about 3pm. With awards about 4pm, so the place will be busy until 5pm. So my estimit of 10am would be good.

I was too lazy, "otherwise"

[Amx]

What does otw mean?

Ramp should be empty of the tourny boats by early/mid morning, and I'm guessing the weight-in is about 3pm. With awards about 4pm, so the place will be busy until 5pm. So my estimit of 10am would be good.

I was too lazy, "otherwise"

Thanks. Acually I total hate the use of a couple letters instead of the whole word.

[reigndawgs]

Thanks again guys. It is so nice to have a place to go to learn this stuff.

Quad: I will not leave you in the dark, but don't want to jinx myself before I get the boat. If it all works out I will be so geeked out that you can count on a new topic with pics, etc. I know it is a 14 foot aluminum boat that looks to be a semi v from the pic in the ad and a supposedly fine running 9.5 HP outboard. I am really excited, but skeptical until I see the boat, see the motor running and leave the licensing office with the proper paperwork saying she's mine. Of course my 9 y.o. daughter already peed on my parade when I showed her the pic of daddies possible new boat by shrugging and saying "I can't go tubing behind that." Ah kids, gotta love 'em (don't ya?)

[Amx]

Tell her to learn to paddle. [lol]

[Matt]

I always carry one or two extra plugs either in the boat or in the truck, those things have a habit of walking off on you!

[BentRod]

It looks like I may be finally getting a little boat (14foot aluminum with outboard) and I would like to find a place I can practice launching it on a lake somewhere where I don't feel like I'm on the firt tee box at a crowded golf course with people waiting impatiently for me to get out of the way. Is there such an idiot proof launch on the Westside fo the state (the closer to Sammamish the better). Lake Sammamish is close obviously, but that seems like the opposite of what I'm looking for.

Could you pull the outboard and go launch it at Beaver (no outboards allowed there)? No fee, but crowds might be hit or miss. The launch is big enough for two people to launch side by side if necessary.

[Mike Carey]

Yes gas motors are legal for Sawyer. Speed limits very depending on weekends/holidays or during the week. Sunday the speed is 6 mph until 11 am, then goes up to 35. Goes down again at 3pm. Cost $5 to use the launch/and park.

That`s why I love it. Morton I don`t think allows gas motors. Although I see them from time to time. It`s a small lake.

gas motors with a speed limit on Morton. I think it's 8 mph. Hey, I just posted a video on Morton. I would take Sawyer over Morton just because there is zero challenge at Morton, plus once the trailer goes in the water it's shallow and kinda irregular, which can be an issue getting a good retrieval if you're new to putting a boat back on the trailer. Sawyer does have that little jink at the bottom however the ramps are great and after a couple tries that jink is good practise IMO.

[reigndawgs]

Yes gas motors are legal for Sawyer. Speed limits very depending on weekends/holidays or during the week. Sunday the speed is 6 mph until 11 am, then goes up to 35. Goes down again at 3pm. Cost $5 to use the launch/and park.

That`s why I love it. Morton I don`t think allows gas motors. Although I see them from time to time. It`s a small lake.

gas motors with a speed limit on Morton. I think it's 8 mph. Hey, I just posted a video on Morton. I would take Sawyer over Morton just because there is zero challenge at Morton, plus once the trailer goes in the water it's shallow and kinda irregular, which can be an issue getting a good retrieval if you're new to putting a boat back on the trailer. Sawyer does have that little jink at the bottom however the ramps are great and after a couple tries that jink is good practise IMO.

Is Sawyer open for fishing now too? Might as well drag a line as long as I have the boat out.

[MarkFromSea]

just a thought, if you head out before the opener at the end of the month, launch at a closed lake, if it's just to run the boat... maybe Margaret(video of gravel launch area here at WA LKS) would fit the bill,,,,, just a thought. other lakes also, check regs for lakes near you....

[rjn cajun]

That`s why I love it. Morton I don`t think allows gas motors. Although I see them from time to time. It`s a small lake.

gas motors with a speed limit on Morton. I think it's 8 mph. Hey, I just posted a video on Morton. I would take Sawyer over Morton just because there is zero challenge at Morton, plus once the trailer goes in the water it's shallow and kinda irregular, which can be an issue getting a good retrieval if you're new to putting a boat back on the trailer. Sawyer does have that little jink at the bottom however the ramps are great and after a couple tries that jink is good practise IMO.

Is Sawyer open for fishing now too? Might as well drag a line as long as I have the boat out.

Yep Sawyer is open. Mike`s right about Morton it has no challenge but it`s easy. I remember my first time and I didn`t want anyone to see me or be any where around. That`s just me that`s why I suggested Morton. I love this site it`s the only one where you can ask a question and get good honest feed back without all the bad mouthing.