Just bought pontoon. Don't know anything about launching it!

[OBDZOBG]

We just bought a pontoon from a friend that needed desperately needed money. Even though we are water babies & live at the lake in the summer we know NOTHING about launching the boat. We have a 2006 Ford F-150, V8, 2WD. Is this attiquate for launching the boat? I am really just concerned with pulling it out of the water. How far do you pull into the water to load/unload it? Thanks in advance!

[dbltrblpapa]

Hi OBDZOBG. Welcome and congratulations on the new pontoon. I too am relatively new to pontoons but you have found the right place to seek knowledge. The folks here are great. I learned from reading here and have pretty much gotten the hang of it.

To launch I make sure everything is ready to go before I back down the ramp including removing the winch strap. I tie a bow line to the trailer just to make sure she doesn't accidentally float away. I back in until I can visually see the boat just begin to float off the bunks. Put it in park, set the brake, hop aboard and back off the trailer. My wife is scared to death of water so I pretty much do a solo act until it is tied off to the dock where she just steps on.

Loading can be a little trickier. If there is much wind or current you will need to adjust accordingly. I'm not sure there is a good step by step guide due to the many variables. You just have to kinda learn by doing. As for the basic mechanics of recovering, I back the trailer all the way in to wet the bunks (lubricate) and pull up until I have about 18-24 inches of bunk submerged. I center the boat during my approach by ligning up with the winch post and just ease the tips of the tubes onto the bunks. I have my wife confirm that I am properly aligned from her post on dry ground and then I drive right on to the trailer. It doesn't take a full throttle power load and in many cases there are rules against that. I can usually get within a foot or two of the winch with less than half throttle and just winch it up from there.

Anyway, that's how I do it and it works for me. I'm sure some of the veterans will chime in too.

Good luck and enjoy your toon.

[Woody]

dbltrblpapa has some good points.

Another thing I can offer is try not to be a "ramp hog" and encourage "ramp rage"...lol

Google "boat ramp etiquette" for a few tips and tricks.

Good luck and have fun !

[BassFrequency]

just know this about launching, If your truck ends up in the water, tyou backed a bit too far. If your truck is in the water and not your boat, you have a funny story to tell your grankids

all in all, Welcome to the party!!!!

[OBDZOBG]

Thank You sooooooooo much everyone!!! BassFrequency: That would be a story I would rather NOT have to tell my grandkids!! Woody: Thank You, being we live at the lake in the summer, I have seen ALOT of shall we say, "disagreements" at the boat ramps. I have never owned a boat, but I think I have learned my lesson about the "respectfulness" of the ramp occupants. I just hope everyone is patient with me being a first time launcher! DBLTRBLPAPA: Great info!! Thanks a bunch!!

[OBDZOBG]

One more question: Is my Ford F-150, 2WD ok to launch/load with? I really don't want to end up in the lake trying to load the boat & get up the ramp! We also have to recover the seats. Any ideas?

[trott46]

I agree with DBLTRBLPAPA. Only thing i would do different is leave the winch connected and start the boat. Then unhook, If she does not want to start then it is a quick pull out and a rope is not good enough to support the wait of the whole boat when pulling up a ramp with slick bunks. Also if i seen correct your trailer does not have bunks the toons sit on. With the set up you have make sure your in deep enough as you can drag the front of the toon on the trailer and possibly damage it. I would make sure you have carpeted 2x4's across the top of the trailer. Your f-150 should be plenty of truck for launching and recovery.

[OBDZOBG]

Trott46: Thank You. You are correct, I wish the toons did sit on something. It looks VERY scary driving down the road! What do you mean about the carpeted 2x4's? (You are talking to a woman here!)

[trott46]

Lol On the trailer itself on the very top all the way down the trailer. Put marine grade 2x4's (wood) with marine carpet on them. Provides some protection from metal to metal sliding of the toon on the trailer and it is also slicker then the metal. Im not much a fan of that style of trailer as it can damage the front of the boat. Also if you come into the trailer (when recovering) at a bad angle can cause damage to the toons them selves. I have seen holes in toons from that.

[schmir]

Looks like you have a sissor style trailer. Should be easy to launch and load. You probably have the ability to crank the boat up and down. These trailors the boat doesn't sit on bunks. The other type of trailer is a bunk style trailor where the boat sits higher up off the ground on bunks. The disadvantage to the trailer you have is that it is not quite as stable. Don't take any high speed turns while trailering. Hopefully someone will chime in that has that type of trailer.

[OBDZOBG]

Oh Boy....as much as I have wanted a pontoon boat to play with, I am getting a little discouraged!! Check back often guys!! I'm sure I will be blowing this site up with questions!!! Of course I have a 17 year old son that knows EVERYTHING, so I will have to get on here just to prove him wrong! LOL Thanks SO MUCH for your help!! I will be checking back every few minutes!!

[trott46]

Dont be discouraged tooning is great. Just a few things to watch for.

[OBDZOBG]

Thanks Trott46! Any advise on ANYTHING else since this is my first time to actually be the "Captainette" of the ship? LOL...

[badmoonrising]

The F-150, even with 2wd is more than adequate for that 'toon. Towing capacity is around 6000 lbs, you should be well under that.

My '99 with 4wd/4.6 V-8 tows a 32 ft Party Cruiser without problems.

[OBDZOBG]

Thanks badmoonrising!