PRACTIGAT K]{(lTT-HtlW COLUMN AND PHOTO BY TOM KEEF
ylur boatoff thetrailerandintothewater Getting withoutdelayis a skillthateveryboatershouldmaster. OATLALINCHES CAN EASILYBECOMEBATTLEGROI.INDS. Watch for seaweedor algaegrowth on ramps,particularlyon wooden ramps,as particularlywhen stupidity is the order of the day.But you this can make for slippery surfaces.Use canmakesureyou'reneverthe causeof a potentialdockside blocksbehindyour tiressothat your vehicle doesn't slide back into the water as dust-upby havinga launchingsystemin place,and stickingto it. you're freeingyour boat. And make sure First,prep your boat prior to heading for the ramp.Make surethat your engine, battery, electronics,trailer, and safety geararein good lepair. There is nothing more frustrating-and sometimesinfuriating-than watching a boater charge a deadbattery, install a new bulb for his running lights, or fill an oil reservoir while occupying a slot in the ramp. When you're readyto go, pull into an appropriate loading area. There's an embarkment order to follow at every ramp, and the guys who arrived before you launch beforeyou. Setup your boat while you wait by storing your rods,tackle bags,charts,binoculars,coolers,and coffee in the boat before it's your turn to launch.Getyour fendersand lines ready (haveextralong linesfor usein a cross-
wind), pull on your boots,put in your drain plugs, and wait patiently for your turn. Have spare keys and drain plugs handy, asthey arecommonly misplaced. Don't walk awayfrom your rig, and when your turn comes,get going right away. Inspectthe ramp beforeyou launch. Someramps havesteepdrop-offs; others have no docks on which to tie off your boat. Checkout everythingahead of time, and make sure that you know what you're gettinginto. (The Maptech EmbassyGuidesare grealresourcesfor both public and private boat launches, by the way. Various guidesare available covering the entire Atlantic coast and the Bahamas.Check out the list at www.maptech.com,or order the guides at 1-888-839-5551.)
A littlepracticeandpreparation will saveyoulrommakinggaffeswhile launchingyourskiff.
S A L T W A T E RF L Y F I S H I N G
your tailpipe isn't headedunderwater. Of course,be surethat your vehicle has the proper tow packageto begin with. Clutchesand transmissionsshould be in good working order so that they don't slip,and side-viewmirrors should be largeenoughso you can seearound your boat while backingdown the ramp.
About Timing Each ramp has a particular traffic schedule;figure it out, and work that scheduleto your advantage.At myramp, the clam diggersgo in two hours before low tide and generallyhaul two hours after low tide; on weekendsthere is a predawnrush,first at 7:00a.m.and then againat 9:00a.m. Avoid peak times by gettingup earlieror stayingout later. Somerampsareshallowand cannot be usedaround low tide. Pushyour luck by hauling when it's too low, and your boat or evenyour truck may get stuck. Some ramps aresplit betweenlaunch and haul sides;make sureyou usethe correct side for the task at hand. The onusis on new boatersto familiarize themselveswith trailering and launchingpractices.A good idea is for new boatersto practicebackingdown a ramp and launchingtheir boat at a slow time of season-midweek, midday, or in the earlyyeararetimes when the ramps are lesscrowded,which is a good time duringwhich to practice. o_S"_ TomKeeris afrequentcontributorto SFF.