Boat Ramps by a Novice

[David S]

What makes a good use able boat ramp for sail-boaters? I have only used 5 different ones. 1. At Lake Julian Park in south Asheville area public ramp, they have replaced one dock 3 times at about 4-5 feet from the edge of the concrete ramp, where you can drop your trailer or vehicle wheel off the edge and the 1st dock had a 3 foot high railing opposite the ramp, that shore fishermen thought was made for their use and sailors would have to warn them they might get hit with a BOOM or flapping jib shackle and could we have the dock cleared while we get the sailboat on or off the trailer, they usually complied although some might roll their eyes.

Shouldn't the dock be right at the edge of the concrete ramp where one can easily handle and maneuver their craft? The park officials don't seem to get it.

2. & 3. This same Lake Julian Park has a marina with 2 ramps. One is steep concrete and on launching my O'day 22 it really takes off the trailer, better to have a strong rope cleated to the bow and a tough longshoreman holding the end of the rope. And retrieving it takes a lot of muscle cranking on the wench. The second ramp has a gravel bottom with an easy slope but the docks are at an angle and several feet away, and takes a lot of rope and boat hook maneuvering.

4. In Punta Gorda at the DO_IT_YOURSELF_MARINA the ramp is good, they can launch 50 footers and have a motorized lift, but the docks on each side are several feet away from the ramp.

5. In the Florida Keys at Little Torch Key the ramp slopes nicely but rather short for sailboat retrieval and drops off about 2 feet at the end of the concrete. its used mostly by powerboaters and their props create quite a large hole with a shoal beyond the hole and just enough depth for my O'day keel boat and rudder.

David S

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

David;

I am in the Raleigh area and do go to the Asheville area on occasion camping.

I use to teach my customers to look at the ramps prior to launching. Some ramps were never designed to accomodate sailboats. Good example is a short ramp with a keel version sailboat. That one you have to avoid. Longer ramps are suggested and only the locals know that which is why you ask the local and not the weekend warriors from another area.

Some ramps do not have docks and some do. Even then they are not uniform so you have to adjust. The steeper ramps pose issues. You are correct about holding onto the winch handle and I urge caution not allowing your face near that handle. Never undo the winch strap/cable unless the back end of the boat is over the water. If you cannot launch the boat with the back end into the water, then avoid that ramp.

If you ever do launch and the axle goes off the end of the ramp, it may be an issue. What many do not know is that the end of the ramp has washed out and getting the trailer back up may be difficult. Invest into 2 X 6 treated lumber about 4-5 feet long. If you do back up the axle off the ramp, then use the boards and jam them into the front of the tire and lay on the end of the ramp and then pull the trailer out.

On ramps, look for overhead obstruction from where you put the mast up to the ramp and vice versa when pulling the boat out.

All ramps are different and suggest that you investigate before you go to an unknown area.

 

[LloydB]

I float my boat on and off the trailer to launch/retrieve it. I prefer to single hand launch when sailing single handed because when others help it seems there is always a little too much and it takes longer. I back the trailer ball to near the waters edge set the break and chock a wheel. I go to the boat and secure a bow line and a stern line, each long enough to pull the boat away to the dock and tie the other ends to the trailer, then the wench is slacked off until not holding the boat on the trailer. The boat is backed down ato where just as it begins to float and chock and set break, I then go to the trailer untie the lines and push the boat off by hand and walk the bow/stern lines to the dock and pull the boat over to it.
Conditions are somewhat different between us in that with less draft I don't need need a tongue extension to float off. So far I haven't found a ramp with a drop off that I wanted to try to get my boat back on--yet.(I do know of one I won't try) I will accept and wait for help when prudent due to rule or wind, current, and crowds.

 

[c_witch]

Boat ramps

Hiee,

We have a swing keel. The ramps I look for are an 8 to 1 preferably concrete but good solid rock is ok to. We also make sure to lauch and retrieve at or as close as possible to high tide. On the 8 to 1's we can get her back far enough so that she is floating clear of the rear rollers and only gently riding on the front ones.

c_witch

 

[MrBill_FLL]

seabird in long key (keys) is also pretty good. as are several county ramps, but you can't leave the truck and trailer overnight.


face it ramps are built for powerboats. we are an after thought. grrr.

 

[kenn]

Our boat, with it's fully-retracting keel, is as easy (maybe easier) to launch as the average motorboat . That plus having 4wd has allowed us to launch on some horrific ramps.