First Launch

Anybody have pointers for the first launch (this Sunday) of my brand new VLX?

Dont get to excited and forget the plug! might want to take a cell phone just in case.. most importantly just have fun, there isnt much better feeling than launching your new ride for the first time!

dont forget the back straps!!

1. Make sure the battery is fully charged.
2. Make sure the plug is in.
3. Keep the boat attached to the trailer till its started and running. Then lift the engine cover and check and see if you see any water leak's from loose hose clamp's in the engin compartment ect.
4. Once you now for sure your not taking on any water and everything is working perfict then disconect from your tariler ect.
5. bing your cell phone.
6. Make sure you have all your reg and life jackets and a tool kit with a flash light and jumper cable's

Its good that your taking you boat out when your dealer is open. That way if you have any problems you can call the dealer while you are out on the water.
What I have found is that some boats are perfict right from the factory and never have a problem. Some boats have a few small problem than your dealer will have to work out for ya so dont be suprised if everything doesnt work 100% perfict the first time out. If you bring the Items That I talked about you can pretty much work threw lots of small stuff and if you cant you can get some one on the phone. Plan for the worst and hope for the best. Post some pic's of your outing and congrats on your new toy
G"

Dagnabit Grant! I'm sitting here in a Family Law class that is 98% women and I think I'll check out your boat in your profile. I'll bet the folks behind me got an eyeful. I wonder how red I turned?

HAHA. Nice Grant.

Dubs_UCLA: Good tips from Grant. Not sure if you've driven an inboard before. They don't handle well at low speed. Maybe practice maneuvering around something OTHER than a hard dock that can scratch up your new beauty (i.e. anchored buoy, etc.) Get used to how it backs up. It may have a tendency to swing one way or the other (Assuming no wind or current, my '01 Malibu LSV used to pull hard to the right. My '02 VLX reverses much straighter). Learning how to use current, wind, and behavior of an inboard to your advantage will help you avoid dragging your boat down the side of a dock.

*Sorry if those are redundant items that you are already well aware of*

Danny

I've made this up for a friend a few years ago.

Upload Boating procedures.xls (66.0 k)

Josh!!!

SHHHHHHHHHH...!

Don't ruin it!

Thanks for the pointers fellas. I have a lot of experience driving inboards and a bit of experience launching and towing, but thinking of launching it for the first time when its all your own is making my stomach feel like the first time I was about to get lucky. I think I know what I am doing, but just not quite sure...

Launching it is the easy part. Now putting it back on the trailer will be fun. They key thing to remember is that it is YOUR boat. If you have a friend helping you and he/she is doing something you don't like or approve of, tell them. Everyone at the boat ramp has advice, but none of them are paid for or are paying for your boat. Patience is the key.

(Message edited by Nubb on January 18, 2007)

If you are purchasing from a dealer why are they not wet testing it with you? Pretty serious investment for a dealer not to give you an hours worth of there time without a FULL demonstration.
All the ABOVE pointers sound very in line

Get someone to help if this is the first inboard you have driven. My malibu has two plugs make sure both are in...I know someone who forgot the one next to engine! ME. Congrats.

Thanks Cliff.

I printed your list just as a reminder for when Spring rolls around again.

Just a thought- buy a few extra drain plugs to keep in the tow vehicle, or boat glove box just in case...

practice and dont be that guy that prepares while on the ramp and in the way

definitely feel like i know what i am doing given all the advice and my previous experiences, but i am sure the adrenaline will be flowing so need to make sure i am on my game.

thanks everyone and i will be sure to follow up with photos and a full review of how it went. just really glad i have a bunch of folks that will wish me well and offer their thoughts.

review the engine break-in process in the owners manual. There should be recommended rpm ranges for the first few hours; and will tell you not to stay at one speed for a long time. Make note of the starting engine hour meter; it's probably not actually zero.

Congratulations and have a blast.

Cliff, great job on the Boat Launching SOP!

I noticed that there was no mention of disconnecting the trailer lights before submerging the trailer. I've heard that it is better on the trailer's electrical system to disconnect the lights before backing in so I've made this part of my routine. Does anyone else do this or am I just wasting my time and effort?

I have always unpluged my lights also. Something about the hot bulbs cracking or burning out faster.

Depending on the angle of the launch, your trailer may try to lock out the brakes if not wired. Also, I like to have my flashers going at all times when backing no matter how close I am to having the trailer in the water. I see little kids, and even adults running around boat launches all the time, and I do every thing possible to make sure I'm obvious to them.

anchor

SD2

Jim,
I make it a practice to unplug the lights as well. Was told at purchase by dealer that though lights are supposed to be sealed and water tight, if there's a leak then good bye light (possibly hello ticket!) But I have a time or two forgotten and luckily got away without a problem...

all above points are great and im not going to repeat obvious things you have already heard here today. but lets teach from our own mistakes/problems.
#1 dont let your chick back you in, unless she is dialed on this its a garanteed break up...
but serious, after you launch my big piece of advice is wether you park the truck or your buddy does it, go back and examin your trailer. you have obviously checked your boat up and down before you took it home but have you really looked at your trailer. now listen closely to my nightmeer... took my 06 v215 for dealer water demo right, everythings perfect, i think. go to lake a week later, launch go set up camp and decide i want get my trailer wiped down. well guess what in the rear bunk of my brand new trailer/boat theres a giant nail head sticking up and red flakes of gel coat everywhere. ever scene a grown man cry. lets just say it was bad really bad when i swam under my boat. well its all good now, called sanger, someone from sports boat probably got an a_s chewing and my boat and all my bunks are brand new.
oh ya, bring all safety gear, anchor, cell phone, dont be in a rush and your trailer wont back up if the lights are not plugged in.

Make sure you are all Ready before you back the boat down the ramp, (plug in, tie straps off, boat keys in the boat, charged battery etc) DONT BE THE ASS WHO TAKES 45 MINS TO LAUNCH AND HOLDS UP THE LINE.

I have never unplugged my lights, it's a myth.

All great advice above. Be sure you have a fire extiguisher too.

Don't forget gas and check your oil level too. Bring a friend that knows what is going on and can teach you.

The trailer light thing is not a myth, it is more geared towards old school bulbs. If your lense has a small leak in it and the cool water contacts the HOT old school bulb then the glass becomes weak and usually will get a small crack in it. Then the next time you dip your trailer with the lights on and then capooooy! This dosn't pertain to LED's. So keep those plugs plugged in, just keep an eye on your len's for leakage. Ohh, and if you travel down a verted launch ramp forward then turn back up the launch ramp you will be able to back your trailer down the ramp with the lights disconnected, if you have surge brakes. Just don't try to back up a incline or back up on a flat surface, your brakes will lock up. Just buy some damn LED's! They have a life span of some 100,000 hours of use! Compare that to 500 hours of use if your lucky on those old school bulbs.

I haven't blown a single light in 5 years. I never unplug them.

You just screwed yourself buy saying that. Better buy a new bulb now, becasue you are going to have one go out now.

Grant, that is the nicest profile pic in the Universe!!!!!!!

I'll second Grant's pic. Don't think she's saying "Bling-it" but more like "Bring-it"!

Already been brought!

On that list by Cliff you should probably remove your transom straps before submerging your trailer!

LOL. I wouldn't sweat it Josh. A couple of guys i knew 1st year used to watch porn in the back of crim. Congrats Wayne; hope

I think Cliffs list should include a pic of Grants lady!

I'm bettin that ain't "Grants Lady" exept in his dreams but, more power to em if I'm wrong!

I know there are different views on this but...

leave your winch strap on until you get to the bottom of the ramp. Only takes a couple seconds to take it off. Seen too many boats sitting on the ramp (without the trailer under them).

Have fun with the new ride!

Here are the photos - it was a complete success. Heavy winds, but was a able to find some smooth water and put 2+ hours on the engine. I can't wait to board behind the beauty!!!

Your trailer is to deep, you want the trailer wheel wells just barely under the water. This looks like they are almost 6-8" under water. Great color choice!

Yep, the guides should be above your rub rail as well. Too deep and your bow could miss the bunks, come in crooked, and ding your underwater gear.

I had to learn alot of this the hard way. Good luck and break the engine in nicely and you will be good to go.

Man thats a nice setup! Is it getting hot in here... OH NO! NEW BOAT FEVER!

Thanks for the compliments and pointers. Thankfully, this was unloading, not loading and I told my father after the fact not to put it in so deep when we were loading. I will keep the advice in mind - the g/f and I are going to be having some serious training sessions on launching/loading over the next few weeks. Wish me luck!!!

Wayne - Congrats on the new ride you should have hours and hours of fun with it. One word of advice I can give you is have plenty of patience when doing this with the G/F or she won't be one for long, try not to get frustrated with her while teaching her launching or driving and now is the best time to practice during the winter when the docks are empty so when summer rolls around you will not hold up other people.

Best advice I got on how to back up a trailer is to grab the wheel underneath and turn the wheel the way you want the rear end of the trailer to go. I still use it when I have a brain fart too early in the morning or after a long day on the lake.