Newbie - first self launch - first self retrieve - hope this gives all a smile

[JollyDave]

Smile at the ramp.
Well guys - picked the boat up Monday ( Stejcraft 580C) decided to wait until today and go for a bit of instruction with Mike at Perth Boat School Woodman Point - great guy and worth the wait. Went for a run down the sound out round Garden Island and back through the gap to Woodman - learnt a lot about trim in particular.
Armed with the experience and feeling confident went home and decided to take wife for a run in the sound as it was fairly flat, launched at Palm Beach ramp and wife met me at the ramp. Launch easy even though tide seemed low. Great run - went to Woodman point and back - all over the sound and she loved it, about 2 hours. Get back and approaching the finger jetty with new confidence and super slow, looking at the jetty thinking "never remember seeing the bottom of those pylons on all my walks along the beach" - tide was that low could only get half the boat beside the end of the jetty. Backed the trailer in down to back wheels of car at water edge, ran winch cable out - doing this found only deep bit of water right behind trailer "waist deep" moved painter (10 meter) to winch eye on boat and made 2 full length winches to get boat to back of trailer, from there it was easy.
Had a smile and learnt a real lesson about tides and some ramps. Just glad no one else was at the ramp at the same time.
Had a great day with the boat - probably 5 hours on the water - learnt a lot about the boat - and lovin it. Be down Poingt Peron tomorrow to get some more practice at comming alongside the jetty - hopefully not through sand.
Hope you all get a smile out of this.

Dave

[bigjimg]

Good job.It can only get easier from here on in.Sounds like you have some common sense.What type of setup is the trailer,is it fully wobble rollered or bunks?Jim

[Jakers 69]

Nothing as good to launch your 1st boat, Had some great help from Chimo when I needed some help for my intro, will only get better with time.

[JollyDave]

Hi BigjimG, full wobble rollered ( they need adjusting booked in next week), winched onto trailer ok but after winching 10 M through about 200 mils of water this old boy was starting to slow down on the winch. No other boats around so not an issue and unless they had a tiny they were going to suffer the same fate. I thought of tying the painter to the back of the trailer and dring up the ramp for about 8 M but felt more comfortable about just using the winch - probably something to be said for a remote electric winch ?????

Thanks
Cheers
Dave
At 62 still look forward to learning something every day - hopefully not all so strenuous.

[Richo1]

Have fun with your new boat, nothing better than having a good day with a new toy. I'll be stuck sitting in the Northern Boat Harbour, Henderson; On a Rig Tender called "Mermaid Ranger", drop in and say g'day if your passing by.

Regards,

Richo

[Richo1]

Hi Dave,
your inbox is full.
0412 040 835 is my number.

Cheers

[JollyDave]

TA
Cheers
Dave

[Richo1]

Just left for Dampier towing an 87m barge won't be back in Freo for a while. Good luck with your new boat hope your out in it enjoying this great weather!

[clevelandv8]

good to see you didn't go gun ho and think like many you didn't need help! i don't even own a boat but reading these forums when i get one i'll already be that well informed about the do's and don't ie, don't go gun ho!

enjoy your boat!

mick