Owner`s manual

LAUNCHING GUIDELINES
Before launching, stay to one side and watch a couple of
launchings to notice any problems on the ramp and the
effects of the wind and the current on launching. It’s a
common courtesy to prepare the boat for launching away
from the ramp.
NOTE: If you have a bunk trailer, the boat’s transom must be
deeper than several inches in the water before launching.
Here are some tips to remember when putting your boat in
the water:
1. Before backing down the launch ramp:
• Remove all stern tie-downs.
• Properly secure all loose gear.
• Inventory your safety equipment.
• Load all personal gear.
• Lock winch and trailer unit.
• Disconnect trailer wiring from towing vehicle to
prevent short circuits caused by submersion.
• Make sure drain plugs are installed.
2. Have an individual at the launch ramp give you directions.
Back slowly down the ramp. If the trailer needs to be maneu-
vered to the right, turn the towing vehicle’s steering wheel
to the left. If trailer movement to the left is required, turn the
steering wheel to the right. Always remember to launch your
boat at a right angle to the shoreline.
3. If launching from a trailer, tilt the outboard motor up to the
high tilt trailer position to avoid damage during the launch.
4. When the boat’s transom is in several inches of water,
stop the towing vehicle. If you have a manual transmission,
leave it in gear. If you have an automatic transmission, shift
to PARK.
5. Turn off the engine and set the parking brake.
6. Place blocks behind the vehicle’s back wheels.
7. Do not detach the winch cable from the bow eye until a
mooring line has been secured to one of the boat’s cleats.
Attach one line to bow and one line to the stern to help con-
trol the boat. See the Mooring information in Chapter 5 for
suggested securing procedures.
8. Launch the boat; move it down and OFF the trailer into the
water.
9. Secure the boat to a dock, or have someone hold mooring
lines.
10. Lower the outboard all the way into the water.
11. Pull your towing vehicle away from the launch ramp.
12. Park only in designated areas. When parking, be sure
your towing vehicle and trailer do not block other boaters
from approaching the launch ramp or hinder their ability to
maneuver a boat and trailer when launching.
13. Remove all aquatic life and debris from your vehicle and
trailer.
4.3
LOADING YOUR BOAT ON THE TRAILER
Follow these guidelines for loading the boat back onto the
trailer:
1. Back the trailer into the water.
2. When the trailer is in several inches of water:
• STOP the towing vehicle.
• Leave manual transmission in gear or place
automatic transmission in park.
• Turn off the engine.
• Set the parking brake.
NOTE: If you have a bunk trailer, the trailer may need to be
more than several inches in the water before loading. If you
find it difficult to load your boat, you probably have the trailer
too deep in the water.
3. Tilt the boat’s drive up to the high tilt position to avoid
damage while loading.
4. Pull or drive the boat up onto the trailer and secure safety
chain.
5. After securing the boat to the trailer, start engine on
towing vehicle and pull trailer out of water to boat secur-
ing area. (If blocks are connected with a rope to the trailer
tongue, you will not need to remove them before pulling
trailer out.)
6. Use tie-downs to secure the boat on the trailer. Always use
bow and stern tie downs to prevent the boat from shifting.
7. Wipe tubes down to prevent water spots and keep the
boat clean.
8. Make sure everything in the boat is secure or tied down.
Do not put other gear in the boat while trailering. Place
anything loose in the towing vehicle.
9. Reconnect the trailer lights. Check that the lights are
working.
10. Remove milfoil, zebra mussels, other aquatic growth and
debris from pontoons, motor and trailer to protect and
maintain our boating waters.
11. When boating in salt water or brackish water, wash down
the boat completely with fresh water after each use.
DO NOT store boats on carpeted bunks or any other type of surface that
can hold salt or any other chemicals near or on the surface of the boat.
These surfaces WILL corrode and damage the boat.
DO NOT store boats by the lift strakes. This will damage the boat.