"How to Launch Your Big Boat"..tongue firmly in cheek

castaway...that Striper is my neighbor's boat and Stan has no problem launching it from our ramp at high tide. However, you can easily launch your 20ft. I/O from the camping beach area in Coyote Bay. Just note the best slope at high tide, beach firmness, and use your 4WD. We used to launch and retrieve Stan's 32ft Bertram there with no problems...we made it a group effort among amigos.

Of course, smaller lightweight boats are no problem at all.



The following Big Boat event might help your cause.

Here's an accounting of how to haul out a little bigger boat than yours. For launching see below.

Because of it's draft, I used to launch and haul my old 28' Pompano somewhat differently...with, like the song goes..." ...I need a little help from my friends.."

BAJA NOSTALGIA CLICKING IN HERE...

Back in the day, we hauled out this way:

1. Pick a really low tide during daytime hours. Invite lots of amigos for boat haul party & barbeque.

2. After icing down all available beer, use pickup to back empty boat trailer way, way out onto firm tideflats, unhook trailer, tie hawser to trailer tongue... and hopefully remember to drive old rusty GMC pickup back to shore. Crank out tunes on the old 8-track player. Run over and invite the local ranchero musicians.

3. Now we wait a bit for high tide to cover trailer.
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Time to check firewood supply. Make beer/ice runs to Mulege to refill coolers ..invite the OK Corral Ladies Chapter.



and remind Manuel to bring the pig and whole chickens for barbeque. Go to Serinadad for 5 gallons of Guillermo's famous barbeque sauce. Invite Serinadad mariachi players. Get okay from neighbors not already at party for overflow parking on their lots.
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4. have someone point out where I left the Pompano anchored.

Okay, I knew that...


5. row out to her, climb aboard, start diesel.




and then motor Pompano onto wobbly, but sturdy, really old, old trailer and secure. Noting that at least most of the tires held their air. Secure trailer hawser from tongue to shoreside pickup rear hitch.



6.... wait for low tide. Those who want to get some shuteye. Tell all beach campers in the Bay who walked over to see what all the commotion is to join the ungoing party. Make another beer/ice run. Get some balloons.


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Invite any policia who have not arrived yet. Unload Pancho Miranda's electric organ and run genset lines to his amplifiers..install larger fuses.

Invite Rcho Coyote neighbors Matt and Pierre...from thier own perpetual party. These guys party hardy! The boat people come ashore in their dinks.



Appoint Jean-Luc (the Golden Piccolo) to turn ribs and baste. 4 of his favorite senoritas to help.
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Manuel Diaz comes over from Rcho Coyote and takes a turn at basting with his special sauce.
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It's a good idea to test Manuel's special sauce.



And arrange 'conveniences' for your guests.





7. When he takes a break from mixing Bloody Marys, singing and playing his guitar, I enlist mi amigo, Johnny Tequila, to check out hawser rigging, boat position on trailer, tires, tide depth, best looking bikinis, bottom firmness, breass...opps..
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Killer Caine brings his video camera into play.


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JT runs tow line to the waiting pickup on the ramp and secures to the rear hitch of waiting pickup.


8. I climb into the trusty old 4WD Gimmy and start er up....inching along...keenly aware of putting too much pressure on the tow line. Johnny yells out, 'You should be driving FORWARD ya flatlander...AWAY from the boat."...hmm
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9. Convincing JT that I was just pulling his chain, I shift into forward .. inching along..keenly aware of many eyes watching my manuevering. My foot slips off the clutch, popping the truck forward, and JT nimbly jumps out of harm's way as water sprays off the suddenly taunt towline with a loud TWANG!! Hey, what the heck...So far, so good. I get the heavy Pompano rolling on it's old trailer, a veteran of many launches and retrievals. The creaking and rocking as the boat/trailer lists along slowly over the tide flat is sort of relaxing. This time, only one tire has come off it's rim.


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Hurrahs and clapping drown out the mariachis and Pancho's electric organ. Sounds of the 'Volga Boatman' come from the crowded patio and sea wall.
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I get the Pompano up onto the shore. Done Deal.




10. A SUCCESSFUL HAUL OUT. Those that are still upright will gather for a group photo.
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Much later, after an appropriate rest of a week or so and lots of menudo....we trailer her into the barn for a hull cleaning and new paint job.


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..and so, castaway, that is how we used to HAUL OUT on the beach.

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LAUNCHING:...was all too easy. Get that low tide again, drive out, leave the boat and trailer way, way out there, wait till the tide starts to float your boat, get the mob wet and puuusshhhh it back off the trailer. Retrieve trailer with tow line.

Oh yeah...Launching requires a whole new party....




[Edited on 12-10-2008 by Pompano]

Pompano=Da Man!







nice life...gives me something to shoot for, and fall waaaay short!

Crappy Trailers.

The one in my story/post is over 40 years old and is/was only used for the distance from my ramp to my barn...about 200 yards. I wouldn 't think of taking it out on the highway. Although it is actually quite strong, thanks to Pelon, a welder in Mulege...(writer's license)

Lots of great salt water trailers in San Diego. Check Craiglist, too. Ask Diaz Boat builders...and probably La Paz by now. Good luck.

I really haven't seen too many bad OTR trailers around here, except for some pangueros, and they really don't take thier boats very far.

Read this first thing this morning and knew it would be a good day.....