Back at the Ramp

1. Drop the truck/trailer driver at the dock. This is a good time to allow crew members to get off the boat to use facilities. Make sure they stay away from the boat ramp traffic.

2. Tie up either outside of the dock or at the end of the dock so other boats can launch, or circle a short distance away while you wait for the trailer to be backed into position. Don't park your boat at the bottom of the ramp while you wait for the trailer if others are waiting to use the ramp.

3. When you see the trailer being backed down the boat ramp, move toward the end of the ramp to load the boat.

4. Bring the boat to the trailer while the driver of the tow vehicle blocks the tow vehicle wheels, unlocks the winch cable or strap, and moves into position on the trailer to connect it to the bow eye.

During this time, if you've left someone aboard, have them shut down the engine and raise the outboard or stern drive. Have a dockline ready to be thrown to the driver on the trailer. Then, if possible, get off the boat and assist with the retrieval where needed.

5. Attach the winch strap or cable to the bow eye and crank the winch until the bow is snug to the trailer post. Attach the safety chain to the bow eye. Return to the tow vehicle, unblock the wheels, and proceed up the ramp. Don’t stop at the top; keep going to a staging area away from traffic preparing to launch or retrieve.

6. Here you want to secure the transom straps, tie-downs, and transom saver (if applicable); remove the drain plug; and load items from the boat into the tow vehicle. Inspect the boat for anything that can possibly blow away while on the road. Also take a few minutes to remove weeds or vegetation on the boat or trailer and if possible, give the boat a rinse to minimize the risk of moving invasive species (see "How To Wash A Trailer"). This is the time to lower the bimini and VHF antennae.

7. If you unplugged the trailer lights, this is the moment to plug them back in.