5. 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.
6. Turn off the engine and set the parking
brake.
7. Place blocks behind the vehicle’s back
wheels.
8. 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 control
the boat. See the Mooring Lines information
later in this section for suggested securing
procedures.
9. Launch the boat; move it down and OFF the
trailer into the water.
10. Secure boat to dock or have someone hold
mooring lines.
11. Lower stern drive or outboard all the way
into the water.
12.Pull your towing vehicle away from the
launch ramp.
13.Park only in designated areas. When park-
ing, 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.
LOADING YOUR BOAT
ON THE TRAILER
Follow these guidelines for loading your 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.
• Place blocks behind the vehicle’s back
wheels.
• 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.
3. Tilt the boat’s drive up to the high tilt posi-
tion to avoid damage while loading.
4. Pull boat up onto 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 securing area. (If blocks are
connected with a rope to the trailer tongue,
you will not need to remove them before
pulling trailer out.)
6. Remove the drain plug and drain the bilge.
Put drain plug in a conspicuous place for the
next launch. Securing to steering wheel will
help you remember to replace it.
7. Use tie-downs to secure boat on trailer.
8. Make sure stern drive is raised and secure.
9. Wipe hull down to prevent water spots and
keep hull clean.
10. Make sure everything in the boat is secure
or tied down. Place anything loose in towing
vehicle.
11. Reconnect trailer lights. Check that lights
are working.
13-4