Good ramps for rookie

[Steuben1]

I'm the proud new owner of a well used 24fter and I can't hardly wait to try the reefs this spring. My first trip out in her will be in the western basin and I'm not reel familiar with the ramps there. I'm out of Lorain. First time launching and retrieving so I need to make it as painless as possible. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. You guys are really a great help on here.

Ramps are easy. The single best piece of advise I could give you is STAY AWAY FROM CRIB REEF! Please don't ask how I know!

[wakina]

Ramps are easy. The single best piece of advise I could give you is STAY AWAY FROM CRIB REEF! Please don't ask how I know!

The Can (#7 bouy) marking Crib Reef is a good ways kind of NE from the dangerous spot, which will raise H**L with your under water boat structure. And again please don't ask me how I know!!!!!!

[Steuben1]

The Can (#7 bouy) marking Crib Reef is a good ways kind of NE from the dangerous spot, which will raise H**L with your under water boat structure. And again please don't ask me how I know!!!!!!

You got that right! That (#7 bouy) is nowhere near the trouble spot. There is something VERY LARGE down there just southwest of Crib. I would ask my lower unit what it was, but it's gone! lol

[wakina]

You got that right! That (#7 bouy) is nowhere near the trouble spot. There is something VERY LARGE down there just southwest of Crib. I would ask my lower unit what it was, but it's gone! lol

With this low water it may even damage the hull itself! I am sure it wouild be visable to locate it if there is a 10 mph NE wind. The wave would be crashing over the top of it and be visable to see.

[B can man]

You got that right! That (#7 bouy) is nowhere near the trouble spot. There is something VERY LARGE down there just southwest of Crib. I would ask my lower unit what it was, but it's gone! lol

This made me giggle. Sorry for your loss

Most of all, thanks for the TIP! I may have done the same thing without knowing!

With the cost of repair to an issue like that, it could have potentially put me out for the rest of the season.

[Dr.Ed]

Catawba State Park is my ramp of choice from ice out till mid-June when I move to Cranberry Creek Marina and from there in mid July, it's Geneva State Park. 4 ramps and almost always someone offering to help. Wait to launch after 9 AM if there is a tournament. If possible be on the water at sunrise. There are over a million walleye within 7 miles of Catawba. All these ramps are protected from the wind. Establish which way the wind is blowing so it will push you against the dock and back in slowly, as close to the dock as possible, with bumpers deployed. I feel bow and stern lines are a must. Note your position and depth of the trailer when your boat starts to float. That's where you want to be when you run your boat up on the trailer upon your return with a cooler full of walleye. Over the years I have perfected running the boat on the trailer with just enough power and speed to get the job done and with practice you can too. I might suggest you find a ramp close to home on an inland lake that is not busy and pracitice. I'm sure you will get the hang of it in no time. FYI: Cranberry has only one ramp and it's steep. On the other hand, Geneva has 6 ramps and are the best. Catawba and Geneva have no launch fee.

[wakina]

Catawba State Park is my ramp of choice from ice out till mid-June when I move to Cranberry Creek Marina and from there in mid July, it's Geneva State Park. 4 ramps and almost always someone offering to help. Wait to launch after 9 AM if there is a tournament. If possible be on the water at sunrise. There are over a million walleye within 7 miles of Catawba. All these ramps are protected from the wind. Establish which way the wind is blowing so it will push you against the dock and back in slowly, as close to the dock as possible, with bumpers deployed. I feel bow and stern lines are a must. Note your position and depth of the trailer when your boat starts to float. That's where you want to be when you run your boat up on the trailer upon your return with a cooler full of walleye. Over the years I have perfected running the boat on the trailer with just enough power and speed to get the job done and with practice you can too. I might suggest you find a ramp close to home on an inland lake that is not busy and pracitice. I'm sure you will get the hang of it in no time. FYI: Cranberry has only one ramp and it's steep. On the other hand, Geneva has 6 ramps and are the best. Catawba and Geneva have no launch fee.

One final thing that needs to be done or at least checked and that is put the drain plug in the boat or make sure it is already installed!!!!! It would shock you to know just how many people forget this one simple step!! Reason is that most people take it out to drain the water out and to keep it from accumulating water in case it rains while still on the trailer in storage or while transporting to the point of launch.

[Justretired]

Just wondering if that spot southwest of Crib is a hazard to navigation why doesn't the Coast Guard mark it?

[LOWE LIFE]

I'd say all good advice on this topic. My 2 cents is to take some time learn how to backup a trailer into the water.. I live by Cullen park and go down to see ppl "try" to back up and their all over the place back and forth 10 times just before they hit the dock with their boat trailer.. Just like anything you have to practice. I loaded my boat in 2 mins last fall. Guy behind me asked how'd you do that so quick??? Done it alot..When you boat is back on the trailer move off to the side to get it ready for transport.. Ppl get real mad when you sit their for 20 mins while they wait to go fishing! Trick.. keep 1 hand on the BOTTOM of the wheel, whatever way you want your trailer to go turn the wheel that way.. Good luck..
Lowe Life

[Steuben1]

Just wondering if that spot southwest of Crib is a hazard to navigation why doesn't the Coast Guard mark it?

That's a great question! There is a buoy out there by crib but it is NO WHERE near the danger spot.

As much as I hate to say it, with the water level low again this year, somebody is going to hit it. When I work on my boat this weekend I will pull up the exact coordinates of the spot where I was when it got me and post them here. It's a very expensive repair. Embarrassing too! But I am fairly new and it was a good lesson learned.