The advantage of keeping a Manitou pontoon boat on a trailer is that you can put your boating adventure on the road. With a trailer it’s possible to explore new waters, attend events, and take your Manitou fun just about anywhere there’s water. Many new owners see a pontoon on a trailer and think it must be more challenging to launch than a runabout, but this is not the case at all. With a little experience you can launch your Manitou pontoon boat like a pro.
Etiquette at the Launch Ramp
A launch ramp can be a busy place, especially on a summer weekend. A good boat owner takes pride in contributing to the efficiency of the launching process. If this is your first time at this ramp, park out of the way and take a moment to inspect the facilities – check the water depth, which side the dock may be on when you launch, and the flow of traffic as other boaters line up to launch.
Your goal is to be as efficient as possible when it’s your turn to actually back down and launch. With that in mind, park in a staging area to prepare your boat:
- Visit the pay station if a launching fee is required.
- Load all your gear into the boat – coolers, tubes, towels, skis, etc.
- Put up the Bimini if it’s been down for trailering.
- Attach fenders to the dock side of the boat.
- Remove the transom tie-down straps and the outboard motor brace if you use one. Leave the outboard tilted up for now.
- Attach dock lines to the bow and stern cleats.
- Turn on the battery switch if your boat has one.
- Check that the key is in the ignition. This would be a good time to bump the key into the “start” position to make sure you don’t have a dead battery.
- If you have family or friends along, go over the launching plan so everyone knows how they can help.
Launching With a Boat Driver
If you have along both a boat driver and a vehicle driver who can back the trailer down the ramp, here are the steps to take:
- Back down the ramp far enough to submerge the trailer wheels, but not so far that the stern of the boat starts to float. You want the boat to remain on the trailer for now. Your driver can already be in the boat.
- Trim the outboard down far enough to place the anti-ventilation plate (the flat horizontal surface above the propeller) to about the surface of the water. This will ensure that the outboard water pick-ups are submerged but should keep the propeller from touching bottom. Never start an outboard motor without those pickups in the water. You could damage the water pump.
- Your driver should be wearing a life jacket and should connect the ECOS (Engine Cut Off Switch lanyard) to their belt or the life jacket. The driver can now start the outboard. You want to make sure the motor starts and is running before you float the boat off the trailer.
- Now disconnect the trailer bow strap and safety chain. Have the driver shift the outboard into reverse gear with the throttle at idle speed. When the boat driver is ready, a beep on the boat horn or hand signal will let the vehicle driver know it’s ok to slowly back further down the ramp. As the boat floats off the trailer the driver will have steering control.
- The boat can be maneuvered to an uncongested area on the dock, or away from the dock, while the tow vehicle is being parked. Passengers may board from the dock. If there’s no dock, it’s OK to have crew on board before you launch.
Launching Without a Boat Driver
If you are the only available driver for the vehicle and the boat, you can follow this launch procedure:
- Before backing down the ramp have a long dock line attached to both the bow and stern cleats on the dock side of the boat.
- Back down the ramp far enough to submerge the trailer wheels, but not so far that the stern of the boat starts to float. When backing down the ramp, position the trailer close to the dock. You want the boat to remain on the trailer for now. Disconnect the trailer bow strap and safety chain.
- Have an assistant standing on the dock take hold of both the bow and stern dock lines. They will use the lines to control the boat after it floats off the trailer.
- Back the trailer further into the water until the boat floats free. Your assistant can now walk the boat back away from the trailer and pull it close to the dock. Drive up the ramp and park your rig. The assistant can use the lines to walk the boat down the dock and away from the congestion of the immediate launch area, leaving the ramp available for the next boat.
- Get aboard, put on your life jacket, connect the ECOS and trim down and start the motor BEFORE releasing those dock lines. When the motor is started you are ready to push off and begin your day of fun on the water. Don’t forget to stow the dock lines so they are not dragging in the water.
Launching with a Scissors Lift Trailer
A scissors lift pontoon trailer supports the boat on the cross beams below the deck, rather than with beds directly under the pontoons. The frame of a scissors lift trailer is raised and lowered, usually with a winch on the front of the trailer.
- Before backing down the ramp have a long dock line attached to both the bow and stern cleats on the dock side of the boat.
- Back down the ramp far enough to submerge the trailer wheels, but not so far that the stern of the boat starts to float. When backing down the ramp, position the trailer close to the dock. You want the boat to remain on the trailer for now. Disconnect the trailer bow strap and safety chain.
- Either secure the bow and stern dock lines to the dock or have an assistant(s) hold the lines while standing on the dock.
- Using the winch, lower the trailer frame until the boat floats free of the trailer.
- Now use the lines to walk the trailer down the dock until it is no longer over the trailer.
- Drive the tow vehicle and trailer up the ramp and park.
- Get aboard, put on your life jacket, connect the ECOS and trim down and start the motor BEFORE releasing those dock lines. When the motor is started you are ready to push off and begin your day of fun on the water. Don’t forget to stow the dock lines so they are not dragging in the water.
Your Manitou dealer can help you select a trailer matched to your boat size and weight. Many pontoon trailers are equipped with a boarding ladder that makes it easy to step from the ground up to the bow deck when the boat is on the launch ramp. With a little experience launching a pontoon is not a great challenge. Many Manitou owners have discovered that trailering to a new lake or river is a great way to make fantastic #ManitouMoments.
