Thank you all for the wonderful advice that you have shared with me. What a terrific resource this website has become
What I'd like to know is how fast can you safely drive while pulling an 18" boat? If a sign on the road reads "Curve ahead....35mph" , Does this also mean that I can safely do 35mph, or do I need to always do less? Or what about just turning into a street? Can I take this turn like I was just driving my car?
On a funny note... well... funny now thats it's past... Our first launch (3 days ago at West Branch), we had our first "almost crisis" moment. (which thank god we can laugh about it now!)
Rob (aka "Reel Man") backed me into the water. All was going well when Rob said that he was going to back me in a little deeper. Well, little did I know that his intention was to release me! I thought he was just putting the boat in a little deeper! Next thing I knew, this 18' boat of mine is floating backwards and sideways down the loading ramp area (it was windy), and I had someone right next to me who was in the process of launching their boat! Frantically, I replayed in my mind all of the steps that our salesman had gone over with us that had to happen (in a specific order) to start a cold engine. I see boats and docks coming closer and closer to my boat and tried not to totally panic
Someone was watching out over me, cuz it seemed that just in the nick of time, the engine started, and I was able to find reverse quick enough to avoid any major collisions.
So... the lesson we learned?... lol... always have the motor started BEFORE undoing the winch strap!