Women, Boats and Trucks?

Fishing partner/girlfriend can't back trailer, can't drive boat. She has a lot of time on water with Ex and adult son. But, Ex and son always did the work. She want's to learn to fetch the truck and back the trailer down. She want to learn to offload the boat and pick me up at dock. She want's to learn to drive the boat on trailer. My other partners always know who does what!!! She doesn't need to learn to do it all. Does she learn to fetch truck and back trailer or put boat on trailer. Or does she need to do it all in case of high wind?

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Originally Posted by Crappie_Express

Fishing partner/girlfriend can't back trailer, can't drive boat. She has a lot of time on water with Ex and adult son. But, Ex and son always did the work. She want's to learn to fetch the truck and back the trailer down. She want to learn to offload the boat and pick me up at dock. She want's to learn to drive the boat on trailer. My other partners always know who does what!!! She doesn't need to learn to do it all. Does she learn to fetch truck and back trailer or put boat on trailer. Or does she need to do it all in case of high wind?

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If you plan on keeping her around ... teach her to do it ALL !! I'd start with backing the boat/trailer (provided she can drive your truck). I'd take her to a empty parking lot & have her back the boat into several different parking slots ... progressing from very easy to slightly difficult. Then take her to a launch ramp for more advanced "training & testing". Once you're confident in her ability to handle launching the boat ... let her drive the boat, first off with little other boat traffic, progressing to more crowded conditions. Also teach her how to handle the boat at various speeds, how to trim it, how to "pop" the throttle into gear (& not ease it in gear), how the boat reacts to drift & slide (idle speed turns with wind/waves), and how the kill switch works. When she gets the hang of all that, then she is ready for training on how to drive the boat onto the trailer ... again, under easy conditions, first, then more demanding conditons.

She should also learn to go thru all the doing & undoing of all the straps, motor toter, plugs, winch, and all the other prep work ... prior to launching, & prior to hitting the highway home.

Sounds to me like she's feeling like she's being catered to (again) ... and wants to feel "useful/needed" & on a more equal basis, as far as being able to handle the situation, should you become unable to do so.

... cp :cool:

Two things can test the "boundaries" of your relationship with your spouse or significant other. One is letting her back your rig down the ramp, you'll find out real quick just how good the relationship is :) The other is going on a canoe float trip ("no the other side dam it" :bash) You're a better man than i am, i just ask her to hold the boat at the courtesy dock. And have her hold the dock from inside the boat, they're less likely to turn loose if they see themselves drifting away when it's windy. :)

Kaz, to expand on your scenario--- Letting her back the rig down the ramp is bad enough, having to TEACH her how to back it down will STRAIN a relationship!

I vote to teach her all of it, if she's still around after becoming an expert at all things fishing she's a keeper :)

Very well said CP. Wonderfull that she is willing or wanting to learn. Shows she takes Interest in what you two are doing. Sparrowfoot is a great place to teach her. Two ramps to use and a huge parking lot along with usually not to busy. I think it is great to have someone to know what to of something was to happen to the primary driver on the water. Could mean the difference in getting back to the ramp safely or just floating around if something bad happened while out fishing. I always show whoever is with me the trails on my gps and how to follow it to get back to a ramp. Best of luck on the training.

What CP and Jigging15 said! You never know what will happen! It is always better to have two people that can handle the boat and truck if something BAD happens.

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Originally Posted by BarryG

What CP and Jigging15 said! You never know what will happen! It is always better to have two people that can handle the boat and truck if something BAD happens.

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X2 And if she don't work replace her and find one that does work out!

It will be nice if she knows because if you keep her around long enough she OWNS HALF ANYWAY! :bash

By the way KAZ even holding it to the courtesy dock has caused a little strain in my life from time to time. :hatchet:

GET A ROPE! :juggle

Ok now the womans point of view. I drive the truck and pull the boat all the time. I always drive up to MT and husband drives back. We live out in the sticks with plenty of room to learn to back it up. I learned just backing down our driveway. Just go slow. When first learning at ramps I wouldn't try if other people where at the ramp. It would take to long and would make a me nervous. Make sure when you start to teach her you have the boat lined up straight. Also tell her to hold the steering wheel at the bottom with 1 hand that way which ever way her hand goes that is the way the trailer will go. Let her go at her own pace. I am still slow at backing down ramp but I can do it. Have driven boat some. Need to do it more. But I could manage to get it all done if in an emergency. Good luck and remember YOU had to learn also.

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Above all else, be patient with her! I mean, I've seen some pretty ignorant behavior from people launching/loading (most of the time men!) but worse than any of that is when I see someone sitting in his boat b-@%*$-g at his wife. I swear I'm gonna punch one of those guys someday. No excuse. All that says is "I'm too stupid and lazy to teach her anything, so I'm just gonna humiliate her instead." .

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Originally Posted by Joedog

<rant>

Above all else, be patient with her! I mean, I've seen some pretty ignorant behavior from people launching/loading (most of the time men!) but worse than any of that is when I see someone sitting in his boat b-@%*$-g at his wife. I swear I'm gonna punch one of those guys someday. No excuse. All that says is "I'm too stupid and lazy to teach her anything, so I'm just gonna humiliate her instead."
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Amen

I would teach her to drive/control/operate the boat 1st, then show her how to load the boat on the trailer (all of this with you in the boat if she has no experience or if you want to see how proficient she is now). when she's gotten these duties down, then you can move on to whatever else she wants to learn. Some people, including men, have lots and lots of trouble backing a trailer down a ramp,. I have my bad days where I'm all over the darn ramp, and look like a true NEWB, but other days, its like I do it 200 times a day.

When my wife goes fishing with me, I go thru my normal routine for launch prep, she follows and helps remove tie downs, etc. but I am ultilmately responsible for the PLUG. NO EXCEPTIONS. She can remove the tie downs, remover the motor toter, etc., but I do the PLUG. I then back the rig down the ramp where the trailer wheels are in the water, she gets in the truck, I then remove the winch strap, and get in the boat and sit down at the console where she can see me signal her thru the back glass. She then backs the truck STRAIGHT back until I give the "whoa" signal, and she hits the brakes, boat slides off the trailer, when clear I signal her to go park the truck. She can driver the truck/trailer in a straight line and easy turns so she can park the rig after launching. When loading, she controls the boat, waits for me to back the truck & trailer down and then drives the boat on to the trailer. She can handle the boat, stay out of other traffic path, etc., I usually guide her on to the trailer but she can do it by herself, it just makes her feel better for me to guide her. She is really afraid of doing damage to the boat or trailer, so I guide her. Avoids an arguement and both of us have an easier day on the water.

It's a brand spanking new boat so you better let her back the trailer down first.

OK Now from another woman's point of view...or better yet her opinion...

Dan I'll take care of you later... :hatchet:

And some of you other guys must learn to widen your horizons... :angel:

When we first got a boat it was a small aluminum boat, and Jr put me in the water with instructions on how to run the trolling motor...sounds easy but what do I do...I set there and go in circles...but I figured it out...and got the job done, later in that trip I thought I could back the trailer in, well you have to be able to see the trailer to back it in I think, so needless to say that didn't go well at all...so that remains Jr's job!

Then we got a new (used) boat and honestly I don't recall a time I haven't put the boat in and out of the water since we got it...that's how it is! ;)

It don't matter if the weather is perfect or windy as heck it's what I do and not to brag I do it rather well...lol just saying...

I have found that once I drop Jr off at the dock, to get the trailer then I get back and wait, if it's busy you get in line and wait for your trailer, and no matter what you always have to know what's going on around you...once it's your turn get lined up to the trailer and proceed with a steady speed and I always keep the nose of the boat in line with the tong of the trailer, and make sure the motor is straight, and go if you do this it's nearly always a one shot launch...windy or not!!! You could also keep in mind if you have ever thrown darts it kinda the same thing you line your self up...you aim and you go...it works!

You guys will do what you want no matter what a female will say unless your a team no matter if your married or not!!! Just saying ...the whole point of the day is to get in the water and go CATCH some FISH and to have a good time!!! :fish

Debbie
The Hookin' part of Hookin' & Cookin'

Great post!!!!!!

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Originally Posted by LSL Angler

It's a brand spanking new boat so you better let her back the trailer down first.

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If he worried about scratches, well best not put in on Truman...the trailer would be safer no matter who's putting it in...just saying... Rofl

Debbie (again)

Uh.......Deb............Still waiting for you to hammer Dan:popcorn

Dude! She "wants" to learn. How great is that. I have a fishing buddy down the road that sucks... I mean S.U.C.K.S. at backing and does nothing to learn (like practice).

I bought my first boat and was practicing at the church parking lot. The pastor waived me down and suggested I back it in circles and figure eights. Those practices taught me more than ever. It really helps with reaction/corrective action times.

OH Jack I'll have to take care of the light work in person...LOL :crazy:

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Originally Posted by jackb

Uh.......Deb............Still waiting for you to hammer Dan:popcorn

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Just wished my problem was her wanting to go mine is not interested.

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Originally Posted by Joedog

<rant>

Above all else, be patient with her! I mean, I've seen some pretty ignorant behavior from people launching/loading (most of the time men!) but worse than any of that is when I see some A-Hole sitting in his boat b-@%*$-g at his wife. I swear I'm gonna punch one of those guys someday. No excuse. All that says is "I'm too stupid and lazy to teach her anything, so I'm just gonna humiliate her instead." Pricks.

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I say if your patience level will make you become one of these guys, I recommend tying the boat to a cleat and get the trailer yourself and send her to the marina to get beer while you load the boat.

Thanks everyone for the feedback. Yes, she wants to learn and be a team! Sparrowfoot is the place to learn, thanks Jiggin15. Sandy has watched my every move drivin the Cat and asked lots of questions. She knows what angle to cut a wave. Have explained to her for 3 months when to have bow up and when to bring er down. We have been over the controls; trim-jack plate in the driveway several times. Have explained to her a right hook and she understands. She has watched "Bass Boat Crash" on U Tube several times and understand poor boat control. IDIOT!!! She understand the importance of PFD when the Merc is runnin and the kill switch. She understand only approach the dock from down wind side. OK, we are gonna get past the explainin and understanding and spend Monday at Sparrowfoot lot and ramp. She also knows that if you hit the dock with boat, deep pooo and it's a long walk home. She knows to swing wide in parkin lot and allow one extra space. She knows when launchin or waitin to load---- get to hell out of the way, heard me cussin already at others at ramp. I think she will do OK with a little practice. Just not used to going to Truman $$$$ to spend time on the ramp for practice. She'll get her down OK this year. Next year she'll have the Cat trimmed on plane and rollin down the lake. Read a recent post bout passenger drivin boat?? We had a bird strike this year on the bow @ 70+. Great post, a real eye opener-never thought bout it. So-if you see the Cat on Upper Grand Monday we aint fishin-we are learning. Early this spring we were up Clear Creek and she had to PEE. Couldn't use livewell like Monty cuz fish in there. Took her to the Long Shoal ramp and she walked the long walk up the ramp and all the way to the end of the lot. Maybe raise her awareness of how much walkin I was doin while she was sittin in boat checkin her eye shadow. LOL

pretty good read, I always put the truck in netural as i am backing down the ramp.

what happens if she panics and backs trailer, truck all in the water? and they will panic. you have to be very very trusting.