How long does it take you to get on the water?

[houstonshark]

I'm interested to see how long it takes from the time you wake up to actually being on the water. Our boat stays at the river house in the garage and we have a private ramp 2 houses down so trailering and launching is usually pretty quick. It just seems like it takes forever to get in the water once we wake up, eat, load up everything, shower, etc. We woke up around 7:30 this morning to a beautiful day and perfectly glassy water, despite 80% chance of rain. Here it is almost 10 and we are still not out tearing it up! I could be ready and have everythig loaded up in less than an hour but not everyone else.

I feel like I need to put my foot down or set a timer and when it goes off, I'm leaving...with or without you!

I realize that there are many that have their boats on the lift so getting on the water is typically pretty quick. How long does it take you to get on the water?

[383ws6]

If its just me & the guys, a little over 2 hours. If the wife & daughter are going, 4 hours!!! It's just shy of 2 hours to the lake itself from my house. (& that's if I go to the lake closest to me)

[racerdave]

depends on it the women are comming....I can get dressed and be on the water in about 15 minutes. That is only because packing the cooler thakes 10. If the Wife and ladies are comming you can write boating off til' after lunch.....

[IDBoating]

It's proportional to the square of the number of participants. Double the number, 4X the time (at least). We refer to this effect as a "troop movement".

It is also hugely affected by the motivation of the people involved. When it's me, my 10YO son, and our teenaged nephews we can go from decision to pulling away from the dock in about five minutes (we live on a lake in the summer). Add a Mom or two, or a girl that isn't totally hyped about going along, and you're up to half an hour... or more. Sometimes a LOT more.

Sometimes when the "ready" crowd is on the boat, and the "straggler" crowd is dragging along, we tell the latter that we will get started and swing back by the dock when we see them standing there waiting for us. This does a few things: It flips the relationship (the slow are now waiting for the fast instead of the fast waiting for the slow), it takes the pressure off the slow ones and keeps everybody less stressed, and (most importantly) those of us who want to hit it hard and heavy are already out there clocking up water time. What's amazing is how often the slow folks never quite make it to the dock because they weren't all that motivated anyway - which means everyone on and off the boat is actually happier!

[giers]

I load the boat and hook it up to the truck the night before. Driving time to our lake is 40 mins including stopping to fuel. Once at the lake it takes us 10 mins to launch and park the truck. As for getting out of the house. I set a departure time and we go. I had to put the foot down 3 years ago when we bought the boat and we now all work together to get it going. The kids like boarding on smooth water and they have figured it our if we are the first on the lake we usually get glass.

[rensink]

Once we are ready about 10 minutes. Long enough to walk to the boat lower the hoist, uncover, grab boards and off we go.

[mdk681]

Once we are ready about 10 minutes. Long enough to walk to the boat lower the hoist, uncover, grab boards and off we go.

Same here. I usually set a time we are heading out for people to meet at the house - we will leave with or without you! Once everyone arrives its smooth sailing . Have everyone grab a board, walk out the back door to the dock, load up the racks, drop the lift and turn the key. Pretty easy for this guy

[JreisRZR]

if theres gas in the boat, breakfast, coffee, uncover it, drop the lift, and about 15 minutes after i hop outta bed im cruising across the lake to pick up my friends for a good ol stab at dawn patrol

[sandm]

if I'm up at 7, we usually are on the water by 9. 20 minute drive, but you have to stop and get ice and snacks, 45 to load the boat up.

we have a steadfast 15minute rule. if we agree on a time to be at the ramp, I'll wait 15 minutes, then gone. we don't have cell coverage at the ramp/lake and the way I see it, why should we wait for someone that's late.

[bryce2320]

I'm interested to see how long it takes from the time you wake up to actually being on the water. Our boat stays at thewe have river house in the garage and we have a private ramp 2 houses down so trailering and launching is usually pretty quick. It just seems like it takes forever to get in the water once we wake up, eat, load up everything, shower, etc. We woke up around 7:30 this morning to a beautiful day and perfectly glassy water, despite 80% chance of rain. Here it is almost 10 and we are still not out tearing it up! I could be ready and have everythig loaded up in less than an hour but not everyone else.

I feel like I need to put my foot down or set a timer and when it goes off, I'm leaving...with or without you!

I realize that there are many that have their boats on the lift so getting on the water is typically pretty quick. How long does it take you to get on the water?

We have our camper less than a 1/4 mile from ramp. Even when my daughter isn't with us if I wake up the ol lady it takes forever to get on the water. A couple times we were out there by 8:30 but normally its 10 or so. I hate it and she hates me for rushing her

[bryce2320]

How.do you other young guys do it? I didn't even know what a boat lift was til a few years ago. Apparently I hang with the wrong crowd

[jzts0214]

Me and my wife have an understanding. It is usaully somewhat cold in the morning and the kids have to eat so me and the guys go out for a morning run and come back. Then the breakfast is ready. Kids can eat, get dressed and sunscreend. Then we go back out. The best water is usually in the mornings and I hate watching the good water go away. I give one wake up call to everyone. Get ready or get left behind.

[JreisRZR]

How.do you other young guys do it? I didn't even know what a boat lift was til a few years ago. Apparently I hang with the wrong crowd

Parents that used to be skiers and encourage good clean fun on the water. That's how.

[lalhc]

My boat sits on a lift in my dock all summer

If I'm launching, it only takes me about 15 minutes to be on the water after leaving my house. The launch ramp is less than 3 miles from my house.

[skippabcool]

Between 45 minutes and an hour to get the boat out of the garage tower up, swim platform on, all the stuff loaded, and cover on. Then another 2 drive to the lake with a stop for gas. 15 minutes to a half hour cover off, bathroom, bimini up, etc... I tend to get to get up an hour before everyone and have the boat ready to go as best I can. Luckily the get up so we can go and sleep on the ride there. We are usually on the water by 8 am. So it is an early morning.

One of my pet peeves are the ones that think the ramp or small dock is the place to do all this stuff. I make sure we are on and off.