Willard South Marina launch conditions?

[Kent]

Can I safely launch a 19 1/2' boat at the south marina?
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[wiperhunter2]

Launching at the South marina has never been a problem, it is getting to a dock that is a problem.[] Also, as you go out of the channel into the bay, you need to go straight out for 100 yds before turning left or right.
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[wiperhunter2]

Here are some pics of the docks.
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[Kent]

[quote wiperhunter2]

Launching at the South marina has never been a problem, it is getting to a dock that is a problem.[]

[/quote]

How big of a problem? Can I point my bow towards the dock and have someone climb onto my bow from the dock? Also, how many ramps are usable at the south marina? Only having 1/2 of one ramp available at the north marina is a problem when coming off of the water (not a problem launching, because I beat the crowd).
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[Kent]

[quote wiperhunter2]

Here are some pics of the docks.

[/quote]

It looks similar to the north Marina.
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[wiperhunter2]

Yes, nosing your boat up is the best thing to do unless you can trim you motor up. All three ramps are available but I always use the center ramp, if you have to use one of the other ramps try an use the inboard side.
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[wiperhunter2]

In the north marina, that single dock at the ramp is 5 to 6 ft deep, the docks in the South is around 3ft depending on which dock you use. The East dock is shallow, the West dock is deeper and it is the only one I use.
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[Blackellunge]

i launched last thursday with my 18' deep v , no issues at all - just trim it up
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[Kent]

[quote Blackellunge]

i launched last thursday with my 18' deep v , no issues at all - just trim it up

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"just trip it up" is not an option on my boat, no power trim. I do however have a prop protector on my boat which has saved my prop several times.
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[Tin-Can]

Keep you prop end out in the marina. Have someone push you off and tie you up. If it's windy, go to the north marina. Wind will blow you towards the dock and maybe into 1.5 feet of water, or less ot south marina.
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[Tin-Can]

South marina, get well out past the buoys,then the 100 yards WH2 advised before you turn.
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[Kent]

[quote Tin-Can]

Keep you prop end out in the marina. Have someone push you off and tie you up. If it's windy, go to the north marina. Wind will blow you towards the dock and maybe into 1.5 feet of water, or less ot south marina.

[/quote]

I hate to do it, but it is sounding more and more like I should fight the crowds at the north marina. I have no way of forecasting whether or not the wind will be blowing by the time I get of the lake -- likely in the late afternoon.
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[wiperhunter2]

If your motor is like my old one, you should be able to lock it in the up position manually then use your electric motor to get up to the dock and back to deeper water once your passenger is on board. Are you planning on going during the week or the weekend?
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[TheScout]

The traffic at the north can definitely be a pain...it would be a whole lot better if people would be a tiny bit considerate and use only one side of the ramp instead of backing down right in the middle. There is plenty of room for two trailers at a time.

For peace of mind it might be worth fighting the crowds for a few minutes at the north marina rather than replacing a prop or lower unit on a motor. We launch my dads 23' trophy out of the north. We drove into the south marina the other day with it and nosed up to the dock just to see if we could...we made it but with our breathes held. I launch my 17' targa out of the south each time but I trim my motor way up. FWIW.
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[Kent]

[quote wiperhunter2]

If your motor is like my old one, you should be able to lock it in the up position manually then use your electric motor to get up to the dock and back to deeper water once your passenger is on board. Are you planning on going during the week or the weekend?

[/quote]

Yes, I can lock it up; however, I need to use it to get back onto the trailer. I plan on going Saturday. Hope the small front that is supposed to pass through on Friday doesn't shut the bite down.
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[wiperhunter2]

I was going to say if you were going out after work during the week it won't be a problem launching because there are so few people but anytime Sat will be busy, no matter which marina you launch from. I know it is tough to do but you can manually lift or lower your motor while you are on the water but it might need a helping hand to lock it in place. I think you will be ok on Sat, I don't think the front will cause much problems. You might not catch 30 fish but I'm sure you will catch a few[].
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[Kent]

[quote wiperhunter2]

I know it is tough to do but you can manually lift or lower your motor while you are on the water but it might need a helping hand to lock it in place.

[/quote]

It is either lowered all the way or raised all the way. It is not possible to manually hold it raised part of the way, and it is nearly impossible for me to raise it at all while on the water.
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[wiperhunter2]

I had high hopes that Willard's water level would be much higher by now but it isn't looking good. Might be as high as we are going to see it this year, they claim the snow pack is down to 31%[].
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