Re: First launch rituals?
 

All the above and also make sure you place the drive below the trailering setting before starting. If not you will place and incredible stress on the U-Joints.

I have seen many a boater that not only starts with the drive all the way up but will drive around the dock area for quite some time:shakehead:

Re: First launch rituals?
 

I had to smile as I read this post as I scored what I call "The Hat Trick of Boat Launching" a couple of years ago.

As long as I stay in sequence, things go great, but if I get interrupted or distracted, look out!

Anyway, I backed the boat into the river, fired up the motor and started to back off the trailer, but it wouldn't go anywhere. I realized the straps were still attached to the transom. (That's No. 1).

I jumped out of the boat and back into the truck and started to pull forward when I heard a the scrapping noise of my lower unit on the ramp! (That's No.2)

I jumped back into the boat to tilt the drive up when I heard the sound of the motor coming out of the prop. (That's No. #3)

Hat trick!