Seems like there are a few different ways to launch a boat when by your self. What are some techniques to do this properly?
Seems like there are a few different ways to launch a boat when by your self. What are some techniques to do this properly?
1995 Champion 190 SCX Elite
1995 Evinrude 200hp Vindicator
I fish by myself or small children 99.9% so I am usually a solo launcher.
What I do is:
Unhook everything but 1 bow strap, back the boat in until it floats.
Step on to the tailgate, walk down the trailer, unhook the bow strap.
Climb in bow, motor over and tie to the dock run back and park the truck.
I am faster than most 2 men launch teams.
Now if I could only learn how to fish.
Get a long rope...secure one end to a front cleat on your boat...secure the other end to the front of the trailer, I have a loop in mine and just drape it over the post the winch is attached to...back the trailer in...when the boat floats off the trailer, pull up far enough that you won't get your feet wet...get out and get the rope from the front of the trailer...walk over to the dock and pull the boat over.....
i tow with a pickup truck, so i ....use a 50' rope, tie it to the port side cleat, drape it over the TM so it wont snag, leave the slack in the bed, and hold onto the tag end inside the truck while backing down, ( just barely close the door) . back the boat in , hop out, and tie it off, then pull out the trailer...really fast when you get used to it...
Well the first time I tried to launch solo it didn't go so well. I tried to leave the winch strap hooked up but gave it some slack. Backed the boat up till it floated.....and kept floating farther and farther away. I was watching in my rear view mirror for it to catch with the strap but it never did!So I go park the truck and being that the water was cold and not having an extra change of clothes I didn't want to take a dip! So finally after being laughed at by some kids playing by the launch I ask one of them if their dad had a boat. Thank goodness! He did. He comes out with a smirk on his face and we get into his boat to retrieve mine. I messed up the hull with the hook some how when it rolled out. Not real sure how that happened but I will show a pic at the end of this post. Now I just tie a long bow rope to my trailer and to boat cleat. Back up until it floats and then untie the rope from trailer and walk it to the dock. Only thing about launching using rope on a cleat is that if you tie it to one side and the current is moving against that side and turns your boat it is a pain in the butt getting it to the dock. Check the current if you will use the cleat. Or use a snap hook on rope and hook it to the bow of your boat where the winch hooks up. If anyone has any other suggestions.....I'm listening.
Sorry for the large pic. I'm using photobucket (free) and I can't figure out how to make them smaller.
Like Jordanb said , reomove all straps from the boat except for the bow strap. Watch the back of your boat with the side view , you will be able to see when the back of the boat starts to float. All you need is to submerge it till it just lifts off the trailer . Then put the truck in park , walk down the tounge , remove bow strap and it should come off with very little trouble. Have fun and stay safe.
Unhook everything but 1 bow strap, back the boat in until it floats.
Step on to the tailgate, walk down the trailer, unhook the bow strap.
Climb in bow, motor over and tie to the dock run back and park the truck.
+1 This is the way I do it and I believe it lets you keep better control of your boat if the ramp has other people waiting or already in the water.
I always fish alone. I back the rig in, then climb up on the trailer and release the bow strap, get in the boat, back off the trailer and tie off to the dock, then pull out and park the rig and go fishing. It's that simple.
BOW strap hooked up,back in , walk down behine truck step up on trailer unhook bow strap, push bounce the boat back just maybe a foot more climb in start it up go park it,come back if I'm by myself and park truck. opisite for loading ,back in go get boat drive on never power load strap it up the last foot pull it out.Seen a guy with a little kid onboard leave his motor powered up to power load climed out over bow of boat to hook it up and then get back in boat, crasy people have been killed leaving power on while they hookit up boat jumps up off trailer ,could end up in your tow v rear and you dead.
BIG BASS
<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by JP_96-181DCXE »</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Unhook everything but 1 bow strap, back the boat in until it floats.
Step on to the tailgate, walk down the trailer, unhook the bow strap.
Climb in bow, motor over and tie to the dock run back and park the truck.
+1 This is the way I do it and I believe it lets you keep better control of your boat if the ramp has other people waiting or already in the water.</td></tr></table>
I do the same cept I use rubber boots so i can walk out in the water during the winter due to having an SUV and not a truck
opposite when i return. tie up to the dock, get the truck, power load, hop out of the boat and strap up!
<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Jordanb »</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I fish by myself or small children 99.9% so I am usually a solo launcher.
What I do is:
Unhook everything but 1 bow strap, back the boat in until it floats.
Step on to the tailgate, walk down the trailer, unhook the bow strap.
Climb in bow, motor over and tie to the dock run back and park the truck.
I am faster than most 2 men launch teams.
Now if I could only learn how to fish.
Agree 100%. I always pre attach my dock tie ropes to the boat before launching also. Really pretty quickly done. A lot faster than the party barge group who backs down the ramp THEN starts to load the boat with coolers kids, dogs, etc.
Vexus ACX2210
I unhook everything and back it into the water until it slides off the trailer a little ways and jump in fire up the motor and back it the rest of the way off of the trailer, tie it up and go park the truck.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by ACM-Randy »</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Like Jordanb said , reomove all straps from the boat except for the bow strap. Watch the back of your boat with the side view , you will be able to see when the back of the boat starts to float. All you need is to submerge it till it just lifts off the trailer . Then put the truck in park , walk down the tounge , remove bow strap and it should come off with very little trouble. Have fun and stay safe.</td></tr></table>
I do it this way also, but will add one more thing. PUT YOUR EMERGENCY PARK BREAK ON BEFORE LEAVING YOUR TRUCK....
<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Coke »</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Get a long rope...secure one end to a front cleat on your boat...secure the other end to the front of the trailer, I have a loop in mine and just drape it over the post the winch is attached to...back the trailer in...when the boat floats off the trailer, pull up far enough that you won't get your feet wet...get out and get the rope from the front of the trailer...walk over to the dock and pull the boat over.....
This is how I do it. Works great for me!!!
Me too, except when you forget to tie off the rope to the trailer and you get to watch your boat drift out to the middle of the lake like the first time I tried it instead of leaving the bow strap on.
Luckily not 10 mins later another boat pulls up to launch, looks at me, looks at the boat floating out there and just laughs.
I won't forget to do that again.
Everything but the bow strap, I do that as I'm climbing on. I've never done this rope thing float a boat whatever a lot of people talk about. Seems like a PITA to me. I've fished alone 99% of my life and launch 2 times a week or more with a 20' boat and never had an issue loading or unloading.
The one thing I will say ESPECIALLY if you do it alone all the time, roll down your drivers side window when backing in. If something were to happen and you go off in the water and there's no one there, an open window allows you to climb out if water pressure is keeping the door shut or quickly equalize pressure while you hold your breath to get out if you can't fit out the window.
Several people have died backing in alone and going off in the water and been unable to get out. Just my .02
2006 Skeeter 20i 2006 Yamaha 250 HPDI Humminbird 998 dash/Humminbird 898HD bow. 2 8' Power Poles.
Saepe Expertus, Semper Fidelis, Fratres Aeterni
The rope deal really does work great. I was trying to decided the best way to launch mine when I saw a guy use a rope tied to the boat cleat and the other end tied to the trailer. Some people loop the rope around their bumpers. When the boat floats off the trailer all you do it pull up a bit and lock your brakes, get out and tie the boat off to the dock or beach it while you park the truck & trailer.
<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by VTFan »</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">The rope deal really does work great. I was trying to decided the best way to launch mine when I saw a guy use a rope tied to the boat cleat and the other end tied to the trailer. Some people loop the rope around their bumpers. When the boat floats off the trailer all you do it pull up a bit and lock your brakes, get out and tie the boat off to the dock or beach it while you park the truck & trailer.</td></tr></table>
Have you actually tried just getting in the boat, backing it off the trailer, and then tying off to the dock?
2006 Skeeter 20i 2006 Yamaha 250 HPDI Humminbird 998 dash/Humminbird 898HD bow. 2 8' Power Poles.
Saepe Expertus, Semper Fidelis, Fratres Aeterni
<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by slodsm »</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
Have you actually tried just getting in the boat, backing it off the trailer, and then tying off to the dock? </td></tr></table>
+1
As long and heavy as your boat is, if there is any wind or wave action, you are asking for a disaster if you try floating it off with a rope attached, and then try to pull it ashore where you want it. It will go where it wants to go instead of where you want it to go - the wind probably will have it sideways across the ramp by the time you get back to the rope. Additionally, there's a good chance when it floats it will get on top of the trailer fenders and tear up more stuff. Get a Keel Shield and beach the boat if the ramp doesn't have a courtesy dock. I launch all the time by myself, and use the above method, I loosen the bow strap about 6" or so walk out on the trailer, release the strap and climb in. If yours is hard to start, get in and start it up before you release the bow strap.
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