Launching Solo

[Stratos92]

I launch solo most of the time and this product has me intrigued. Has anyone used this when launching solo?

https://dock-itlauncher.com/

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[PJ-Rohlf]

I just let out 8-10' of winch line, slowly back in till the boat floats off, pull forwards to where I can keep my feet drying stepping on the trailer, then unhook and drive over to the dock or beach and go park....

[titanxt]

I, too, am at the point in life where I need to learn to solo-launch. Interesting product, but most of the docks in our area do not have posts or cleats. My luck, the bunjie-like strap would slip out of my hand an destroy the windshield or dent the motor cowling.

[99R93S]

I am solo 95% of the time. That seems like a useful product, but I have a talon so that makes launching super easy.

[kissfan]

Interesting device. This is what I’ve been doing. A bit cheaper…

[Stratos92]

Interesting device. This is what I’ve been doing. A bit cheaper…

This is what I do now and it works pretty good. I just saw this product and wondered if it works as smoothly as advertised.

[DaveBrabec]

Fish by myself most of the time. Tie rope to boat cleat. Tie rope to dock or trailer if no dock. Back it in. It’s not that hard.

[BDBR]

Launch solo the majority of the time. Usually I just angle the trailer slightly towards the dock, unhook, back in slowly so the boat slides off slowly, then walk down the dock to meet the boat as it floats along, jump in, fire up, and go park and tie it off. Very fast. I always put out a fender on the rear cleat just in case my angle is a little off, that rear corner is where any dock scrubs will usually happen. I only tie a rope to a cleat before launching if it's sketchy dock or when launching into strong current or wind blowing away from the dock.

[bayouXpress]

is there a reason you don't just drive the boat off, park the boat, then park the truck?

[JR19]

is there a reason you don't just drive the boat off, park the boat, then park the truck?

I launch solo 95% of the time. I use a rope and let out enough slack so I can pull my boat onto the ramp and park my boat on its keel guard. I timed myself doing it this way verses leaving the truck parked and idling over to a dock and tie up the boat then go move the truck. It's not even close when it comes to which way is the fastest. I can unload with a rope and park the boat on the ramp about in about 2/3 the time it takes to leave the truck parked and idle over and tie off. Either way I'm blocking the ramp so I choose the way that blocks it the least. Funny thing is I get strange looks from people when blocking with my boat but when blocking with my truck they seems to understand I'm solo but when blocking with the boat I'm actually blocking it the least amount of time.

Here is how I store my rope.

[weiglein4]

I have been fishing solo for the last 20 years. I used to always take a work buddy and more than once I found myself waiting on him, or not going at all when a buddy was not available. Going solo was the best leap ever.

That being said, like others have already mentioned, solo launching requires no additional gimmicks or devices. Back into the water, then either take a lead rope and tie off to dock, or simply get in boat and drive it off trailer. Like mentioned above, it's not hard at all. Not even a tiny bit.

[Big J Mac]

I put two loops in each end of a 20 foot rope one go to the cleat of the boat the other to the crank latch and back in the water slow when the boat floats off the trailer just pull the truck up 3feet or so. This will keep your feet out of the water grab the rope off the trailer latch and tie it to dock takes me about two minutes to latch solo.

[FTMS]

I launch solo most of the time. I use a launch bungee https://www.amazon.com/Boat-Anchor-B...9&sr=8-15&th=1 . Works great, hook it to the trailer and let the boat goo. No harsh shocks when it gets to the end of the line.

[Bob G.]

I connect a loop in a 50’ rope to the winch strap clevis hood and a carabiner on the other end of the rope to the bow eye. I float the boat off and pull trailer up on the ramp. Grab rope from winch strap and tie boat to dock. Park truck/trailer and go fishing.

[Aj14]

The only thing I do differently is I pull my boat around to the other side of the dock as not to hinder the next boat backing in.

[fastfiat]

I'm lucky in that my trailer sits fairly low and the boat sits low on the trailer. I can usually float the boat enough that I can get in without getting wet and unhook the front and drive it off. Plus it launches and loads easier than any boat I've owned.

[Dirtyeggroll]

I just keep a pair of knee highs in the back of the truck and don’t worry about getting wet

[Highcentered]

I tie a rope to a cleat and either to a dock post or the hook catch for the tailgate and let it fly. If hooked to the truck I'll unhook the rope from the truck and pull the boat up to the ramp and go park. If the other end is tied to a dock post I let the boat float while I park and then pull the boat to me when I get back. BE CAREFUL JUST IN CASE THE ROPE GETS CAUGHT ON THE TRAILER AS YOU PULL OUT! No I don't do this if the ramp is busy.

[Grizzly]

Before I had my boat on a lift I towed it many times a year all year long.

Take a rope with a clip on one side and a loop on the other. Clip onto the boat eye and put the loop on the trailer post. Extra line goes into the boat. Back up SLOWLY until boat gently comes off the trailer. As boat is drifting back pull trailer out of water, put truck in park with emergency brake on, grab loop of rope and tie boat up. I keep hip waders handy for the cooler months, crocs in the summer.

That contraption looks like nothing but trouble.

KISS

[bnt55]

Whatever happened to just letting out 8-10 ft of winch strap on the boat trailer, back in let it float back a bit, unhook and drive away