Best way to solo launch your boat

[Stuewe]

So I used to tie a rope to one of my cleats at the bow and another to the dock. Then I would get the boat close, unhook everything, back up and hit the brakes to watch it slide off and slowly bounce back to the dock on the rope I had tied off.

The other day this technique failed when my dock line snapped and I went for a swim. (But it was rather funny)

I know this is partially due to my poor choice in rope, but I was wondering if there are other ways to quickly solo launch.

I hate being "that guy" at the ramp.

So, (1) are there any other techniques I could be using to not be "that guy" at the ramp?

And (2) Does my earlier technique put too much stress on the boat cleat?

Thanks for all your help

[red314]

Around here a bunch of us take transom saver off(left that on once ) and back straps off, than back down in the water hop in the boat start it than unhook bow eye park boat and pull truck out. It is pretty fast once you get it down. I launch my 19FT ranger like this and get strange looks from people when I start after them launch boat and park truck before them.

We use the same technique with 2 people one stays in the boat and one in the truck. Once boat is backed in, boat man unhooks bow eye and driver parks truck.


Randy

[bucketmouth4]

Backing it down and hitting the brakes to "let it fly" will not be good for your boat cleats. You can see what it already did to a rope. The ceats are only held on with small screws. My system is kinda the same. I tie the boat off to the bumper of the truck, and slowly back it down the ramp till it starts floating. No hard recoil or hit. I then just get out, move the boat down the dock and park the truck.

[Neubs24]

I havent done it yet but I was told leave it hooked to the winch, back it in, unhook, tie off and park

[PJCodner]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by red314 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Around here a bunch of us take transom saver off(left that on once ) and back straps off, than back down in the water hop in the boat start it than unhook bow eye park boat and pull truck out. It is pretty fast once you get it down. I launch my 19FT ranger like this and get strange looks from people when I start after them launch boat and park truck before them.

We use the same technique with 2 people one stays in the boat and one in the truck. Once boat is backed in, boat man unhooks bow eye and driver parks truck.


Randy </TD></TR></TABLE>

That is what I do. It is actually pretty fast once you do it a couple of times. I definitely don't unhook the winch strap till the boat is floating in the water. I have seen too many pictures of boats laying on the ramp because they slid off the trailer while being backed down the ramp.

[cedarcreekflash]

I leave my winch strap attached to the boat, but unlock the winch and let out 2 to 3 feet of strap. Then back down until boat slides and wants to float. (Be sure and re-lock your winch before backing into water). After she wants to float, I get out of the truck, unhook winch, wind it back up, step on the trailer tongue and into the boat. Starter up, back off and either beach it or tie off to dock. Depends on what's available at the launch. Then get truck off the ramp and park. I don't take much longer than it would with 2 people launching. And many times I can do it much faster than alot of boaters I've seen in the parking lot with 2 people. Sometimes it is pretty comical to just set back and watch what all goes on when some people are launching.

[Mike20xdc]

I have a rope that I tie to the boat and will reach to the drivers door. I unhook everything tie the rope to the boat hold the other end and boack up when the boat starts to slide off stop the truck walk out on the dock and tie it off then go park the truck.

[Stuewe]

All you guys are awesome. Thank you for the advice. I tried it today with letting out some of the winch strap. It snapped back on the boat pretty hard, but still worked well and fast. I think it snapped because I simply didn't let out enough.

Ironically, the guy next to me used the 50' rope technique. His gently floated off and gave him plenty of time to get out and tie off. I think I will give this one a try next.

Thanks again

[red314]

I would recommend leaving the winch tight than unhook when you have the boat backed in the water.


Randy

[dr. seuss]

i tried tyin the rope to the trailer(no dock) then i would launch the boat and drive forward a little bit to get the boat to shore..i also broke a rope but i got lucky cause after it broke i said oh well and went and parked my truck..when i got to the launch some kids swam out and got it for me..thanks again to the monte ne locals at the great beaver lake

[Phoenix Ed]

I tie a rope to the cleat, toss the rope up on the concrete beside the ramp, back up slow to float the boat, climb out and tie it to the pier or pull it up on the concrete(Keel Guards rock!), park the truck and head out.

Need to get a longer rope!!

[psj706]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Stuewe &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">All you guys are awesome. Thank you for the advice. I tried it today with letting out some of the winch strap. It snapped back on the boat pretty hard, but still worked well and fast. I think it snapped because I simply didn't let out enough.

Ironically, the guy next to me used the 50' rope technique. His gently floated off and gave him plenty of time to get out and tie off. I think I will give this one a try next.

Thanks again</TD></TR></TABLE>

Flip the switch on your winch so that it ratchets out some line when your boat starts to float. Just back down slow and it will only let out a couple of feet of winch line. The boat should still be partially on the trailer so you can unhook, start up then back off the trailer. Just dont back in too deep especially in a cross wind.

[psj706]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Stuewe &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">All you guys are awesome. Thank you for the advice. I tried it today with letting out some of the winch strap. It snapped back on the boat pretty hard, but still worked well and fast. I think it snapped because I simply didn't let out enough.

Ironically, the guy next to me used the 50' rope technique. His gently floated off and gave him plenty of time to get out and tie off. I think I will give this one a try next.

Thanks again</TD></TR></TABLE>

Flip the switch on your winch so that it ratchets out some line when your boat starts to float. Just back down slow and it will only let out a couple of feet of winch line. The bow should still be partially on the trailer so you can unhook, start up then back off the trailer. Just dont back in too deep, just enough to see the stern float and the bow go down the roller a couple of feet.

Problem with the rope method is that you dont have good control of your boat in high winds or busy ramps.

[marinesashore]

Sounds good but around here (Greer's Ferry in AR) most, if not all of the launching sites have no dock adjacent to them. I fish alone a lot and I am wondering what you guys do with no dock. I leave a bowline tied to the trailer and try to find a place to tie it when I move the truck, but I get wet more times than not.

[FlyinSooner]

can ya beach it?

[marinesashore]

No, I can't beach it due to rocks used as rip-rap to control drainage. Sometimes I can find a "good" rock to tie on to but there are a lot of ramps that have no rocks or trees and these are the ones I have the most problems with.

[red314]

Put a keel guard on and beach it on the ramp

Randy

[marinesashore]

Sounds goog, will do.
thanks

[besnyde]

I take a piece of rope longer than the trailer and pretty thick and tie a metal clip to each end. Get the boat to the water, unhook the bow, clip the rope to the bow eye and the other end to the winch strap. Then back in slowww wait till boat clears trailer and stops itself, then pull slowly up the ramp. Boat follows perfectly straight and beaches on ramp (with the Keelguard). Unhook, park the truck and get back down quick to unblock the ramp.

[Matt 5.0]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bassnyde &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I take a piece of rope longer than the trailer and pretty thick and tie a metal clip to each end. Get the boat to the water, unhook the bow, clip the rope to the bow eye and the other end to the winch strap. Then back in slowww wait till boat clears trailer and stops itself, then pull slowly up the ramp. Boat follows perfectly straight and beaches on ramp (with the Keelguard). Unhook, park the truck and get back down quick to unblock the ramp. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I like that one. Will give it a shot!