Had a bad dream last night...

[superbenk]

Well this is weird... I had a dream last night that I was all alone at some pristine lake out in the middle of nowhere and just so happened to have my boat in tow so I thought I'd try solo launching for the first time Backed it down the ramp a little to fast & slammed on the brakes, but it was too late & the boat's momentum pulled my truck right down into the water. In the wacky world of dreams, the boat which previously was chained to the trailer (thus pulling my truck into the water) all the sudden was not chained & drifted off into the lake (which of course now is freezing cold & filthy). And to top it off, at the end of the dream, I remember the plug never got put in, so I look out into the middle of the lake to see my boat instantly start to sink (yes, it was floating fine until I made this realization).

So there I am, truck, trailer & boat all at the bottom of a filthy, cold lake that started out pristine. Then I woke up.

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Had a bad dream last night...

EDIT: Nice try.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Had a bad dream last night...

Interesting... I am in the market for a new truck & I'd love a new boat eventually too since this one is both old, slow & an OMC. Maybe you're on to something

I'm also considering doing my first solo launch soon since my family has all moved on to fall-mode and has completely lost interest in boating for this year. So I hope it's not foreshadowing

 

[JimKW]

Re: Had a bad dream last night...

See you are from Washington, PA and was wondering where you boat? I was born and raised in Belle Vernon and my Dad worked in Washington for years.

 

[proaudioguy]

Re: Had a bad dream last night...

Interesting... I am in the market for a new truck & I'd love a new boat eventually too since this one is both old, slow & an OMC. Maybe you're on to something

I'm also considering doing my first solo launch soon since my family has all moved on to fall-mode and has completely lost interest in boating for this year. So I hope it's not foreshadowing

Solo, launch is easy, it's getting it back out that's tricky! Back it in nice and slow with the bow line already attached. Get out, grab the bow line, unhook the winch and give it a push. No problem with my little boat. Reaching over the bow to crank it up after powering it on is not easy in my case, but I did it.

Post number two was funny.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Had a bad dream last night...

See you are from Washington, PA and was wondering where you boat? I was born and raised in Belle Vernon and my Dad worked in Washington for years.

I think you mis-read. I'm in Warrington, PA which is in Bucks County just north of Philly. I generally boat either at Beltzville Dam near the Lehigh Tunnel, Blue Marsh Lake near Reading or the Delaware river.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Had a bad dream last night...

Solo, launch is easy, it's getting it back out that's tricky! Back it in nice and slow with the bow line already attached. Get out, grab the bow line, unhook the winch and give it a push. No problem with my little boat. Reaching over the bow to crank it up after powering it on is not easy in my case, but I did it.

Ya, I need to practice all that. No way I can reach the bow eye from inside the boat unfortunately, so I need to find a different way. Shouldn't be a problem if I can either walk it on from a dock or get it lodged on the trailer enough to hold it while I step off onto the bow post and down to the bumper.

Post number two was funny.

Apparently it flew right over my head Oh well.

 

[proaudioguy]

Re: Had a bad dream last night...

Y get it lodged on the trailer enough to hold it while I step off onto the bow post and down to the bumper.

That sounds like a great plan. I can't do it, but I've seen others do it. Maybe take a line with you just in case the boat slides off.

Apparently it flew right over my head Oh well.

Nope, it's gone!

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Had a bad dream last night...

Well this is weird... I had a dream last night that I was all alone at some pristine lake out in the middle of nowhere and just so happened to have my boat in tow so I thought I'd try solo launching for the first time Backed it down the ramp a little to fast & slammed on the brakes, but it was too late & the boat's momentum pulled my truck right down into the water. In the wacky world of dreams, the boat which previously was chained to the trailer (thus pulling my truck into the water) all the sudden was not chained & drifted off into the lake (which of course now is freezing cold & filthy). And to top it off, at the end of the dream, I remember the plug never got put in, so I look out into the middle of the lake to see my boat instantly start to sink (yes, it was floating fine until I made this realization).

So there I am, truck, trailer & boat all at the bottom of a filthy, cold lake that started out pristine. Then I woke up.

Change Meds-

 

[5150abf]

Re: Had a bad dream last night...

Solo is easy you just need to do it a couple times as with anything else.

I will put my launch rope in the bed of thruck with enough line to get the baot off the trailer then run the line to the front of the bed and back down the ramp, just before the bopat goes in I stop and grab the rope and back the rest of the way in, easy.

Getting out should be the same if you have people with you or not.

 

['96 Charger]

Re: Had a bad dream last night...

I actually prefer solo launching to team launching to tell you the truth. Here's how I do it...
Remove straps and tie a line with a little slack in it from the trailer to an easy but secure tiedown on the bow of the boat.

Back down ramp until boat floats off.

Get in boat and start engine.

While engine warms up untie the line going from trailer to bow.

Back boat off and secure it to a dock or put it on the bank or ramp. If on the bank or ramp you can trim your motor down to keep it from getting sideways on you.

Park trailer and tow rig.

Putting back on the trailer you...
Back trailer in enough where the boat will almost go all the way on it without throttle.

Drive boat onto trailer and leave engine running in gear until you can climb on the trailer to secure it.

Trim engine up and pull boat out.

 

[JimKW]

Re: Had a bad dream last night...

Unless my son in law is with me who can either drive the boat or the truck and trailer I prefer to launch and load by myself. I don't have to worry about what somebody else is doing. The first couple times I did it I was very nervous, but reading how people did it on this board over and over is what let me know I could do it.

I stage the boat and get ready in the staging area and put fenders all the way around with a bow line and a stern line on each side so I can go on either side of the dock.

Back down the ramp until the back of the boat is in the water pretty far. I get out and tie the bow line to the stand where the bow stop is. Then I back down until the trailer fenders are level with the water. I then try to push the boat off the trailer. Sometimes at this point I have to back the truck up a little more until I can push the boat off.

When the boat starts coming off, I climb over the bow, lean over the bow and untie the bow line from the trailer. Then I just start the boat and either go to the back of the dock and tie it up or drive it over the the courtesy dock. If the ramp is crowded I always go to the courtesy dock if it's available.

Once I get it docked I go back and park the truck and trailer. It takes a few minutes, but I have never had anybody get upset with me leaving my trailer in the water until I get back to it.

If I didn't have an open bow, I would only do it if I had a dock close to side of me and I would do everything the same except instead of climbing in the boat I would step on the dock and pull the boat back with bow line. Probably keep my pole with a hook on it handy too in case the stern started floating out, I could hook it and pull it back in so I could get in the boat.

Coming back in: Dock the boat at the courtesy dock. Go get the truck and trailer and wait until it's my turn to back down the ramp. The boat sits at the courtesy dock for a while on a crowded day. Back down the ramp until the fenders are at the water level. Go get the boat and drive it onto the trailer. I keep the winch strap out about 3 or 4 feet so I can grab it with the boat hook if the boat doesn't drift onto the trailer far enough. I do not give it power when loading. Once I get it lined up on the trailer the boats momentum usually takes it to within two feet of the bow stop. I just climb out, crank it the rest of the way in and pull out.

Have to admit I did fall out once when trying to climb out. Luckily all I hit was water and nobody saw me.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Had a bad dream last night...

I also had a boating dream last night.

I dreamt I spent the night at a boat ramp (I don't know why). Two guys were sleeping in sleeping bags near the ramp and when the tide came in they were getting wet. I tried to wake them and warn them but they didn't care.

Later, when it was light, they launched their boats without taking them off the trailers and couldn't get them on plane.

Then I woke up!

I know, change my meds.

 

['96 Charger]

Re: Had a bad dream last night...

Ever have a dream that was really a warning of things to come?

 

[skargo]

Re: Had a bad dream last night...

I solo launch my 21' 5000# boat easily. Retrieval is just as easy.
I wrap my bow line around my winch stand, back her in until she gently floats and tap the brakes.
Grab bow and stern lines and walk her off. Tie to dock, start boat, park rig.
Retrieval, back rig into water, walk boat onto trailer, winch last foot or so and pull out. It's very easy.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Had a bad dream last night...

I know, change my meds.

I wish I was on meds I could blame it on I've been having weird dreams all week and no meds whatsoever

Ever have a dream that was really a warning of things to come?

That's what scares me.

I solo launch my 21' 5000# boat easily. Retrieval is just as easy.
I wrap my bow line around my winch stand, back her in until she gently floats and tap the brakes.
Grab bow and stern lines and walk her off. Tie to dock, start boat, park rig.
Retrieval, back rig into water, walk boat onto trailer, winch last foot or so and pull out. It's very easy.

That's a great plan when there's a dock within easy reach of the ramp where your trailer is. Some of the Army Corps lakes we go to have courtesy docks well away from the ramp itself (if they exist at all), so walking the boat on & off the trailer really isn't possible without getting wet.

Getting wet is fine when 1) the water isn't freezing cold & 2) there isn't a line of boats waiting to use the ramps while you slosh around in the water.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Had a bad dream last night...

i solo launch too. i do it similar to skargo. walk it on and wench it on. once ya've done it a couple times. it'll become second nature, just like with two to launch...

as for the dream. don't feel lonely. while i've not had a boating dream lately, i have had them. very weird ones.

i don't think it has anything to do with meds. maybe our fears that we suppress are coming to light in our sub conscious. that's my guess anyways..

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Had a bad dream last night...

I wish I was on meds I could blame it on I've been having weird dreams all week and no meds whatsoever

Mabe thats the problem

 

[rwidman]

Re: Had a bad dream last night...

I find I often have wierd dreams after eating seafood or shellfish. Who knows?

 

[MPII]

Re: Had a bad dream last night...

What do you do if there is no dock near ramp. The lake that I boat at has docks but not right next to the launch. I can drive boat to dock, tie up, walk back over pull out rig. But retrieval seems like it would be "hairy." My family too has lost all interest in boating I want to try and get out a couple more times.