launching by yourself with no dock

[HopinImFloatin]

this may be a stupid question but im gonna ask anyway. how do you launch your boat when you are either alone or the people you are with cannot drive the boat and there is no dock to tie off to? i can launch fine by myself (or with my wife and son watching) when there is someplace to tie the boat off, like the dock. i back in with the boat on the trailer,once the drive is submerged i start the engine and let warm a min or two until it will run at low idle, back it off the trailer and my wife can usually drive the truck and park it as long as it is a straight shot. otherwise she just holds the boat at the dock until i return from parking. now this drastically changes if there is no place to solidly hold the boat while parking. i ask because im looking at a new place to boat and the launch is concrete, has a rocky shoreline so beaching doesnt seem to be a real option, and it looks fairly shallow. i could in theory launch as normal, i take the boat out away from the launch while she parks(if she can) and drive back in to the launch to pick her up-i guess she would have to climb over the bow? i can see maybe anchoring out a bit in calm conditions but if its windy i could see it getting sketchy. anyone in this situation and how do you do it

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: launching by yourself with no dock

I personally see this is a no good way to do so. Your option that you already mentioned about anchoring and having to jump over bow would work but again you would have to be careful not to beach your boat on those rocks. I prefer to have a dock this way I can take my time getting things setup prior to leaving dock.

Another option would be to swim to boat! So in other words launch it anchor it, get out swim and move truck then swim back but that to me seems like a pain in the arse unless your looking for the exercise.

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: launching by yourself with no dock

I also hate launching my boat on weekends as too many idiots out there who are eager to get thier boats in the water and fail to go through the checklists. When it is just me then I wouldn't mind as much but when my family is getting in esp. young kids, then all bets are off and I go through my boat thoroughly before launch.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: launching by yourself with no dock

I usually just stick the boat in a few feet and move it out of the way from the ramp.. If you have got a nice sandy shore you can beach it and drop the anchor while you put the trailer away. If not, then you have to drop anchor a few feet off shore.

Not so bad . . .

 

[HopinImFloatin]

Re: launching by yourself with no dock

i know that anchoring is a possibility, and probably my only one, but if i anchor from the bow its almost sure to spin and put my drive in shallow water at the launch...unless i anchor out farther and swim. Im only launching on a smallish lake so would it be ok to anchor from the stern just for that short period of time to keep the bow closer to shore or is that just asking for trouble?

 

[oldjeep]

Re: launching by yourself with no dock

Sounds like a crappy setup. Is it shallow enough for you to just stand in the water and hold the boat until she returns?

 

[southkogs]

Re: launching by yourself with no dock

I've got one launch that I go to from time to time like this.

First, look for a spot along shore where there is a "break" in the rocks - as soft spot, per se. I was fortunate to find one just about 15' down from the ramp where I could nose in and be fine.

A second option, switch it off and raise the drive. Anchor out and get everone on board. Pull out the handy-dandy paddle you have and pull a "Venice" to get yourself out a bit: a good shove, drop the drive and fire it up.

I've also done what Oldjeep suggests at a couple of launches up north.

 

[HopinImFloatin]

Re: launching by yourself with no dock

Sounds like a crappy setup. Is it shallow enough for you to just stand in the water and hold the boat until she returns?

im not sure how deep it is, havent launched there yet, but in windy conditions im not sure she could hold it. jhow stupid would i look paddling out on my towable tube

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: launching by yourself with no dock

There are some things that just won't work by yourself. Ramps with no docks are made for sliding in small boats.

For one thing, someone is going to have to wade to the boat and get their feet wet--not acceptable in cold water except for duck hunters.

You cannot rely on calm wind in a certain direction; remember you have to come home, too.

Your biggest failure point is your wife's lack of skills and apparently your enabling it. Girls can drive boats and trailers, and on the coast they do. You have to give her a choice--learn to drive and go boating, or go bicycling instead.

I am assuming your son is under 14 or he would be on the list with your wife.

If you are going to do family boating, everyone in the family has to be a boater. No tourists.

You also don't say what boat you have, but it's hard to load onto any boat over the bow esp. on a concrete ramp.

 

[DECK SWABBER 58]

Re: launching by yourself with no dock

Is this ramp fairly busy? Have you watched anyone else launch or retrieve? You can get plenty of advice here but... a picture is worth a thousand words.

Also check out the SHT forum for how not launch in a difficult situation.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: launching by yourself with no dock

There are some things that just won't work by yourself. Ramps with no docks are made for sliding in small boats.

For one thing, someone is going to have to wade to the boat and get their feet wet--not acceptable in cold water except for duck hunters.

You cannot rely on calm wind in a certain direction; remember you have to come home, too.

Your biggest failure point is your wife's lack of skills and apparently your enabling it. Girls can drive boats and trailers, and on the coast they do. You have to give her a choice--learn to drive and go boating, or go bicycling instead.

I am assuming your son is under 14 or he would be on the list with your wife.

If you are going to do family boating, everyone in the family has to be a boater. No tourists.

You also don't say what boat you have, but it's hard to load onto any boat over the bow esp. on a concrete ramp.

Hmm - my definition of a tourist includes people who are afraid to get their feet wet launching a boat

 

[pootnic]

Re: launching by yourself with no dock

I've never tried it but theres an "anchor buddy" sold out there that might work for you.
It's more or less an anchor cord that is made of bungee cord,You throw the anchor out,paddle or troll to shore line/shallow water,get out with another line and the boat goes back towards where the anchor was thrown.Theres probably youtube videos out there of it how it works.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: launching by yourself with no dock

I would take a walk around the area and look for a place that you can dock/beach and park nearby even if its half a mile away.

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: launching by yourself with no dock

First: your admiral needs to learn to operate the boat. As Home Cookin' points out, its a safety issue as well as a convienience. What if you went overboard or had an injury? For me, It was WAYYYY easier for to teach driving the boat than backing the trailer.

Second: Once the admiral is a competent skipper, you find a place she can get it in close enough for you to wade out to meet her.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: launching by yourself with no dock

Swam to the boat more than once long ago. Too old to even think of that now. Thank God for inside dry stack...

 

[HopinImFloatin]

Re: launching by yourself with no dock

first, thanks for the input. now, Home cookin- I agree she should be able to drive and we are working on that and yes my son is only 11 but we are already showing him how to pilot a bit...both may take some time. And old jeep, no im not afraid to get my feet wet, usually do at the other lake anyway but was trying to avoid a full out swim to the boat, sometimes im just lookin to cruise especially when its cold. No i havent seen anyone launch there yet and that was my next step. I may go there this weekend to see how others do it there.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: launching by yourself with no dock

Hmm - my definition of a tourist includes people who are afraid to get their feet wet launching a boat

really? mine is one who can't launch without getting wet.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: launching by yourself with no dock

not all ramps are made for all boats.

 

[plztellme]

Re: launching by yourself with no dock

I use a 100' rope tied to my bow hook.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: launching by yourself with no dock

OK-- drop her in and drop anchor near shore. Let her drift out. No need to swim,,, just pull the anchor rode and you should not need to get wet even knee high. When retrieving-- anchor get out and let her drift back. After putting the trailer in the water pull anchor and driver her on. Have done it like that without getting wet above my ankles.