Launching by yourself

[Isle of Fun]

I've backed down the ramp, set the parking brake. I walk around and unhitch the bow strap. Now I need to get into the boat. I can just manage to stand on the tongue and climb onto the nose. Fortunately I have a bow rider so I can shimmy in. I'm thinking of either mounting some sort of step onto the tongue or positioning a spare tire just ahead of the winch so I could step up onto it. If there is not a dock immediately adjacent to the ramp, what do other people do?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Launching by yourself

You are doing it the hard way. Prep the boat for launch as normal. Back in part way. Attach your bow line to the bow eye and then tie the line to the trailer. You need 15 feet of line or so and make sure it doesn't tangle around the trailer. Back the rest of the way in so the boat floats free. If you need to push it off the trailer you can do that. Remember, it can't go anywhere because you have the bow line tied to the trailer. When the boat is floating free, pull ahead to tighten the rope and continue until the boat is at the shoreline. Now you can unhook the rope. Tie your boat off, park the vehicle, get into the boat and go.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Launching by yourself

I back down, set parking brake. Then hook about 20 ft of line to the mooring bit on the deck. Then unhook the bow strap and shove boat off trailer while holding onto the deck line. Once boat has floated back past the bunks, I pull it back up alongside the trailer and either pull it up on the ramp (beached), or toss the line over to a dock and go tie it up. Then park the car.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Launching by yourself

I hire an illegal immigrant to hold my boat for me.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Launching by yourself

i usually launch alone, i do as the others, and have a snap on the bow line i hook to the bow stop, leaving the bulk of the rope on the bow deck. back in to where the boat is just about to float, and tap the brakes, this gives the boat the momentum to back off the trailer on it on. then pull up enough as not to get wet, and transfer the rope to the dock. you can clear the ramp in 2 minutes, on a busy morning. the main thing is being prepared before you get to the ramp. i hate people, who block the ramp to take off stearn straps, put in plugs, load the gear. this all should be done before you get to the ramp. i also believe in starting the engine on muffs, before leaving home.

 

[Silver/Fish]

Re: Launching by yourself

Don't laugh....Okay, go ahead.

I carry my good hip waders in the truck...have done this ever since my duck hunting days as a youth.

Here in the north country the water gets cold this time of year. It's not so much about putting the boat in, but being able to get it back on the trailer as easily as possible, especially if the wind picks up...

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Launching by yourself

if i lived up there it sounds like a good idea. we use to waterski as a ritual on new years day.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Launching by yourself

Summertime wearing sandals & shorts just splash through the water & climb aboard, but wintertime, I back in with the hatch open & climb out the back. But silvertip's method is very appealing...

 

[salty87]

Re: Launching by yourself

my neighborhood ramp isn't very friendly to a boat that gets near to shore and isn't on a trailer. to one side are rocks and the other is just downstream, no where to beach.

i do pretty much the same as you say, Isle of Fun. I back trailer in to where i want it and then either get wet or walk on the trailer tongue and jump in...open bow. i don't disconnect bow strap until she's started, then i just reach over the bow and unhook. back the boat off and take over it to the dock about 30 yards away. run around and move trailer. it isn't quick but it's pretty easy.

 

[Isle of Fun]

Re: Launching by yourself

I think Silvertips scheme would work where I usually launch. The ramp there drops of so quickly I'd be going for a swim to get around back so the only other option is in through the front. My dealer showed me how to unload with a drive on/drive off trailer so I've been doing it that way until now.
The illegal immigrants are few and far between up here.

 

[jeffnick]

Re: Launching by yourself

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...64/0/0/ladder/All_2/mode matchallpartial/30/0
iBoats may sell them too, but I couldn't find their listing...

 

[Gone]

Re: Launching by yourself

Silvertip's method has worked for me!!

CD.

 

[bumjelly]

Re: Launching by yourself

Hey there Isle of Fun,
Here is an option for you that might be able to be modified for your boat trailer. I made this step for my friend Gary who was having the same type of problem you describe with his Carolina Skiff-DLX 17. See if it's something you might want to pursue.
As a Stainless Steel Fabrication Shop owner, I get a lot of requests for marine items from simple to "wacky contraptioning" for my friends and neighbors boats + trailers who want something that just isn't available from manufactures or in stores/catalogs.

Check it out at www.buffalocreekmarine.com
Look at the "what's new" page.
Bumjelly

 

[Scoop]

Re: Launching by yourself

I have a small boat and use Silvertip's method when the water is cold. My BILs talked me into getting in my boat once while on trailer. The boat came halfway off the trailer and I almost did a header into the shallows. From now on, I launch using my method.

This is what I do when I don't have a boat launch.

As I said, my boat is more like a dingy. 14' Jon, but I have built a cart to launch it almost anywhere. The boat gets strapped to the cart, then launched, the trolling motor battery fits snuggly in the cart, the motor straps to the cart, and the gas tank straps to the cart. Cart has a removable handle and wheel barrow wheels have home-made seals to keep as much water out of the wheel hubs as possible and the hubs are filled with water-proof grease. The handle comes off without any tools.

One of the places I regularly fish, I don't have access to a boat launch and I have a bad back, I can still launch and retrieve the boat myself, and have the cart carry the gear.

I have to say, whenever people see me get my cart out, they can't help but stay and watch.

 

[Isle of Fun]

Re: Launching by yourself

Bumjelly,
That's exactly what I was considering. My trailer is slightly different in that the winch sits directly on top of the support. I will try silvertips idea but my only concern is, if for some reason the boat won't start, the truck and trailer are long gone now.

 

[Nova II 260]

Re: Launching by yourself

From watching others; Launching small boats don't seem to be a problem(s) if the trailer is set-up right. The problems I have seen tend to lean towards idiocy of the owner or wrong match of trailer to boat. However, I'd like to hear from bigger boat people.
I use the hooked bow line and stern line and 2 people on a windy day....... Any one launching / loading a 26' by themselfs?
Twice my intention of doing it alone turned out to be a Kodac moment.
Eric H

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Launching by yourself

i drive on the 23' chris craft deck boat, but were set up right. also my 17' center console. i hand load my 14 footer.

 

[SwampNut]

Re: Launching by yourself

I put a 4-step ladder on the bow, which is useful for this and also for boarding from a beach. I picked it up on eBay for under $100, well worth it.

 

[beezee28]

Re: Launching by yourself

I have seen a guy launch his boat all by his lonesome self at the ramp the other day. He drove up and tied a bow line to his hitch and then proceed to lower the trailer into the water and stop to jerk the boat out of the trailer. The boat float backward and was stop but the bow line, he then get out of his truck and untie the bow line and pull the boat to the side of the ramp and tied it there. The then pull his trailer out of the water and park his truck and he is then on his way out. It looks real easy how he did that.

 

[nathan104]

Re: Launching by yourself

I do as others have said. I have a 15.5' Bass Boat. I tie a Bow line onto my trailer. Luckily, the ramps I have used have either had a dock to tie to, or soft ground on the side to pull up on. Not sure what I would do if there were not either of those. WARNING though. Id only admit this on the internet,lol. I did this one time and apparently my line was not tied very securely. Well this was one of the times that the boat just shot off the trailer. I went swimming that day. It was cold to. But usually, it works d