Trailering the boat solo - how ?

[Moody Blue]

Just read the post on solo launching and I have practiced that technique for some time with much success. However I need to ask how the heck do you folks trailer the boat by yourselves without wading knee deep into the water ? Any suggestions on keeping my feet dry would be welcomed.

 

[NYMINUTE]

Re: Trailering the boat solo - how ?

Bring a friend to wade out?

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: Trailering the boat solo - how ?

I wear shorts and sandals, or if it's cold, hip waders ... if I'm not somewhere where power loading is feasible. I keep hip waders on my boat. If I can power load, I do that, and climb off the bow onto the trailer. (bunk trailer). Other than that, you can sometimes find a helpful bystander - but the help you're asking them for is kind of grunt work (winching up the boat while you sit in it), so I tend to be reluctant to ask - I'd rather wade.

 

[TexomaAv8r]

Re: Trailering the boat solo - how ?

Have my tailgate on my pick up down, drive up onto the trailer as far as I can, reach over the bow to hook the strap (which I have let out several feet so I can rach it) then cut the motor and raise it, climb out onto the tongue to the tail gate and winch it up onto the trailer. Pull it out tie it down and Im done.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Trailering the boat solo - how ?

Cold weather, I open the liftgate on the Explorer & climb in/out over the bow. Summertime, I'm wearing shorts & sandals anyway.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Trailering the boat solo - how ?

All my trailers are bunk type drive on style and the tailgate method works great with that setup. Now I have an SUV and if the ramp is shallow (truck is in the water) I have to climb in through the rear, a little more difficult but still dry. I launch and load many times a week solo and never, well almost never get wet.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Trailering the boat solo - how ?

I don't like sandals very much. I wear lace-up nylon "beach socks" instead. They don't stay wet, and they're not bulky at all. I always go in shorts and plan to wade a bit. I never mind getting wet, even when it's cold out.<br /><br />I keep a pair of warm-up pants in the boat, and put those on if it's chilly or I start getting sunburned thighs.<br /><br />I'm just too darned old to be climbing around and through my SUV's back window. I'd rather get a little wet.

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Trailering the boat solo - how ?

instead of climbing out the rear window of your suv, why don't you guys just grab onto the roof railing, step on the rear tire and then onto the rear bumper and onto the trailer tounge. That my routine for getting on and off the boat with the truck rear tire in the water and don't get wet.

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: Trailering the boat solo - how ?

Mine's a mixture.<br /><br />I never let my vehicle touch the water. It's second only to the Dead Sea for salt here, and it's clear and warm - the worst conditions for corrosion.<br /><br />So I back to the water's edge, unhook the trailer which has a precut length of rope fitted to it, slip the free end (spliced loop) over the towball, and hand-guide the trailer with the rope as it rolls into the ocean! The boat has already been released from its tie-downs (bunk trailer), and I have a long line fitted to bow and stern. <br /><br />The boat floats off, and the line is long enough for me to hold it, hop onto the quayside and position the boat (steering bow or stern like a horses reins)and tie up to the nearest point.<br /><br />Recovery is the reverse of this, except that I power the boat carefully onto the trailer (remember, it's not fixed to the hitch, it's on the end of a rope), hop onto the quay alongside and pull the lot out of the water. It's easy to hook up to the hitch once the trailer is on the flat. This only works if the slip has a quay or walkway alongside.<br /><br />Been doing this solo for years, and enjoy being watched by the old salts. Usually goes off without a snag, except when I power a bit too hard and drive the trailer up the ramp!

 

[TELMANMN]

Re: Trailering the boat solo - how ?

I usually end up putting my boat, and sometimes the pontoon, on by myself(every year). I use knee boots, hip waders and regular waders depending on the conditions. <br /> I also make sure I have extra rope with if the wind is really bad I can use it to hold the boat in the proper position. <br /> This is usually late in the year so no one is around but occasionally someone else comes down while I am doing my comedy act and jeez does that work good.

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: Trailering the boat solo - how ?

Well it looks like I'll continue getting my feet wet. Don't really mind it, just thought there was a different way of getting it done. I have a van and I'm not about to go climbing over the seats and out the back doors The pickup tailgate idea sounds like a great approach. I've got a short tongued trailer so the rear wheels of the van are always in the water.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Trailering the boat solo - how ?

Knee boots are about $15.00 at XxxxMart. They're easy enough to slip on and off.

 

[pjm257]

Re: Trailering the boat solo - how ?

Fishing with my fishing buddy. Who is a above the knee amputee I gave up the idea of trailering my boat without getting wet a week after buying it. No worries though its only water and you wont die from getting a little wet. Atleast I havent yet

 

[surfmonkey]

Re: Trailering the boat solo - how ?

I tie a line to the bow, then tie it to front of trailer, back in, get boat floating, pull vehicle up, get out, grab line from front of trailer, tie off to dock, and I am off.<br /><br />On returning, back trailer into water as close to the dock as possible, pull the boat onto the trailer, jump out on the dock, and I am on my way...<br /><br />Other than that, a pair of knee boots...

 

[dingbat]

Re: Trailering the boat solo - how ?

I do a lot of fishing in the winter and getting wet when the water temp is 42° and the air temp is 24° is not an option. <br /><br />I've got a roller trailer which makes the task fairly simple. First I tie a rope on the bow and throw it out on the dock. I then back the trailer down into the water and grab the rope and walk out on the tongue and pull the boat toward me unti I can clip hook onto bow hook. I then walk back to dry land and crank her up on the trailer. whole process takes all of 2 minutes tops

 

[Frankhanhart]

Re: Trailering the boat solo - how ?

The ramp I used the other day stops 20 cm above waterlevel. The trailer I bought recently can tip on the wheelaxle. A little push and 550kg boat sticks the nose up and I lowered it by winch. First time ever...on my own and I marvelled at the thinking they put in that design. Got rollers of course, which makes the "push" easy. Only got wet on sweat (am I doing something wrong somewhere this first time launch ? )

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: Trailering the boat solo - how ?

Frank H, I've got the tilt trailer as well and it is fantastic in shallow ramp launches and retrieves. Still get my feet wet when retreiving though