Launching boat by yourself
 

I'm just curious as to how you guys that fish by yourself launch your boat. I fish by myself a lot and launch myself all the time. Here's my system: I stage in the parking lot and get the boat ready for launch. Next I back my boat almost all the way down the ramp. I get out and unroll quite a bit of strap on my trailer winch while leaving the strap attached to the boat. Next I back my boat slowly into the water until my boat slides off the trailer and then I pull forward a bit until the strap gets tight and my front trailer rails are just above the water. Then, I get out and step on my trailer and hold the strap and walk the trailer until I can unhook my boat and get in. Last I motor to the dock or bank and park my truck.

There is probably a better way. That's why I am asking what you guys do. I never had anyone teach me how to drive a boat or anything that goes with it. This just seemed to be what I started doing. I've only ever had a couple hiccups. Once I launched at daylight at Cairo boat ramp. I accidentally unhooked the strap and had to strip down and take a swim after my boat that morning. The other was on Xmas a couple weeks ago. I was launching at DH and lost my footing on the trailer and had to jump in the water up to my knees so I wouldn't fall. My feet never got as cold as I thought they would. I just rang my socks out when I parked the truck.

I used to do something similar except I would tie about a 30-ft rope. A good 1/2” thick rope to the tie on the deck. I would choose the tie that would be on the side depending on where the dock was that I was going to pull the boat to. Tied the other end to the truck. I would place the rope on the deck where it would feed without interfering with anything on the deck of the boat. I would unhock the tie on the front hooking it to the trailer. Lower it in the water. Once it cleared the trailer I would pull forward out of the water. Untie the rope from the truck and pull the boat to the dock. Tie it to the dock and move the truck. I could do it pretty quick and normally no one had to wait on me long.

I fish mostly alone, so this is a pretty common routine for me.

My fish & ski has a V hull, so my launch process is similar to yours.

My river boat, however, has a flat bottom. I have a length of rope about twice the length of the boat attached to the bow. I just loop the other end of the rope over the trailer winch, back in till the wheels go under, tap the brakes, and the boat shoots off the trailer. Then when I pull up the boat grounds itself on the ramp - take rope off trailer, park truck, walk back to boat. Easy peasy.

I use a similar method except put the trailer winch in neutral and back the boat in. Once the boat starts floating, it will unwind the winch automatically. I then pull the trailer back up the ramp until the front of the boat gets lifted by trailer slightly.

I guess most of us have a similar system. One thing to note for anyone wondering about launching yourself is that a keel guard is my best friend. I launch at ramps sometimes that don't have docks or the docks may be congested. I can beach my fiberglass boat on just about any bank without fear of damaging it and I'm usually much closer to my truck so it's not taking up the ramp any longer than needed.

What worked for me .. <'TK><
 

I have seen (never tried) two other techniques.
1.) For those with Minn Kota Ulterra trolling motors, they just back down, launch the boat, deploy the trolling motor, walk to the dock, motor the boat over, and tie it off. No ropes involved.
2.) I saw one guy tie the other end of his rope to the cleat on the dock, back down, launch the boat, go park his truck, walk to the dock, and then pull is boat back to the dock with the rope.

I put an Ulterra on mine about a 1-1/2 ago and it hasn’t failed me yet. I will only use it if the ramp has a dock. A little nervous about driving it up on the bank or ramp and having it not lift out of the water in time. It is nice driving it to the dock and just stepping on.

I do, at times, use the rope method. But at some ramps, there is no dock. I use 2 anchors, one at the stern and one on the bow. Bow one goes on shore but I use it as a THE pull rope.

My biggest slow down, when solo, is the motor, it runs great but man is it cold nature. It takes 5 or so minutes to warn up enough to stay running while in gear (18 year old Honda tiller). If it is crowed, i prep the depth finder and other gear, while it is still warming up while on the trailer. I prefer to do that away from the ramp, but it is "idle" time.

I've watched many uTube vids on launching and loading and some of those guys makes me laugh, especially when they load the boat sideways on the trailer.


The best video was actually on the Bass Tracker site.


I'm far from an expert but what I have done was leave the strap hooked to the bow and back it in until I notice the back of the boat just starts to float. Then I climb up onto the trailer releasing the strap and then back the boat off using the engine to pull the boat off the trailer then idle to the dock.


I've yet to launch where there are no docks, but that will change when I start launching on the river. I suppose I'll use a rope hooked to the bow and push it off and pull it to shore and either tying it off to a tree or using a anchor


I've heard of guys hooking to the bow with a rope and launching while holding the rope while and pulling the boat to shore, then parking once the boat was secured.

I like all these suggestions! I have a question though...what's the best way to get the dang thing back on the trailer when your alone??? I'm trying not to look like a complete idiot at the ramp 😂

I do like others here. I tie lone rope to boat and then to my tailgate on my truck. Then back in till it floats and then pull forward slowly dragging boat up onto ramp. I have a used aluminum tracker so I don’t care if I scratch it.

I always use a dock because of my fiberglass bottom and no keel guard. If the dock is close and not crowded I will use the rope method in which I tie the rope to the dock and shoot the boat of the trailer. It actually works really good. Most of the time I’ll do it this way. I’ll back in with the front strap of the boat still attached until the water is close to the top of my trailer fender. Then unhook the front strap, hop in the boat and back it off. This works best for me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This is Trackers Trackers video of how to launch a boat for dummies 101 :p

If the link works correctly, it should start you around the 10 min mark. It talks about launching alone. As a newbie, I really found this helpful, especially the reloading part, except I don't like the powering part until it hits the stop. I'd rather wench it the last 12"

Also I found out the first time I loaded it my self that if its not perfectly centered, I could back up just a little more allowing the stern to float just a little more allowing the boat to correct its self.


https://youtu.be/m5RsMzY3Qlg?t=446

Don't overthink it. My trailer has a sweetspot that works 90% of the time. I back down until the water just covers my deepest running boards. The only time this doesn't work is if the ramp has a steep dropoff at the waters edge. Then I may have to back down a little further. Next I load the boat, tighten the winch, and climb on the trailer tounge and hop in the bed of my truck. Then out on the pavement. When I first got a boat launching and loading terrified me. Now I'd say I'm almost as fast as 2 people.

When I launch, before I back up remove straps and motor toter. I then put around 12" slack into the winch strap. Back in, and when the boat moves a little- stop. Then I'll walk behind, step on the front of the trailer, unhook, and push it off jumping on the front of the boat when it begins to move freely. On return I note the water level on the rear fender when it loads the best. After that back trailer to that level, drive it up just short of the stop. Then jump out, winch the last few inches, step onto the ramp and drive it up. At least on my boat most ramps I can do this without boots. If the ramp is pretty shallow, I will use boots to walk to and from front of trailer when it is cold.

I mostly fish alone...tie 25' 3/8" rope to cleat and prep boat prior to ramp, leave winch locked, drop tailgate, back into the water, get out and use tire for step into the bed of the truck, walk out onto the trailer tongue, unhook boat give push and motor to ramp or bank tie up and go park truck.

I normally leave the winch strap tight and back in til the back of boat raises slightly.
Trailer does have sweet spot to load on good ramps but ramps that drop quickly at end always cause me problems. Bow wants to go under roller. Then have to pull up a little. Then seems to be to shallow.

The biggest mistake I make is backing the trailer in too far. It varies with each ramp but I find I need to leave enough of the bunks dry so the boat goes on straight.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I fish alone generally always. Use a 30’ rope, carabiner clips on both ends. Clip on to bow eye, other end in bed of truck. Back down and float her off, pull up and walk around to the courtesy dock and tie her off. If no courtesy dock, beach it on the ramp or next to the ramp on keel guard.

Speaking of keel guards... Has anyone ever thought about using a piece of rubber like a 2' sq standing mat to set on the ground to pull the boat onto for those times you have to set the bow on the ground to protect the paint ?

Most know I fish by myself 95 percent of the time. I use a product on my bunks called Liquid Roller. It makes them extremely slick. I have Slick Bunk Teflon pads I need to put back on so I don’t have to keep buying the Liquid Roller. I back in and take the lock off the winch while I hold the handle. If I didn’t have a hold on the handle the boat will slide all the way off the trailer. I let the boat slide down just a few feet....lock the winch.....climb in start motor and put it in gear to take pressure off the winch hook. Reach over and undo hook and slide into the water. I will use a dock if one is there on rare occasions. My boat is aluminum and has a keel guard made of 1 inch extruded aluminum. Most of the time I just beach it next to ramp and tie it up. I do a lot of tailrace fishing and no docks below them. Nickajack just installed new cleats to tie to on what is best described as a concrete dock.....they also installed new rub rail on the side of this. One of these has been installed below Pickwick now also....but have not been there in a while. The older I get the less I like launching and retrieving by myself. Many times when launching I’ve been asked by quite a few folks if I need any help....I always decline but it’s pretty nice of folks to offer to help.


Regards

Similar, like just some others mentioned I use about a 25 ft rope tried to the bow and I slide the end loop on my bumper and back the boat down, until it comes off the trailer then I walk the rope and the boat to the dock

I prefer to do this by myself, I have it down where it takes just a couple of minutes to launch or pull it out and I never get wet but for some reason when someone tries to help it takes longer, if someone fishes with me I tell them to go sit in the truck I got this lol

Flatline...go ahead and knock a dent or scratch your boat yourself so you have that satisfaction...there is no way you'll prevent that occurrence. Lots of good info here, get this out of the way so you can get busy fishing and having fun again. Congrats on a nice boat you deserve it... you will develop your own style. Keel guard is a good idea although.

I generally stop at hardee's and pickup a sausage biscuit. Then I stop at the corner of Old Hickory and I40 and pick up a bum.

After securing my bum to the truck bed I proceed to the launch ramp. I have my bum stand waist deep and hold my boat when I back down.

My bum gets his sausage biscuit and I'm off for another day of fishing.

Now, let's discuss how I retrieve my boat.

:D

Yes. I know . . . I'm a bad man. But admit it . . . You laughed.

Sounds like cabin fever is setting in... :D