JimKW
Petty Officer 1st Class
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2009
- Messages
- 397
After reading the thread on here, I finally went out and tried it solo today. It went well, but not great. It was not very busy when I went out so that was good. Had a little trouble backing down the ramp again. This single axle trailer is much harder to back than the tandems I have had in the past, but I get it done.
Several guys offered to help me, but I said I will let them know if I need help and thanks, but I am really trying to do it solo. Same thing on return when it had gotten very crowded (about 14 boats waiting to get in when I got my truck & trailer).
Going out I did not get that close to the dock, so I tied the bow to my winch tower and also threw a stern line up on the dock which came in quite handy. When I got the boat floating somebody grabbed the stern line for me. I didn't have the nerve to say "hey I'm doing this myself". I just said thanks. I got the boat in a little too far and had to walk into the water to get the bow line. Next time I will pull the truck up a little instead of just walking in the water. The bow line was long enough for this.
Then I took the stern line and the bow line and walked it way back on the dock and tied it up good. Had a little trouble untieing the boat from the dock by myself. Luckiy I have that extension pole with a hook that I used to keep the stern from going out while I untied the bow from the dock.
Coming back in it was very busy and I docked it on the courtesy dock while I went for the truck & trailer. I did that 45 degree angle thing I read about on here whenreyou come in at 45 d then hit reverse and turn the stern into the dock. I swear it worked like a champ and I looked like a pro. A lady waiting for her husband to come back to load their boat did take my bow line and tie if for me, and again I just said thanks and told her this was my first time trying it alone. She was impressed that I would even try. Said her husband wouldn't dare try.
Then I got the truck & trailer in the water real good and close to the dock, but I listened to another guy and put the trailer in a little too far and the boat got off on the trailer and I had a hard time backing it off and got sideways in the loading area again. I eventually got it straigtened out and did a pretty good job. Had I not backed in so far I'm pretty sure the trailer would have pulled the boat straight the way I hit it.
Now comes my question: I was about three or four feet from the bow stop and managed to use my hook pole to get the strap hooked up onto the bow hook. I got out and started cranking it in and it was very hard to pull it in. I thought the strap might break. I decided to back the truck up a little further down the ramp which made it somewhat easier to crank. One guy said never back up any further while another guy says he backs his up far enough to where he can just drive right up to the bow stop. Said he broke his strap trying to pull it in with the winch. His boat probably weighs twice as much as mine so I could see his point.
So I gues I have learned quite a bit reading this forum.
Just want to say THANKS GUYS!!!
Several guys offered to help me, but I said I will let them know if I need help and thanks, but I am really trying to do it solo. Same thing on return when it had gotten very crowded (about 14 boats waiting to get in when I got my truck & trailer).
Going out I did not get that close to the dock, so I tied the bow to my winch tower and also threw a stern line up on the dock which came in quite handy. When I got the boat floating somebody grabbed the stern line for me. I didn't have the nerve to say "hey I'm doing this myself". I just said thanks. I got the boat in a little too far and had to walk into the water to get the bow line. Next time I will pull the truck up a little instead of just walking in the water. The bow line was long enough for this.
Then I took the stern line and the bow line and walked it way back on the dock and tied it up good. Had a little trouble untieing the boat from the dock by myself. Luckiy I have that extension pole with a hook that I used to keep the stern from going out while I untied the bow from the dock.
Coming back in it was very busy and I docked it on the courtesy dock while I went for the truck & trailer. I did that 45 degree angle thing I read about on here whenreyou come in at 45 d then hit reverse and turn the stern into the dock. I swear it worked like a champ and I looked like a pro. A lady waiting for her husband to come back to load their boat did take my bow line and tie if for me, and again I just said thanks and told her this was my first time trying it alone. She was impressed that I would even try. Said her husband wouldn't dare try.
Then I got the truck & trailer in the water real good and close to the dock, but I listened to another guy and put the trailer in a little too far and the boat got off on the trailer and I had a hard time backing it off and got sideways in the loading area again. I eventually got it straigtened out and did a pretty good job. Had I not backed in so far I'm pretty sure the trailer would have pulled the boat straight the way I hit it.
Now comes my question: I was about three or four feet from the bow stop and managed to use my hook pole to get the strap hooked up onto the bow hook. I got out and started cranking it in and it was very hard to pull it in. I thought the strap might break. I decided to back the truck up a little further down the ramp which made it somewhat easier to crank. One guy said never back up any further while another guy says he backs his up far enough to where he can just drive right up to the bow stop. Said he broke his strap trying to pull it in with the winch. His boat probably weighs twice as much as mine so I could see his point.
So I gues I have learned quite a bit reading this forum.
Just want to say THANKS GUYS!!!
