How to handle boat ramps solo

[phenrichs]

Re: How to handle boat ramps solo

I have a bit of a unique perspective. I live in South Dakota. 90% are trailered boats. This is generally how the ramps go here.
When you pull in you prep everything in the parking lot and get everything loaded into the boat. Get in line. You may or may not have someone in the boat, either way I have seen that it really doesn't matter. Back her in. Slide her off the trailer and immediately tie her to the dock right there. Now if you have someone in the boat they can start her up if not you go park and come back, board the boat and start her up. Once you are out of the way with the truck the next person is getting lined up. I have never seen issues with people taking too long this way. Most of the lakes have one ramp and one dock so if there are 2 people you may see someone experienced back the boat and pull around the other side of the dock but usually they just tie up right there at the end of the ramp.

My wife has zero experience and when we finally get our first boat I plan to either have someone come with me to show her what to do or ask someone at the ramp in advance of me backing in if they would help walk her through what to do. If she doesn't take to it I will back the boat down and once it is ready to come off she can unhook me and she can park the truck.

 

[phenrichs]

Re: How to handle boat ramps solo

In reading through all these though the best single piece of advice for any situation was.

I park and then walk down and look at the ramp setup and observe how others are launching.

I would find that very useful for even experienced boaters. You never know what may have changed since you were last at that location.

 

[109jb]

Re: How to handle boat ramps solo

Then leave her at home.

Allowing her to NOT help probably ain't the best example for the kids either IMO. Make sure to return the favor(not helping) then next time she wants you to do some activity that SHE wants to do, but you don't.

I've already let my son know that if he doesn't help with the boat...that I'll purposely invite his friends to go boating and make him sit on the shore and watch. And I certainly WILL do it if he doesn't pull his weight.

That's a great example: Showing your kids that it is OK to bully your family into doing what you want to do and if they refuse then basically throwing a kid-fit about it by refusing to do something they want to do.

My wife doesn't help much with the launching/loading of my boat because she doesn't feel comfortable with either driving the boat onto the trailer, or backing up a trailer. She will drive the empty trailer to the parking spot since she doesn't have to back it up though. If someone doesn't feel comfortable doing something like this then forcing them to do it is in my opinion asking for trouble. If they don't feel comfortable, but have an attitude where they WANT to learn then this is something different. Encouraging them that they will be able to do it is also something different.

 

[The Famous Grouse]

Re: How to handle boat ramps solo

I see mention of climbing over the bow, not possible with all boats including mine.

My solo launching.

Prep boat in staging area. Includes plug check and remove straps.
Back rig down ramp.
Stop when stern is over water.
Unhook winch cable and safety hook.
Wrap bow line around winch stand with slack in line.
Tie off stern line to dock(dock dependent)
Get in tow rig, back up a bit and when stern floats, tap brakes.
Tie off bow line.
Park rig.
Go boating.

I can do this with my 4500 lb boat quicker and safer than most teams I see at the ramp.

This is excellent advice and very close to what I do when launching alone.

One addition:

If the ramp is busy and there is a line of people waiting, I always approach the people who are behind me in line. I just make some small talk, how's it going, nice day, etc.

Then I just mention that I'm launching solo and tell them it'll just take me an extra minute to park the boat at the dock or beach it and then come back to get the truck/trailer clear of the ramp. Really appreciate you waiting, etc, etc.

That little bit of courtesey and setting the expectation with the people behind you in line will really help smooth things over and cool off anyone who's really impatient. Works wonders.

But the biggest thing is to use a checklist and make sure you have EVERYTHING done in the staging area. Plug in, fenders out, straps off, lines out and untangled, etc, etc, etc. Whatever you need to do, make sure you do it before you start backing toward the water.

Grouse


Grouse

 

[1fishbone]

Re: How to handle boat ramps solo

I do similar launching techniques:
Use my mental checklist, plug in, straps off, fenders, dock lines, safety chain to bow ring is still on!
For a 'new to me' boat, I try it on a weekday or weekday evening when it's not crowded
As Grouse mentioned, I make friends with next in line, you won't believe how many times they lend a hand or offer or become a little more understanding.

One thing I do that might be different, in the prep area, I use LONG lines tied to the stern and bow cleats, bow line goes around the guide-ons, long enough to go back to the trailer winch.
Get the boat floating, (that takes practice, very important) walk on the docks holding on to both lines like reins, use the lines to pull my boat off the trailer, I can keep the stern from swinging out and they are ready to tie down.

I use the same technique for my 15'er as the 21'er

On windy days or a ramp with a current, I'll use 2 sterns lines, one on either side and a bow line. I can tie off the stern lines to the trailer to help keep the boat straight while I get in the truck.

Once you learn the right depth to back the trailer in, you'll get better at it.
Mine is 1/4 bunk above the surface, (3/4 submerged) my boat will slip off with a tug or retrieving it, it will 'stay' put. I use about 4' of winch and rarely get my feet wet.

 

[NetDoc]

Re: How to handle boat ramps solo

This was worth the price of admission. I am about ready to launch my first boat for the first time and this makes sense! Thanks!!!

I see mention of climbing over the bow, not possible with all boats including mine.

My solo launching.

Prep boat in staging area. Includes plug check and remove straps.
Back rig down ramp.
Stop when stern is over water.
Unhook winch cable and safety hook.
Wrap bow line around winch stand with slack in line.
Tie off stern line to dock(dock dependent)
Get in tow rig, back up a bit and when stern floats, tap brakes.
Tie off bow line.
Park rig.
Go boating.

I can do this with my 4500 lb boat quicker and safer than most teams I see at the ramp.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: How to handle boat ramps solo

One more comment about the wife thing....regardless of "why" or logic or what it should be, wives/girlfriends take instruction better from a man other than her husband/boyfriend. This applies to golf (BTDT) skiing, computers, etc. It does not matter that the other guy uses the exact same words, tone, etc. or how patient and kind you are.

So if you are in that situation, see if you can enlist the help of another guy she likes and you trust, and you go off to the bait shop or something. Maybe you can find another guy in the same boat, so to speak, and you can wife swap.

 

[Fed]

Re: How to handle boat ramps solo

I disconnect the boat and let it roll into the water.
I let my wife hold the rope to give her something to do, here's a short video clip she took with video sunglasses.
http://www.comcen.com.au/~fed/launch.avi
The roaring noise is the grooved wobbly rollers, they gave me quite a scare on the first launch with this trailer.
I retrieve all the way with a powerwinch so that means getting my feet wet at the end of the day but only in a foot of water.

 

[abenbrown]

Re: How to handle boat ramps solo

Want to try it

 

[BonairII]

Re: How to handle boat ramps solo

That's a great example: Showing your kids that it is OK to bully your family into doing what you want to do and if they refuse then basically throwing a kid-fit about it by refusing to do something they want to do.

You've completely miscontrued what I was saying.

What I meant is that if the wife doesn't want to do the work, then she doesn't need to be doing any the 'enjoying' of the boat either. If she doesn't even like the boat in the first place, then why in God's name is she there ? And why would the OP want her there? I certainly don't want to be doing any activity with anyone that doesn't want to be there in the first place.

Whether she likes the boat or not...HER(their) kids enjoy the boat. Why not help out for the kids' sake? I would bet that the OP does plenty of stuff for his wife that he would rather not do, but does it anyway. This isn't just a 'wife' thing...it goes both ways.

NOT doing the work, cause she doesn't like the boat shows the kids that she has no respect for him IMO. Sitting there while, your spouse runs around doing everything(and not offering to help) is rude IMO. Maybe I'm the only one that views it this way.Oh well.


Where did I say anything about bullying? My son likes our boat, but only wants to drive it and do the 'fun stuff'. He doesn't want to do anything of the work though. He begged me to get a boat and promised to help out. If he doesn't help, he knows that he'll be sitting on the shore, while the the rest of us have fun. It's only fair.

 

[NW Redneck]

Re: How to handle boat ramps solo

the ramps here have a dock.

a one man show cant do a launch without a dock unless you can beach the yacht.

with a dock.....back as close as you can to the dock.....safety chain on.....when the boat is floating, get out of vehicle stand on the trailer and un leash the boat...
when you are pushing off....climb on to the bow of the boat.....float to the dock, pull the boat as far back from the ramp as you can and tie her up.
get in tow vehicle and drive out.......90 seconds or less without getting your feet wet.

after parking, when you are walking back to the boat, the next vehicle will be on the ramp......then just get in and go.

i always do this, if someone is there or not....it does not matter....i always load and unload by my self.

fast...clean, and the boat is never sideways in the ramp. by doing it this way....i allways have positive control of the boat.....no mess ups

This is my method almost to the letter, except instead of climbing onto the bow I know just how deep to set my trailer (roller) so that once I release the chain & winch I step onto the dock, grab the bow and stern lines and it slides off with just a slight tug. I walk it to the end of the dock, tie off and go park the truck. If the wife and/or kids are with me, one of them will grab the lines as I unhook and pull the boat free.

Another thing I do is start the boat in the driveway on the hose every time just before I leave so that way I know the battery is good and the motor is warmed up and ready to go as soon as it hits the water. I'm lucky in that I'm <5 min away from the ramp at the ocean, and <10 min away from the lake our cabin is on.

 

[lionelmessi]

Re: How to handle boat ramps solo

I get it ready to launch except I do not unhook the winch. I back it down, climb on and then unhook the winch. Fire it up, back it off, then tie it up or beach it. If I beach it I drop the trolling motor-the skeg digs in and holds the boat. If necessary I throw the anchor up on the bank-that works too. Trailering I reverse the process. Get the guides-it makes a world of difference to have a drive-on trailer.

 

[Rangirocks]

Re: How to handle boat ramps solo

Giddays guys - I'm a new member from Australia

Saw this thread and surprised you don't use Boatcatch. It's the best thing I've put on my boat

It has an eye attached to your boat and a receiving positive lock mounted on the trailer.

Means no-ones on the ramp and takes about 30sec on the ramp to launch and retrieve if there is two of you

Check it out on EDIT

 

[ssobol]

Re: How to handle boat ramps solo

While clever, the boat catch device requires powering up onto the trailer. This is not allowed at most of the ramps I use (although there is usually some yahoo who thinks following the rules is beneath him).

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: How to handle boat ramps solo

Sorry, but I don't see how this device solves the problem. The OP still has to drive the boat AND the truck/trailer.