Retrieving alone

[airdvr1227]

I'd really like to get my rig out of the water today. Problem is it's just me and my trailer.

It's not a busy ramp so I don't think leaving my trailer submerged while I get back in the boat is a problem...but what then? I can see myself driving onto the trailer...what next?

 

[HappierWet]

Re: Retrieving alone

Just you and the trailer? Gonna be tough....How steep is the ramp?
Maybe get a tow vehicle.
Seriously, retrieving alone isn't a big deal. Depending on your rig you may have to get your feet wet. Or if it is THAT big swim off the stern.

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: Retrieving alone

I always tie a rope about 1/2 length of the trailer to the bow eye and tie off to the trailer (actually i use caribeaners). After the trailer is in the water I unhook the winch and then back up until the boat is off the trailer. Then jump out unhook the rope and walk it to the dock or beach it off to the side. Then jump in the truck and go park. For loading I don't attempt to drive on the trailer when it's just me. I dock the boat and get the trailer in the water then just walk it on. Most of the ramps that I use I dont get wet much above my knees, and I rather be wet than humilated trying to do it all by myself.

 

[skargo]

Re: Retrieving alone

Walk it on. I don't see the problem here, I do it all the time. Powering on is not a good thing anyway.

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: Retrieving alone

For the record I never power my boat onto the trailer...I drive it on at idle and then winch the rest of the way.

Great idea about walking it on...never thought of that.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Retrieving alone

Just remember, with line off the bow, you will be "steering" from the front now. Don't know how your trailer is set up, but I have a bunk trailer that is almost impossible to get the boat on wrong. Good thing too, wife hasn't quite mastered low speed handling.

Just take your time and don't let anybody push you, they don't pay when you get sideways on the trailer and hear that fiberglass on metal sound.

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: Retrieving alone

should your ramp be configured that you cant walk it on and you have to drive it on what I do is drift in until the boat stops on the trailer. I leave it in gear at idle throttle which keeps the boat pushed up against the trailer while I climb out over the bow onto the trailer and hook up the winch. If I dont do this the boat wants to slide back off the trailer while I try to climb out. Back into the boat, turn off and raise the engine....back over the front of the boat to the trailer and winch it on. It's alot of climbing but its the only way I can figure it. Of course my boat is only 20' with not too high of a bow rail so climbing up and over is not too terribly acrobatic.

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: Retrieving alone

I've got a cuddy...so hopping in and out is a little different.

 

[Thad]

Re: Retrieving alone

Don't know where your dock is in relation to the ramp, but mine is next to it.
Tie off on the back side, go get your rig and if get in line if need be. Back down, get out (put it in park and set the brake, or you could post next week in the SHT) untie the boat, and the reat will come to you.
Alone, I prefer to walk i on. If the trailer is right it goes right on.
I see yours is 23', mine is 22' and no problems. You'll do fine.

As for anyone at the ramp being "impatient", tell them they can help or just deal with it. Don't rush it or try to hurry, that is when mistakes happen and you end up taking longer.

 

[Floatsum]

Re: Retrieving alone

Moderately shallow with trailer
Idle on
Leave in fwd gear at idle
Get out hook winch
Crank part way
Into boat, shut things down
Winch to stop and get out of other's way.

 

[sidechoke67]

Re: Retrieving alone

I added trailer guides to my trailer this year, and they help a lot with centering the boat. I added them mainly so I can see the trailer while backing the empty trailer down the ramp during the retrieve - but they help a lot with loading the boat too...

Unless it is really windy, I can toss the stern line into the boat as soon as the bow is forward of the trailer guides. Then I walk down the dock as far as I can with the bow line in hand, hop down the dock to the front of the trailer, and pull the boat as far up the trailer as I can with the bow line, then hook it up. When I retrieve alone, I always end up walking, knee-deep or so into the water.

 

[rbh]

Re: Retrieving alone

Most people are really good and will lend a hand,
" just ask".
rob

 

[MudSkunk]

Re: Retrieving alone

i got my boat with knowing that i would be having to launch and retrieve solo 95% of the time. i tie the boat up at a dock taking the keys with me. get the truck and back the trailer in hop back in the boat where i have already tied the dock lines to front and rear cleats and then just idle it up the trailer usually around 1-2mph. once contact is made with the trailer i can lean over the bow and grab the winch cable and attach it to the front eye under the bow. then i lift the motor after turning the engine off. jump out crank it up the rest of the way then pull out part way ensuring the boat is centered. if it isnt centered on the bunks usually a backup and dunk the rear will float it enough to recent then pull it out.

take me about 5 minutes from begining to end once i get the trailer down the ramp.

i am usually willing to help folks if they ask. i never offer aid. in today's litigous society last thing i need is some armchair lawyer to hire a real one after offering aid and having the nub screw up his boat and me get the blame.

i have had folks offer to help. i general politely thank them for the offer but decline. i dont need to teach someone how to retrieve a boat. after going from a 21' fiberglass wellcraft to a 16' aluminum tracker its so much easier to launch and retrieve solo.

 

[1Socal]

Re: Retrieving alone

Lots of good advice here. My suggestion is to make sure your tow rig is secure when you load the boat. I used two 4x4's with a bridle to block the front and back wheels when I was ready to load. One bridle is attached to the front bumper and the second to the rear trailer hitch to follow you up the ramp when you pull the boat out. Takes 60 seconds more when you set up to retrieve and may keep you out of the newspapers if your tow rig's brake fail, or the boat levers up the trailer tongue when you winch it on.

Socal

 

[Dick Sorensen]

Re: Retrieving alone

I do my 20 foot cuddy solo all the time.... following the outline/advice above except I would never walk away from any boat in forward gear with the engine running. Period.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Retrieving alone

the hardest part on a boat that size is hooknig the cable to the bow eye. I don't wade. So I have to wall down the trailer.
If I used the trailer a lot, I'd get a power winch, and let it do the work while I stand with dry feet.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Retrieving alone

We have like three of these same solo launching retrieving threads going right now. I'm going to close this old one and let it sink back into the archives.