Solo Boat Launching

[roscoe]

Re: Solo Boat Launching

Wear some kind of shoe or water sock, or rubber boot.

There are all kind of sharp rocks, concrete, glass, etc on the boat launches.
If you slip on the launch, you can easily cut your foot or break a toe.

If the rocks are small, under 4 or 6" in diameter, I have seen people throw down a 4' x 8' piece of indoor outdoor carpet, and then pull the boat up onto it to protect the hull.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Solo Boat Launching

Solo loading, with a roller trailer is tough.

Even worse if there is no dock.

Impossible with no dock and nowhere to beach the boat.

 

[NewfieDan]

Re: Solo Boat Launching

first, you shouldn't have to get your feet wet if there's a dock.

second, none of your tires, except the trailer's, should be wet. Never the front tires.

This is not always the case. I used to have a cabin on a lake that had a VERY shallow ramp. It was so shallow I went out and bought an old rust bucket just to be able to back in to this ramp. the ramp I use now is much more suitable for anything larger than an aluminum.

 

[OllieC]

Re: Solo Boat Launching

I have no problem getting wet - it's the distance from the gunwale to the water and then a slippery ramp....

 

[Philster]

Re: Solo Boat Launching

I back down with my tie downs off the back, but the front is hooked on.

I stop short of water, walk down first part of ramp and grab the very long bow and stern lines, and I then bring them to the pier and tie them off on the pier with slack.

Boat is on trailer. Nothing is wet yet.

I back down farther until stern wants to float. Stop. Set brake. Set in Park.

I go to bow and release the hook and nudge the boat. Most of the time, I am not in the water.

I walk up/onto the pier and pull my boat off/over and tie it off with the lines I left there.

Back to truck. Park it. Back to boat.

Lines, bumpers and all prep is done at home. Transom straps and last-minute fiddling is done at ramp prep area.

With a helper, all they do is pull the boat off the trailer and I still wind up tying it up, because no one cares about my boat like I do. So, really, what does the helper actually do?

In the end, I'm solo launching even when with people. And, quite frankly, my best launches are with me and my boat and no one else to foul it up. My wife standing there looking hot? Even better.

I even have two stern lines in case I don't get the side of the ramp I wanted; I can launch and tie off on either side on a moment's notice.

 

[Dick Sorensen]

Re: Solo Boat Launching

Johnsonjam02.....print a copy of Philster's instructions, study them and then put them into action. I've solo launched and retrieved my 21 foot cuddy for the last three years.....using these same techniques....the one rule I keep repeating while doing this.....at some point the boat is free of the dock and you are only pulling in onto the trailer with the bow rope....keep repeating....'Don't let go of the damn rope!'...have fun go boating...it's like trying a new cocktail or a recipe....give it a shot...it can't kill you and the result is out of this world!

 

[CC245]

Re: Solo Boat Launching

I back down with my tie downs off the back, but the front is hooked on.

I stop short of water, walk down first part of ramp and grab the very long bow and stern lines, and I then bring them to the pier and tie them off on the pier with slack.

Boat is on trailer. Nothing is wet yet.

I back down farther until stern wants to float. Stop. Set brake. Set in Park.

I go to bow and release the hook and nudge the boat. Most of the time, I am not in the water.

I walk up/onto the pier and pull my boat off/over and tie it off with the lines I left there.

Back to truck. Park it. Back to boat.

Lines, bumpers and all prep is done at home. Transom straps and last-minute fiddling is done at ramp prep area.

With a helper, all they do is pull the boat off the trailer and I still wind up tying it up, because no one cares about my boat like I do. So, really, what does the helper actually do?

In the end, I'm solo launching even when with people. And, quite frankly, my best launches are with me and my boat and no one else to foul it up. My wife standing there looking hot? Even better.

I even have two stern lines in case I don't get the side of the ramp I wanted; I can launch and tie off on either side on a moment's notice.

I launch solo every time and use pretty much the same method that Philster listed. It is also a good idea to go to your ramp and watch how the locals are launching and retrieving.
There are so many different variables involved that you should stay away from advise that uses phrases like "always and never". An example of this is a previous poster said that "you should never get the front wheels of the tow vehicle wet". I have seen ramps that have such a shallow angle and fluctuating water level that the front wheels are not only wet but are 50 yards from shore! Also some ramps are so steep that the rear wheels don't get wet. It all depends on the type of ramp(angle, water depth, docks, no docks, river, lake, tides, no tides etc). Type of boat and trailer (bunk, roller, cruiser, jon boat). So keep your options open, go on a weekday morning and try it a few times.

 

[River_Lizard]

Re: Solo Boat Launching

The ramp you posted about that doesn't have a dock....avoid it completely even if it's closer to your fishing spot. Unless there's zero wind that you can anchor right at the ramp (that's if no one is waiting to launch) then you better hope no wind comes up during the day while you're out boating because when you come back you'll be faced with a major problem...how do you anchor your boat by the ramp so you can go get your tow vehicle and not damage your boat on the rocks along the shoreline. I have 1000's of launches under my belt and I wouldn't launch from it unless I didn't care about getting completely wet (swimming to my anchor'd boat). You'd be better off sticking with the ramp that has the dock even if it's farther from the location you like to boat at.
Be careful at the ramp you're using on windy days, it may not go as smoothy as it did for you the first time. Try to plan to launch of "off days" until you have a dozen or so launches under your belt. Also just drive down on a busy weekend and watch the regulars launching their boats. Hopefully there's quite a few single launchers. Good luck this season!!!

 

[buckage]

Re: Solo Boat Launching

It's not all that hard when you get used to it. I have a 24ft center Console. on a 30 ft triple axel trailer (I know too big but it has it's advantages, boat is half in the water and truck still at top of ramp..never gets wet). It's a big heavy boat, but can still do it quickly with one. Brand new gelcoat and paint so I don't like scratches either. I use multiple fenders, front center and rear between the boat and dock. I have dock lines that are about 20ft long tied to both bow and stern cleats. I back the boat till just the transom is touching the water (I have already tied the bow and stern lines together in the middle before backing into the ramp). With the truck parked and parking brake firmly on, I hop out and put the lines over the middle and next posts on the dock (theres about 10 feet of slack). I hop back into the truck and back the boat in till it floats off. Once it clears the back of the trailer, I pull out just far enough to get the trailer dry. THen park, hop out and adjust the lines so that the boat is next to the dock fairly close and let the fenders do their work. Then back to the truck to park the trailer. It was kinda scary the first time I let the boat snatch it's way off the trailer but if your lines are tied together right, its not going anywhere and the stern isn't able to float away from the dock nor the boat able to try to float back up the ramp (when windy or lots of current). All in all takes about three minutes after you have done it several times. Tie off the same way when coming back in, leaving enough room to get the trailer fenders just wet enough to float the boat back on enough to winch it the rest of the way. Usually, I try to get three or four other guys to go (110 gallon tank and gas ain't cheap) when going offshore. Still, it will run in pretty skinny water, so I I am just hitting the lagoon or the river, I go by myself. At the end of the day, experience and safety are the most important thing. If you are going to try to learn to do it yourself, heve a couple of helpers there just in case you screw up, but let them do it all yourself. If you are going to plan on getting wet, make sure you get some rubber slipons.....I have seen my share of folks slip and fall on a slippery ramp, even when they are just standing there "supervising". Everybody was new once, don't worry about hurrying....better to get yelled at and be safe than rush and be sorry. By all means, don't blow out the ramp motoring on your trailer, holes at the end of the ramp are tough on us with long trailers at low tide...and try not to ever get your truck wet. Good luck, and remember confidence comes with practice. I am sure everyone here has a "Learners" story they could tell.....