Launching by yourself?

[Brew City Bass]

So, tomorrow I am purchasing my first bass boat. It's a MonArk Mcfast V16 16 footer. I will be mainly fishing by myself 90% of the time.

This being the first boat I've ever owned, I am very worried about launching it by myself. I understand how to launch it, and trailer it, I just got this feeling something crazy is going to happen.

Any tips or tricks? My biggest concern is swamping my truck!

[S. Sass]

I am no expert but have been around a while and seen the wrong way and sometimes a good way. The worst thing I see is the person getting in a hurry or excited this never ends well. Take your time even if guys start to line up. Its much better to take a few minutes longer, than to make a mistake your will regret for years to come. 

From my experience most guys will understand as they were there once themselves even if they don't admit it. 

[Bluebasser86]

Put the plug in!

Unstrap the back but leave the front which hooked up. Back it in until the fenders on the trailer are just below the water. You should be able to unhook it and push it off with relative ease and hop in if you're agile enough. If not, you can always tie a rope from the trailer to the eyelet on the boat and just back up and let if float off.

Use the parking break whenever you get out of the vehicle on the ramp. 

Watch this video. I've been launching myself for over 20 years and I learned a couple helpful tips from it.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/backing-a-trailer.html

[Brew City Bass]

45 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Put the plug in!

Unstrap the back but leave the front which hooked up. Back it in until the fenders on the trailer are just below the water. You should be able to unhook it and push it off with relative ease and hop in if you're agile enough. If not, you can always tie a rope from the trailer to the eyelet on the boat and just back up and let if float off.

Use the parking break whenever you get out of the vehicle on the ramp. 

Watch this video. I've been launching myself for over 20 years and I learned a couple helpful tips from it.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/backing-a-trailer.html

Great advice, thank you. As for the agile part... I don't think I am gonna be "agile" enough haha. 

 

Are guys at the launch usually pretty easy going about helping out?

[S. Sass]

I offer to help if i see a guy having issues and no one to help him. If you have 3 or 4 guys with you na I let you guys figure it out. 

[Bluebasser86]

I have guys offer to help pretty often when I'm by myself, but I can unload or load my boat by myself faster than a lot of people I see at the ramps can do it with 2 people. 

Tying a rope to the front of the boat and to the trailer is a pretty simple approach that I see used often by guys launching by themselves. 

[WIGuide]

Not sure where you're located and what the ramps are like in your area, but around me many of the more popular lakes have a dock that runs right next to the ramp. If yours are the same, you can back in in close to the dock and with the front winch still hooked up, then get in the boat from there, unclip the front and back it off the trailer. Another option would be tying a rope to the boat and the winch stand of the trailer and backing it down and letting it float off and then slowly pulling back up which will pull the boat back in. Take your time and visit a ramp that isn't busy to get the hang of it. Even if you spend a half an hour to 45 minutes of doing nothing other than unloading and loading your new boat it will help you get used to it and streamline the process for when you hit up a busy ramp. 

[CarolinaBoy4Life]

I just got my first boat last year and was in the same boat. Knew how to load and unload but was still nervous. I created a check list and went over it until I memorized it. I would unhook the straps and everything on the boat. I would back down where the trailer tires were in the water. I would have a tie off rope on my boat tied and take the other end and tie it to the dock. Leave just enough slack to where you back it in the boat will float off about a ft or so and stop. Go park the trailer come back to the dock un tie rope from the dock and push boat off. Drop trolling motor get out of the way of anyone else or from the dock and then untie rope from the boat and store it and head out. Just what I do. Number of ways to do it honestly

[Catch 22]

If you launch enough  crazy things will happen.

I suggest you make a check list of the correct procedure and stick with it every time.

Same for retrieving.

Don`t be interrupted while your in progress.

I use the rope to the trailer method.

LOL C22

[ethan-333]

my lake the dock is right next to the ramp so i back in right next to it with every thing unhooked and as soon as it starts moving a little bit i hop out and get in.

otherwise just tie a rope on and make sure the plug is in. shouldnt have any issues

i always set the parking brake just in case

[Cgolf]

Based on the timing of your post I may be a bit late. When I first got my 16 ft deep V boat I had a roller trailer and it was a struggle for two people to launch and land the boat. We tried stronger and different keel rollers and nothing helped. Two seasons ago I traded in that trailer for a bunk trailer and can now launch and land the boat solo in a 1/4 of a time two of us could with the old trailer. Not saying there aren't good roller trailers out there, but the only people I have seen truly struggle had them.

[Brew City Bass]

Well, the sale went smooth and I am the new owner of the boat! Thank you everyone for the advice. I'll be taking her on the maiden voyage this Thursday so I can practice before the season opener. 

 

 

[A-Jay]

32 minutes ago, Brew City Bass said:

Well, the sale went smooth and I am the new owner of the boat! Thank you everyone for the advice. I'll be taking her on the maiden voyage this Thursday so I can practice before the season opener. 

 

 

Nice Boat Mr Wayne ~

Best of luck to you  . . .

A-Jay

[Brew City Bass]

Just now, A-Jay said:

Nice Boat Mr Wayne ~

Best of luck to you  . . .

A-Jay

Hahaha thanks!

[Fishin' Pilot]

Congrats on the boat!  Don't worry, after a few times you'l have it down and it'll be no worries.  

[South FLA]

Wish I was this cool, but I am not.  I have left the plug on top of the bumper and forgot  plug before I left the house on a 45 minute trip to ramp, forgot to take rear straps off and wondered why the boat would not come off trailer, forgot the motor support was on, forgot to untie the front strap, forgot to trim motor up fully when leaving ramp (oops), busted my butt on a slippery ramp and saw by buddy require knee surgery after doing so, forgot to put  plug in, forgot to turn breakers on, etc etc.  I have learned a lot from my mistakes, I am sure as you get experienced you'll be as efficient as even the most seasoned veteran.   However, don't practice on a busy weekend or on busy ramp it could get you killed. 

http://miami.cbslocal.com/2016/04/14/man-run-over-at-holiday-park-boat-ramp/

[slonezp]

Get into a habit of prepping the boat the same way every launch. You don't want to be that guy who forgot the drain plug, or the tie down straps(I'm guilty), or to remove the transom saver, or unhooking the safety chain. As far as the act of launching, if you haven't yet practiced backing up a trailer, an empty parking lot on the weekend should fix that. There is a sweet spot where the trailer needs to be when loading it up. A good place to start is with the tops of the fenders just above the waterline and adjust from there.

Good luck and enjoy 

[Cgolf]

5 hours ago, Brew City Bass said:

Well, the sale went smooth and I am the new owner of the boat! Thank you everyone for the advice. I'll be taking her on the maiden voyage this Thursday so I can practice before the season opener. 

 

 

Congrats on the boat and good luck on the opener. One thing you could do is practice backing up in an empty parking lot to get the hang of it if you have never pulled a trailer. That will help ease the nerves when launching on a busy opening day. The good news on the opener is you got fishermen on the ramp that should help you out instead of the lets go out and party crowd.

[gim]

DO NOT try launching or backing up a trailer as a beginner if there's people waiting at the ramp.  That will anger people quickly and you may experience "boat rage.  Go slow and take your time, but not when there's other people waiting. 

[Redlinerobert]

Congratulations!  Nothing like getting your first bass boat. 

[Ski213]

I don't have anything to add. All above advice is good. I'd just reiterate. 

1. Have a plan

2. Practice it (in a low traffic area initially if possible)

3. Remain calm no matter what  

Things do happen, take it in stride when they do. You'll be a ramp pro in no time. 

Congrats on the new ride. 

[Brew City Bass]

2 minutes ago, Ski213 said:

I don't have anything to add. All above advice is good. I'd just reiterate. 

1. Have a plan

2. Practice it (in a low traffic area initially if possible)

3. Remain calm no matter what  

Things do happen, take it in stride when they do. You'll be a ramp pro in no time. 

Congrats on the new ride. 

Thank you

[ww2farmer]

I launch and load so much by myself...........I actually prefer it. Even before or after a tournament when I have a partner I prefer to do it alone. I have a long rope that's tied to one of the bow cleats. If the ramp is not busy, I just tie the other end to the dock......back in let it float off, pull away and go park. If it is busy, I tie it to the trailer, back in  let it float off, then get out untie the trailer end of the rope, "guide" the boat around the dock out of the way of the ramp, tie off and go park. 

Loading is just as easy. I back in so the boat is close enough to the dock that after it's on the trailer I can hop off on the dock and drive away. I power load, and once in a while I don't get it one far enough and after I hop off have to hook the bow strap up and winch it on the extra few inches............but most of the time my bow eye is right on the bumper, and I don't worry about hooking up the winch strap until I am out of the way.

[Kevin22]

3 minutes ago, ww2farmer said:

and I don't worry about hooking up the winch strap until I am out of the way.

That is going to cost you some day. Seen plenty of boats laying on the ramp with 4-5 guys heaving on them trying to get them to the water. 

[ww2farmer]

2 minutes ago, Kevin22 said:

That is going to cost you some day. Seen plenty of boats laying on the ramp with 4-5 guys heaving on them trying to get them to the water. 

I been doing it this way..........every day.......for 10+ years. Your concerns are noted. I'll bet 99% of those people with boats off the trailers had roller bunks. If an aluminum bass boat slides off carpeted bunk boards on my fairly shallow ramp, something will have gone terribly wrong. We can place a $100 bet right now that in the next 10 years of doing it my way, that boat will never come off the trailer.