Launching a bass boat - alone

[Nyper]

Hey folks. New guy here. First time boat owner.

I was hoping someone could be kind enough to give me some tips on launching a boat by myself? I'm confused about a few things. I admit I don't know much about boats, so any tips are appreciated.  

[Long Mike]

Nyper, firstly welcome to the best bass fishing site on the web.  Secondly, I would recomend that you use the "search" feature on this site.  This subject was discussed, in depth, several weeks ago.

[Nyper]

Thanks Mike. I'll do that. Wasn't sure how much traffic the forums got and didn't think to search. My fault.

[Long Mike]

Nyper, trust me this site gets A LOT of traffic.  Ther are over 7,000 registered members here.

Mike

[Grey Wolf]

WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Nyper]

Why does it say I'm an ex-member?  :-[

I did search, and found the previous thread. Good information!

[G3-Basser]

Could someone please post a link to the thread?  The search function is no friend of mine.   :-/

Thanks,

J

[Nyper]

Could someone please post a link to the thread?  The search function is no friend of mine.   :-/

I didn't have any luck with the search function yesterday either. I had to just browse back about 8 pages until I found it. I bumped it to the top... titled "ramp question for a newbie".

[Daniel My Brother]

Welcome Nyper,

Here's how I launch my jon boat alone.

1. Get to the parking lot, I pull out of the way and get everything ready for the launch (insert plug, trailer lights unplugged, tie down off, etc..) that way I'll be ready to launch when it's my turn.

2. Back down the ramp until the boat just starts to float off the bunks

3. Walk on the trailer tongue, unhook the winch strap, jump on the bow and push off from the trailer

4. Fire up the outboard and beach my boat next to the ramp (Like I said, mine's a jon boat, If I had a fiberglass boat I'd tie off to the dock)

5. Park the vehicle.

To load the boat back on I:

1. Beach my boat

2. Back the trailer up until just the top of the bunks are out of the water.

3. Drive the boat onto trailer. I try to coast onto the trailer at decent clip so I don't have to gun it at trailer --- power loading (using your outboard to push your boat higher onto your trailer) isn't good for the launch if your lake has a soft, shallow bottom near the ramp.

4. Climb over the bow, onto the trailer tongue, hook up the winch strap and crank the boat in.

5. Pull the trailer and boat out of the way and prepare for the trip home.

[cabela10]

Daniel, why you unplugging the trailer lights?

[G3-Basser]

DNB,

Sounds like my solo launching protocol.  Depending on the launch and the number of boats in the area, I sometimes let the boat come off the trailer and then recover it with a rope that I've attached to the trailer.  Then, I'll either tie off the boat, or if muddy bottom, pull the boat into shore.  After securing the boat, I'll jump in the truck and go park it.  Landing goes about the same way, but is actually much quicker than the launching (for me).

I found myself using a bumper on the side of the boat that I tie to the dock.  I must be the only bass guy using such a thing, but after I nearly rubbed all the stickers off of one side of the boat, I've started using a hull-hugger bumper when launching and landing.

--J

[G3-Basser]

Unplugging the lights keeps them from blowing if they are too hot or not completely sealed.  It is kind of cool to land the boat at night with the trailer lights on though.  

-J

[Daniel My Brother]

I've always been told your trailer lights will last longer if you unplug them, probably for the reasons G3 Basser stated. A couple of the lakes I fish don't have docks, just a ramp, so I guess that's another reason I don't use the dock much, even when it's available.

I've seen guys stop thier trucks quickly and the boat just float off the back. Looks cool when it works, but I've never tried it.

[bassboy1]

Unplug your lights.  The hot light hitting the cool water will blow a fuse or two - often the car lights as well.  A couple of weeks ago we blew every light in the car.  

Dash lights as well.  Had some spare fuses so we had taillights, but some of the dash lights didn't work.

[harshman]

Unpluging your lights only works on trailers without brakes. I went out with a buddy and his skeeter when out of habit I unplugged the lights and then  couldn't figure out why the trailer wouldn't budge when he got in the truck to launch me.   It only took about 5 min. for us to realize the trailer had "emergency " brakes so that if the connection with the plug failed then the brakes would lock. I'm told most newer trailers work on the same principal . Just something to look out for.

Harshman

[cabela10]

I've never had an issue with fuses blowing because of the warm bulb coming in contact with cold water. I would think the only time a fuse or bulb would blow is if it's not completely sealed.

Harshman, ha ha, yeah, you can't unplug a trailer that has trailer breaks. It trips the breaks as soon as it's unplugged. Unplugging lights are totally not needed, unless you have a pre-90's trailer, maybe..