Launching a Jon Boat From a Bank with a Drop-Off?

[VaMushroomHunter]

Hi folks,

 

Last year I bought a used 14' jon boat and a trailer.  Over the winter I built a floating barrel dock at my landing, where I intend to keep the boat during the summer and fall months.  The landing is at the end of a long logging trail, and a grove of trees combined with a steep hill make it impossible to get a trailer down there.  So my plan was to use my neighbor's landing to put the boat in the water and take it out.  He kindly gave me permission, and all was well until I actually inspected his landing.  The mild slope of the landing doesn't continue into the water; at the shore's edge, there's a vertical drop of a foot or slightly more.

I'm concerned about my ability to smoothly launch the jon boat, and even more concerned about how I would get it back onto the trailer once it was launched.  I'm not about to back my Dodge Dakota pickup so far that the rear wheels go over the edge, and the boat is heavier than just a regular 14' aluminum-alloy jon boat, due to its plywood deck.  The alternative would be to use the nearest public landing, but that's several miles away by water.

Is there a method for me to safely and easily get my boat in and out of the water at my neighbor's landing?

 

[fishnkamp]

I would use the public landing.  It may be inconvenient but safer.  Just have two people go to the landing. One drives the boat and the other returns home with the truck and empty trailer.  I have seen jon boat trailers modified into tilt trailers, which might help you unload, but I would not trust that you could safely recover the boat that way.

[lo n slo]

2 hours ago, fishnkamp said:

I would use the public landing.  It may be inconvenient but safer.  Just have two people go to the landing. One drives the boat and the other returns home with the truck and empty trailer. 

this is what i do but i dont take the boat out of the water til winter

[Way2slow]

I launch mine off river banks that are sometimes a couple of feet drop. As for one certain way I don't have one because how I do it depends on the situation.  If I can back the trailer in, letting the tires drop off the edge, and get the boat in the water, I do that.  A good 4WD truck is going to pull it back out of anything so it's just a matter of being able to get the boat on and off the trailer.  On a few occasions I've had to take the motor off and take the boat off the trailer and use a rope to slide it down a steep bank. I have a 4HP Merc I use those situations that's very lite.  However, I keep my jons, a jon and not all that added junk trying to make a mini bass boat out of them. My 14' weighs 144 pound and if going to an area that's real rough, I take my 12x32 that only weighs 86 pounds.  It can easily be drug and handled if needed. 

[CaptPete]

You are probably over thinking this. I have a fully decked 14' jon with a 20hp Merc on the back, I drop it into several lakes that don't have ramps at all. The biggest issue I have is when the drop is so deep the trailer digs into the bank coming out. The boat floats... so once the trailer drops, the work is done. pull the trailer back out.

 

I do this solo regularly, and I'm probably a bit crazier with how deep I'll put my rear tires, but just be aware, don't back in too far, and no shame in pushing the boat off the trailer if the situation calls for it.

 

I use old 6x6 planks to get under the trailer tires and create a ramp when the bank is undercut (Or I hop in the water and just lift the rear of the trailer while someone else drives... I only do this if necessary pulling out, never had an issue dumping a boat in, even on a 90* bank, just go slow, wait till she floats, and pull the trailer back  out

 

this is the reason I love my jon boat, and can't justify anything much bigger. I launch without ramps 90% of the time. I tow with a 4x4 F150, but I don't think your dakota will be at all stressed(assuming it's 4x4).

[Insanity]

Ive also droped john boat trailers off banks and ramps with drop offs.  Ramps usally go smooth if you go real slow it will just bump agaist the bottom of the frame as the tire rolls off the drop off. 

If your in a 2 wheel drive you might try leaving the boat tied to the trailer in back .It will float the trailer. And try pulling it back out first. 

We used to lauch off a river bank when i was a kid and ive seen servral 2 wheel drive 70s fords of my granffathers pull the trailer back from clean outa of sight. On river mud.  No way id try that my self however.   

 

[J Francho]

Seems like something simple like these would work on shore instead up to the bed:

[Troy85]

A 1' foot drop shouldn't be bad, especially putting the boat into the water.  Pulling it out could me more of the challenge.  You could launch it at your neighbors place, and if after launching it you think it would be too precarious to get it back out of the water from that spot, then you could a just use the public launch at the end of summer when you get it out the water.  Don't have to put in and out in the same location.

 

As far as getting out of the water at your neighbors place, even if that boat is a little heavy for you to pull onto the trailer, a come along would make short work of it.