Easiest way to launch and trailer boat alone?

[Ksam1234]

I go fishing a lot by myself so I’m wondering what is the easiest way to launch the boat and re trailer it when your by yourself ? I think launching is easier but to get it back on is harder. 

[A-Jay]

Take your time and let the weather conditions (wind & waves if there are any) work to your advantage.

Meaning, ALWAYS launch & recover your boat on & of the trailer so that the wind in blowing your rig back onto the dock (if there is one). Never stray from this and you'll be a happy sailor.  

Here's what that looks like.

 

 

btw - the Talons can be helpful here.

A-Jay

[TnRiver46]

What kind of car do you have? Pickup truck with no camper top is the easiest option by far. My routine: pull up to the parking lot and GET OUT OF THE WAY of anyone else launching and loading. Then take off the transom straps, put the plug in, take off the motor support, and unstrap the front winch and chain. NOW YOU MAY ENTER the launching/loading lanes. Back down until the boat barely starts to float off and stop. Apply e brake. I then jump out of the truck and scotch my back wheel, not 100 percent necessary but I've seen some trucks roll into the river (more than twice). Jump into the back of your truck and walk to the back, climb across the trailer tongue into the boat. Start it up and back off the trailer. My motor isn't big enough to pull it off the trailer so I usually shove the bow before I jump into the boat. Next tie the boat to the dock or beach it and go park your car. Don't forget to remove your wheel scotch from the ramp (I do that a lot). When you are done fishing, pull up to the dock and tie off. Go back your trailer into the water to where the side bunks are barely sticking out of the water and park. E brake and wheel scotch. Get into the boat and drive it onto the trailer slowly with the trim up. When you are certain it's on straight, goose the throttle to get it up on the trailer further (unless you up north or out west where this is outlawed for no good reason). Climb out onto the tongue and hook up the winch and chain , make sure trim is up, then walk through the back of the truck and jump out onto dry land and pull up into the parking lot, once again out of everyone's way. Strap everything down, pull the plug out and head to the nearest watering hole . I'm sure I forgot a few steps but I shall review this post later . This method keeps your feet dry all year. If it's summer you could skip walking through the back of the truck and just walk in the water 

[Scott F]

There are so many different boats and trailers that no one way works best for everyone. There are many YouTube videos that show how it’s done. I’m sure you’ll see something there that fits your particular boat. 

[WRB]

In the boating forum there are several threads and vedios on this topic.

Tom

[Ksam1234]

8 minutes ago, WRB said:

In the boating forum there are several threads and vedios on this topic.

Tom

Thank you 

28 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

What kind of car do you have? Pickup truck with no camper top is the easiest option by far. My routine: pull up to the parking lot and GET OUT OF THE WAY of anyone else launching and loading. Then take off the transom straps, put the plug in, take off the motor support, and unstrap the front winch and chain. NOW YOU MAY ENTER the launching/loading lanes. Back down until the boat barely starts to float off and stop. Apply e brake. I then jump out of the truck and scotch my back wheel, not 100 percent necessary but I've seen some trucks roll into the river (more than twice). Jump into the back of your truck and walk to the back, climb across the trailer tongue into the boat. Start it up and back off the trailer. My motor isn't big enough to pull it off the trailer so I usually shove the bow before I jump into the boat. Next tie the boat to the dock or beach it and go park your car. Don't forget to remove your wheel scotch from the ramp (I do that a lot). When you are done fishing, pull up to the dock and tie off. Go back your trailer into the water to where the side bunks are barely sticking out of the water and park. E brake and wheel scotch. Get into the boat and drive it onto the trailer slowly with the trim up. When you are certain it's on straight, goose the throttle to get it up on the trailer further (unless you up north or out west where this is outlawed for no good reason). Climb out onto the tongue and hook up the winch and chain , make sure trim is up, then walk through the back of the truck and jump out onto dry land and pull up into the parking lot, once again out of everyone's way. Strap everything down, pull the plug out and head to the nearest watering hole . I'm sure I forgot a few steps but I shall review this post later . This method keeps your feet dry all year. If it's summer you could skip walking through the back of the truck and just walk in the water 

Thank you! This was extremely in depth. I’m going to go out in a little bit and try this exact thing. And thanks also I couldn’t tell in the video , was the wind blowing ? Hahah  @A-Jay

[detroit1]

Tr46..there is a good reason power loading is illegal at some ramps up here in the north. It blows out the lake bottom behind the cement slab, and if you back down too far, your axle falls into the abyss, making it Very difficult to pop that trailer back on the ramp. Probabally impossible with a tandem axle trailer...

[TnRiver46]

35 minutes ago, detroit1 said:

Tr46..there is a good reason power loading is illegal at some ramps up here in the north. It blows out the lake bottom behind the cement slab, and if you back down too far, your axle falls into the abyss, making it Very difficult to pop that trailer back on the ramp. Probabally impossible with a tandem axle trailer...

Hm. I guess where I'm at the force of the river is way stronger at washing out a ramp than any outboard . 

[WRB]

I am serious about reading what is already shared.

Your boat trailer may have bunks or roller or a combination of both. Trailers with bunks the boat tends to stay on the trailer when backing down and pulling out without being tried down, should keep the wench strap attracted doing both.

You need boat lines and bumpers when launching alone.

When backing down look at the left side tire with your  hand at the bottom of the steering wheel and move your hand the direction you want the tire to go, take your time.

Tom

[MickD]

4 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

and unstrap the front winch and chain.

If your boat has roller bunks don't do this, wait until you are over the water with the boat before unhooking the chain.  I'm sure the author assumed bunks, not rollers.

9 minutes ago, WRB said:

I am serious about reading what is already shared.

Your boat trailer may have bunks or roller or a combination of both. Trailers with bunks the boat tends to stay on the trailer when backing down and pulling out without being tried down, should keep the wench strap attracted doing both.

You need boat lines and bumpers when launching alone.

When backing down look at the left side tire with your  hand at the bottom of the steering wheel and move your hand the direction you want the tire to go, take your time.

Tom

Sorry Tom, didn't notice your post before doing my somewhat redundant one.

 

I have a rope that is the correct length to go from the boat loop on the bow to my trailer alignment rollers, the things that help align the boat as you drive onto the trailer.  I let the boat float gently off the trailer, then very slowly move the car up the ramp, essentially towing the boat toward shore.  If you do it right you can catch the boat before the bow touches the concrete, and pull it over to the dock.

 

On loading I get the boat onto the trailer, then step over the bow onto the boards I have added to the trailer to give me more and stable foot room on the trailer.  I finish cranking the boat onto the trailer, then usually I can step off into the shallow water on the ramp without going over my waterproof shoes, and get to the car to drive it out.

 

On launching one can have a rope of proper length and hook it to the winch with enough slack to float the boat.  Then retrieve it.

As Tom says, a wench will help, but I don't have one.  I have to use my winch.  :-)

[Ksam1234]

I went out and with the help of everyone on here I did it alone with ease  Thank you ! @WRB @A-Jay @MickD @TnRiver46

[A-Jay]

2 hours ago, Ksam1234 said:

I went out and with the help of everyone on here I did it alone with ease  Thank you ! @WRB @A-Jay @MickD @TnRiver46

Really glad to hear it ! 

Here's a little bit more "advice".

Developing an effective & safe 'routine' can really be very helpful.

The steps for hooking up & unhooking your trailer to & from your tow vehicle, don't really change much.

Neither does launching & recovering your rig on & off the trailer.

Consider following the same steps (routine) every time and you'll be setting your self up for success. 

 

 Additionally, Regardless of how "Busy" the boat ramp is - never let that make you get in a hurry or change your routine.  If other boaters are in that much of a hurry they should have left earlier.  

 And be careful who you accept "help" from, if you even choose to do that - I Do NOT- Ever.

There's no way for you to know what a strangers experience or ability level is -

Although they always have the best of intentions, they very well may not be very helpful at all. 

While everyone has their own 'way' of doing things, theirs may not be yours.

 I usually just smile, say thank you for asking, but I'm good.  

 

Have Fun

A-Jay

 

 

[TnRiver46]

Good points by @MickD and @WRB about leaving the winch hooked up until you are at the bottom. Especially of all times on your maiden voyage (glad it went well). I unhook mine before I go down only because I know it won't come off just from doing it over and over and over. And my particular boat seems to stick to the trailer like glue and i always have to shove it off. The only time I had one move on me was when I launched at one location to net shad. Pulled the boat out and went up river to redeploy with live bait and didn't realize the bunks had frozen. That little 14' boat nearly turned into a bobsled! 

[dickenscpa]

I have my "by myself" routine down to a science - one bit of advice, if you predominantly launch alone and get used to it and have a guest fish with you politely decline their help to launch. I find if I get out of my routine I skip or forget little things.

 

[TnRiver46]

When I have buddies fishing with me, I just tell them to hold the rope and I back in then drive out. It eliminates the need for my wheel scotch, at least while launching 

[schplurg]

You won't forget your wheel block/scoch/chock if you put it behind the front tire rather than the back because you'll run over it 

[TnRiver46]

9 hours ago, schplurg said:

You won't forget your wheel block/scoch/chock if you put it behind the front tire rather than the back because you'll run over it 

I ran over mine with the boat trailer last night even after typing that I forget it a lot. Luckily it's just a rock

[BassNJake]

17 hours ago, A-Jay said:

 

 And be careful who you accept "help" from, if you even choose to do that - I Do NOT- Ever.

There's no way for you to know what a strangers experience or ability level is -

Although they always have the best of intentions, they very well may not be very helpful at all. 

While everyone has their own 'way' of doing things, theirs may not be yours.

 I usually just smile, say thank you for asking, but I'm good.  

 

Have Fun

A-Jay

 

 

My tourney partner told me this story about taking out a guy he worked with.

The guy kept asking what he could do to help.

Jim said just grab the plug.

 

About 15 minutes later when the bilge pump started pumping water

Jim asked " did you grab the plug?"

His buddy from work said I've got it right here and pulled it out of his pocket ?

 

[gim]

If you’ve never done this solo mission, a weekend in July when it’s warm and sunny out is NOT the place or time to try it. Don’t be the guy that is holding up a line of 20 people if you don’t know what you’re doing. Go when it’s not busy at least until you get the hang of it better or you risk getting swore at and just being frustrated and angry with yourself. I see this regularly with recreational boaters and they are simply clueless.

[GreenPig]

On 9/16/2019 at 8:44 PM, A-Jay said:

Really glad to hear it ! 

Here's a little bit more "advice".

Developing an effective & safe 'routine' can really be very helpful.

The steps for hooking up & unhooking your trailer to & from your tow vehicle, don't really change much.

Neither does launching & recovering your rig on & off the trailer.

Consider following the same steps (routine) every time and you'll be setting your self up for success. 

 

 Additionally, Regardless of how "Busy" the boat ramp is - never let that make you get in a hurry or change your routine.  If other boaters are in that much of a hurry they should have left earlier.  

 And be careful who you accept "help" from, if you even choose to do that - I Do NOT- Ever.

There's no way for you to know what a strangers experience or ability level is -

Although they always have the best of intentions, they very well may not be very helpful at all. 

While everyone has their own 'way' of doing things, theirs may not be yours.

 I usually just smile, say thank you for asking, but I'm good.  

 

Have Fun

A-Jay

 

 

Last year I got in a hurry and learned my that my boat will float my trailer if I don't unbuckle the transom straps. It floated it over in the other ramp. I had to fire the boat engine up just to get it aligned to pull it out. It was a five minute fiasco that I could've avoided by slowing down.

[MickD]

4 hours ago, GreenPig said:

my boat will float my trailer if I don't unbuckle the transom straps.

Mine too.

 

[TnRiver46]

5 hours ago, GreenPig said:

Last year I got in a hurry and learned my that my boat will float my trailer if I don't unbuckle the transom straps. It floated it over in the other ramp. I had to fire the boat engine up just to get it aligned to pull it out. It was a five minute fiasco that I could've avoided by slowing down.

One of Mine floats the trailer up off the bottom! 

[ChelseaFisher]

17 hours ago, BassNJake said:

My tourney partner told me this story about taking out a guy he worked with.

The guy kept asking what he could do to help.

Jim said just grab the plug.

 

About 15 minutes later when the bilge pump started pumping water

Jim asked " did you grab the plug?"

His buddy from work said I've got it right here and pulled it out of his pocket ?

 

Hilarious!!

[TheRodFather]

I used to climb onto the trailer tongue after driving the boat on during recovery.  Until one day I lost my footing and slammed my chest, all of my weight into the winch/roller stand.  I was sore for weeks.

 

Now I back the trailer down so it's pretty close to the dock, close enough to step from boat to dock or dock to boat when on trailer.

 

When launching I walk down the ramp to the winch, (barefoot or crocs in summer, rubber boots if its cold), throw the rope up on the dock (hooked to cleat near console), undo the winch and give it a push if needed, to almost float away.  Then walk back up to where I can get on the dock, pull the boat rearward a bit with the rope. Tie it off on a dock cleat, and then park the truck (see following paragraph if dock is busy).  Jump in boat and off I go.

 

If the ramp is full when launching, I try to drive the boat to a dock side that doesn't have a ramp, before I park the truck, that way I am not blocking the ramp for another guy to launch/retrieve while I walk back to the boat.

 

If the ramp is busy when I retrieve, I will do the same cause I will probably be several vehicles back waiting in line, so blocking a lane with my boat ticks people off that are trying to launch, or retrieve, and makes it take longer to get through the line.

 

If I have somebody with me that I trust, I pull up to an end of the dock, walk to truck while friend motors back to open water, till I get the truck backed in, then they come pick me up and I drive the boat on.

 

 

 

[MickD]

As mentioned, climbing onto the tongue is tricky, especially for us old farts, but it can be improved with a couple pretty easy adds to the trailer.  1. Apply anti-slip tape (like sandpaper, mine is yellow) to the top of the trailer rails anywhere that you might step.  2.  Make some properly sized 3/4 treated plywood boards to provide wide steps on the side and the tongue of the trailer.  They really make a difference both in getting to the winch and operating it.  When designing the steps be sure they will not interfere with the folded front tongue support.