Solo launching Jon Boat with no ramp and a small drop off and sand...Would this work?

[E-H]

Starting to prep for the late Spring/Summer...

 

So I go to a private lake with no ramp.  I can back my AWD SUV but it has a couple foot drop off near the water and there is a fake beach there.

 

One year I backed up too far to retrieve my boat and got a bit stuck.  Moving forward I have been just stopping 6 or 7 feet short and rolling my unattached trailer into the water and pulling it back up empty myself.  Not too bad.

 

Retrieving though has been the challenge.  I have been dragging the boat up on the beach, attaching a rope from the boat to the trailer and dragging them both up with my SUV until I get it to a flat spot.

 

2 problems - I don't want to drag my boat on land anymore and I still have to lift it up on my trailer.  It has a custom mod on the front so it's kind of heavy to do so.

 

Been looking at extensions of 6 ft for the trailer but I don't think that would work too well because of the drop off.  Or could that work?  Worried the weight of the boat on an extension that long might cause too much stress on the ball/hitch.

 

Then a light bulb went on....

 

Couldn't I just get the boat on the trailer in the water then attach an 8 to 10 ft strap from the trailer to my hitch (where I put the pin in) and pull them both up that way?  I only need to go up about 15 feet to get on a flat spot.

 

Anyone else do this successfully?  Any issues with it?  I realize the trailer front wheel could get stuck or possibly bend?  I would go slow so I think it would straighten itself out.

 

I have a 1542 Tracker Jon boat and it's about 200 lbs with the front mod for the bow mount trolling motor.  I remove the casting deck and empty the boat before retrieval.

 

Appreciate any input.  It takes me about 30 minutes or so to do the retrieval manually and it's not fun on the back.

 

 

[A-Jay]

Attempting to tow your boat on the trailer in any manner other than it was designed,

will at some point damage something.

My guess, the first thing to go would be your trailer jack/wheel.

It's not meant for all terrain nor that type of stress; I'd not recommend it.

 

That said, I can feel you pain.

I fish from a Rigged out canoe that I trailer.

There are many places I can launch & recover easily

and some places I just have to pass on.

This sounds like of of those.

You could always get a kayak.

Good Luck

A-Jay

 

 

 

[Catt]

When the trailer tires are close to the dropoff is your boat even slightly floating!

 

The the old days we launched & loaded the old fashioned way of getting our feet wet. Shove it off by hand & wrench it up on the trailer.

[Deleted account]

Would have to see the exact layout to recommend best COA, but sounds like just getting the bow on the trailer and winch it in might work. Ah to be young again, I used to back up the Cherokee with a 12' car topper on the roof at a similar spot, tree lined no less, and take it down without touching the Jeep at all by my self (chicks dig it). Now I probably couldn't get it in and out of a truck bed.

[BigAngus752]

Your boat is light and you are making it lighter before you drag it.  I would fashion a keel guard first.  Gorilla tape (not duct tape) would last for several (or more) launches/retrievals if you cleaned the aluminum well first.  Leave your trailer attached and pick up one of these:

 

https://www.harborfreight.com/2000-lb-marine-electric-winch-61237.html

 

Unless the ground is very rocky I think it would take a lot of retrievals to damage your aluminum if you put something on to protect it.  

 

Plan B:  get something you can put on the ground instead of on your keel.  Maybe a kids Slip N Slide?

 

 

 

[E-H]

2 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Attempting to tow your boat on the trailer in any manner other than it was designed,

will at some point damage something.

My guess, the first thing to go would be your trailer jack/wheel.

It's not meant for all terrain nor that type of stress; I'd not recommend it.

 

That said, I can feel you pain.

I fish from a Rigged out canoe that I trailer.

There are many places I can launch & recover easily

and some places I just have to pass on.

This sounds like of of those.

You could always get a kayak.

Good Luck

A-Jay

 

 

 

A-Jay - Thanks for the reply.  Unfortunately this is the only place I go with my boat and it's family owned.  About a mile long and only has smallmouth.  Not too unusual to pick up about 100 in a full day of fishing over the summer.  Mostly small ones but still incredibly fun.  A few 3 to 4 lbers in there too.

 

We are talking only about a 8' where it would be safe to have my SUV wheels on solid ground.  Maybe attach a 2 wheel dolly to the trailer and not use the jack wheel for the short pull using a winch strap in between my car and the trailer?  It's a not deep sand - might sink 3 or 4 inches.

 

 

2 hours ago, Catt said:

When the trailer tires are close to the dropoff is your boat even slightly floating!

 

The the old days we launched & loaded the old fashioned way of getting our feet wet. Shove it off by hand & wrench it up on the trailer.

The trailer is about 8ft from the water where the car is safe to pull.  The problem is there is about a foot or so incline coming back out a few feet from the sand - not real even.   I could dig at it to make more even I suppose but still wouldn't be comfortable getting my vehicle that close to the sand.

[E-H]

19 minutes ago, BigAngus752 said:

Your boat is light and you are making it lighter before you drag it.  I would fashion a keel guard first.  Gorilla tape (not duct tape) would last for several (or more) launches/retrievals if you cleaned the aluminum well first.  Leave your trailer attached and pick up one of these:

 

https://www.harborfreight.com/2000-lb-marine-electric-winch-61237.html

 

Unless the ground is very rocky I think it would take a lot of retrievals to damage your aluminum if you put something on to protect it.  

 

Plan B:  get something you can put on the ground instead of on your keel.  Maybe a kids Slip N Slide?

 

 

 

Thanks.  Not bad for an electric winch price wise.  I definitely don't want to drag it over land anymore.

 

I am thinking of putting the separated trailer in the water and get my boat on it.  Then pull the trailer with the boat up the 8 ft area somehow until I can attach it to my vehicle.  Possibly using that electronic winch so my car isn't involved at all and use dolly wheels (2 larger/wide ones) instead of the the trailer jack wheel.  The trailer and the boat probably weigh 350 lbs total.  That might make getting it through the sand easier for either me or the electronic winch.

 

I want it to be a simple process just to avoid the manually lifting of the boat on the trailer and not drag it up over sand/dirt.  I do this about 6 or 7 times a summer.

[GaryH]

First attach the electric winch to your trailer then go to a junk yard and get a used 8’ bed liner. Attach the liner to the back of the trailer. You should be able to drive your boat right up on the the liner then attach the winch line and pull it up onto the trailer no car or boat damage.

That’s a pick up truck bed liner

[E-H]

11 minutes ago, GaryH said:

First attach the electric winch to your trailer then go to a junk yard and get a used 8’ bed liner. Attach the liner to the back of the trailer. You should be able to drive your boat right up on the the liner then attach the winch line and pull it up onto the trailer no car or boat damage.

That’s a pick up truck bed liner

Thanks.  Interesting idea.  Not sure if I want to attach/detach a bed liner on my trailer though.

 

Looking at a manual dolly with a ball - under $100.  I might be able to just pull the boat and trailer up with that since it has 2 good split wheels and has a long handle in the front for leverage.  I could use a strap or 2 on the handles and attach/hook the other end to my hitch and pull up about 10 ft.  And/Or get an electronic hitch that was mentioned if I can't get that to work.

 

Dolly I am looking into.

 

https://www.amazon.com/MaxxHaul-70225-Pneumatic-Tires-600-Capacity/dp/B008CE0TN4

[Jmilburn76]

I think your best bet is an electric winch, if you don't want to drag the boat across land due to damaging it you can DIY some keel guards fairly easy out of Kydex.

[GreenPig]

 I'd suggest looking at some roll up traction mats so you can let you vehicle handle all the lifting and pulling and hopefully prevent injury to you.

[flyfisher]

If this is family owned and the only place, why not just leave it there and lock it up after each use?  Seems like that would be the easiest thing to do.

[WRB]

My 14’ Lund with 15 hp OB, battery, trolling motor 5 gallon gas etc weighed 2X that your Jon boat does. 

The key for me when launching without a ramp or road was finding a bank similar to what you describe, back up until the trailer wheels were at the water edge. My Shore Line trailer had a tilt release pin allowing the boat to left up, then simply pushed the tilted up boat off the trailer with a rope attached to the trailer. Push the tilted half of the trailer back down and pin, drive away until the boat bow pulled up onto the bank. 

To retrieve the boat back the trailer back down to where it was launched, pull out the wench strap and wind the boat up onto the tilted trailer, lock tilt pin and done.

Be careful where you back down to avoid soft ground and get stuck.

The key is the tilt trailer.

Tom

[BigAngus752]

Maybe this would be useful?  Hard to say not knowing the surface.  

 

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/tow-tuff-adjustable-trailer-dolly-with-caster-1229945?cid=Shopping-Google-Organic_Feed-Product-1229945

 

 

 

[MN Fisher]

4 hours ago, E-H said:

Thanks.  Interesting idea.  Not sure if I want to attach/detach a bed liner on my trailer though.

 

Looking at a manual dolly with a ball - under $100.  I might be able to just pull the boat and trailer up with that since it has 2 good split wheels and has a long handle in the front for leverage.  I could use a strap or 2 on the handles and attach/hook the other end to my hitch and pull up about 10 ft.  And/Or get an electronic hitch that was mentioned if I can't get that to work.

 

Dolly I am looking into.

 

https://www.amazon.com/MaxxHaul-70225-Pneumatic-Tires-600-Capacity/dp/B008CE0TN4

I got that one for the canoe - and have used it moving the F-9 around...pretty good little unit for the money.

 

18 minutes ago, BigAngus752 said:

Maybe this would be useful?  Hard to say not knowing the surface.  

 

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/tow-tuff-adjustable-trailer-dolly-with-caster-1229945?cid=Shopping-Google-Organic_Feed-Product-1229945

$50 less on Amazon for the same one.

https://www.amazon.com/Tow-Tuff-Adjustable-Trailer-Caster/dp/B00IAM1UEU/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=trailer%2Bdolly&qid=1647196553&sr=8-7&th=1

[Bolar]

So if I understand right, you have the boat/trailer in water, 15ft. of space/sand, then your SUV?  You could get a tow strap an pull the trailer up 15ft., chock the trailer wheels, hook up and go.

 

The only problem is the jack being pulled through the sand.  I would suggest a ski of some sort that would be wide enough to slide over the sand instead of through it.  Maybe an old sled.  If this works then try a winch. 

 

 

[E-H]

Lots of great ideas.  I think I am going to go with this dolly.

 

https://www.amazon.com/MaxxHaul-70225-Pneumatic-Tires-600-Capacity/dp/B008CE0TN4

 

It's under $100 and will serve a few purposes.  Launching the boat was never a problem.  I detach the trailer and walk the boat down and can easily pull the empty trailer up the hill/sand.

 

Multi-solution with the dolly:

 

1.  I should be able to retrieve the boat on the dolly with any kind of leverage - if not I will just strap (or 2 straps on the handles) to the dolly, then to my hitch (using an S clip to my hitch in the hole) and just drive 10ft straight ahead.

 

2.  I store the front deck made of heavy aluminum in a small cabin that is about 50 to 75' away.  I can use the dolly to take it over there and put the boat together and then launch.  I may be able to do that on the retrieve too, depending on that weight and how well the dolly works.  I may have to take those pieces out before retrieval.  Anyway it will save me carrying them when launching for sure.

 

3.  I lock the boat up in the woods down a path until I return every week or so in the summer.   It will be much easier to maneuver to/from back there to lock it/retrieve it.  No car involved at all.

 

Appreciate all the input as always.  I started with a trailer extension but this dolly with the ball on it and the nice big, wide wheels should do the trick.  Easy, inexpensive and quick solution.  I can even leave the dolly up there in the cabin so I don't have to haul it but 2 times - Spring and early Fall.

 

[Dogface]

The property is privately owned by family or a family member, correct?

 

Ask or get permission to knock the bank down with a tractor or dozer and make a ramp. Then dump gravel on your new ramp.  Problem solved!

[king fisher]

Use a rope attached to your vehicle and drag boat to level ground.  Back trailer to boat. Take trailer off of hitch. Crank trailer under boat. Front of boat and trailer will come off of ground about head high. Let it go up.this is not a problem.  Once boat is completely on trailer.
   Lower the front and place back on hitch.      
     I did this hundreds of times with a 16 foot Lowe john boat full of decoys for many years duck hunting in Alberta with minimal damage to my boat and back.  Many places I would hunt would look to be impossible to launch a boat but if there were ducks and geese I would find a way     
     

[E-H]

2 hours ago, Dogface said:

The property is privately owned by family or a family member, correct?

 

Ask or get permission to knock the bank down with a tractor or dozer and make a ramp. Then dump gravel on your new ramp.  Problem solved!

Yep - I am part owner.  It's a beach area for the kids, so unfortunately can't do it.  The dolly should do it.  It's not far to pull it up to a flat area.  No other good spots and there is a small dock there too.

2 hours ago, king fisher said:

Use a rope attached to your vehicle and drag boat to level ground.  Back trailer to boat. Take trailer off of hitch. Crank trailer under boat. Front of boat and trailer will come off of ground about head high. Let it go up.this is not a problem.  Once boat is completely on trailer.
   Lower the front and place back on hitch.      
     I did this hundreds of times with a 16 foot Lowe john boat full of decoys for many years duck hunting in Alberta with minimal damage to my boat and back.  Many places I would hunt would look to be impossible to launch a boat but if there were ducks and geese I would find a way     
     

Thanks.  Similar to what I am doing already - but dragging both up with the boat not on the trailer because it's a weird slope I don't want the car near the drop off/beach part.   Dolly should do the trick.  Thanks.

[slonezp]

 

[MN Fisher]

3 minutes ago, slonezp said:

Watched this the last time you posted it, Paul.

 

I'd like to see the vid where he gets it back on the trailer there.

[TnRiver46]

14 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Watched this the last time you posted it, Paul.

 

I'd like to see the vid where he gets it back on the trailer there.

Hahah! I imagine a small pile of fiberglass splinters, lucky for them the drifter only goes downstream 

 

 

To the OP, I would recommend this if it’s an option 

Got this for a little over 300 dollars in 2008. It’s been all over the map , starts up every time you turn the key 

 

for some reason I think i heard it was 53 lbs empty, not much more than sack of dog food . Easy to put on any vehicle. I recently took it to the bassmaster classic , they wouldn’t let me enter tho…… haha

[E-H]

22 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Hahah! I imagine a small pile of fiberglass splinters, lucky for them the drifter only goes downstream 

 

 

To the OP, I would recommend this if it’s an option 

Got this for a little over 300 dollars in 2008. It’s been all over the map , starts up every time you turn the key 

 

for some reason I think i heard it was 53 lbs empty, not much more than sack of dog food . Easy to put on any vehicle. I recently took it to the bassmaster classic , they wouldn’t let me enter tho…… haha

I have quite a bit invested in my 1542 - with a terrova bow mount motor and casting deck.  I would definitely not do well in a canoe and I am getting a little older now.  I have dealt with the issue of retrieval for a couple of years now and think I have the solution.

 

Just ordered a dolly at harbor freight for $76 total with shipping.  I am going to give that a shot and if it doesn't work well enough just strap the handle of that to my car hitch and pull 8 ft or so forward.  This should do the trick.

 

https://www.harborfreight.com/600-lb-trailer-dolly-60533.html

[king fisher]

47 minutes ago, E-H said:

Yep - I am part owner.  It's a beach area for the kids, so unfortunately can't do it.  The dolly should do it.  It's not far to pull it up to a flat area.  No other good spots and there is a small dock there too.

Thanks.  Similar to what I am doing already - but dragging both up with the boat not on the trailer because it's a weird slope I don't want the car near the drop off/beach part.   Dolly should do the trick.  Thanks.

Use a long rope to drag the boat. No need to get the car close. Don’t lift boat on trailer, instead use your hand winch with a long strap like normal. When you crank the handle the trailer pulls under the boat and wheelies straight in the air. As you keep cranking the boat and trailer come back down. Then hook the trailer back up and drive off. I wish I had pictures. This method worked for me many times in all kinds of crazy places. I even launched my boat off of a bridge embankment and retrieved it this way.