How do you launch your boat with one person?

[Psycho_Fish'r]

I recently purchased a used 16' boat. In the past, I usually have a friend drive the boat to the dock while I park the truck and trailer.

This weekend, I may just go with my 9 year old daughter, so what is your process of launching a boat by yourself?

 

[scipper77]

Re: How do you launch your boat with one person?

Prep as usual (fenders, remove transom straps, "PUT IN PLUG". Have a line attached at the bow and the stern.

Back the boat in till she floats, remove safety strap at bow, use ropes to move her off to the side and tie the boat off. (If there is a courtesy dock you can tie her off there so you are not holding up the launch line). Now go park the truck/trailer. Come back and go boating. As long as the boat starts your good to go.

 

[Triton II]

Re: How do you launch your boat with one person?

This thread has heaps of useful posts on this subject...

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=220968

TII

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: How do you launch your boat with one person?

yup same as always.... back in.... unhook boat and back it off the trailer.... tie it up and park the truck

 

[sublauxation]

Re: How do you launch your boat with one person?

If it's a busy ramp and you leave your daughter in the vehicle make sure to leave the windows down and no seat belt. I guy here last year had his kids in the truck and it somehow rolled in. He was able to open the back window and get them out pretty easily, but never hurts to be prepared.

 

[pecheux]

Re: How do you launch your boat with one person?

Pretty close to what Scipper77 mentioned. I launch my small 14" boat (avatar) the same way as I did when I owned a 20 footer of the same model. Take off all tied downs, raise motor (outboard) and tie a 15 feet cable from the boat to the trailer. Back up until it floats then move the car forward (the boat follows) until the boat touches shore. Untie the cable from the trailer pull boat by hand on the shore and go park the car & trailer, the boat sits there waiting. Push off and go. Been doing this for years all by myself.
Good luck & cheers.

 

[444]

Re: How do you launch your boat with one person?

If the water is very choppy it can be quite lousy to launch by yourself. But they're right, the only way is to launch it, tie it to the dock and park the truck.

 

[Sixmark]

Re: How do you launch your boat with one person?

Where I launch there is a courtesy dock, however it's usually full. There are also two ramps, one is a man made and one is a natural gavel/sand. I just use the natural ramp, back in and tie my anchor rope to the bow. I heave my drag anchor about 20 ft down the shoreline, shove the boat off the trailer and via the anchor rope pull her down the shore and beach it.

Go back and park the tow rig, jump back in the boat and I'm off.

 

[barbosam]

Re: How do you launch your boat with one person?

The way I do it is to tie a rope to the stern cleat as well as a foward cleat. Then back down the ramp staying as close to the dock as possible. When I get in far enough, before unhooking the winch, I will tie the two dock lines to the dock (leaving slack). Then I go back to the winch and release the boat. Now the boat can float without going to far while I get back on the dock and tighten up the lines or move the boat to a "courtesy area" and tie it off there. Now I can go park the truck.

There's a hundred ways to skin this cat, the first time can be a little nerve wrecking but do it enough times and you'll be doing it blindfolded with one hand tied behind your back.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: How do you launch your boat with one person?

I'm 56 yr. old and a tongue walker.

I do all the usual stuff in the prelaunch area, I do not unhook the winch stap or safety cable.

I back the boat down the ramp (17' deep V tinny) 'til she just starts to float, put the truck in Park and apply the parking brake. Hop out of the truck, up onto the back tire and into the bed, step over the tailgate and onto the trailer tongue. Unhook the winch strap and safety cable and giv'er a push, hop on the bow and use the trolling motor to get to the dock. Tie her up and go move the truck.

I can launch in less than half the time it takes someone to fiddle fart around with a bow line and walking the boat to the dock or beach. I guess when I get old and decrepit I'll use a bow line... 'til then, I'm a tongue walker.

 

[DonHof]

Re: How do you launch your boat with one person?

I pull into the get ready area, do every thing I need to get done. Back the boat into the water, unhook the wench from the boat. Pull the boat off with a rope on the front. Tie it to the dock, then pull out and park. Oh I'm (65) and this is my sceond year with a boat, I can get it done faster then most young people.

 

[eclark53520]

Re: How do you launch your boat with one person?

I do everything in the prep area as normal...

Then i tie my bowline to one of the tiedown's in my truck bed leaving lots of slack and the tag end over the side of the bed.

back the boat in the water till it floats, get out, pull the tag end of the slip knot, and tie off the boat to the dock.

Park the truck, go boating. Quick, simple, easy, and i don't have to get wet to unhook the winch strap

 

[Sixmark]

Re: How do you launch your boat with one person?

I'm 56 yr. old and a tongue walker.

I do all the usual stuff in the prelaunch area, I do not unhook the winch stap or safety cable.

I back the boat down the ramp (17' deep V tinny) 'til she just starts to float, put the truck in Park and apply the parking brake. Hop out of the truck, up onto the back tire and into the bed, step over the tailgate and onto the trailer tongue. Unhook the winch strap and safety cable and giv'er a push, hop on the bow and use the trolling motor to get to the dock. Tie her up and go move the truck.

I can launch in less than half the time it takes someone to fiddle fart around with a bow line and walking the boat to the dock or beach. I guess when I get old and decrepit I'll use a bow line... 'til then, I'm a tongue walker.

If I wanted to wait for 2 hours in line to launch my boat and if I had a trolling motor I would do the same thing, it depends on where you are and what is available, and to touch on another subject that wasn't brought up by you......

I love the people who look ay "not getting wet" as a sign of triumph when launching their boat, only to see them drive it out 300 yards, drop anchor and then jump in the water.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: How do you launch your boat with one person?

If water's rough, you'd best drive it off the trailer. Hopefully your ramp has a dock beside it to tie up to. If the water's smooth, I push it off the trailer with a long, long ski rope tied to the nose--and tie it off to the pier.

Then, I drive the tow truck/trailer up to the parking lot.

If the ramp is busy, I'm sorry. I'm going to protect my boat, my truck and my trailer. The guys in line can just wait.

 

[Fed up]

Re: How do you launch your boat with one person?

I'm 56 yr. old and a tongue walker.

I do all the usual stuff in the prelaunch area, I do not unhook the winch stap or safety cable.

I back the boat down the ramp (17' deep V tinny) 'til she just starts to float, put the truck in Park and apply the parking brake. Hop out of the truck, up onto the back tire and into the bed, step over the tailgate and onto the trailer tongue. Unhook the winch strap and safety cable and giv'er a push, hop on the bow and use the trolling motor to get to the dock. Tie her up and go move the truck.

I can launch in less than half the time it takes someone to fiddle fart around with a bow line and walking the boat to the dock or beach. I guess when I get old and decrepit I'll use a bow line... 'til then, I'm a tongue walker.

I am glad to see that I am not the only one to use the trolling motor to get off of the loading ramp, been doing it for years.

 

[royal0014]

Re: How do you launch your boat with one person?

I do mine a little different than most, simply because my Johnny is 45 years old And yes, I'm a tongue-walker.....

I normally go on a weekday, and early, so no crowd, usually.Load the boat and prep before getting on the ramp. Leave the bowstrap on, and back in 'till she floats. Tire-bed-tongue-boat. I crank my old Johnny, make sure she'll run. Once it's warm enough to idle, I unhook the bowstrap, push off and idle over to the courtesy dock and tie off. Leave the motor running and go park the truck-trailer. When I get back to the boat, 'Ol Nelly is warm and ready to go. And usually has cleared out a half-acre or so of skeeters

When I come back in from a slightly frustrating morning of not catching chit....

Tie off to the dock and go get the truck-trailer backed in. Go get boat and put on trailer. Once I'm kinda lined up with the trailer, I reach around and unplug the fuel line, leave 'er runnin' and go to front of boat. Step out on tongue and get the boat lined up on trailer (tri-hull on bunks: gotta love it ) and winch it up. By then the motor has died, so tongue-bed-ground and pull out. Remember to turn the key off as you go around strapping everything back down.

Might take a little longer than most, but I go early morning weekdays, so most of the time I'm the only one there. If not, I'll wait....


<<)))(((>>

 

[nbaffaro]

Re: How do you launch your boat with one person?

Putting in is the easy part, getting the boat back out it more of the problem. I have had the luxury of having drive on trailer. On the way back in I will tie off to the dock or beach the boat if there is no dock. Go back and get the truck and trailer. Drive the boat on the trailer. Then this is always the interesting part. I usually always have to pull the boat up the last foot or two. This isn't a problem when the water is nice and warm or we have been skiing. But on a cold fishing trip no one wants to get wet. So i get out and get on the toungue and do my best to get the boat pulled up to the eye bumper. Then it is over into the bed of the truck and then on to the tire then to dry ground.

 

[45Auto]

Re: How do you launch your boat with one person?

I pull into the get ready area, do every thing I need to get done. Back the boat into the water, unhook the wench from the boat.

How exactly do you keep your boat wench hooked to the boat? Does she wear a one-piece or a bikini? I haven't been able to find one yet that will stay hooked to the boat until I need her ......

Best I can do if I'm lucky is to get the boat wench to operate the boat winch every once in a while.

 

[fishinandbeer]

Re: How do you launch your boat with one person?

Trying to say this the best way I can without making people mad. If your by yourself and you are on the launch ramp more than 2 minutes (loading or unloading) you are doing something wrong. If you have two people a minute is too long.

 

[sw33ttooth]

Re: How do you launch your boat with one person?

how to unload by yourself

1. undo stern straps and safty chain.
2. LEAVING BOW WINCH attached!
3. PUT YOUR PLUG IN!!!!
4. back into water aprox. 6inches-1foot away from dock side.
5. back it in just till transome floats maybe a little further depending on hull and launch.
6. add rope to front cleat and to rear cleat.
7. undo front winch, WHILE HANGING ON TO THE BOW ROPE.
8. push/pull boat off trailer about 1 foot or so tie boat to dock.
9. CAREFULLY PULL TRAILER OUT, SLOWLY! if boat still rests on trailer back trailer in and repeat 2-3 times till it comes off[eventually you will have the space perfect after you've done it a few times].
10. start boat[let it warm up]
11. undo bow rope from dock and cleat then undo the back rope and back out.
12. have fun!

how to load by yourself

1. pull up to dock preferably let the current push your boat into the dock so your not fighting it.
2. add bow and stern ropes from cleats to dock[ make sure its far enough back[aprox. how far back you had it tied off when you unloaded it].
3. back trailer into water.
4. carefully undo bow/stern ropes pull boat on trailer[i powerload].
5. secure boat from bow eye by means of your winch.
6. pull out of water [out of the way of traffic so you dont get yelled at or beaten by a mob of angry civilans].
7. add stern straps pull plug secure boat further for trailering.
8. drive home and deal with spouse and/or kids.

i do my 23foot sundowner by my self in 2-3 minuites after its been prep'd back in tie off pull out just make sure you use more then 1 rope from boat to dock side or your boat will fly around and really anger other people.