"One Man Shows" at the Launch Ramp...Share your Tips and Techniques??

[scoutabout]

Re: "One Man Shows" at the Launch Ramp...Share your Tips and Techniques??

Great suggestions. I love reading about other people's systems. Mine is pretty much covered above in one way or another and I too (when I had an I/O) backed it down with the bilge blower already running.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned is a boat hook. I find them really handy. Before I back down the ramp, I extend mine, lie it on top of the car hooked to the roof rack for easy grabbing when I push the boat off the trailer. Once the boat floats off I take the bow line in one hand and then grab the stern swim platform ladder with the hook. That gives me the control to pull AND push the boat as I walk it down the dock. It has also come in handy at wide ramps where two people are launching at the same time. Once in a while you look up to see some guy's boat getting away from him as it leaves the trailer, heading for your gelcoat. I've also used it to push my boat away from the dock in order to go around the knob who has done no prep work and sits tied up right at the ramp while he fiddles with stuff.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: "One Man Shows" at the Launch Ramp...Share your Tips and Techniqu

Re: "One Man Shows" at the Launch Ramp...Share your Tips and Techniqu

Back down so that trailer is in the water and vehicle is on the dry. <br />Hook prepared length of rope with loop-spliced eyes at both ends to trailer, lower trailer bogey wheel and unhook trailer. Hook other end of rope to ballhitch and guide trailer into deeper water.<br /><br />Recovery is the reverse. I drive onto the trailer, pull it out of the water on the towrope and rehitch on the flat. The vehicle never gets wet, and neither do I.<br /><br />

I am curious as to why the need to unhitch the trailer in order to launch the boat? The ramp users in these parts would not be to happy with this proceedure being used by anyone.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: "One Man Shows" at the Launch Ramp...Share your Tips and Techniques??

If you have roller bunks versus carpeted bunks, do not unhook the bow winch until the boat floats!.

 

[SuperNova]

Re: "One Man Shows" at the Launch Ramp...Share your Tips and Techniques??

I wholeheartedly agree with both your statements jeeperman. Around here it'd be a race to who flogs you first- the other boaters or the DNR policeman who watches over the ramp. We have a 30 ft wide ramp that is 3 lanes- means you are launching next to or in between other people who are also launching or retrieving so life gets real interesting when there is a good wind. But I launch a 30 ft speed boat all by myself without too much trouble. Practice makes perfect and preparation is key.

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: "One Man Shows" at the Launch Ramp...Share your Tips and Techniques??

Okay, I am a total newbie, and after reading this thread I have a question based on what jeeperman said about having rolling bunks vs carpeted bunks and unhooking the winch from the bow...

So people with carpeted bunks unhook it before backing down the ramp? Is this safe?

 

[kjdunne]

Re: "One Man Shows" at the Launch Ramp...Share your Tips and Techniques??

RE; roller vs. carpeted bunks'

As most have stated, always have your bow line tied to the trailer. Many boats on roller trailers have rolled off the trailer on the ramp's incline before reaching the water, hence, keep the winch strap on until in the water. Boats on carpeted bunks don't tend to slide as easily. I have carpet bunks and loosen the winch 3 - 4 ft. which won't allow the boat to slide off the trailer if it does decide to go.

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: "One Man Shows" at the Launch Ramp...Share your Tips and Techniques??

So, should I try unhooking the winch completly and using a rope on the bow cleat that is tied to the wingh POST? Is that what everyone is refering to?

 

[kjdunne]

Re: "One Man Shows" at the Launch Ramp...Share your Tips and Techniques??

The bow line tied to the trailer should have enough slack to allow the boat to float free of the trailer. It's tied to the trailer so you can get to it and guide the boat to the dock. You'll see people who forget to have a line between the boat and trailler. They end up swimming to their boat.

If I had a roller trailer, I would heep the winch line snug until the boat was in the water to prevent premature roll-off.

I loosen the strap on my bunk trailer because I know my boat won't slide off.

 

[fishingdan]

Re: "One Man Shows" at the Launch Ramp...Share your Tips and Techniques??

For a bunk style trailer, you can try this depending on the depth of the ramp. This is what I used to do when I had a bunk trailer.

- attach a rope (probably in the 50' range) to a forward cleat
- attach the other end of the rope to the winch stand on the trailer
- coil up the rope nicely on the bow of the boat (you want it to pull off of there in a tangle free manner)
- unhook the boat from the winch strap
- back down the ramp far enough for the boat to float off the trailer
- pull the trailer out of the water enough for me to walk (dry ground) around and take the rope off the winch stand. Then walk the rope to the dock and ties off the boat. If no dock, pull the boat to the side and beach it.
- return to the vehicle and park it

It goes very quickly.

My current boat and previous boat had good roller trailers and I obviously had to change the procedure.

- I don't unhook the boat from the winch strap until the vehicle is down the ramp and the trailer is sufficiently in the water (I don't go down as far as I did with a bunk trailer)
- I still use the attached rope on the bow to assist with the unloading. I prefer to not get wet in my older age. I will take the rope and wrap it around the winch stand leaving sufficient length to allow me to almost float the boat when I release the winch. Once the boat is being held by the rope, I can then release the winch strap from the boat (it is slack now). I then use the rope (currently tight between the boat and the winch stand) to release the boat by releasing tension on the wrap around the winch stand.

Putting the boat on the trailer is the opposite. The only difference for me is:

- Always pull sufficient winch strap off the winch prior to going down the ramp
- I don't put the trailer as deep. This allows the trailer to keep the boat aligned as you winch it up.

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: "One Man Shows" at the Launch Ramp...Share your Tips and Techniques??

so if I am launching with the help of someone else, would it be okay to completly unhook the winch, tie a line to the bow cleat and rear most cleat and have someone hold the lines while walking along next to the boat and up onto the dock? Is this a common practice? Right now I have to get out of the truck and undo the winch from the boat, push it off the trailer, get back in the truck and pull out.

 

[45Auto]

Re: "One Man Shows" at the Launch Ramp...Share your Tips and Techniques??

I also give my winch strap a foot or two of slack (bunk trailer) before backing into the water. On both my boats I've noticed that if I don't then it puts a big load on the strap and the boat eye ring as the back of the boat floats up, and the front is forced to pivot on the bow roller if the strap is tight thus pulling on the strap and boat eye ring. The effect is worse on steeper ramps.

I have no problem launching my 5000 lb 22' I/O by myself:

- Get set up before approaching ramp (dock lines, stern straps, fenders, plug, coolers, blower, etc).

- Loosen front strap as discussed above.

- Back in til boat barely moves (back floats free) on trailer. Front of boat is still supported by bunks. In my case front trailer fenders barely above water is perfect in most cases.

- Step on trailer tongue then into front of boat, unhooking bow strap on the way.

- Crank boat and idle back off trailer.

- Tie boat to dock.

- Move truck/trailer to parking area.

Only difference if I have someone with me is they pull the truck/trailer away as soon as I back the boat off it.

Loading is pretty much the reverse sequence. I idle the boat onto the trailer and it will stop on the bunks about a foot short of the front bow roller. I step onto the tongue and winch it the last foot with the winch.

Takes about 3 minutes on the ramp (not counting prep time off the ramp) each way.

 

[Dakota47]

Re: "One Man Shows" at the Launch Ramp...Share your Tips and Techniques??

Andy, if you have a roller style trailer do NOT unhook winch strap until boat is floating..

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: "One Man Shows" at the Launch Ramp...Share your Tips and Techniques??

There are variations of the same system. In general, keep your boat hooked up to the winch until your trailer wheels are at least in the water. If you plan to tie a bow rope to your trailer, do so before you even begin backing down the ramp. Once your trailer wheels are at least in the water, and you feel confident that your boat would land in water if it suddenly rolled off the trailer, you can unhook the winch strap. Climb back in your vehicle and back the boat in the rest of the way.

Some people with bunks might disconnect the winch strap even before backing down the ramp, but it does increase the risk of dropping your boat. It doesn't add more than 20 seconds to your launch to back down, then unhook the winch strap, hop back in and push the boat into the water.

My con argument against having 1-2 feet of slack in the winch strap is that your boat can still start to roll off of the trailer. If a boat starts to roll off and then runs out of slack, it'll really jolt your vehicle, put a lot of stress on your bow eye and strap, and possibly pull the winch off of the trailer. Most winches are held on by a couple of bolts that could fail when a 2,000 pound boat gives a sharp yank.

 

[Knot Waiting]

Re: "One Man Shows" at the Launch Ramp...Share your Tips and Techniques??

Okay, I am a total newbie, and after reading this thread I have a question based on what jeeperman said about having rolling bunks vs carpeted bunks and unhooking the winch from the bow...

So people with carpeted bunks unhook it before backing down the ramp? Is this safe?

Well... Safe is a relative term there, I'd call it a technique if anything. Because the bunks create alot of dry friction on the hull the boat tends to stick to the trailer at most launch inclines. Only works launhing (dry) not pulling out.

I have a roller trailer so cannot attempt this daredevil luxury, less I want to push my boat in the rest of the way after it rolls off the trailer prematurely.

 

[mikey.himself]

Re: "One Man Shows" at the Launch Ramp...Share your Tips and Techniques??

i see some people COMPLETELY free the boat before its TOUCHING the water and ive seen a boat slide RIGHT off and the keel slam on the rear bar on the trailer very unswift.... it's lazyness, if your too wussy to get your feet wet then get someone else to.....Oh! Also, people standing on their trailer tongues....seen that get ugly in a hurry trying to avoid water... talk about a painful wipeout! Lastly is the slipperyness... MAKE SURE YOUR READY TO HANG ON WHEN YOUR FOOT SLIPS ON THE ALGAE!!

 

[NW Redneck]

Re: "One Man Shows" at the Launch Ramp...Share your Tips and Techniques??

My .02: Start the boat AT HOME on the hose before you head to the ramp. Lets you catch any gremlins before you're in front of an audience. Better to find out your battery is dead or you have a bad connection while still in the driveway and have all your tools etc available. I like to let mine come up to operating temp (I/O) while in the drive, that way there's no warm-up time needed at the ramp. (My ramp is <5min away )

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: "One Man Shows" at the Launch Ramp...Share your Tips and Techniques??

here is a lot more discussion http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=220968&highlight=launching+alone

 

[dingbat]

Re: "One Man Shows" at the Launch Ramp...Share your Tips and Techniques??

Here is how I do it with a #5800 boat.

While in the staging area I tie a line to rear cheat and one to bow. I then wrap the bow line around the winch post 4 times.

When the time comes I back trailer down into the water until rear of boat touches the water, slack up winch cable (electric winch) until bow rope is tight then remove winch cable.

I then slowly unwrap the bow line from around winch post and allow the boat to roll off the trailer and into the water. I then tie off the lines and go park the truck. Total time maybe 2 minutes tops.

To retrieve, back the trailer in the water until just the top of the fender is sticking out of the water. Put the winch in neutral and walk the winch cable down the tongue of the trailer and connect it to the boat. Walk back to winch and throw the switch. Roughly 60 seconds later the boat is on the trailer and I'm ready to move to the staging area to tidy things up for the ride home.

 

[dave11]

Re: "One Man Shows" at the Launch Ramp...Share your Tips and Techniques??

I do it pretty much the same way 45auto does. I never disconnect the strap before the boat is in the water. I get it mostly floating, then shove it backward and hop on the bow. My boat is obviously lighter than his. I let it float to the dock, with a little help, tie it off, park the truck. It takes me longer to walk back to the boat than all the rest of it.

 

[INJUN]

Re: "One Man Shows" at the Launch Ramp...Share your Tips and Techniques??

Ditto to all above replies, except dingbat, he's in another class.

Only one thing differs in my approach (unless I missed it), instead of tying to the bow ring, I use the bow cleat and leave the coiled line on the bow deck to unwind once afloat. The other end is, of course, tied to the trailer.