Solo Boating

[AZBoatDreamer]

I know this has been discussed hundreds of time.

My wife and kids are visiting family for 3 weeks. I cannot stand not going boating for 3 weeks. I want to go solo Boating.

Scared to try this yes. I have been a boat owner for a short time See Sig.

Should I just wait until my family returns and go boating then.

Or should I just sit in my boat in the Driveway and pretend that Im out at the lake. I could run the boat on the muffs for a few minutes to make it realistic.

Tips for solo Launching and retrieving please.

Thanks.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: Solo Boating

No fear, I boated in november with a snowmobile suit, life jacket, and a ski mask. Of course I was the only one out there in 38 degree air.

It is very easy. You unhook straps, get boat ready, and when backing in, back real close to the dock so you can reach the boat. Get on and make your way to the bow. From there, get onto the trailer and unhook, get back in, fire it up and reverse off the trailer very gently and tie up. Park vehicle.

To load, motor in, tie up. Back trailer in very close to the dock leaving 1/4 of the trailer length of cable out. Manually float boat onto trailer and then get up on the bow, and make your way onto the trailer to crank it up. Or you can power load if you do it gentle.

It really is simple if you do it all just once.

When by myself, I tend to like to drive someonewhere, anchor up and sit listening to music, then move around to new spots. Drinving in circles gets boring and wastes a TON of fuel.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Solo Boating

i go solo when the sweety says i ain't going. it's like fine, i am...

it's no different than when the group is around. you just get no help what so ever, ya do all chores yourself. by now you know what needs to be done to launch. so do them.
for me, the actual launch isn't any different either. but now i have to control the lines. mine are long enough i control stern and bow. after she's off the trailer i just jump up on the dock and drag it out as far as i can and tie it up. it's a toss up as to weather i move to a slip or stay in the launch lane. my local ramp is fairly small and i could take up as much time moving it out of the way for others as i could to go park the trailer and go be done with it.
have the blower going so ya can start at your convenience. have it warmed up in the driveway at home so ya know she's ready to deploy asap.
go have fun...

the ramp i usually go to is not usually very congested. this weekend it will be. i bet if ya tried to launch solo, some friendly sole will offer to help too.... just a guess.

 

[65fordguy]

Re: Solo Boating

I guess it depends on what your accommodations are.... here I back the truck up with the boat ready to launch... get it in the water.. hop in the boat.. dock it at a courtesy dock and run over and move the truck...

when loading, I do reverse order... when I pull it on I get it up where it goes and lean over and hook it up... hop over the bow and walk the trailer.. hop in the truck and pull it out.

Its not as hard as you think.. just take your time.. Don't let the people in line get to ya!

good luck.

 

[Even Flow]

Re: Solo Boating

I do it all the time. I do have the boat at a marina so that makes it easy as I do not have to launch and retrieve, but I sometimes find it therapeutic to be solo

I have also pulled the boat out a couple times to do maintenance and clean. I simply go very early or very late in the day to launch retrieve and I take a LOT of time to prep everything before heading to the ramp. With ropes ready, gear loaded and your standard pre-launch steps performed, I think it is easier solo than having a toddler running around or even a group of buddies that want to help but only get in the way.

go for it!

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Solo Boating

Thanks for the tips. I think spending some alone time will be refreshing. Just me, boat and the water. I love taking my family boating but sometimes I want to try solo boating and think about life for awhile. With them being out of town gives me the Oppurtinuty. Spelling.

I will go really early as the people at the ramp will make me nervous. Im still a little nervous at the ramp anyway.

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Solo Boating

My wife and kids are visiting family for 3 weeks.

If that happened to me, I would be on the water until I ran out of either gas money or vacation days

Main tip for solo: go when the ramp ain't busy. With no home responsibilities to worry about, you can hit the ramp at 5am every day if you want!

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Solo Boating

about half of my boating is solo. I can unload/load faster than probably 95% of everyone at the ramp! I've got a very specific to-do order that I do things, and can do those steps blindfolded. (having the wife with actually slows me down, she can't back and is less frustrating for me to drive the boat! )

Anyway, the key point is have your mental checklist ready and fine tuned. Go over it before hand to figure out what is going to take the most time, and consolidate steps. The biggest thing to watch out for is how long you tie up the ramp. Don't tie up in the way of the ramp unless its absolutely neccesary. (ie no courtesy dock or beach nearby.)

 

[mandopickr]

Re: Solo Boating

I can count on both hands the number of times I actually had help to load or unload. I agree with most of the above, but most importantly be prepared. You might do a dry run with what you'll need to do and in what order. I can load by myself as fast as most pairs, because most just aren't well organized.
Or they forget something, like the plug, or the tie down straps.

I power on and off, so knowing how deep your trailer needs to be is important. The key to saving time is docking without delay, having your dock lines ready, so you can quickly tie up and go pull your trailer out.

Since you'll be by yourself on this trip, if you can find a landing without a lot of traffic, it will give you time to practice.

Usually people offer to help, but there are always those that will complain, or try to go around. I had two guys go around me at a landing, then the driver starts backing down and stops. Turns out he was talking on his phone. I give the other guy heck, while I wait on the other ramp to clear. He had to sit and take it. I loaded, secured the straps, and pulled out while the other idiot was still talking.

A good two person team can be fast, and a joy to watch. With practice, though, you can be faster than most.

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Solo Boating

If that happened to me, I would be on the water until I ran out of either gas money or vacation days

Main tip for solo: go when the ramp ain't busy. With no home responsibilities to worry about, you can hit the ramp at 5am every day if you want!

I didnt go with them because of work obligations. I would like to be on the lake everyday but that aint going to happen.

 

[JZammetti]

Re: Solo Boating

I know this has been discussed hundreds of time.

Tips for solo Launching and retrieving please.

Thanks.

AZ,
I asked the same question when I was ready to go solo, these guys gave me some great advice, here is the thread
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=350901
Hope you try it, my first solo was GREAT!

 

[5150abf]

Re: Solo Boating

Do it all the time but ya the first solo launch can be alittle daunting but do it and often, practice makes perfect ya know.

I will get the boat ready in the staging area and put the launch rope in the bed of the truck and back down the ramp, just before you go in get the rope in your hand and finish backing, as soon as she slides in go to park and tie it off.

Don't worry about making a mistake or taking too long, just do it.

 

[royal0014]

Re: Solo Boating

Safety first! Let a friend or nieghbor know when, where, how long, etc. And wear your PFD, put it on as soon as you get to the ramp and KEEP IT ON! Think about the phone call your family could get........

 

[seaboo]

Re: Solo Boating

Do it all the time but ya the first solo launch can be alittle daunting but do it and often, practice makes perfect ya know.

Don't worry about making a mistake or taking too long, just do it.

+1
It gets easier everytime you do it. A float plan is a good idea, and have good common sense. Solo boating is a good way to meet people and darn good way to "hone" your boating skills.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: Solo Boating

Keep in mind even if you do screw up at the ramp, there will always be somone who does it way worse.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Solo Boating

Safety first! Let a friend or nieghbor know when, where, how long, etc. And wear your PFD, put it on as soon as you get to the ramp and KEEP IT ON! Think about the phone call your family could get........

Exactly! Float Plan, Contact info, check in if your plans change, PFD on at all times, kill switch attached to you.

I used to do it often when I owned my 21' Pro-Line. I don't have the 'new' boat rigged well yet for solo operation, but I will eventually.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[45Auto]

Re: Solo Boating

No big deal about going solo around here, I'd guess that half the boats I see on the water are solo fisherman.

When we go out the only thing my wife does is pull the truck up and park it after the boat's off the trailer. I back the truck down, then back the boat off the trailer and dock it while she's parking the truck. Only difference if I go solo is I have to walk over to the truck and park it after I dock the boat.

 

[BoatNoobie]

Re: Solo Boating

i've been doing it for a while now, but it's much easier when your boat is only 14' and about 3-400lbs total. Even without a dock.

Got a 16' now that weights a total of about 1300 lbs. This should be a little more interesting....

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Solo Boating

I too go out alone alot. I like it, just me and my boat. I used to take the dog and he was alot of help launching and retrieving..
I wear a life jacket when by myself, but thats a personal choice.
As for the launch and retrieve, dont do anything different than if I have help.
Tie on a line and shove the boat off, tie it to the dock and park the truck. Reverse the order to come home.

 

[seabob4]

Re: Solo Boating

I used to do it every day. You get really good at getting her in and out QUICK!

One of the biggest keys is to load her up with all your gear before you get near the ramp. And when you pull her out, wait until you get away from the ramp before you pull her drain plug. She'll drain just fine on the way home...