Solo Launching

[4JawChuck]

Re: Solo Launching

I solo launch all the time, I kinda like doing it myself and have gotten good at it to the point I would rather do it solo.

A trick I use is tie the bow line to my trailer side guide rollers, this way I can back it in and get the boat floating off the trailer. I pull the vehicle/trailer part way out of the water with the boat in tow behind the trailer where I can grab the rope without getting my feet wet...I make it a goal to try to launch without getting my feet wet.

I then lead the boat to a safe docking position and pull the vehicle away with the boat safely docked. The whole procedure takes five minutes tops and it makes me look like I know what I am doing .

Some more pointers:

-Motor up and plug in.

-Open vent in fuel tank before launching, unplug trailer lights (I don't have LED's...yet!)

-Smile and say hi to people at the launch, seems to be a lot of stress on people on the ramp and a quick "Hello! Nice day huh!?" seems to help people relax a little. Stay out of peoples way and be patient, nothing I hate worse than some bone head getting all PO'ed over someone taking two seconds longer than he deems necessary to launch a boat and lining up with the backup lights on while I am still cranking the boat up on the trailer.

Last and most important...

-Keys+phone in life vest, kill switch attached, put the dang thing on.

Honestly I don't understand what is everyone in such a hurry for, I know I can launch and retrieve faster than 99% of the people out there but yet I still meet these "furious" people who seem to frequent the ramps and cause problems for everyone else. I have to wonder how they are going to enjoy a day on the water when they start it off by getting in a tizzy before they even get the boat wet?

Not to start another feud but if our going to power load the boat on the trailer (I do it all the time) tilt the motor up so you don't wash out the ramp, it works just as well and saves wear and tear on the ramp.

Have fun out there!

 

[JimKW]

Re: Solo Launching

I have been tempted to solo launch mainly because I really want to be out on the boat all by myself. Hope my wife doesn't read this!

She is very helpful in getting the boat in and out of the water, but that means I always have company in the boat and I would like to just be out by myself some times.

After reading this thread I think I am about ready to try it solo. Tying the bow line to the trailer is something I not have thought about doing. Sounds like a great idea. I can not figure out how to get it back on the trailer without getting my feet wet though? In the water I definitely can do that, but not out.

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Solo Launching

I have been tempted to solo launch mainly because I really want to be out on the boat all by myself. Hope my wife doesn't read this!

She is very helpful in getting the boat in and out of the water, but that means I always have company in the boat and I would like to just be out by myself some times.

After reading this thread I think I am about ready to try it solo. Tying the bow line to the trailer is something I not have thought about doing. Sounds like a great idea. I can not figure out how to get it back on the trailer without getting my feet wet though? In the water I definitely can do that, but not out.

It's a bow rider, no reason to get yer feet wet. Idle it onto the trailer (no power loading just idle) till it stops. Hop up onto the bow, then off onto the trailer...strap it up and winch it in. Attach safety line, hop into boat, onto dock and back into the truck. The only part that may be difficult is getting used to idling your boat onto the trailer in all wind/wave conditions takes patience and a bit o' skill...go very slow..in/out of gear just enough to keep moving. Also you need to get the trailer in close to the dock, otherwise the hop to the dock becomes a jump or evil kneival leap.

Ian

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Solo Launching

jim; ihave seen the winch line use in place of a dock line. the draw back to doing this as i see them. if you don't take the winch handle off it can get to spinning pretty good, not all winch straps are long enough,wouldn't even try with a winch cable, and you have to unhook it to line boat to dock any way. i like the line then i tie a bowline on each end and know its not slipping off. easy to stay dry launching,little trickier to do loading. generally i dock get trailer set and power up to trailer and it will drift over 1/2 way, sometimes all the way on. then i can steep over bow on to trailer tongue and if careful winch on. sometimes if close enough to dock cam get back on board and step to dock. other wise ya its a step or two to dock or around truck

 

[JimKW]

Re: Solo Launching

OK if I climb out of the boat onto the trailer and walk to the front of the trailer and winch it in, why do I need to get back in the boat? Seems like I would already be at the back of the truck to winch it in. By the way the last time I tried climbing out the bow of the boat onto the trailer I slipped on the trailer and ended up stepping into the water. Better than falling off the trailer, but did get wet up to my knees.

By the way I am 60 years old now and jumping from boat to dock or vice versa is not something I do any longer. Climbing from the bow onto the trailer is doable, but not sure about the other way, from trailer back into boat. Getting feet wet to get boat out of water is not that big a deal to me. I have an extra pair of shoes in the back of the truck and I wear water shoes on the boat.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Solo Launching

one thing i should have mentioned.

MAKE SURE you lace the line neatly some where in the bow so it can pay out smoothly and not get any tangles or any equipment in its bite.
even with the boat slipping off slowly the line pays out pretty fast.

our boat weights 5500# +or-. that and the kinetic energy is enough to snap a tangled deck fitting, or anything else it might wrap around, off.

sorry for over sight on important point. hope you catch this before you try.

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Solo Launching

I can not figure out how to get it back on the trailer without getting my feet wet though? In the water I definitely can do that, but not out.

It's a bow rider, no reason to get yer feet wet. Idle it onto the trailer (no power loading just idle) till it stops. Hop up onto the bow, then off onto the trailer...strap it up and winch it in.

That's it!! After the boat has been idled onto the trailer I lean over the bow and hook the strap and winch it up while still on the boat and hook the chain too without even getting out of the boat. You will learn where to put the trailer in the water everytime, I put my trailer in to where I still see the top of wheel fenders and she goes on perfect every time and isn't hard to winch her up, slides on nice and easy(I DON"T POWERLOAD) No need to.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Solo Launching

OK if I climb out of the boat onto the trailer and walk to the front of the trailer and winch it in, why do I need to get back in the boat? Seems like I would already be at the back of the truck to winch it in. By the way the last time I tried climbing out the bow of the boat onto the trailer I slipped on the trailer and ended up stepping into the water. Better than falling off the trailer, but did get wet up to my knees.

if you can make it to your door with out getting in the water or you have someone to pull your truck up the ramp then you don't.
i'm by my self and need to get back to truck after i have boat on trailer.
sometime i can back in next to dock to load but the step is to far from tongue so have to step back up on to bow then to dock.
my son and some others i have seen can hop on tongue, secure bow eye, and walk tongue, hop over tail gate, and swing from front of box and into the p.u. door but i'm no that nimble

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Solo Launching

OK if I climb out of the boat onto the trailer and walk to the front of the trailer and winch it in, why do I need to get back in the boat? Seems like I would already be at the back of the truck to winch it in. By the way the last time I tried climbing out the bow of the boat onto the trailer I slipped on the trailer and ended up stepping into the water. Better than falling off the trailer, but did get wet up to my knees.

By the way I am 60 years old now and jumping from boat to dock or vice versa is not something I do any longer. Climbing from the bow onto the trailer is doable, but not sure about the other way, from trailer back into boat. Getting feet wet to get boat out of water is not that big a deal to me. I have an extra pair of shoes in the back of the truck and I wear water shoes on the boat.

jim; with any luck we might splash next week in prep for going to powell. if i do i'll try to get you some picts

 

[JZammetti]

Re: Solo Launching

Thanks all for your input, you?ve given me tricks I never even thought out, I feel secure that I can do a solo launch / retrieve as long as I listen to the words of wisdom found here. Once again, thank you the knowledge share and given me the confidence to try this feat.

Who knows, I may never want to bring anyone else out with me ever again.

 

[4JawChuck]

Re: Solo Launching

Cool JZ, hope you have fun doing it by yourself. I went out yesterday all by my lonesome and had a great day although it was very windy.

Here is another little trick I learned and after trying it out a few times I wonder how I missed something so simple and effective.

This applies to docking when your coming back in, as you know doing it solo can be a challenge especially if its windy or the current is strong (the river I was on yesterday has a 5mph current).

When you approach come in at 45 degrees to the dock slowly but under power, as you get close (1-2ft) shift into reverse and turn the motor so it points to the dock and use reverse power to pull the stern of the boat into the dock. This not only stops forward movement but pulls you in parallel inches from the dock.

I am still practicing this maneuver as I usually don't dock at the same place more than a couple times a year but let me tell you it works so slick you will look like a professional.

Heres a little tutorial in pictures so you get the idea, sure makes docking a breeze especially if your solo.

http://www.tropicalboating.com/powerboating/docking-an-outboard.html

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Solo Launching

JZ--if you find the ramp is empty when you get there, do a couple of launch/retrieves before you go out, and a couple of backing downs. All of thsi is about experience and nkowing your own boat, trailer and various ramp conditions.
Practice approaching the dock/trailer from different angles, with or against the wind/current.
One hard part is getting close enough to the dock to step from the dock to the boat, but far enough out that you can open your car door!

 

[JZammetti]

Re: Solo Launching

When you approach come in at 45 degrees to the dock slowly but under power, as you get close (1-2ft) shift into reverse and turn the motor so it points to the dock and use reverse power to pull the stern of the boat into the dock. This not only stops forward movement but pulls you in parallel inches from the dock.

I am still practicing this maneuver as I usually don't dock at the same place more than a couple times a year but let me tell you it works so slick you will look like a professional.

Heres a little tutorial in pictures so you get the idea, sure makes docking a breeze especially if your solo.

http://www.tropicalboating.com/powerboating/docking-an-outboard.html

Nice video, that looks like an art, I'll try it and make my words , my stern and bow will be backwards.

 

[JZammetti]

Re: Solo Launching

JZ--if you find the ramp is empty when you get there, do a couple of launch/retrieves before you go out, and a couple of backing downs. All of thsi is about experience and nkowing your own boat, trailer and various ramp conditions.
Practice approaching the dock/trailer from different angles, with or against the wind/current.
One hard part is getting close enough to the dock to step from the dock to the boat, but far enough out that you can open your car door!

LOL, I've gotton too close that I could not open the door with help..LOL LOL As for trying it a few times while the dock is quiet , I thought of doing that but felt awkwark if someone was to try to launch or retrieve while I was practicing. When I got my boat I practiced backing between cones in a mall parking lot, I felt like I was 18 and learning to parallel park....

Thanks for the response.

 

[rspar]

Re: Solo Launching

This was a great thread for a noob like me. I've never been the launcher always the sidekick mostly watching. But my boats just about there and this extra knowledge will come in handy. Thanks to the op and the expert posts.

 

[skargo]

Re: Solo Launching

I solo launched almost every Friday this year. This was the first year I solo launched. I tie my bow line to my winch stand, back in, float it. Jump out, walk it back, tie it up, start her up(I test start at home), park truck, come back and go boating.

I retrieve a little different than some. I dock my boat, tie it off. Back trailer into water, walk boat onto trailer. I have enough line that I can jump on my trucks bumper, walk the trailer tongue and hook my winch strap, I have to crank a 12"-18" now that I know how deep to sink my trailer.I have a 5K pound 21' cuddy, so jumping in and out of the bow doesn't work so well.

I LOVE going out by myself sometimes, it recharges me!

 

[bigskiohio]

Re: Solo Launching

weven you hook up strap then the chain what chain? do i forget something?

 

[skargo]

Re: Solo Launching

weven you hook up strap then the chain what chain? do i forget something?

Safety chain. I hope you're not trusting your boat to your winch strap/cable.

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Solo Launching

weven you hook up strap then the chain what chain? do i forget something?

Safety chain. I hope you're not trusting your boat to your winch strap/cable.

Yes Sir that is exactly right, I don't ever pull out of the water without hooking my safety chain up first, Thats just my own personal safety thing I do, everyone else might not do it but I DO. I don't want to rely on just the strap, If I hook the safety chain then I know I have done everything not to have an accident or a big OOPS!! I do it for my satisfaction What happens if the strap breaks and the trailer comes out from under the boat, the chain keeps it from sliding off the trailer, And it does happen!!

 

[bigskiohio]

Re: Solo Launching

i guess i will put a chain on . It hooks to the boat eye to what anywhere. Now that i think about it i do have some chain by winch i just wrap it around handle to keep from unwinding , bet it is the saftey chain DOH!