First Solo Trip Today

[Fishin Dude]

I heard all of the excuses last night and this morning. " Altenator went in the car" " I can't miss work tomorrow" " My wife will get mad if I go fishing again" . So I launched the boat from the ramp myself. Was'nt really that hard. Put it back on without a problem. I'll have to do this more often.  <'((((><

[IrishAyes]

 

[Still Running]

I heard all of the excuses last night and this morning. " Altenator went in the car" " I can't miss work tomorrow" " My wife will get mad if I go fishing again" . So I launched the boat from the ramp myself. Was'nt really that hard. Put it back on without a problem. I'll have to do this more often.  <'((((><

I hear you! Same problem here.

[Luna Sea 5]

launching alone is a pain.  I hate to leave the boat along while I get the truck.

[Still Running]

launching alone is a pain.  I hate to leave the boat along while I get the truck.

Your right Nick and much slower, the other problem is when you take someone who can’t backup a trailer. I like to drive the boat on and off the trailer. Never touch the water, in or out is fast and get out of the way. When me and my son go out, I am parking the truck and he is on his way to the dock before most people get there boat untied from the trailer. If you take someone who doesn’t do it all of the time with you it is much slower. I used to fish a lot of bass tournaments  with one guy and we had it down. Took my wife out and I had to do his job. I forgot the plug! 

[Bob]

I have been launching and retrieving myself for years.  Once you get a system down it is not bad.  Now, if i have someone along,  I find myself asking them to just sand by.  I installed a ladder on the front of the trailer which helps us old guys get on and off the boat.  I do get my feet wet but in the cold weather I wear my shrimp boots, in the summer my feet get wet anyway.  Where do you launch from?

[Still Running]

Most times I go out of Atlantic Highlands.

[Fishin Dude]

Yes, I hate to leave the boat alone, not for the boat, but for my rods and reels. I launched from the Manasquan River Club this time. Here,where I park my truck is only a few hundred feet from the ramp, so I feel better about only leaving it for a minute or two. I used a rope to control the boat both going off the trailer and back on. I installed an electric winch and it makes life a whole lot better. I've got an extension pole called "Capitan Hook" which I use to attach the winch cable hook to the bow eye to help keep me dry. For the first time, it was not too bad. Like you say, when I get my system down pat, It will go alot faster. <'((((><

[Bob]

I have been using the AH ramp for years and have never had a problem with things going missing while I park or retrieve the trailer.  Of course on a weekday things are a lot quieter than the weekend.  I usually do not leave rods and things on the dockside of the boat just in case.

[makokeith]

Hate to highjack but how do you all launch your boats solo?

I tie a rope to a bow cleat and wrap it around the winch part of the trailer and back up to a cleat on the opposite side. I then drive her into the water and go lossen up the winch and disconnect. The rope now holds her on the trailer.  I jump up on the spare tire and onto the prowl and start moters, let them warm up a bit and go up front and let the rope off of 1 cleat and unwrap from the "trailer part that sticks up with winch attached" and as the boat rolls back I pull rope up and go to the controls and tie up to the dock. Sometimes I forget the trailer and truck are still in the water but not for too long.

[Bob]

I do about the same except my boat is high in the front and as an older person with two artificial knees I cannot climb up over the bow pulpit so I made a ladder and mounted it to the trailer.  I tie a line to a front cleat and then loop it around the winch post twice and then down the side to a rear cleat and tie it off.  I then unwind the winch, the boat moves back about 1-2' and the rope holds it.  Then up the ladder, start engine, after warm up I put it in gear and drive forward to till the boat is in the front stop, loosen rope from rear cleat, walk up front and unloop from the post, leaving rope attached and ready to tie up at dock.  I then pull back on throttle and let the boat slide slowly off trailer into water.  I usually do not forget the truck and trailer but have left my wallet in truck.  Taking it out myself is basically the same.  Once you have a system you find you will decline help because you prefer doing it yourself.

[makokeith]

I do about the same except my boat is high in the front and as an older person with two artificial knees I cannot climb up over the bow pulpit so I made a ladder and mounted it to the trailer.  I tie a line to a front cleat and then loop it around the winch post twice and then down the side to a rear cleat and tie it off.  I then unwind the winch, the boat moves back about 1-2' and the rope holds it.  Then up the ladder, start engine, after warm up I put it in gear and drive forward to till the boat is in the front stop, loosen rope from rear cleat, walk up front and unloop from the post, leaving rope attached and ready to tie up at dock.  I then pull back on throttle and let the boat slide slowly off trailer into water.  I usually do not forget the truck and trailer but have left my wallet in truck.  Taking it out myself is basically the same.  Once you have a system you find you will decline help because you prefer doing it yourself.

I never thought of putting it into gear and driving it forward. Thanks , I now will do that. It's way better than the boat rolling down the trailer.      WINCH POST.

[captmoose]

Have you considered guide-ons?

I have been going out alone a lot lately or with my young kids who can help out only so much.  This season I made my own set of guide-ons which has helped  tremendously, even with my little 15' skiff.  You can make a set for your own boat no matter how big.  It just helps to have them back there to help center the boat and I don't have to worry about the stern swinging in the current while I tend to the bow.

I made them using advice I found online using  L-shaped trampoline legs, PVC, and some U-bolts from the hardware store.  I even mounted lights on top using PVC elbows with a plug in the end.  Actually I started with PVC T's on top, but since the one side hangs toward the boat, it tends to hang up, so I'm switching to L's which will hang away from the boat.

The PVC and fittings are all screwed together so I can open things up and service the lights and wiring.  The trampoline legs are round pipe which could twist under the U-bolts and "lie down".  But if you clamp down enough, the u-bolts flatten the pipe enough to keep it in place.  I also was able to through-bolt into the aft upright for my bunks but that will depend on your particular set up.

Here's a guy who went all out on guide ons for a large boat.  I went simple with one piece of PVC over a metal tube.  He made PVC rollers.  http://www.eharder.com/Nova%20II/Trailer/Guide-on.html