Advice for solo launching?

I"m really close to upgrading to a 17 ft G3 aluminum boat with a 60 HP
Yamaha from my 14 ft johnboat with 8 HP evinrude. I have not been
able to identify any devoted fishing buddies (yet), so I usually fish
alone. When launching and landing the boat, I seek out very small
ramps that are less crowded. Most of these don't have docks, so I
just drag my boat on the bank. I'm thinking that I'll have to start
using the deeper water ramps now and they are sure to be crowded. Any
advice for the solo launcher?

Thanks,

J

Prepare as many steps in advance as you can.


"JimmyG" wrote in message
...
I"m really close to upgrading to a 17 ft G3 aluminum boat with a 60 HP
Yamaha from my 14 ft johnboat with 8 HP evinrude. I have not been
able to identify any devoted fishing buddies (yet), so I usually fish
alone. When launching and landing the boat, I seek out very small
ramps that are less crowded. Most of these don't have docks, so I
just drag my boat on the bank. I'm thinking that I'll have to start
using the deeper water ramps now and they are sure to be crowded. Any
advice for the solo launcher?

Thanks,

J

On Tue, 09 May 2006 07:33:14 -0400, JimmyG wrote:

I"m really close to upgrading to a 17 ft G3 aluminum boat with a 60 HP
Yamaha from my 14 ft johnboat with 8 HP evinrude. I have not been
able to identify any devoted fishing buddies (yet), so I usually fish
alone. When launching and landing the boat, I seek out very small
ramps that are less crowded. Most of these don't have docks, so I
just drag my boat on the bank. I'm thinking that I'll have to start
using the deeper water ramps now and they are sure to be crowded. Any
advice for the solo launcher?

Thanks,

J

Hi Jimmy,
First thing to know is have your boat ready to launch before backing
into a launching lane at the ramp.

If the ramp is deep enough and you do not have to back into the water
so far that you cannot climb in and drive it off, do so and drive it
off. Make sure of the depth and keep your motor tilted up as far as
possible. Same with putting the boat on the trailer.

If the launch is too shallow for that method tie a long enough rope to
the boat to allow it to float off as you back it in. Make sure you
tie the other end to the trailer! Once the boat is off the trailer
you can use the rope to bring it to the dock or the shoreline next to
the ramp. Watch how other people launch and retrieve their boats to
get a better idea of how you want to or don't want do it.

If you get a roller trailer don't make the mistake of disconnecting
the boat completely from the trailer until it is partially in the
water. On steep ramps I have seen boats roll of the trailer and land
on the ramp :{

I can't say this enough. Make sure you are ready to launch before
pulling into a launch lane at the ramp!

Good luck, let us know how you do.


I've learned that I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy it! (The hell with what my X-wife told me)

Remove the x for e-mail reply
www.outdoorfrontiers.com
www.SecretWeaponLures.com
A proud charter member of "PETAF", People for Eating Tasty Animals and Fish!!!

Advice for solo launching?

Group: rec.outdoors.fishing.bass Date: Tue, May 9, 2006, 7:33am (CDT+1)
From: (JimmyG)
I"m really close to upgrading to a 17 ft G3 aluminum boat with a 60 HP
Yamaha from my 14 ft johnboat with 8 HP evinrude. I have not been able
to identify any devoted fishing buddies (yet), so I usually fish alone.
When launching and landing the boat, I seek out very small ramps that
are less crowded. Most of these don't have docks, so I just drag my boat
on the bank. I'm thinking that I'll have to start using the deeper water
ramps now and they are sure to be crowded. Any advice for the solo
launcher?
Thanks,
J
========
If the ramp is busy, try and get an outside lane so you can tie the boat
off on the side while parking the trailer. Also make sure your vehicle
has good parking brakes!!!! Nothing more disconcerning than standing on
the trailer unhooking the boat, and feel the water rising up around your
knees. grin

But don't ever get in a hurry because of the people waiting...take your
time and do it right, a few minute wait won't kill any of them!

JK

"JimmyG" wrote in message
...
I"m really close to upgrading to a 17 ft G3 aluminum boat with a 60 HP
Yamaha from my 14 ft johnboat with 8 HP evinrude. I have not been
able to identify any devoted fishing buddies (yet), so I usually fish
alone. When launching and landing the boat, I seek out very small
ramps that are less crowded. Most of these don't have docks, so I
just drag my boat on the bank. I'm thinking that I'll have to start
using the deeper water ramps now and they are sure to be crowded. Any
advice for the solo launcher?

Thanks,

J

All good advice. I often launch solo, and I have a few things that will
sometimes help.

When there is a dirt patch or beach next to the ramp and its not already
full of beached boats one easy way to do it is to get your boat all ready to
launch and unhook everything. Tie or clip a 50' rope to the bow eye of your
boat and to your truck. Back in until the boat starts to float and then
step on he brakes hard. After the boat hits the end of the rope pull the
truck forward ten or fifteen feet. Get out, grab hold of the rope and pull
the boat over to the dirt beach and pull it up far enough so it will stay.
Un hook the rope and go park your truck.

In an area with a courtesy dock try and back in with the trailer inches away
from the dock. Have a couple dock lines already on the boat cleats on that
side. Unhook everything except the bow strap. Loosen that giving it 5 feet
of slack or so. Remember to flip the ratchet back to the tighten position.
Back in next to the dock until the boat floats free. Get out of your truck,
walk down the dock and grab a dock line. Then reach down and unhook the bow
strap and walk the boat back along the dock so it is out of the way of
somebody else launching. Tie it off and go park your truck.

Where neither is convenient get your truck all lined up and the trailer part
way in the water, then ask somebody nearby if they would back you in.

Do it like I heard them southern boys do at a tournament. Just dump your
boat in the water and drive away. Go eat some breakfast. Then when you are
ready to fish ask somebody to take you out to your boat.


--
Bob La Londe
www.YumaBassMan.com

JimmyG wrote:
I"m really close to upgrading to a 17 ft G3 aluminum boat with a 60 HP
Yamaha from my 14 ft johnboat with 8 HP evinrude. I have not been
able to identify any devoted fishing buddies (yet), so I usually fish
alone. When launching and landing the boat, I seek out very small
ramps that are less crowded. Most of these don't have docks, so I
just drag my boat on the bank. I'm thinking that I'll have to start
using the deeper water ramps now and they are sure to be crowded. Any
advice for the solo launcher?

Thanks,

J

I launch solo a lot and the most important thing I was taught is to use
the wind to your advantage whenever possible. When launching, use the
wind to blow the boat towards the dock. When coming back to the dock,
do the same. I never drive the boat on or off the trailer. I have
upright roller boat guides on the back of the trailer that serve two
purposes. First they let me know if I've driven the trailer deep enough
into the water (top of guides about 2 or 3 inches out of the water) to
allow the boat to be easily winched onto the trailer. Also they help
guide the boat straight onto the trailer. Once the bow of the boat has
passed the rollers I can usually pull the boat onto the trailer
straight fairly easily.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...roductId=33759

Make sure you have plenty of grippy stuff on the tongue of the trailer
too. Your dry shoes will thanks you. Go a few times on weekdays to
practice and before long you won't bat an eye at launching solo on a
jam packed 3 day weekend.

-phish

Thanks for all the replies. The strategies that were described are
the same that I use for launching my 14 footer. I'll just have to get
used to being on the crowded launches and working in traffic.

Thanks,

J

On 9 May 2006 12:10:28 -0700, wrote:


JimmyG wrote:
I"m really close to upgrading to a 17 ft G3 aluminum boat with a 60 HP
Yamaha from my 14 ft johnboat with 8 HP evinrude. I have not been
able to identify any devoted fishing buddies (yet), so I usually fish
alone. When launching and landing the boat, I seek out very small
ramps that are less crowded. Most of these don't have docks, so I
just drag my boat on the bank. I'm thinking that I'll have to start
using the deeper water ramps now and they are sure to be crowded. Any
advice for the solo launcher?

Launching can often be the easiest part. Recovery can be a killer on a hot
Sunday, with lots of people launching and recovering. I've made a couple of
additions to the trailers for my two Carolina Skiffs. ( 16 and a 17 footer).

1. I added PVC poles in the stern. Nothing like their assistance when trying
to position a boat on a trailer.
2. I cut up and added PVC lattice onto my carpeted bunks. Now.... the boats
slide on and off easily. Rollers are not recommended for foam-filled CS
skiffs, so the sliders, made of lattice, are a good alternative.
3. I bought an extendable boat hook.

With the assistance of the PVC uprights and the PVC lattice on the bunks...,
I point her at the trailer, power her in and she slides in, right up to the
bow stop. If I am on a "no power loading" ramp, I use the same procedure
but kill the engine far away from the dock. The boat still moves forward on
her own momentum, and partially slides up the PVC lattice-covered bunks. I
have a boat -hook extended and ready at all times.

For launching...

I added a very long "launching rope, and I wrapped a couple of bungee cords
around the top of the PVC poles I thread the launching rope from the
forward cleat, back the length of the boat; into and out of the bungees
(with just a free-loop) and then tie the launching line onto a cleat on the
dock. Back her in; stop; pop the boat off; let her drag line out past the
bungee loop ( which pulls off freely by itself) and go park the vehicle,
......or I get out quickly and pull the boat up and re-tie it on the backside
of the dock if necessary.

harder to describe, than to do..
--
RichG manager, Carolina Skiff Owners Group on MSN
http://groups.msn.com/CarolinaSkiffOwners
..

....always check the bail plug three times
said Huck

Originally Posted by JimmyG

I"m really close to upgrading to a 17 ft G3 aluminum boat with a 60 HP
Yamaha from my 14 ft johnboat with 8 HP evinrude. I have not been
able to identify any devoted fishing buddies (yet), so I usually fish
alone. When launching and landing the boat, I seek out very small
ramps that are less crowded. Most of these don't have docks, so I
just drag my boat on the bank. I'm thinking that I'll have to start
using the deeper water ramps now and they are sure to be crowded. Any
advice for the solo launcher?

Thanks,

J

Good Morning!
I have a 21' Ranger and fish alone quite a bit. Remember, when your time to launch arrives, it is your time, don't rush. I launch my boat and usually run it aground near the ramp return to my trailer and park it. It is almost as fast as tying up at the dock but a lot safer for my boat! If I do tie up I usually let my boat drift out with the current or wind about six feet to prevent the guys that are in a hurry from washing it up against the pilings. Hope this helps, but again remember ...take your time...you have a lot invested in your boat.
Bob