Advice for solo launching?

"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