Launching and Picking Up Alone

[trout21]

I have a Parker 21' SE. It is on a roller trailer. I am trying to figure out how to launch and pick this up when I am alone.

The hook on the front of the boat is too low for me to reach over the bow and attach or remove the cable.

How do people handle this?

 

[Luv2fish]

I have the 2120 SC and I'm still experimenting. I can launch Ok by hooking a rope to the cleat and then wrapping it around the trailer. I unhook the winch strap and slowly let the rope out. This I have down well.

Getting back on the trailer is a different story. I have in the past left the boat motor running with enough thrust to keep it tight on the trailer and hurried around to hook up the strap. This is dangerous and very ill advised.

I'd like to hear how others do it also.

 

[2320 pilothouse]

if you have to enter the water get hip waders,depends on tow vehicle--i have a pick up so i have the tailgate down and walk out to the bow and hook up the cable when removing the boat from the water--putting in is the easy part..

dave

 

[ReelyNauti]

you set a snatch line it goes from trailer winch post and is tied there(or u rig with a loop and clip)
this line 3/4" rope has a loop and is long enough to go to stern kleet and then some...

u drive up all the way and leave just enough throttle to keep it in place the rope which you had clipped/tied to post on winch area was long enough to rear of boat ....hopefully you left long end on dock and you grabbed it be 4 you jumped back on boat now gets tied to kleet while u r in gear......
turn off engine(NEVER LEAVE BOAT RUNNING) jump back to dock put on safety chain ....
ALL DONE

ONE MAN WRECKING CREW

 

[ceblizzard]

I launch my 23SE quite often by myself. Even when someone is with me, I usually like to do it by myself. Once I'm at the dock, the bow and stern is tied off. I'll back my trailer down just so the rims of the rear axle of the trailer touches. I'll untie the boat and with a long bow line, pull the boat to the trailer. I'll walk the trailer and hook the winch cable to the bow eye. Then stand back and winch her on. Yes, it may take a little longer than floating it on, but my trailer and brakes are rust free. And my boat loads perfectly every time.

Charlie
Eden, Md

 

[pmeggers]

This may be a terrible way of doing it but when ever I did pull my boat from the slip (when I had an 18) and launch it myself I would back down...hop from trailer onto boat...warm up engine, put engine slightly in gear forward...get off the boat onto trailer...slack the wench and unhook, then hop back on boat (boat in forward is keeping it up on the trailer), then simply ease into neatral and roll right off, drive to dock, tie up, and then park the car.

That was the only way I was able to do it quickly without getting wet or trying to fanangle way to many lines.

 

[fishinSWFL]

Here in Florida we use carpeted bunk trailers almost exclusively. They pretty much eliminate the problem of the boat trying to slide back off the trailer. just back in, drive on, shut it down, hook it up and drive out.

 

[B-Faithful]

dont you have a finger pier that parallels the ramps?

 

[pmeggers]

the launch i use in CT cant fit about 8 boats, it is rare that you find a spot directly next to the pier


it's usually jammed with people ttaking their sweet time

 

[B-Faithful]

We are spoiled here in Maryland. We have the best ramp facilities just about anywhere. Almost all ramps have the finger pier. makes for launching a 26'er solo a breeze

here is sandy point state park with 22 ramps and all have piers

 

[JamesTX]

Very nice picture! Your park there is nice too LOL

Many launch places down here in Texas don't have the ramp docks. The easiest way around this is just don't go alone. When I have no choice I usually step out onto the winch post as others have said with the OB idling in gear.

 

[Porkchunker]

if you have to enter the water get hip waders,depends on tow vehicle--i have a pick up so i have the tailgate down and walk out to the bow and hook up the cable when removing the boat from the water--putting in is the easy part..

dave

I'm a Montana boy...I just wear shorts and sandals and wade into the water to disconnect the hook to the bow eye. First I tie off a line to the transom to the rear of the dock. Then I go forward and while hanging onto the bow line, I unhook the hook to the bow eye. I then walk back up on the dock and pull the boat rearward and tie off the bow line and then go back and take the slack out of the transom line.

Loading is almost the reverse.

Dave

aka

 

[mildew2]

We are spoiled here in Maryland. We have the best ramp facilities just about anywhere. Almost all ramps have the finger pier. makes for launching a 26'er solo a breeze

here is sandy point state park with 22 ramps and all have piers

22 ramps!!!! I'm in Delaware and we don't have 22 ramps in the whole state..............nice "B

 

[POGE]

Snatch line : take a 20' 25' of line, tie of on bow cleat, wrap around trailer post, un-hook winch line ( the line takes the place) use motor if needed, pay off line and release yourself into the water. WATCH that you get the line back and don't wrap arounf the prop! (speaking from experience
You can also get line that is just short enough to not reach all the way back to prop. You can also use a spring type combination if real tricky ramp/dock set up or no motor use. Tie off stern with planty of slack and bow snatch line. Dunk boat, tie off lines, then back down more if possible to float free, boat tied to dock waiting for you. Lots of running up and down ramp but works. Experiement on non bussy days at the ramp and you'll be a pro in no time.

 

[jeffnick]

There's always the Mokee Method...
Back to the water
Fix long lines from bow and stern to dock cleats
Put stern in water - undo bow strap
Back in until boat floats
Pull boat to dock using the long lines

Retrieval:
Tie up to the dock
Back trailer way in
Pull out enough winch line to attach to bow using Captain Hook

http://www.cdp-captainhook.com/
Winch boat up on trailer

 

[ryanc2]

There's always the Mokee Method...
Back to the water
Fix long lines from bow and stern to dock cleats
Put stern in water - undo bow strap
Back in until boat floats
Pull boat to dock using the long lines

That's exactly what I did...that is until I sprayed my bunks with silicone and watched my boat no longer just "float off" but rather shoot off the back of my trailer :shock:

Good thing she was still hooked to the winch. It was kind of funny watching my buddy almost break his hand trying to stop that spinning winch handle :lol:

 

[Mokee]

B-Faithful said

sandy point state park with 22 ramps and all have piers

That Sandy Point is one nice facility

ryanc2 said

I sprayed my bunks with silicone and watched my boat no longer just "float off" but rather shoot off the back of my trailer

BTDT & put a little bend in the skeg too

Dave said

I just wear shorts and sandals and wade into the water

My closest ramp here on the Chicago Waterway System is located on what we call the "Poo River." There are signs all around the ramp saying don't even think about touching the water. The CWS is the future home of the asian carp & the means by which the metro sanitary district sends all our sewage to St. Louis via Peoria and the IL river. I wear latex gloves when I wipe off my hull after using that ramp.

Here's what I do if there's no finger pier next to the ramp. Secure the bitter end of a long line on one midship cleat and run it forward past the winch post and back to the opposite midship cleat. Back in and walk the trailer pole, release the strap, climb up to the bow using the spare tire as a step, light her up and use the engine to litely hold the bow against the bow roller, take in the line and motor over to the courtesy dock. I kinda reverse the procedure to recover.

Jeff in Spartanburg has the slickest launching system I've ever seen. He just exits from the back of his van onto some steps up to the bow.

 

[jcmcclellan]

Back into the water. Take the bow line that is attached to the bow cleat, take four wraps around the top of the winch post. Tie stern cleat off to dock with plenty of slack to allow boat to come free from trailer. Release the winch and unhook cable/strap from boat. Slowly unwind rope from winch post. Boat should roll/ float off trailer in nice controlled manner. Tie bow line to dock and readjust stern line. Park truck, get in boat and go fishin. I go out 80% of the time solo and thats how I do it. Works great, fast and easy.

 

[fogwarning]

As an aside, ALWAYS leave the safety chain attached until you are ready to release the winch from the bow eye. If you do not, you are putting all of your faith into the dog on the winch to hold the boat while you position it to launch. I watched a guy launch his boat in the middle of the parking lot when he pulled forward because the winch dog gave way and the winch went into free spool. He pulled forward and his boat didn't. Leaving the safety chain attached would have prevented that accident.

Fog.

 

[Mokee]

As an aside, ALWAYS leave the safety chain attached until you are ready to release the winch from the bow eye.

Should go w/o saying. (Although Parker hulls are damn near indestructible.)

Another aside, IMO the safety chains, winches & straps are often the most neglected parts on a trailer. Faded portion of a strap between hook and winch makes me nervous. Also saw an "S" hook straightened by a boat backing off the trailer because chain still hooked to bow.

No wonder local boys pull up a lawn chair with 6 pack at the ramp.