[Jusme]

Just wondering the best and fastest way to launch a boat alone? Didn’t want to take long and **** people off, any suggestions?

 

[Big Bay]

The biggest thing is have everything 100% ready to go before you back down. Plug in straps undone battery on and make sure it cranks the motor all gear in the boat and check the plug again. Then back down unhook it unload the boat then move the truck. Shouldn’t take more than a few minutes or less at the ramp.


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[pocjetty]

Big Bay said the most important thing. Having everything ready is 90% of the battle. I don't have words for how much it would help if everyone did that.

You still have the dirty work of getting the boat off the trailer solo, and then getting the truck parked. Make a section of rope that attaches to the boat to the trailer. Use a loop so that you can attach to the winch post easily, and remove it just as easily. The rope will let you back the boat in far enough, without risk of it floating away from you. Hop in, remove the loop end from the trailer, and back the boat out of the way quickly. Tie her up, go back and pull the truck away. I've done it so many times, it's just not that much slower than having two people. Nobody complains, nor needs to.

The other thing that gets people in trouble solo is that you have to tie the boat up so that it won't get into trouble while you walk away to park the truck. Generally speaking, that means you have to tie both ends, which takes extra time. Instead, try tying a loop into both ends of a section of rope the length of your boat or slightly more. Now hook one end onto a fore cleat, and the other end aft. That way, a single line controls both ends of the boat. You can loop the middle of that bridle rope to a dock cleat, and the boat can't swing on you. Instead of having to spend time tying both ends, you can secure the boat in a matter of seconds.

One other thing that helps: "bridle" the boat by having a single piece of dock line with a loop in both ends that connect to a front and a back cleat.

 

[CSN]

First of all, thanks for caring enough to ask, and do something that helps yourself, and everyone.

I agree with BB and POC, #1 is have everything ready before pulling into the launch.

I have, a few times, let another boat go before me if they have a couple of people doing the launch, but this has also back-fired on me, when it takes them 10-15 min to launch, and I can do it, alone, in less than 5.

Also, have it thought out: what are the current and wind going to do with the boat, when you tie it off. Are there other boats you are going to have to contend with (is there an _ss fishing from the BOAT dock)?

It just takes some Uncommon sense, and consideration of others...and you'll get better and faster at it with time.

 

[LaddH]

Big Bay said the most important thing. Having everything ready is 90% of the battle. I don't have words for how much it would help if everyone did that.

You still have the dirty work of getting the boat off the trailer solo, and then getting the truck parked. Make a section of rope that attaches to the boat to the trailer. Use a loop so that you can attach to the winch post easily, and remove it just as easily. The rope will let you back the boat in far enough, without risk of it floating away from you. Hop in, remove the loop end from the trailer, and back the boat out of the way quickly. Tie her up, go back and pull the truck away. I've done it so many times, it's just not that much slower than having two people. Nobody complains, nor needs to.

The other thing that gets people in trouble solo is that you have to tie the boat up so that it won't get into trouble while you walk away to park the truck. Generally speaking, that means you have to tie both ends, which takes extra time. Instead, try tying a loop into both ends of a section of rope the length of your boat or slightly more. Now hook one end onto a fore cleat, and the other end aft. That way, a single line controls both ends of the boat. You can loop the middle of that bridle rope to a dock cleat, and the boat can't swing on you. Instead of having to spend time tying both ends, you can secure the boat in a matter of seconds.

One other thing that helps: "bridle" the boat by having a single piece of dock line with a loop in both ends that connect to a front and a back cleat.

This is the way to go.
Coming in have the bridle ready to go.

 

[TTH]

I launch and Fish by myself quite a bit.

Here is what I do:

-Boat and Gear is 100% ready prior to me moving into position to back down ramp or even in line to approach the ramp.
-Parking spot already Identified
-Rope tied onto frot cleat already
-I back Down ramp
-Once almost in water I stop and undo the winch lock, but leave it still clipped to Front Eye on Boat
-I back Down and float the boat Start the engine
-Remove Winch and Tie Boat off on a cleat at the dock
-Park Truck
-Get on Boat and move out of the way

I can do all of this in less time than most people can launch their boat with 5 people helping them.

There is nothing more entertaining than watching people launch and Load their Boats, but there is also nothing more frustrating then people who have zero consideration to others waiting to Load/Unload.

 

[Txjames]

TTH is close to the same routine I use and I also launch alone almost all the time. The only difference is that 20+ years ago I started using teflon on my trailer. So I back in until the stern floats, I get out and unhook and the boat comes right off the trailer. I walk it out of the way, drop the power pole and park the truck. Honestly, I would rather launch alone.

 

[gman1772]

I launch and Fish by myself quite a bit.

Here is what I do:

-Boat and Gear is 100% ready prior to me moving into position to back down ramp or even in line to approach the ramp.
-Parking spot already Identified
-Rope tied onto frot cleat already
-I back Down ramp
-Once almost in water I stop and undo the winch lock, but leave it still clipped to Front Eye on Boat
-I back Down and float the boat Start the engine
-Remove Winch and Tie Boat off on a cleat at the dock
-Park Truck
-Get on Boat and move out of the way

I can do all of this in less time than most people can launch their boat with 5 people helping them.

There is nothing more entertaining than watching people launch and Load their Boats, but there is also nothing more frustrating then people who have zero consideration to others waiting to Load/Unload.

I don't mess with the winch until I float the stern of the boat. Other than that it's my routine to a tee. If you are launching at a ramp with a decent dock you can pull the boat out of the way with your shore line. That way the ramp gets cleared quicker.

As a side note I gear out with waders/wade boots before I launch my boat. If you do lose your shore line you are ready go in and get it.

Tight Lines.

 

[Gofish2day]

Get 75ft of rope.
Tie to front of boat
Tie to back of truck - Make sure rope will peel out and not tangle
ease trailer back slow and just bump the boat off - not too hard
Pull trailer up till the back of truck is accessible without getting feet wet (boat is floating back slow)
Untie rope
Walk rope to dock and pull boat to dock
Tie boat to Dock
Go move truck

I do this all the time with 100% ease!!!!! I am usually faster then about 5 out of 10 others with 2 people launching.
You boat should be drifting back very slow when you bump it off. Remember bump the boat off slow.....slowly drifting back.

* do this when you have non-boaters you cannot trust with the truck - trailer - or boat too!

 

[TheKodiak]

Get 75ft of rope.
Tie to front of boat
Tie to back of truck - Make sure rope will peel out and not tangle
ease trailer back slow and just bump the boat off - not too hard
Pull trailer up till the back of truck is accessible without getting feet wet (boat is floating back slow)
Untie rope
Walk rope to dock and pull boat to dock
Tie boat to Dock
Go move truck

I do this all the time with 100% ease!!!!! I am usually faster then about 5 out of 10 others with 2 people launching.
You boat should be drifting back very slow when you bump it off. Remember bump the boat off slow.....slowly drifting back.

* do this when you have non-boaters you cannot trust with the truck - trailer - or boat too!

I do the same thing. Simple yet effective...

 

[TexasTiger01]

 https://youtu.be/y5ejwRj9t1Q

 

[SaltwaterSlick]

One thing that hasn't been mentioned...Turn your lights off if it's dark!! (park lights are OK, but no fog or head lights)...

 

[reelthreat]

It might've been said earlier but I will say it again... when you launch and tie up make sure other people can launch while you are moving your truck. Sometime it takes a lot longer to park than launch. Nothing worse than waiting 5-10 minutes with a boat in the middle of the ramp with no one in it...

Also, don't be in a panicked rush to get out of the way. That's how mistakes happen and it will take you longer. Just have a good thought out plan and follow it. It will get smooth with time and practice.

 

[Permit Rat]

I don't launch from the trailer very often, but my new trailer has an electric winch, like what I used to use in the Keys. With this, you do not use the trailer as a float-on. In fact, your hubs or axles shouldn't even get wet, which will save a little on the corrosion factor. My new winch has a remote, but even the ones without remotes can be used from the end of the trailer, by installing an inexpensive modification (cable).

The big difference in the trailer is that most of the weight of the boat is held by the rollers. Bunks are used only for maintaining level and stabilization. This way the skiff can easily be pushed off the trailer and into the water.

When I launch, I run the cable down to the end of the trailer, and I am ready for pick-up at the end of the day. When I want to come out, I back the trailer down to just before the hubs/axle gets wet and then nose the boat up to the rear roller, connect the cable and hit the remote.

The only drawback to a power winch, is its slow speed. But I am usually first in and last out, so people don't have to wait for me.

 

[kawboy]

There's no super fast way. As long as you are as ready as you can be when you put the boat in the water. I often go alone and just put the boat in as far as I can and then move it off with a long rope and then tie it off, move the truck. about five min. People just need to be patient. Many years ago I was tying off my boat and turned to go move the truck(like I said it takes me 5-6 min) and saw a kid(19-20) trying to open my door(locked of course) After yelling at him he said " I was just trying to help". His dad was waiting to pull in. He came very close to having a bad weekend.

 

[acoastalbender]

Whenever I did this I would try and launch alongside a dock with cleats (and most do) ... had a long enough rope already tied to the bow and a dock cleat and laid up on the dock so it wouldn't tangle (be sure to account for obstructions on the boat and trailer) ... then slowly back down and when it starts to float hit the brakes then pull up out of water, set e-brake and don't turn off engine, draw boat back to dock by hand & tie up on the opposite side of the dock (so others can use the ramp) ... park and return ...

.

 

[dunedawg]

100 or so years ago, I was fishing a club tournament. I had already launched and was waiting on start time. I saw this old man pull up in a car, pulling an old bomber style bass boat. He backed down the ramp fast, splashed the boat in the water, and it shot off the back, until it got to the end of the rope he had tied off. He then got out, took the end of the rope and pulled it over to the dock out of the way. Whole thing took a couple of minutes. Not his first rodeo!!
BTW, he won the tournament.

 

[JBAggie99]

I launch solo 75% of the time. The step by step how-tos have been covered well by others. Works for just about any size boat. Main thing is have everything ready so you are just dealing with the boat and truck. As long as you do what you have too without stopping to BS with someone or doing unnecessary stuff, most people are way more patient than you think they are. Don't stress yourself out over it. One other point, try to avoid launching at times that you know are going to be extremely busy such as when a large tournament is going on. I always come a little earlier or later. It is just a little less stress on you, not that there is anything wrong with doing it. Sometimes there are limited spots to tie up to when you are trying to move your truck.

 

[dk2429]

Like bigbay said, have everything 110% ready before you back down.. My operation a little different from others...

Before I even back down I LOOSEN the bow strap. I don't unhook it, I put about 1-2ft of slack in it and then lock the winch.

Back down until the boat floats completely off (might have to tap the brakes a few times to get it to slide off.) The strap will catch the boat and hold it. Get in, crank up, unhook strap, dock, park the truck.

No need to have ropes out tied up to the trailer and all that. Just use the bow strap. Also, this will only work if you have a bunk trailer.

 

[DA REEL DADDY]

I saw the funniest thing one time. I was at Matagorda Harbor waiting for a friend and these guides are getting there launching their boat about as quick as I've ever seen.

One the guides makes his way up to me and another gentleman, who I was speaking with and enjoying some coffee, and joined in in our small conversation, just being friendly.

This young guide came up in his truck and boat backed in real fast, hit the break, the boat went flying off his trailer and the boat start floating down the dock at a high rate of speed. Well anybody can tell you that Matagorda Harbor has real long docks. The young guide, jumped out of his truck, started running down the dock, caught up to his boat, jumped , started it, and tied it off.

We were all thinking, wow that was kind of nifty, but no one said anything, except for the older guide, who said, geez, I wish I was still young.