A Little Advice Please

This topic has 9 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 15 years ago by billius.

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June 13, 2011 at 1:04 pm #302577

Bassin8r
Participant

I am wanting to fish our local districts ABA tourneys and need some advice on how to get my boat (1995 PII, 10 Mercury EFI, single axle trailer) launched by myself on ramps where there is not a boat dock right on the ramp. I am used to launching where I can float the boat off the trailer and get out of the vehicle to tie it to the dock before parking. The day of the event is not a problem since there is usually someone there who is able to back you in so you can stay in the boat. It is while I am by myself during practice, that I am not sure what the best way to do this is. I figured you guys would have some good ways to do this, so please pass them along. Thanks.

June 13, 2011 at 1:14 pm #302578

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

Have another boater ferry you to your rig, or ferry them to theirs and let them float while you park your rig. Just dont forget the drain plug in those cases.

June 13, 2011 at 1:38 pm #302579

Bassdeer
Participant

What I have done in the past is get a cheap pair of chest waders(the real cheap kind, PVC or plastic kind) Anchor the boat in 2 or 3 feet of water take off your shoes and put the waders on and walk to shore. These are the waders I got for that trick on Ebay, they work great.http://cgi.ebay.com/2-PAIRS-CHEST-HIGH- … 2564877ff2

June 13, 2011 at 1:55 pm #302580

Bassin8r
Participant

Thanks for the feedback guys. I guess I better clarify a little. There are some docks I can drive the boat over to, they just are not right next to the ramp where I can tie it off as it comes off the trailer. If I leave the bow eye hooked on and back it in most, but not all the way, can I climb in start the motor and after unhooking the bow, use the outboard to get the boat the rest of the way off and drive over to the dock? I appreciate everyones help.

June 13, 2011 at 2:14 pm #302581

60av8tor
Participant

Same as smbass – which, I think is the method most self-launchers use. Work out a little winch stap, float it off, pull it back up to the trailer, step on, and youre off. Only issue is if the dock is too far, youre tying up a lane for the time it takes you to get back to the truck. Best bet, IMO, in those cases is a Hambys

June 13, 2011 at 2:27 pm #302582

Bassin8r
Participant

Thanks guys. Been wanting a Hambys, but for now will have to work with the winch strap idea.

June 13, 2011 at 2:29 pm #302583

1958
Participant

Bassin8r – thats how I launch most of the time by myself. I leave the front strap on and back up deep enough to see the back of boat just start to float. Then I unhook the strap and motor back off the trailer to tie up to the dock. The thing is to make sure you back up enough so the back of boat just starts floating but not so deep it would float over the fenders. This will make it slide off the trailer easy – last thing you want to do is have to gun the motor to back it off before it has had time to warm up.

June 13, 2011 at 4:24 pm #302584

60av8tor
Participant

Bassin8r wrote: Thanks guys. Been wanting a Hambys, but for now will have to work with the winch strap idea.Bassin – forgot to add the best piece of advice I was given when I started launching by myself. Once you find the sweet spot to float your boat off the trailer – not too shallow that you cant move it off the trailer, not too deep that it floats completely off and is now next to your trailer (been there) – take note of the level of the water line on your trailer fenders. Pretty soon you can back in to that level and stop – 90% of the time youll be good. The back of the boat will be light enough to work. Granted this will change with the steepness of the ramp, but can be used as pretty good guide.

June 13, 2011 at 4:24 pm #302585

Bassin8r
Participant

Thanks, that is what I needed to know. Ill be out there trying it this weekend.

June 13, 2011 at 8:58 pm #302586

billius
Participant

After many years of “practice,” I just back mine down to the sweet spot where I know it wont drift off the trailer. I get out, unhook the winch strap, get in the boat, fire up the engine, let it warm up and back it off to park it at the dock.
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