Launching by Yourself

[fishinwrench]

Yeah a 10" strip of tread plate welded or bolted to the Starboard side of the trailer frame would be nice sometimes.  

I don't understand the concern about the winch strap.   You ain't gonna break that thing unless it's old and rotten.   Hell I've pulled trucks out of ditches with them.  

[MOPanfisher]

Yeah, and I have broken a couple of rotten ones then tied them to the hook at least one is still in use several years later still re tied and working fine.  I really am not.concerned about breaking it and realistically it is probably the easiest to do.  I may end up using that method.  But then what will I do with the halter rope I salvaged from somewhere?

[fishinwrench]

1 hour ago, MOPanfisher said:

 But then what will I do with the halter rope I salvaged from somewhere?

How long has it been since you practiced you jump-roping skills ?  Criss-cross Applesauce !

Or make a lariat, lil'cowpoke.  

Reclaim THOSE skills and getting in/out of that bassboat will be a cake walk.  

[jdmidwest]

Use the rope and make a stirrup on the front of the boat to step up on.

 

[DADAKOTA]

I launch all the time by myself.  I typically try to pick ramps that have courtesy dock.  I give the nose strap some slack, but leave it hooked, back in next to the dock till the boat floats, step into the boat and unhook the nose, back off the trailer, tie up, and pull trailer out.  Loading is just as simple.  Back trailer next to dock, drive boat on, hook nose strap and tighten, step onto dock, winch the boat up, drive up to tie it down and on the way home.  If no courtesy dock adjacent to ramp I back in with tailgate open, step up on rear tire and get in pickup bed then onto trailer where I unhook the boat and crawl up on the front deck, drive it off and wither beach it or dock it.  Loading is just the reverse.  Still best to take someone along and make loading and unloading easier.

 

While we are talking about ramps and boats.  DO NOT leave anyone in your vehicle while loading or unloading your boat unless they are in the drivers seat.  At the lake I fish frequently, a father left his young Son in a car seat in the back seat while he went to untie boat and load it.  Car came out of gear and rolled into the water.  Luckily someone had a tire iron and they were able to smash through the rear window and get the young man out before the vehicle totally submerged.  He was fine.  Very lucky deal as the water was in the upper 30s.  Saw another fella back down the ramp and jump out and put a brick behind each tire.  Said he couldn't unload the boat without it creeping down the ramp.  More than one vehicle has been drug out of the water by the local tow companies.  Have your passengers stand out of the way if they are not driving the vehicle and you won't have a worry.  

[MOPanfisher]

7 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

How long has it been since you practiced you jump-roping skills ?  Criss-cross Applesauce !

Or make a lariat, lil'cowpoke.  

Reclaim THOSE skills and getting in/out of that bassboat will be a cake walk.  

Way too long, actually though it would probably be good exercise for my knees, way back in high school jumping rope was part of basketball practice and I was pretty good at it, also 30+ years younger.  Hmm on second thought maybe I will just hang it in the barn for another purpose yet to be determined.