Launching/loading boats

[llbaker2]

1 hour ago, moguy1973 said:

Electric winch is the way to go.  When my grandfather was still alive and began having issues getting around we bought him an electraic winch for the front of his trailer that ran off a 12v battery.  It replaced the hand winch.

Now there's a thought. Not sure which wold be more economical, and electric wench or a second trolling motor mounted on the stern. Use to use a canoe but dont get around well enough for that anymore. Cant bend my knee that far since having it replaced and my balance isn't very good anymore. 

Thanks.

[llbaker2]

16 minutes ago, MOPanfisher said:

I just go ahead and load with my outboard.  Never been caught, some lakes in more populated areas I have heard that yu can't even have a prop on your outboard, but I don't fish them.

Think I could get away with it but just seem wrong that have to break the law to be on the safe side or spend hundreds of dollars for a second trolling motor of electric wench unnecessarily.

[snagged in outlet 3]

I bet even if somebody called you out you would by with a warning.  

[Gavin]

I don't think that anyone would care if you did.

[Quillback]

3 hours ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

I do it all the time with 1752 60/40 Jet Blazer SS.  It helps to wet the bunks fully before you do it and I have a pair muck boats so I can just step onto the trailer then in the water.  I partially pull the troller up so only the head is in the water and drive it right up there.  At around 70% power the toque of the motor keeps in the right position without much pull on the rope.  I partially pull the troller when going over shallow shoals too.  I've already busted off one prop.

Yep, wet those bunks.  

You can get some pretty stout winches with lots of torque that will pull a fiberglass bass boat onto the trailer.  If your Jon is aluminum, you can get a winch that will easily handle it, I bought one for my trailer, I can crank it up there if I need to (19 foot fiberglass bass boat),  but power loading is my preferred method.

I'm 62 with an artificial knee.  

If necessary I can back my trailer way in, far enough that minimal cranking is needed on the winch to get the bow to the roller - what happens then is that the boat won't be centered on the trailer, but if I slowly pull the trailer out, the boat will self center.  It also helps to get either a step built onto the front of the trailer or one of those ladder deals so you can get off the bow of your boat to get to that winch without either trying to balance on the trailer rail or just jumping straight down onto the ground or water, which you don't want to do with a fake knee.

[fishinwrench]

If you only do it once or twice a year...yeah it might be a little tricky.  But after you do it several times it gets really easy.  

Old farts like you are always whining about how they can't do this and that anymore, and how they aren't as steady as they used to be ....blah blah blah ...Just get out there and do it, you'll figure out a way to get it done without busting yourself, and then you can quit worrying about how old and feeble you are.    

If I don't go fishing for awhile I fall all over the boat.   After a couple of trips out I'm as steady as I ever was.    I used to climb poles for a living, but now I get scared when I stand on a chair to change a lightbulb.   Give me some climbing gear, a stack of work orders, and in 3 days I could be running up those poles like Tarzan again.        Guarantee it.  😊 

You aren't old and feeble.... you're just rusty.

[snagged in outlet 3]

Do it while you can. Because it doesn’t last forever.  I’d rather burn out than fade away.  

[moguy1973]

1 hour ago, llbaker2 said:

Now there's a thought. Not sure which wold be more economical, and electric wench or a second trolling motor mounted on the stern. Use to use a canoe but dont get around well enough for that anymore. Cant bend my knee that far since having it replaced and my balance isn't very good anymore. 

Thanks.

I think the winch was like $150 or so and it came with like 20' of 8 or 10 gauge wire with big alligator clips that reached up to the front of his truck where he hooked onto the battery with the truck running.

[fishinwrench]

4 minutes ago, moguy1973 said:

I think the winch was like $150 or so and it came with like 20' of 8 or 10 gauge wire with big alligator clips that reached up to the front of his truck where he hooked onto the battery with the truck running.

Just splice in a pigtail and plug it into your trailer light harness.

[snagged in outlet 3]

1 hour ago, fishinwrench said:

Just splice in a pigtail and plug it into your trailer light harness.

PSA!   Watch out if you see smoke.  Trust me🤐