”All by myself” remember that song?-well if I’m lucky and healthy enough to fish I’m not going to fill the lake with too many tears.
So I am kinda new to this big boat bunk trailer thing, if the lake has a dock I am usually fine, otherwise I struggle. Might at some point switch out to rollers- for now i’m looking for tips and tricks.
Thanks
Attach a 50′ rope to the boat, and to the trailer.
Unhook everything (bunk trailers only, and above freezing)
Back the boat in, let it float off with some momentum.
Pull the trailer out of the water.
Untie from trailer.
Pull the boat over to the dock or ahead and beach it.
What Bman said. Or look at a Drotto launch. I will not go back to a roller trailer anytime soon.
Drotto for loading…
Th Marine launch cord for solo launching…
Without a Dock the rope method B-man gave is the best. Just make sure to pull the boat to the non landing side of the dock or better yet beach it next to, but out of the way of the landing while parking the tow vehicle. I fish solo 75% of the time and can load and upload my boat faster than 90% of the people who have several people helping them. It just takes some practice and planning.
For us Ulterra owners, who has the guts to actually try the commercial and launch with the remote?
Just make sure to pull the boat to the non landing side of the dock or better yet beach it next to, but out of the way of the landing while parking the tow vehicle.
This is a mistake I see a lot of people make, whether they are solo or with someone who cannot help much. Move your boat out of the way while you park your vehicle so that the next person can use the ramp. If you need to tie it up or have someone hold it at the dock, don’t do it right IN the access point.
Opening day is not for rookies. If you aren’t proficient at this, don’t start when its busy otherwise you will cause major issues and make enemies at the access very quickly. Do it a non-peak time when there is minimal people using the access. Eventually you’ll get your own system down and it won’t take long.
Bunk trailer makes it easy, back in till almost floating, walk back unhook front, hop in, once you are in the back, drive off. Putting back on with a bunk is the easiest, back in the proper amount, drive on, latch and crank tight. Easy peasy.
Opening day is not for rookies. If you aren’t proficient at this, don’t start when its busy otherwise you will cause major issues and make enemies at the access very quickly.
Why is it called rookie day then?
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>gimruis wrote:</div>
Opening day is not for rookies. If you aren’t proficient at this, don’t start when its busy otherwise you will cause major issues and make enemies at the access very quickly.Why is it called rookie day then?
you actually gave me an idea. maybe ill just grab a cooler and some beer and set the lawn chair up next to greys bay
The courtesy dock at my standard launch ramp is 30 – 40 yards away from the actual ramp to prevent such selfishness.
I launch solo 80% of the time. I back in. Unhook, pull/drive to the opposite side of the dock as the launch (or beach the boat if it’s busy), go park, hop in and go fish.
I work evenings/nights so I mostly fish weekday mornings and don’t have to deal with people at launched often. I’ll have my buddy back me in this weekend on opener so it won’t be a pain.
I fish solo a lot, too. All great tips. Have roller on my current and last boat. My current boat, you sneeze on it and it will roll off the trailer (which I may have learned the heard way once). But on the plus side, it’s super easy to unload. Long rope is key. And to be honest, whenever possible I try to pick non-busy times, or at least launch where it’s easy to beach near the dock so I’m not taking up dock space while loading etc. Also…you’d be surprised how helpful some guys are, too, and maybe help you out a bit.
I’d love to know how someone parks a vehicle, and moves their boat at the same time Gimruis? That would be a sight to see!
I back in just far enough that I can drive the boat off, but it wont float away. This allows you to quickly hop out of the truck, get in the boat, drive to the dock, and then run back to your truck. Just make sure you have your dock lines and bumpers out and ready to help accelerate the process. It’s by far the fastest way I’ve found. It takes a little trial and error to find that sweet spot. I launch my boat alone multiple times a week and often times faster than the guys next to me who have a helper.
My guess is the landings will be kind of crazy this year anyway with more people launching alone who never have before. I wouldn’t let anyone tell you not to go fishing just because the landing will be busy and you might be a little slower. Rookie or not people need to be a little more patient. We’re all just trying to get out fishing. Bring with an extra donut and enjoy the show while you wait!
I fish solo a lot, too. All great tips. Have roller on my current and last boat. My current boat, you sneeze on it and it will roll off the trailer (which I may have learned the heard way once).
Saw this happen with a brand new Alumicraft at the launch on White Bear a few years ago. I had just pulled my boat out and a guy was backing his in (his buddy was backing him in, he was in the boat). Guy in the boat says stop I think because he forgot the plug, buddy driving the boat stops very quickly and there went the boat off the rollers and right onto the skeg. It was like slow motion in my eyes. I even ran over to help right as the owner had jumped out of the boat to try and stop it. Tell you what I learned though, the new Yamaha’s have a serious skeg. Took two big chunks out of the concrete on the launch and the skeg barely had a scratch.
I’m glad I have bunks because I’m sure I would’ve done that once by now if I had rollers.
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One of the nice things about having a Talon on my boat is I can launch, then pull nose in to the end of the dock out of everyone’s way and deploy the Talon. Throw a rope around the pole on the dock and with the Talon deployed I don’t have to worry about the back of the boat swinging around and blocking the ramp.
”All by myself” remember that song?-well if I’m lucky and healthy enough to fish I’m not going to fill the lake with too many tears.
So I am kinda new to this big boat bunk trailer thing, if the lake has a dock I am usually fine, otherwise I struggle. Might at some point switch out to rollers- for now i’m looking for tips and tricks.
Thanks
I’d rather show you then tell you. Let me know the next time you are launching on Mille Lacs.
Ive Got a 1750 crestliner with a roller trailer . Just back the truck far enough So i can unhook the boat without getting wet , push and the boat rolls off while i guide it to the side with a rope . Obviously never unhook until you are backed in the water if you have a roller trailer. To load it i drive on , hook the safety chain and winch up , climb down , and drive off . Can all be done pretty quickly when you get used to it
For us Ulterra owners, who has the guts to actually try the commercial and launch with the remote?
Thats all I do now. Back in and drive away to park. Come back and the boat is where I left it.
One recommendation though is make sure you always check to make sure the trolling motor is operating prior to launching the boat. I always do a partial deploy and stow before I launch my boat. I figure if it works right now it will work in 30 seconds as well. Never had an issue.
All good tips above. The two biggest things for me are simple, making sure everything works before you’re at the dock and simply taking your time. Easiest way to hold everyone else up is getting into a rush/panic and forgetting to do this, that, and the other because you’re so focused on being quick and efficient. Amazing how you can forget to do the quickest, easiest things when you’re in a rush. Finding landings that avoid wind and current are big for solo-ers too.
With a small boat, I sometimes push it off the trailer and hold the rope and walk it to the far side of the dock. You need four cleats.
Don’t switch out to rollers. The best thing that ever happened to my launching and loading efficiency was a bunk trailer. If you have your bunks correctly positioned, it is nearly impossible to load a boat crooked. As far as launching, I back in to the exact depth I know will just barely begin to float the boat. From here the steps are different depending on how busy it is:
If nobody is waiting, I climb onto the bow while pushing off simultaneously, and the boat drifts backwards slowly. I have two little short ropes tied to boat cleats with a loop in the other end. I reach those over the dock cleats as I’m getting out and walk away to park the truck. I’d say this process takes me ~40 seconds once I begin backing up.
If there are other boats coming to launch I do the same first steps, but strategically back in much further away from the dock. Once I’m drifting backwards I either fire up and beach the boat if there’s sand (and have a keel guard), or I pull into one of the few open courtesy slips at my usual river launch just 10-15 yards away. This step probably adds ~30 extra seconds.
***I do not run Talons and have also seen where the spot lock plan backfired on a guy with his boat colliding into side of the dock as the motor tried to self correct in the wind***
Don’t switch out to rollers. The best thing that ever happened to my launching and loading efficiency was a bunk trailer. If you have your bunks correctly positioned, it is nearly impossible to load a boat crooked.
This
Don’t switch out to rollers. The best thing that ever happened to my launching and loading efficiency was a bunk trailer. If you have your bunks correctly positioned, it is nearly impossible to load a boat crooked. As far as launching, I back in to the exact depth I know will just barely begin to float the boat. From here the steps are different depending on how busy it is:
If nobody is waiting, I climb onto the bow while pushing off simultaneously, and the boat drifts backwards slowly. I have two little short ropes tied to boat cleats with a loop in the other end. I reach those over the dock cleats as I’m getting out and walk away to park the truck. I’d say this process takes me ~40 seconds once I begin backing up.If there are other boats coming to launch I do the same first steps, but strategically back in much further away from the dock. Once I’m drifting backwards I either fire up and beach the boat if there’s sand (and have a keel guard), or I pull into one of the few open courtesy slips at my usual river launch just 10-15 yards away. This step probably adds ~30 extra seconds.
***I do not run Talons and have also seen where the spot lock plan backfired on a guy with his boat colliding into side of the dock as the motor tried to self correct in the wind***
This sounds like it works fine , but what if your at a shallow boat landing ? Ive seen trucks backed half way into the water to get the boat to float off the bunks . Hard to do when your alone without getting wet . Roller trailers shine in this situation . Both trailer types have there benefits and drawbacks, depends on what types of landings your using
Always a pair of rubber boots in back of truck for that situation or a rope like stated above.
Like others said the rope method can work well. If you dont like cold wet feet a pair of rubber boots comes in handy to for unhooking the boat and jumping in. There is really no way around the fact that launching or loading a boat is going to take a little longer than with help. Just being prepared and having a game plan will be a big help.
I’d love to know how someone parks a vehicle, and moves their boat at the same time Gimruis? That would be a sight to see!
That’s not what I meant. After you’ve launched your boat, move it out of the way so the next person can use the access. Don’t tie it up to a cleat or the dock so that its blocking the access while you go park your truck. Move it to the other side of the access or another dock that is there for parking boats. Pontoons are the worst. They take up so much space and they’re a bit** to load and unload. They’re also very unstable on a trailer going down the road.
If you have your bunks correctly positioned, it is nearly impossible to load a boat crooked.
And if you have you roller trailer correctly positioned, it is nearly impossible to load a boat crooked.
Some folks can drive a stick shift, other folks like an automatic transmission.
My pontoon isn’t any wider than the big fishing boats, I have a bunk trailer and loading and trailering are similar to my ranger.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>hillhiker wrote:</div>
I’d love to know how someone parks a vehicle, and moves their boat at the same time Gimruis? That would be a sight to see!Pontoons are the worst. They take up so much space and they’re a bit** to load and unload. They’re also very unstable on a trailer going down the road.
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