New-ish boater, don't want to be "that guy"..

Rocko · 10-03-2024, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcguirej

I was docked at Center Harbor for a couple hours on Tuesday and was the only boat there. The ramp is wide and a great place to practice without an audience.

I don’t mind an audience. If one laughs without offering help, it just shows their character. I just need someone to teach me a practical way to launch/retrieve if I happen to by myself.

mcguirej · 10-03-2024, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocko

I don’t mind an audience. If one laughs without offering help, it just shows their character. I just need someone to teach me a practical way to launch/retrieve if I happen to by myself.

Haha in that case maybe try Meredith? I believe a few inland marinas pull boats there for winter storage. The guys I spoke with when docking next to the ramp were super friendly and knowledgeable. Though in my experience that’s been the norm on the lake!

Descant · 10-03-2024, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocko

I don’t mind an audience. If one laughs without offering help, it just shows their character. I just need someone to teach me a practical way to launch/retrieve if I happen to by myself.

I used to keep long bow and stern lines, push the boat off the trailer and pull it back in and secure it while I parked the car. That was on a beach on Half Moon Lake. In the other direction I used Glendale. Everybody there was experienced and willing to hold the lines to assist me. Asking for help in advance pretty much guarantees no embarrassment and a quicker launch/retrieve. Much easier than asking for help getting you out of a SNAFU after the fact. If the boat ahead of you in line has just one wench, offering assistance is mandatory.

8gv · 10-03-2024, 12:50 PM

I solo launch my 17' center console using this method:

Up on the hard...

Using a dedicated prepared line about 10' long, I first put the loop end through the bow cleat and then bend the other end of the line to the other bow cleat.

Next I pull the center of the line over the trailer winch post which leans away from the boat.

At the ramp...

Once the trailer wheels are in the water I remove the winch hook and safety chain hook from the boat.

I then back the boat in deep enough to just barely float off the trailer.

That allows me access to the trailer tongue without getting my feet wet.
For more shallow ramps I wear 20" boots.

The line from the bow cleats to the winch post holds the boat close enough for me to climb into the boat.

I thought I might need some sort of ladder for this but using the tongue, winch post and spare tire, it works without one.

Once inside, I start the motor, pull the line off the winch post and motor over to tie up at the dock.

A few times guys have suggested that I am taking too long.

I tell them that I am launching solo and they may park my car and trailer for me if they wish.

So far only one guy did that and nobody has stolen my car!

To collect the boat onto the trailer I do the reverse but have added a plank like walking surface on the trailer frame.

It gives me a bigger target when I slide off the bow onto the trailer.

rick35 · 10-03-2024, 04:13 PM

Most times you'll find someone to help. I offer whenever I can and I find a lot of other people do too. We were loading the boat a few weeks ago at Sheps and a guy with new fishing boat was untying to put it on the trailer. He made a comment about being nervous about getting it on the trailer. The next time I looked over someone had gone over to his trailer to help. That's how most people are. As long as you can back the trailer in you won't have any trouble. And you can practice that in a parking lot.

Descant · 10-03-2024, 05:28 PM

I am totally impressed by how easily everybody on this thread readily will ask for and offer help to fellow yachtsmen. Good for us.

rick35 · 10-03-2024, 06:21 PM

And what impresses me further is that it's rubbing off on the next generation. A couple of times I docked at the cattle landing this summer with its usual chop and kids about 13 came over and asked if they could help with the lines. I thanked them and then commented to the adults with them about how impressed I was with their helpfulness.

NH.Solar · 10-03-2024, 07:39 PM

1. As soon as the slope of the ramp can help, put your transmission in neutral and let gravity do the work rather than having your brakes fighting with the transmission in reverse. This is especially true with front wheel cars.
2. Don't submerge the trailer too deeply or you will never get the boat to line up squarely on the pads/rollers. It depends on the slope of ramp, but often the proper spot is when the trailer wheels just begin to submerge. It does make sense however when loading to initially back in a bit too deep to get the bunks fully wettened and then pull back out to the depth you want load at
3. Don't pull the boat out until you have two lines securing it. The winch strap/rope is your primary, but you do want to have a secondary justin case the primary lets go. I often used my boweye rope and just loosely secured it to the winch upright ...just in case.
4. As soon as the boat is out of the water, secure the stern with tie-downs
5. If you are having a hard time figuring out which way to turn your vehicle steering wheel while backing up, just put your hand at bottom dead center of your auto's wheel and turn the wheel in the direction you want the trailer to go.

TiltonBB · 10-05-2024, 09:08 AM

Depending upon the slope of the ramp I let about 2 feet of winch strap out and re-lock the winch before backing down a ramp. When I reach the desired launch point I stop a little abruptly so that the boat slides back using that two feet of slack. This will break any adhesion to the trailer and get the boat into deeper water enabling it to float off the trailer more easily.

Also, if a straight back ramp approach is not available, when possible, the preferred approach to backing a trailer is backing the trailer to the left. Your visibility in the mirror and out the drivers side window is better than when the trailer is to the right.

10-03-2024, 05:28 PM	#6
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,598 Thanks: 1,418 Thanked 1,705 Times in 1,109 Posts	being helpful I am totally impressed by how easily everybody on this thread readily will ask for and offer help to fellow yachtsmen. Good for us.

10-03-2024, 07:39 PM	#8
NH.Solar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Jackson Pond, New Hampton Posts: 248 Thanks: 48 Thanked 142 Times in 79 Posts	1. As soon as the slope of the ramp can help, put your transmission in neutral and let gravity do the work rather than having your brakes fighting with the transmission in reverse. This is especially true with front wheel cars. 2. Don't submerge the trailer too deeply or you will never get the boat to line up squarely on the pads/rollers. It depends on the slope of ramp, but often the proper spot is when the trailer wheels just begin to submerge. It does make sense however when loading to initially back in a bit too deep to get the bunks fully wettened and then pull back out to the depth you want load at 3. Don't pull the boat out until you have two lines securing it. The winch strap/rope is your primary, but you do want to have a secondary justin case the primary lets go. I often used my boweye rope and just loosely secured it to the winch upright ...just in case. 4. As soon as the boat is out of the water, secure the stern with tie-downs 5. If you are having a hard time figuring out which way to turn your vehicle steering wheel while backing up, just put your hand at bottom dead center of your auto's wheel and turn the wheel in the direction you want the trailer to go. __________________ Peter NH Solar Last edited by NH.Solar; 10-05-2024 at 01:02 PM.

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10-03-2024, 12:50 PM	#4
8gv Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2,195 Thanks: 63 Thanked 764 Times in 497 Posts	I solo launch my 17' center console using this method: Up on the hard... Using a dedicated prepared line about 10' long, I first put the loop end through the bow cleat and then bend the other end of the line to the other bow cleat. Next I pull the center of the line over the trailer winch post which leans away from the boat. At the ramp... Once the trailer wheels are in the water I remove the winch hook and safety chain hook from the boat. I then back the boat in deep enough to just barely float off the trailer. That allows me access to the trailer tongue without getting my feet wet. For more shallow ramps I wear 20" boots. The line from the bow cleats to the winch post holds the boat close enough for me to climb into the boat. I thought I might need some sort of ladder for this but using the tongue, winch post and spare tire, it works without one. Once inside, I start the motor, pull the line off the winch post and motor over to tie up at the dock. A few times guys have suggested that I am taking too long. I tell them that I am launching solo and they may park my car and trailer for me if they wish. So far only one guy did that and nobody has stolen my car! To collect the boat onto the trailer I do the reverse but have added a plank like walking surface on the trailer frame. It gives me a bigger target when I slide off the bow onto the trailer.

10-03-2024, 04:13 PM	#5
rick35 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Bear Island/Merrimack Posts: 807 Thanks: 58 Thanked 203 Times in 130 Posts	Most times you'll find someone to help. I offer whenever I can and I find a lot of other people do too. We were loading the boat a few weeks ago at Sheps and a guy with new fishing boat was untying to put it on the trailer. He made a comment about being nervous about getting it on the trailer. The next time I looked over someone had gone over to his trailer to help. That's how most people are. As long as you can back the trailer in you won't have any trouble. And you can practice that in a parking lot.

10-03-2024, 06:21 PM	#7
rick35 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Bear Island/Merrimack Posts: 807 Thanks: 58 Thanked 203 Times in 130 Posts	And what impresses me further is that it's rubbing off on the next generation. A couple of times I docked at the cattle landing this summer with its usual chop and kids about 13 came over and asked if they could help with the lines. I thanked them and then commented to the adults with them about how impressed I was with their helpfulness.

The Following User Says Thank You to rick35 For This Useful Post:
Descant (10-03-2024)

10-05-2024, 09:08 AM	#9
TiltonBB Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Gilford, NH and Florida Posts: 3,163 Thanks: 750 Thanked 2,277 Times in 986 Posts	Depending upon the slope of the ramp I let about 2 feet of winch strap out and re-lock the winch before backing down a ramp. When I reach the desired launch point I stop a little abruptly so that the boat slides back using that two feet of slack. This will break any adhesion to the trailer and get the boat into deeper water enabling it to float off the trailer more easily. Also, if a straight back ramp approach is not available, when possible, the preferred approach to backing a trailer is backing the trailer to the left. Your visibility in the mirror and out the drivers side window is better than when the trailer is to the right.