How many load and unload their boat alone

[John McLaughlin]

I am curious to know how many take their boat on and off the trailer my themselves?

 

[FloJet]

+1 sometimes here

 

[Pinhacker71]

Sometimes. Not my favorite thing to do.

 

[Dough]

Always. Wife will park the empty trailer if it's not busy at the ramp. Plan is to change this, this year with a little practice.

 

[Scottintexas]

I did for five years, the dock was not next to the ramp, now the kids are mature enough to unload the boat and pick me up at the dock, A boat trip just became SO much easier,

 

[Wayloncle]

Every. Single. Time.‍

I've gotten pretty proficient at it though, I'm still quicker than a lot of people that have several "helpers" at the ramp.

 

[rrmidden]

I used to, sort of. When we first got the boat, wife was afraid to park the trailer or drive the boat, so I would launch the boat, wife would hold the boat while I parked the trailer. Now she's comfortable enough parking the trailer, so I'll back the boat into the ramp, climb in, the wife will finish backing the boat into the water, and I'll drive the boat off. Then I'll get the boat ready, stow gear, open bimini top, etc. while she parks the trailer and then I'll pick her up.

On the return to the ramp, I'll drop her off, and she'll back the trailer into the water. She still gets nervous backing in, but she actually does a very good job. Last summer, the ramp was pretty busy, not like 4th of July busy, but by coincidence 3-4 boats were either picking up or dropping off when we were heading in. I asked her if she wanted me to get the trailer, she begrudgingly said she'd do it. She's waiting for her preferred spot to open, but an idiot on either side of her is taking forever. So she wipes the trailer around, backs in around other people and I drive up, hook the boat, and we leave. I told her she did a great job, but in reality, I'm not sure I've ever been more proud of her, in anything, not just backing the trailer in. (I'm not sure how much of it was skill, luck, or just anger with the amount of time people were taking to do something that shouldn't take more than 2 minutes, but she looked like a pro.)

 

[BBottoms]

Always. Wife will park the empty trailer if it's not busy at the ramp. Plan is to change this, this year with a little practice.

This. I back it most of the way down the ramp then the wife backs it in the final 20ft and parks the truck. Pretty much everything else is me, including retrieving the truck and loading at the end of the day.

I have put in completely by myself on a few occasions. Always low traffic times.

Every. Single. Time.‍

I've gotten pretty proficient at it though, I'm still quicker than a lot of people that have several "helpers" at the ramp.

Also this. I'm not sure what some people are doing but I'm usually half way across the lake before the average recreational boater even gets backed down the ramp. Bass boats are another story. Those guys are generally very efficient.

 

[bronze_10]

I told my wife before we bought the boat... I will not buy one if i had to everything we do not buy one.! Now we get to the boat ramp and pull to the side way in the back of the parking lot to prep.. then ahe drives the truck and trailer to the ramp and backs us in... then parks the truck.. she will even drive the truck to and from the lake sometimes!!!!

 

[bumpy]

By myself all the time, except 1 a year at Lake Winnepesaukee in NH. There, I pay a local marina to do all the trailer work so my wife won't have to.

 

[chess]

Can I answer this at the end of the summer LOL...

Last year I trailered... This year I have a lift.... Its not cheap, but it is UN metered power and water...

 

[Neutron]

Always
One thing my wife loves about this boat

 

[mark_m]

Still hopeful .... maybe this season. I do all solo.

 

[haknslash]

I launch solo 100%. My wife doesn't feel comfortable learning how to drive a truck with trailer. She does help with getting the fenders and lines ready or holding the boat to the dock but that's about it as far as launch/retrieve help goes. I also take the boat out alone quite a lot and that's why I have SeaDek on the bow as it keeps from scratching the gelcoat and provides good traction when you climb off the trailer and into the boat at the ramp.

 

[bronze_10]

My wife doesn't want to u load the boat or put it back on the trailer.. she would rather back up the trailer... but she is gonna learn this year!!

 

[Rod5]

Just like BBottoms, "I back it most of the way down the ramp then the wife backs it in the final 20ft and parks the truck. Pretty much everything else is me, including retrieving the truck and loading at the end of the day." but I must add she does a great job parking the trk/trailer and helping prep before launch and pack things up before we leave the ramp for home.
That's how we roll!

Do all our prep work ahead before blocking the ramp, Also like he says were in a cove BBQ'ing before some of these jokers are done screwing around blocking the ramp...

 

[JTC1016]

Yep, I launch and retrieve alone 100% of the time also. My wife takes the kids and entertains them while I prep the boat in the prep area, launch at the ramp, tie up, park the trailer and then we all jump in and go. Like the others, I have it down to a science so it really doesn't take long.

 

[Ancient canoe]

I have no idea what's in the genetic code that makes females incapable of working a trailer. I get that they don't have experience. Everyone starts off with no experience. But it's just like they are incapable of understanding anything that you try to tell them.

 

[jameskeller76]

Sometimes. It's a piece of cake.

 

[Wake Turbulence]

Always, I'm faster by myself. Never a good lake day that starts with an argument at the boat ramp!