How many load and unload their boat alone

[bronze_10]

My wife isnt the fastest at backing up the traiker but she still does a good job while i sit quietly in the boat waiting for it to hit the water... but i really love it when the guy shows up with the 80k ski boat and 60 k truck and is trying to back down the ramp for 5 min before my wife gets there... she swings it around and we launch and she parks the traiker and i pick her up before the guy with the partially shaved head with long hair flipped to one side on the top and a beard can get his boat near the water!!

 

[Matt Phillips]

I usually have help getting the boat IN the water...but there are times when I have two different people that are each about 3/4 help. When it comes to driving the boat on/off the trailer, everyone lets me do it as it "you are welcome to put the scratches on it...not me." Thus I'm always in the boat. The challenge comes when the two help as neither are comfortable backing the trailer into the slip. In these instances, we'll park the boat at the courtesy dock back as far as we can get it. I'll then jog up to the trailer and fetch it, back it into the water, then the other two help. One will pull the boat out, and the other will crank on the winch.

The first time we did this, the plan went really well until we're about 1/2 way up the ramp and the driver slammed on the brakes, hopped out of the truck wondering what went wrong. The back-story to this is as I was blowing the water out of the engines, he heard it and thought something was wrong so stopped. Morale of the story...remember to inform your helpers about all of the steps.

I was also rather surprised last year as we dropped the boat into Tahoe. From the launch to our dock is about 1/3 mile drive and the plan was for me to take to boat to the dock, and then come back and get the truck trailer from the launch parking area. Needless to say I was shocked to get to the slip and see the car sitting there. Yep, they got sassy and managed to get through a tight lot onto the street and into another lot...without hitting anything or running over anything.

There is hope...

 

[ENC boater]

I launch it all by myself every time , right off the lift. Had to do it 1 time by myself, kudos to those that have mastered it.

 

[Chuckbig]

+1 This should be a poll! [USERGROUP=3]@Administrative[/USERGROUP]

 

[MrWizard]

I'm pretty much an expert at doing this, but when the ex and I were together she got really good at backing the truck down and parking - and then later we'd rock, paper scissors for the trailering part. She never wanted to get off the boat...And she got really good at trailering da boat.
But now - all back on me.
Time to train a rookie

 

[Julian]

+1 This should be a poll! [USERGROUP=3]@Administrative[/USERGROUP]

Changing a post to a poll is not an option...it would require a new thread....sorry.

 

[Jay Petzold]

I've done it a few times, so much easier to have someone go get the trailer and back it down the ramp but not to bad, my ramp is at a marina though so I just park the boat in the slip while I go get the truck, a lot different story at a public ramp

 

[Chuckbig]

Changing a post to a poll is not an option...it would require a new thread....sorry.

Oh darn, thanks for the response @Julian

 

[txav8r]

It's not hard to do it solo. It just takes twice as long to go park the truck and go get it loading. I did the rest anyway mostly solo.

 

[dlkhmk]

I launch and retrieve most of the time solo. I take pride in being in and out before most boaters with several helpers. It's all about the routine. Fenders on the side the wind will blow you. Back about 5 feet short. Remove safety chain and strap. 25ft line on the dockside cleat. Back in just till she floats. Tie up to the end of the dock and park the truck. Hop on and back off the dock. Reverse for retrieving. If someone's helping I stick with the same routine except I have them park the truck.

When I got my first boat I watched an "old salty guy" back in and launch a 30 foot center console alone. It was so impressive I basically stole his routine. Meanwhile that first day I couldn't even get the trailer backed in straight. Like I said is all about the routine.

 

[Ronnie]

I feel great when I do it all solo well but like chump when it doesn't go so well (e.g. forgot to put in the drain plug and realize it as I walk back to the boat just after I launched it, bow line gets stuck on the trailer guide, didn't release both transom straps, etc.).

I think my wife could do more but just doesn't like or know how to take directions/instructions from me and/or just doesn't want to. My son has been in training since he was a toddler, so he is a lot of help, sometimes, but won't be driving on the road legally for at least another year or so, I can't wait. It's going to suck if/when he goes away to college (I will lose my boating buddy and will spend a lot of money doing so, intentionally).

 

[Rick Owens]

I load and unload 100% wife will hold the boat at dock while I park truck.

 

[Captain Ron]

I actually prefer to do it by myself.

 

[txav8r]

I want to give a plug for my wife here. After reading @Ronnie fessing up, and I have too myself, but more times, my wife reminds me of what I "would have" messed up. She is the same with most anything we do from boating to travel, motorhome, you name it. She has saved my bacon more times than I have got it right! Saying this, I wonder if it is because she knows "I have it", and can just sit back thinking in logical order without the tension of doing it on the fly. I know the picture gets much bigger when your not a foot away from it. Sitting back and watching really increases your visibility. I'm glad I have her...actually lucky to have her!

 

[Coheeba]

I have an app; Put boat in water at x:xx time, fill it up and put ice in the cooler. Easy Day

 

[Av8tor07]

I just picked up my new 212x yesterday, today I launched and retrieved it all by myself. Wasn't too difficult. In the future I'll have at least my wife help me.

 

[jdonalds]

I launch and retrieve by myself most of the time. My 25 year old son can handle the boat or trailer so if he is along it's a breeze. But my wife can't back a trailer or drive the boat. So I do it all except she drives the empty trailer away and parks it when she is along.

The two parts that bother me about launching and retrieving alone are that I have to put out fenders and tie up to a dock so I can park the trailer, or fetch the trailer. The other thing is cranking the bow up tight against the bow roller. I try to do it from inside the boat but it's better to be standing in the water to turn the crank; then I have to climb back into the boat. I've thought of getting one of those automatic latch mechanisms for the bow but user write-ups aren't encouraging.

Last year my wife parked the SUV and trailer but hit a neighboring truck. The truck had some damage and I ended up replacing a fender on the trailer. It cost somewhere around $1,000 by the time we were done. She needs to do some practice, and to use the side view mirrors to watch the trailer as she enters or exits one of those angled parking slots. These trailers are long and it takes planning to hit the center of the parking place with both the truck and trailer.

 

[robert cabrerea]

I do when i go fishing but usually have a great crew When the wife and son are with me.

 

[Seadeals]

I go solo sometimes, especially for oil change runs. I don't have any issues launching and retriving alone; but it is harder to keep the boat from sliding back of the bow roller when bringing the trailer (MFI) out of the water. I never did the welded bow stop mod so a parking lot brake check usually tightens her back up.

When we go out as a family, I back the wheels to the water, jump in the boat and let my wife handle the last 10 feet. She is also to the point where she will drive the boat off and pick me up at the dock, just don't ask her to park the trailer.

 

[Rod5]

Borrowed this...