Launching/Retrieving: Power On/Off vs. Line

Just curious what most do when it comes to launching and retrieving their boat... Once the boat floats, I've always (1 year of ownership) taken the winch strap off and physically pulled the boat off with the mooring lines and tied to the dock (and vice versa for retrieving). My way has been easy and I've had no issues, but I boat owning friend tell me that I should be powering off and on as it is faster... My feet may get wet, but I can easily winch my boat back on too.

I'm looking forward to this new season and will be trying different spots (Parry Sound-ish areas)

(PS - I did a search before writing this).

I have found that the main thing is too keep the boat secured by the winch strap on til it is down the ramp and in the water. I then leave the winch cable out so it is ready to hook on for recovery. Seldom do I get my feet wet, seldom do I have a helper and seldom is there a line up at the ramp. There are a few ramps I use that do have docks to walk on however...makes things easier.
On gentle ramps I remove the winch cable and replace it with my bow line so I can drive ahead and pull the boat to shore.

Depends on what kind of boat you have, sometimes with tinners its easier to do it the way you are. however with a 20' bass boat i need to power it on to have its fully secured.

I usually have a helper, who holds the anchor line tied to the bow and pulls the boat to shore or dock. To load on the trailer, I back in and extend the winch line and winch it on. I have had way too many frustrating days where I try to drive on and the wind or current has other ideas. I extend just enough line to clear the back of the trailer and then pull the line in until the boat starts riding the first roller. after that she has no choice and comes onto the trailer usually centered on the bunks.. Maybe 5% of the time I have to shift it up to 4-5" sideways to center it after I pull it out of the water. Pull the plug, safety chain the bow eye, strap her down and hit the road.

All the launches I use don't have a dock to tie to,so,I clip the bow mooring line to a ring on the trailer,reverse until the boat floats free,then,carefully pull the trailer out of the water until the boat is slightly aground at the ramp. Park the truck and trailer and I'm away. Retrieving is a tad trickier,but,essentially just the reverse except in heavy weather when I power on to the trailer after tying off to shore and backing the trailer into the water. Very rarely do I encounter other people waiting to launch or retrieve.

Please dont be one of the morons that power on and blow all the stone away with your prop wash. Its awesome when the water goes down and the risk of dropping your trailer onto the concrete pad is there.

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Most of the damage done to my boat and trailer was during launching and docking, I learned to leave the motor off when it was getting loaded/launched.

Good Question
I just bought a new boat that saw water for the first time last weekend.
I roped it off because of lack of help.
A helper showed up later which drove it on at the end of the weekend.

You see all the fishing pro's on the fishing shows driving them off and the helper parking the trailer.
I have bunks.

Would you unhook it and back in to drive it off or do you always leave it hooked to the trailer until ready to float?

I have a 18'7" lund Impact.

Would you seasoned pro's consider going fishing alone or always with a partner?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Marker

Most of the damage done to my boat and trailer was during launching and docking, I learned to leave the motor off when it was getting loaded/launched.

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X2. Unless it's really blowing the rollers in,I like to leave the motor up,too. It's a lot easier on the skag and prop.

Think it depends on type of trailer, rollers or bunks. If rollers, leave attached to trailer, I watched a guy dump his 18ft glass 8ft short of the water last year. I have bunks so I unhook, before go to water, tie bow line on to the truck than back in not fast until the boat will come off easy. Untie the bow line and pull off and tie to dock. Coming in I put trailer in to the depth I want, untie from dock and pull onto trailer, hook up winch line and hand crank it on. Lots of people do drive it on and it probably good for them. If drive it on then you have to jump out of boat and I have to many problems with my body to do that.

sounds doable

If I have someone with me, I unhook everything from the trailer, and have the helper hold my bow line, then I back in and the boat slides off. I have bunks....don't do that with rollers. Unhook once you are floating enough to unhook.

To retrieve, the most important step is putting the trailer in the water just the right amount. On mine, its about half way up the wheel fenders. Then I can either power on, or just pull on by hand and winch it tight.

S.

Many ramps prohibit power loading.
It can wash away the surrounding base around the ramp causing problems for others who launch there.

Many things to take into consideration when launching /retrieving such as , calm or windy, launch ramp angle, water depth, type of trailer roller or bunk, your boat , deep vee or shallow , small or longer/big and weight of, and above all your own experience or inexperience,

Jaycee has the best answer! Learn how to handle your own rig and as problems pop up learn what caused them

Launch angle is probably the biggest thing to watch for, too steep and the boat will slide off, not steep enough and you'll be doing a combat unload. I have learned my limits over the years, I can unload by myself pretty quick.

My 14 footer is quite easy. I have the anchor tied to the bow line. I simply back into the launch , stop with the truck bumper in line with the water. Put the anchor on the side in the water which is on 50 feet of rope. Undo the winch strap. Back up a little bit more and come to a sudden stop. The boat floats away but held back by the anchor.

I drive away and park the truck and trailer. Walk back and simply pull on the anchor rope to get into the boat. This technique works with a dock or a natural boat launch.

I reverse this by backing the trailer into the water with the bunks partly submerged. The anchor is on shore or the dock. I push the boat out and with the bow line / anchor rope pull the boat back in centered on the bunks. I avoid getting wet by stepping on the trailer tongue to attach the winch line or putting on a pair of rubber boots. Most times I just wear sandals.

Leave the boat off. Not worth the risk of prop striking. Sounds like you're trying to fix something that isn't broken!