Unloading boat alone

[gerry387]

I'm sure quite a few of you fish by yourself. So here's what I do on a trip to unload the boat. Take a 25' nylon rope, buy a clasp to tie to one end, and make a loop on the other end. Unbuckle your boat first thing, plug in, ect. Attach the clasp to the u-bolt, or even the cleat on the boat (much easier to remove after your in the boat), put the loop around your trailer jack or even your wench strap (make sure you reverse the wench so you don't pull out any of the strap itself). Launch the boat, pull the truck up a little, grab your rope and tie off, then park the truck. I've heard of people using their wench strap for this, but I think this would save a lot of cranking to get your strap back in. Also, since your rope will be in the boat, you'll also have a tow rope, and anchor rope all in one. (Keep in mind, this is just a day on the water. Cuz if your tournament fishing alone, I'm sure one of your buddies would be kind enough to back you in.)

Gerry

[CliffL]

I just use a longer rope and tie it to the pickup and leave the slack in the bed. Most of the ramps I use are so shallow, water is even with the door of the truck by the time the boat floats. With a longer rope I can just pull up a bit and grab the rope once the trailer is clear.

[Ron Fogelson]

I have a rope that is long enough that when I back up the boat can float off as I hold the rope in my lap.  Than I pull the truck up a bit, get out of the truck and if the dock is on the drivers side just walk down and tie up the boat, if the dock is on the passanger side I can walk around the front of my truck with the rope, and on to the dock to tie off.

This works very well and can almost launch by myself as most folks can launch with two people.

[Donald Garner]

My rope is as long as the trailer with a snap connected to the front of the boat.  I just back down and let the boat float off the trailer and pull the trailer up.  Once I get the trailer up on the ramp I pull the boat up and tie it off. 

[kidd]

Does anybody have pictures of how you're connecting to your boat?  I'm trying this for the first time this weekend.

[CliffL]

Just connect where you connect your winch.

[Bigwrench]

I have a rope that is long enough that when I back up the boat can float off as I hold the rope in my lap.  Than I pull the truck up a bit, get out of the truck and if the dock is on the drivers side just walk down and tie up the boat, if the dock is on the passanger side I can walk around the front of my truck with the rope, and on to the dock to tie off.

This works very well and can almost launch by myself as most folks can launch with two people.

I do the same when alone Ron works real well , just have a quick release d ring type clasp on on end hook it to my eye bolt

Bass Fishin & Banjer Pickin !

[Ron Fogelson]

I do the same when alone Ron works real well , just have a quick release d ring type clasp on on end hook it to my eye bolt

Bass Fishin & Banjer Pickin !

Yep same thing here, not so much a D ring, looks more like a chain hook but has a quick release clasp on it like yours.

[Kickin Bass]

Well it looks like I might be doing things a little different (wouldn't be the first time). 

What I do is unstrap everything except the front winch, I will back the front tow strap out and pull the slack down to aprox the length of the front post and then flip the lever on the winch so no more will come out.  I back the boat into the water until the nose comes off the roller and then another foot or so into the water, until the boat is floating between the wheel wells.  Then I get out, walk down the dock and tie up the boat to the dock, step on the boat and walk up to the front and unclip the front winch. Then get back in the truck and go park it.  It's worked really well for me for a few years now. 

All in all it just takes a couple of minutes and is pretty easy.

JM