I would use an additional rope on the dock side tied to both a forward cleat
and a rear, long enough to reach 4-8 ft towards the dock. This allows one
person to pull the front or rear towards the dock. We use that approach
always.
LD

"Bill McKee" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Bryan" wrote in message
...
Here's my plan for my first singlehanded launch. The boat is a Sea Ray
185 Sport. Trailer has bunks.

The dock will be on the port (left) side of the boat.

Arrive and prep boat for launch. Drain plug in. Fenders over port
side.
Transom tie downs removed. Stern and bow lines attached to boat.
Bimini
down to allow more access to boat. Load stuff onto boat.

Back trailer down to dock (I can get real close). Back trailer into
water
until stern floats. Unhook bow safety chain. Release winch hook (or
should I keep it attached and just let out several feet of winch strap).
Grab bow and stern lines and walk boat back along dock and tie off to
dock
cleats. Park truck/trailer. Start bilge blower. Start motor. Have a
nice day on the water.

Tie boat off at dockwith fenders and dock lines in place. Retrieve
truck/trailer. Back trailer alongside dock. Walk the boat onto the
trailer. Attach winch strap. Winch bow to bow stops. Attach safety
chain. Pull trailer out of water watching boat for centering.

Perform my solo act on a slow weekday.

Have I got it? Did I miss anything?

Bryan
Sea Ray 185 Sport


Put the fenders on the side that the dock is on. You will launch at
places
where the dock can be either side, depending on amount of boats and lanes.
I tie the bow rope to the trailer. Bow rope should be a little shorter
than
the bow to the prop, so if it falls in the water, it does not tangle in
the
prop. I then back down until the back of the boat is in the water a
little
and the front of the boat is still over dry ramp. Do not have to get the
feet wet to unchain and unstrap boat. Do not forget to remove rear tie
downs in prep area. I then back the boat up until it is floating and pull
forward just enough that I can get the bow rope without getting feet wet.
I
also launch in salt water at times and cold winter waters. Walk boat to
end
of dock and tie off. Then pull truck and trailer out to the parking lot.

Sounds like you have it. Don't worry, it isn't that difficult and I've been
doing it for years. The only problem you may have is if there are
"dock hogs" hanging around the dock and not using it. Sometimes when
I bring mine in, I simply beach it gently (if it's soft there) and not
use the dock.

Additionally, I usually start my boat in my driveway (with one of those
"ear muff" water hose attachments) to make sure everything works before
finding out at the lake (saved me two trips back over the years due to
faulty batteries). That way, when you do kick it over at the lake, it
starts in a second or two.

b.

"RG" wrote in message
news:H_bKe.29613$HV1.19667@fed1read07...

Other good suggestions already, but I'll add one more. I would make one
significant alteration to your launching plan. Under your existing plan,
you make no attempt to start the boat's engine until the truck and trailer
are parked away from the ramp. What if all is not well, and the engine
refuses to fire? I make it a point to never untie my boat from either a
trailer or a dock until the engine is running. It doesn't mean that you
have to sit there for five minutes and wait for it to come up to operating
temperature. Just turn it over and get it running. At that point, if it
was me, Id just drive the boat off the trailer and maneuver it to the dock
under its own power. You may be more comfortable walking the boat to its
docking place.

Another important thing to do before the boat leaves the trailer and while
the engine is running is to do a quick bilge inspection. Lift the motor
cover and stick your head where you can look for water, oil, or fuel
leaks,
and give a quick sniff for fuel vapors. This inspection should take no
more
than about 15-30 seconds, including the time to open and close the engine
access cover. Again, the time to find out that your engine doesn't want
to
start, or that it does start but is spewing a fuel or water leak, is when
the boat is on the trailer, not after the trailer is parked away from the
ramp in the parking lot. This inspection will also reveal if you've
forgotten to install the drain plug (it will almost certainly happen
someday), and again, you want to realize this faux pas when the boat is on
the trailer, rather than after returning from the parking lot and 15-20
minutes has gone by with water entering the bilge.

RG

Great suggestions! I'll take heed.

"David Purvis" wrote in message
.. .
I turn on the blower before I back down the ramp that way I know it has run
at least five mins. When I know the ramp will be very busy I will run the
boat at home with the muffs on to warm up and check for oil/water leaks and
spin the prop at low speed to check for noise e.t.c. with drive down
turning outdrive left to right.
When I launch motor is warm and ready to go.
I always beat the time to load/unload that most can do with help.I do the
same as you , float on/off. If the boat sits off centre, the first bump
and it falls in place. I have boat guides on the trailer so I just have to
use a bow line to pull the boat back on. Wind cannot blow the back of the
boat away with them.
For safety and sure footing I put safety tread tape on the trailer
anyplace I might step on so not to slip off.

Should I start a thread about the pros and cons of boat guides? Are boat
guides the vertical poles I see at the back of some trailers? Are they
commercial bolt on items or custom weld ons?

wrote in message
roups.com...

Sounds like you have it. Don't worry, it isn't that difficult and I've
been
doing it for years. The only problem you may have is if there are
"dock hogs" hanging around the dock and not using it. Sometimes when
I bring mine in, I simply beach it gently (if it's soft there) and not
use the dock.

Additionally, I usually start my boat in my driveway (with one of those
"ear muff" water hose attachments) to make sure everything works before
finding out at the lake (saved me two trips back over the years due to
faulty batteries). That way, when you do kick it over at the lake, it
starts in a second or two.

b.

Lots of great tips from everyone! I especially appreciate that parking
brake suggestion. :) Starting motor before floating off the trailer. Tie
bow line to winch. Portable charger/starter on board. A quick look in the
bilge before heading for the parking lot. And the list goes on ... Thanks.