Launching without a loading dock
- Thread starter J & C
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Wayne McCown
New member
Good question. I too will be watching for tips from "experienced" boaters.
Don and Brenda
New member
Before the docks went in on Camano Island that was the norm. I would pull up to the rocky beach and jusp out and the wife would hold the boat off the rocks while I got the trailer backed in, then I would reboard back out and power the boat on the trailer, my wife would then pull us out. I did this with our old boat, not the C-Dory, the idea is the same. many times there would be 8 or 10 boats doing the wake dance when a big yacht went by and usually my wife was up to the waist in the water.
Sure am glad those days are gone!
Sure am glad those days are gone!
we do that all the time up here
my wife boards on dry land then I just launch her and the raincoast
tricky bit is coming in,
I jump off ,she circles the bay,I retrieve the truck and trailer
then she just drives it on but if the wind is blowing look out that trailer makes for a mighty small target. :shock:
my wife boards on dry land then I just launch her and the raincoast
tricky bit is coming in,
I jump off ,she circles the bay,I retrieve the truck and trailer
then she just drives it on but if the wind is blowing look out that trailer makes for a mighty small target. :shock:
matt_unique
New member
I don't ever use docks when launching/retrieving Napoleon. Are you asking about the logistics of getting people from shore to ship or the techniques of launching/retrieving under power?
NEVER disconnect the bow strap/safety chain until you are afloat. Once afloat, fire up the engine, disconnect the bow strap/safety chain, and drive off.
Getting back on the trailer is more tricky of course. The depth of the trailer will depend on the conditions. If it's light wind and seas, I have the trailer in deeper. If it's rough, I keep more of the forward portion of the bunks out of the water for a better target that will hold the vessel in place. Rougher conditions requires more cranking or powering up the trailer. Some places do not allow powering up. I almost never have a calm day to retrieve Napoleon it seems...
NEVER disconnect the bow strap/safety chain until you are afloat. Once afloat, fire up the engine, disconnect the bow strap/safety chain, and drive off.
Getting back on the trailer is more tricky of course. The depth of the trailer will depend on the conditions. If it's light wind and seas, I have the trailer in deeper. If it's rough, I keep more of the forward portion of the bunks out of the water for a better target that will hold the vessel in place. Rougher conditions requires more cranking or powering up the trailer. Some places do not allow powering up. I almost never have a calm day to retrieve Napoleon it seems...
Don and Brenda
New member
Dave, yes I intend to keep her around for a long time! Next trip up north will start teaching her more on trailer backing skills. She will at least sit behind the wheel on the C-Dory. She never liked driving the old boat said the steering was too hard.
I keep wetsuit boots and a pair of chest waders available to help get boats on trailers in difficult launch ramps when either the wind, waves, or bottom conditions make centering and settling down the boat difficult.
I even put a drysuit on one time to retrieve the Sea Ray during the winter, and the new trailer didn't have guide-ons, yet.
There are definitely times when three people, two of them pretty strong and in the water, are needed to get a large boat on the trailer and up the ramp if you don't have a dock alongside.
I power boats onto trailers when I can, but often a little excursion into the water is more precise and less likely to get yourself and the boat and/or trailer into trouble.
And when it's 100-110 or more degrees, I'll even volunteer to be the first in the drink!
After some small boat sailing regattas, when the dock and ramp were very busy and required a long wait, we'd leave the trailer on the beach, down rig the boat off shore, and then jump overboard and swim the boat into the beach to the trailer with the painter (bow line) in our teeth doing a backstroke. Felt good after a long day on the water.
Joe. :teeth :thup
I even put a drysuit on one time to retrieve the Sea Ray during the winter, and the new trailer didn't have guide-ons, yet.
There are definitely times when three people, two of them pretty strong and in the water, are needed to get a large boat on the trailer and up the ramp if you don't have a dock alongside.
I power boats onto trailers when I can, but often a little excursion into the water is more precise and less likely to get yourself and the boat and/or trailer into trouble.
And when it's 100-110 or more degrees, I'll even volunteer to be the first in the drink!
After some small boat sailing regattas, when the dock and ramp were very busy and required a long wait, we'd leave the trailer on the beach, down rig the boat off shore, and then jump overboard and swim the boat into the beach to the trailer with the painter (bow line) in our teeth doing a backstroke. Felt good after a long day on the water.
Joe. :teeth :thup
journey on
New member
Joe, we went by lake shasta a couple of weeks ago. Can you still boat in there? There's a lot of dried mud showing, and I'm not sure how you would launch.
Pray for rain.
Boris
Pray for rain.
Boris
Glad this topic came up. I have often wondered about it. Launching and retrieving the boat itself seems reasonably straightforward given a forgiving launch area (not too much rough water, sidecurrent or too many rocks). My question has been about getting the person driving the truck on and off the boat. In cases of a sandy beach one could beach the boat and get on/off over the bow but appears there's no way to do it without someone wading. Wading isn't a problem at places like Lake Powell but up here its not considered a fun activity, especially for us old fogies.
colobear":2fcy0zi9 said:
This is the part I'm most interested in - I guess I should have been more specific in my question
. How does the driver get in and out of the boat? The high freeboard is one thing that makes them so safe but is a hindrance entering and exiting. Even with waders how do you get back onto the boat? Ladder off the stern or from the cockpit? Ladder off the bow?Chris
Don and Brenda
New member
Take a peek in Joe's album for the ladder he has on the bow. While we were learning to launch off a beach we watched other people and took the best practices and learned from them. We did notice the Arima's had an advantage in this area with the split bow rails. One was quite cleaver and had the ladder on the anchor rail. Some people had a real system down and barely got their feet wet. We finally bought a pair chest waders.
A trick that I have used for years when single handing my boat launch/retrevial is to back the boat down the ramp to the point my feet won't get wet and take out the anchor and enough line to clear the trailer. About 25 feet.
I than unhook the bow strap and safety chain and back the boat in till it floats off. Then I pull the trailer out. I stop and adjust the anchor on dry land to where the boat will be secure till i come back from parking my truck and trailer.
I board the boat from the the bow...a light weight step stool or bow ladder comes in handy here...as i push the boat off with that last step up...
On retrevial I reverse the steps..and push the boat out and walk it on the trailer. I can't seem to avoid wet feet on this part.
Thus the avatar at he bottom of this post.
I than unhook the bow strap and safety chain and back the boat in till it floats off. Then I pull the trailer out. I stop and adjust the anchor on dry land to where the boat will be secure till i come back from parking my truck and trailer.
I board the boat from the the bow...a light weight step stool or bow ladder comes in handy here...as i push the boat off with that last step up...
On retrevial I reverse the steps..and push the boat out and walk it on the trailer. I can't seem to avoid wet feet on this part.
Thus the avatar at he bottom of this post.
Don and Brenda
New member
Mike
Your method works good until you put in tides, wind and the constant 3 footers coming in from yachts passing a few hundred feet from the ramps, then you will soon find your boats in the gravel on the beach.
Your method works good until you put in tides, wind and the constant 3 footers coming in from yachts passing a few hundred feet from the ramps, then you will soon find your boats in the gravel on the beach.
Don said:
Then Don I think it's on those days it is time to give up trailer boating and spring for a lift or slip in a marina. Or...throw out a few more anchors...to hold the ole girl in deeper water and swim for it.
Every circumstance calls for a different method of solution, I am sure you boys in the Great Northwest will figure it out.
We don't use my method during hurricanes , twisters or earthquakes either.
Then Don I think it's on those days it is time to give up trailer boating and spring for a lift or slip in a marina. Or...throw out a few more anchors...to hold the ole girl in deeper water and swim for it.
Every circumstance calls for a different method of solution, I am sure you boys in the Great Northwest will figure it out.
We don't use my method during hurricanes , twisters or earthquakes either.
starcrafttom
Active member
is the question how you do it, or how you did without getting your feet wet?? I just get my feet wet most of the time. Your choice of hip boats or sandals.
If alone i use the long rope off the bow method. Tie the line to the trailer or the truck and launch the boat then pull it onto the ramp or beach with the line. If I have some one with me I just have them drive the boat off the trailer and then come get me off the beach. Either I climb over the bow or i wade out a little and go over the side. funny same her think of me as young enough to do it but my son was amazed some one of my advanced age could still get around. depends on where you are standing in life.
If alone i use the long rope off the bow method. Tie the line to the trailer or the truck and launch the boat then pull it onto the ramp or beach with the line. If I have some one with me I just have them drive the boat off the trailer and then come get me off the beach. Either I climb over the bow or i wade out a little and go over the side. funny same her think of me as young enough to do it but my son was amazed some one of my advanced age could still get around. depends on where you are standing in life.
This is the only down-side I've found to the C-Dory.
I found to my dismay :disgust ....There don't seem to be any launch floats left on the Skagit River. :smileo Seems past floods have taken them out. :smilep There goes my Pink fishing for this year. :sad That's what happens when you miss the salt water runs. :cry
I found to my dismay :disgust ....There don't seem to be any launch floats left on the Skagit River. :smileo Seems past floods have taken them out. :smilep There goes my Pink fishing for this year. :sad That's what happens when you miss the salt water runs. :cry