This is ridiculous and advised but others who didn't pay for YOUR boat. On Texas lakes with Texas winds? No way. I launched at Possum Kingdom by myself a while back and the waves and wind would have pushed my boat onto the rocks within minutes if I just let it float off. I pay the same amount for the tournament as every other Bozo out there.

You guys would get stoned at Squaw Creek in the winter.

3 minutes is all it should take .... 5 minutes or more is too long.

i simply slack my winch off to let the boat slide back a few feet then pull up and go unhook strap crank up and park the boat then truck. we have a lot of shallow ramps on rayburn

Do whatever you feel comfortable with, if you're a slow poke don't take up the whole ramp. Anybody who gives you grief should be reminded that if it is that big a deal they could have gotten out there earlier.

Well I went with my wife last week. I used the back if off the trailer technique which worked pretty well. It was easier with someone there to go park the truck and would take longer by myself. There was a guy there who was unloading sametime as me, he did it in about 3/4 the time I did (and he was by himself).

FYI I think it would take 3 min just to walk from your boat to truck, park it, then walk back to your boat.

Also, i suck at loading the boat, I grazed the boat dock trying to load it on the trailer. If anyone is ever bored, I can sure entertain you with my fishing trips, 1st time is free.

I gave advice on this thread like I knew what I was doing. This past weekend, I launched at a new launch that was pretty steep. Backed up to same depth as always and before I got out of the truck, the boat was sliding down the trailer. I tried to hustle, but it was gone floating before I could catch it - lol. Luckily it was in the back of a very narrow cove and I was able to walk 30 yards and just hop in from the opposite shoreline. Stuff happens, don't panic and the crazy stuff makes great stories to tell.

Glad you didn't have to go swim for it.

So yesterday I get everything ready to go fish all day at Somerville since I am off and run the moor for a few minutes to make sure it will start. I arrive at the ramp and it is pretty windy so I chicken out and launch the boat my old way by pushing it off the trAiler and pulling it to the shore. Go park, come back to go fish and what do you know, my battery is dead! I'm not sure why (when it worked 14hrs ago) but it would not start. If anyone was there you would get to see me wade out and struggle to get my boat on the trailer. It's hard to pass up my free entertainment lol worst thing is I couldn't drink my beer on the water which I was looking forward to.

I had to load my RT188 because of a dead battery a few months ago. used the 50' rope that I use to launch and pulled the boat onto the trailer as far as I could. then I tied a loop in the rope and hooked the winch strap onto the loop and winched it up another 3' or so. tied another loop and winched in up another 3' or so. continued this process until I got in loaded, all without getting my feet week.

FYI, now I carry a little portable battery jump starter; works great on my merc 115 (and on 2 different 6 cylinder cars as well). everyone should have one of these little items.

where did you get the battery jumper from, walmart? academy? what brand?

I will tell you that I've loaded dozens of times with trolling motor. Back trailer in a little deeper, drop trolling mitirand get you a good straight on head start. I usually do it by holding TM by rope just below surface. About 5' before nose gets to trailer, I just pull up TM and coast onto trailer. Get out winch up 2-3' at most, lock strap and go. Very easy to do and no swimming.

I have an 18ft CC glass boat. I drop my truck tail gait which helps back the boat into the water. I back the boat until the boat rear begins to float, you don't have to but it makes it easier to get it off the trailer when you put the boat in reverse. To get to the boat, simply step on the rear tire, walk to the tail gait, and sit on the tail gait which is already down. Loosen the winch strap and unhook the boat, you may have to reach a little while standing on the trailer tongue to reach the trailer hook. This way you can take the trailer hook off and wrap it around the trailer so it does not hang loose. Next, step back up on the tail gait and step from the tail gait to the boat. Then just drop the motor and back out.

Re. PLK - My motor died on me just a few weeks ago. I backed the trailer in and then used my trolling motor to power the boat. Right before I reached the trailer I quickly pulled the tolling motor up and the boat floated on...then just attached the winch hook and winched her tight.

it doesnt really matter what you do ---i understand when someone is alone and i will be patient --AS LONG AS YOU TURN YOUR HEADLIGHTS OFF WHEN YOU BACK DOWN THE RAMP !

22' Majek Extreme center console/ 225 Merc Pro XS

My method- Loosen up winch strap to where there is a good 2-3ft of slack. Back down in the water and hit the brakes and keep backing until it floats off.. Get in boat, start motor, unhook winch, park boat, park truck, go fishing.

Warning- I've been doing this method for a long time even on the old bass boat I sold.. However, I was putting in up at Houston County Lake on Friday, and when I hit the brakes and the boat came off, the winch strap broke and my boat started floating off. I quickly got out of the truck, ran down the dock, and made a solid 5-10ft jump into the boat.. It was funny as hell (people were watching) but scary too. Just make sure your strap isn't dry rotted like mine was