Im new to boating and have never put a boat in by myself. What is yalls normal routine when your putting a boat in by yourself? Thanks for the help!

PUT THE PLUG IN THE BACK OF THE BOAT. WONT FORGET BUT ONCE.LOL. FIRST TIME I WOULD SUJESLEAVE THE BOAT HOOKED TO THE FRONT OF THE TRAILER. BACK IT DOWN AND MAKE SURE THE MOTOR STARTS BEFORE YOU UNHOOK THE BOAT. IF YOU HAVE A FISHING BUDDY. WORK OUT A ROUTINE SO EVERYTHING GOES SMOOTHLY.EVERY BOAT HAS ITS QUIRKS, JUST HAVE TO LEARN WHAT THEY ARE FOR THE PARTICULAR BOAT.JUST REMEMBER IF YOU DO SOMETHING DUMB. MOST EVERYBODY ELSE HAS DONE ONE TIME THEMSELVES. GOOD LUCK

I'm rather new at it myself, but from common sense, watching others, and what I've read here...

1) stop well out of the way and remove the transom saver and straps, etc. Leave only the bow strap in place. Good idea to go ahead and loosen the bow strap.

2) Prime the engine, insert drain plugs, install fish finder, etc. Get all your gear in and ready to rock and roll.

3) Double check everything.

4) Unplug trailer lights from truck (if necessary)

5) Back boat down far enough that you KNOW it's far enough (nothing worse than having to get back out of the boat to back in further).

6) Get in boat, back off trailer and park boat out of the way (tie up to far side of loading dock if it's a small dock on a single or double ramp and there's anyone waiting).

7) Park truck, get in boat, and have fun.

As an alternative, some people choose to attach a long (20 ft. or so) rope to the boat and trailer, then just back it in till the boat floats off and pull the boat off to the side a little before parking the truck.

Best bet is to find a secluded ramp or one where nobody's around and just practice backing it in and get a good feel of how deep you need to be. You can also practice to see which method of actually launching is best for you both easiness and efficiency (between getting in and parking or using the rope method).

1st. Get boat ready before getting in line: take off transom support, back straps, and pump gas bulb.

2nd. drop tailgate and back boat into water.

3rd. climb into the bed of the truck unhook the bow strap.

4th. climb onto the deck of the boat and get into the cockpit start boat. back off trailer, beach boat.

5th. Park the truck.

Oh yeah...that's a good idea as well (what blueskeet said). If you aren't 100% confident in your motor, don't unhitch it from the trailer before you start the motor. NOTHING worse (except forgetting the drain plug maybe) than untrailering and then finding out the boat won't start.

I will give you one piece of advise that will probably mean more than anything. Make sure you stay out of the way of the ramp when you are actually getting the boat ready for launch. I have seen people pull onto the ramp and then start fooling with loading everything, checking the motor, loading people and have had people spend literally 15 minuites or more blocking the ramp from other people using it. Once you spend a significant amount of time launching boats you will find it easier and like blueskeet said you will have some trouble at first just like everyone else but just stay calm and don't try to do it fast and you will be OK. Once you get the hang of it you will find it only takes about a minuite to launch the boat and be out of the way for others.
One thing that did help me was that when I first got a boat my dad told me to go to a big parking lot maybe early in the morning when it is not crowded and learn to back into the marked lanes for practice.

You guys are alot of help! thanks

Every boat's routine is different, and depends on if there are one or two of you launching.

These guys all covered the basics for the most part...

If you have a Bass or Fishing boat, just go to a busy ramp early on a sat or sun morning and watch what others do with similar boats and situations.

If you are anywhere near Stewarts Creek or Hidden Cove I'm planning to go out this afternoon if I can get things done now. If not this afternoon I'll be out tomorrow and sunday around 7am. I can walk you through the process of launching my Center Console solo, it will show you the majority of steps on most boats. Mine is a little taller, and deaper draft so it has a few subtle differences...

I fish solo a lot and I definitely agreed with #1 about leaving the bow strap in place and loosening it. It'll save you from swimming after your boat. No, I didn't have to, but nearly had to.

Try to find ramps with docks.because if weather gets bad.waves can swamp and beat up your boat when you are getting your truck.

Hey buck07, it might help if we knew where you are from. Someone might be able to meet you at the lake and show you first hand.

great tips - i'm a new boater as well and picking up my boat tomorrow. will either be launching it tomorrow afternoon or sunday.

One item not mentioned above, is to be sure your boat keys are in your boat. Nothing makes me madder than to crawl through my SUV, unlatch the boat then sit down and no key and have to crawl back through SUV to retrieve the keys---GRRRRRRRRR.

This is NOT true...

You will just get faster at recognizing it....

I do one thing that is different from what every one else has said. I pull about 6' of slack in my front strap and back down the ramp slowly. When the boat floats, I pull up slowly until I can get on the trailer tongue without getting wet feet. You need a little slack in the strap to be able to unhook as you get in the boat. Then you can back off the trailer and beach or dock and park the truck. I started doing it this way when I got older and my knees went bad. Just make sure the front strap is in good shape.

One thing that nobody has addressed is loading the boat back on the trailer. Be sure that you have some of the bunk boards out of the water to guide you on straight on the trailer. You didn't say what type of boat you have, I am guessing that it is fiberglass with a drive on trailer. If not then ignore the above.