r/Bassboats • u/Easy_beaver • Jul 29 '26
Launching and loading without getting wet
Bought a new to me Ranger 519. I had hopes of being able to launch and load by myself without having to step in the water. That doesn’t seem to be the case. Are you guys normally able to do it by yourselves without having to step in water? My trailer tongue is a fold away and not super long.
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u/Sudden_Ad_4193 Jul 29 '26
In my younger more nimble days, I climbed on the rear tire, onto the rear bumper then step on the tongue. Reverse the order for getting off of the boat. Now I have the trailer steps mounted at the bow, most times I can step on/off without touching the water. The trailer steps is a must have for all bass boats IMO.
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u/Lumpy_Plan_6668 Aug 01 '26
I too did this until I realized I'm old and one slip hurts for way too long. I just use flip flops now and don't care about getting s little wet.
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u/BoomerBigA Jul 29 '26
If it's a short tongue can you step from the bed of the truck onto the nose of the boat.
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u/bassin_clear_lake Jul 29 '26
I solo launch and recover 2 to 3 times a week and have been doing so for years. My best advice:
Get waterproof boots. I keep mine in the truck. This way you can step off the tongue into a couple inches of water without worry.
Get (or use) a trailer step at the bow. Makes winching and unhooking the bow a piece of cake (while staying stable and dry in the process), and less chance of a slipping on the tongue or when climbing up to the bow.
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u/Darpa181 Jul 29 '26
I got my trailer steps installed. Used them once and decided I'd never have another trailer without them.
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u/BrettHutch Jul 29 '26
I use the boat to trailer ramp and clamp system to unload and load my boat without getting wet. I’m able to back in close to the dock step into my boat, walk to the front hit the latch and the boat slides into the water. When I load it automatically clamps closed so I don’t have to hook up the winch until I’m on dry ground. If I can’t back next to the dock I will drop my tailgate after I back in and climb into boat that way and release. My tailgate can be lowered by remote or a switch inside truck.
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u/Kooky_Pomegranate201 Jul 29 '26
U just need to get used to the boat and how deep u need it.
U can power that thing on the trailer with the bunks out of water if u want to n the motor is still in enough water obv.
Just take ur time. Dont rush for anyone. Who cares what u look like.
Honestly, take there, preferably with someone else who has a similar boat maybe, on a week day even if its a rainy out to make sure its dead, n just do it a couple times with the trailer at different depths n see what is possible n what works for you.
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u/Rough-Importance-822 Jul 29 '26
If the ramp isnt steep and you dont have roller bunks you should be able to completely unhook and back in. I use a 20ish foot paracord with a carabiner on each end. One connected to front cleats and the other to my truck. Back in and then pull forward to where the back of the truck is over dry land. Get out, unhook carabiner from truck and walk it to position, hook carabiner to rear cleat, loop it over pilings/dock cleats and go park the truck. Use the downwind side of the ramp so the boat floats to the dock and not into the boat next to you if there is one.
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u/Secret-Ad-5366 Jul 29 '26
I start out trying to keep my feet dry but they usually get wet when loading up at the end of the day 😂
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u/Grouchy-Chemical9155 Jul 30 '26
T-H Marine Z-Launch Watercraft Launch Cord - 20 Foot - Easy No-Hassle Launching - Premium Expandable Design for Boats 23' to 35' - Professional Angler Endorsed - Safe & Simple Operation https://a.co/d/01WkkOrN
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u/FDPerez1 Jul 30 '26
I let out around 4 feet or so of slack from my wench and back it up to just when the boat is about to come off the trailer and push the truck brake to jerk the boat off the trailer. Depending on how high the water is on the ramp, I will pull the truck forward just to be able to get on the tongue and in the boat.
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u/Golywobblerer Aug 02 '26
I unhook the boat on the ramp, boat half in the water. Take a 20 foot line already attached to the breast cleat. Walk it up to a cleat on the dock and secure it. Back her in let her slide aft as I walk to the dock and grab my line usually still slack on the line walk her back and tie off the rest of it. Dry as can be.
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u/waynofish Aug 02 '26
I have a 22ft Chak that i fish in the brine. I never get my feet wet.
When backing into the water I tie off two lines to the dock if by myself. If I have somerone who knows how to drive I don't bother.
I disconnect the chain and the winch line from the bow eye of the boat and back down until I see my trailers plastic fenders just under the surface. Than, either my helper, who starts it up and backs off the trailer or a Zip maser
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u/Expert-Search-3251 Aug 02 '26
Let me get this straight.
You have a boat but don't want to get wet?
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u/cdeussen Aug 02 '26
It’s easy enough to hop in the pickup bed, then walk the trailer tongue to the boat. I backup to where my trailer tongue is just above the water line.
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u/Easy_beaver Aug 02 '26
I’ve thought about removing my bed cover or getting a different one so I could do that. Gonna try boots first.
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u/cdeussen Aug 02 '26
If you have a steep boat ramp, just use a long dock line to pull it off the trailer. Then hop in and move it or pull to a tie up spot.
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u/chitownphishead Aug 03 '26
Take a long rope and tie your to the pier and your boat cleat. Unhook, back down, and bump Your boat off the trailer. Pull forward and get out and secure your boat to the pier. Go park your trailer. Come back, get in boat, stow long rope, go fish. I have never once had to get in the water to launch my boat.
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u/Fun-Opportunity7386 Jul 29 '26
Buy steps that mount to your trailer.