I Attempted To Solo Launch a Big Boat for the First Time...Here's EXACTLY What Happened! 

this procedure works well WHEN there is a float to board the boat after it has floated off 4+ feet. But when there is no float and the boat is becomes far away from the trailer bow stop, it makes it more difficult to clammer up onto the boat from the trailer. By launching until it floats with slight slack in the bow strap, board boat, put into FWD gear at idle, clammer back down to the trailer to release the winch. The boat in gear will hold her from sliding off, keeping the boat close to the stop making the boat closer to climb onto.

That has to be a 70 MPH boat with those honkers on there.

Shows how small details can trip you. If the camera man hadn't been there to spot that the front tie-off rope was going to be snagged by the the left hand trailer pole the boat would have been hauled into the side of the dock as you pulled away. Maybe should have highlighted that as a cautionary tale for everybody. Miss one small thing... disaster!!

Always set the emergency brake first, let the truck rest against it in neutral, then put the rig in park. When you get ready to move the rig reverse the order, park to forward or reverse, release the Ebrake and go. This procedure will keep the significant pressure off the automatic transmissions park pawl.. Chuck

Where we launch, there is no dock beside the boat--open ramp, no dock for over 500 yards. On the other hand, even if it had a dock, I will never boat alone. As a concept, I just don't agree. Think about boating, the idea is "redundancy"--two or more, of everything. Two radios, two cell phones, small back up engine and a back up fuel supply for that kicker. Two, two, two, two, then for people--ONE? So, if you fall and get hurt, sure you have a radio, phone, IF you can get to it. If you are bumped overboard--yeah, you could have a waterproof EPIRB or PLB attached to your life vest--and you should, but how much better to have your mate come over and pick you up. Again, to me--don't boat alone. One more thing, the reg's say "a full time look-out shall be posted" and that does NOT mean, the person running the boat. A full time--not part time, lookout, to be alert, keep their eyes moving. So to many of us, that also supports more than one. Last of course--not important for safety, the enormous cost of fuel, good to have someone share the expense. Just my opinion, I do realize many do not agree.

' the motor vehicle must use a shift '' N '' as neutral with a trailer boat while slow down ramp to the water... dont use a shift '' R '' as reverse

Nice. One other thing to emphasize, is that if you have 4wd, once you get to the ramp and do your alignment check before continuing to launch, use 4L. You also want to use 4l when pulling it out. Another tip is that when you go to pull out, once you get the trailer in the water, put chocks behind the wheels of your truck just in case there's slippage (especially if you don't have a 4wd!). This will prevent your truck from sliding into the drink when you go back into gear. You can tie ropes to the chocks and put them around the mirror and/or bed anchors so that when all goes well, they drag along until you get off the ramp and can retrieve them. To launch: ...ebrake, alignment check, 4L, launch, turn steering wheel hard left or right (just in case all else fails), ebrake, chocks, take care of the boat, forward to get trailer out of the water and off the ramp, retrieve chocks, 2wd, park To retrieve: ...ebrake, alignment check, 4L, trailer in the water, steering wheel hard left or right, ebrake, chocks...get boat on trailer, forward to get trailer out of water and off the ramp, retrieve chocks, 2wd, go For launch, one chock is probably fine since you only have the weight of the trailer, or maybe no chocks at all if the ramp is dry and you have 4wd. But for retrieval, use the chocks no matter what. It's only 20 more seconds and can save your truck on a slimy ramp. Also, carry a brush to scrub the ramp if you must if it has too much slime. Also, don't step on the slime! You will most likely fall if you do. Of course, check the ramp first, check the wind first, plan the whole thing before you even start to back onto the ramp.

Very nice... I launch and recover a 310 Pursuit by myself and do about the same thing. Recover by driving it onto the trailer. Put a line of white paint on the bow just above the bow catch so anyone on the dock can tell me if I am on the trailer far enough forward. Or I can just run to the bow and look over. Thanks for the video. Good to see different methods.

Great video On another topic what length shafts are the Yamaha’s 25 or 30in Cheers

Not this guys first time

That's a heavy boat to tow

@ chuck great suggestion you learned me something thank you

If your engines don't start for any reason, you're not getting that big heavy boat back on those bunks. Better method for me wlith a big heavy WorldCat and bunk trailer is leave strap on and tight, back boat down ramp, lower engines, start engines making sure they pee, bump throttles into forward so the boat stays put and doesn't back off (float) off trailer, go unhook strap and hit reverse and back the boat off trailer. Easy peazy every time and no concern of "what if engines don't start"?

Lewisetta surely has changed. Beautiful boat!

Well Done I learned some new today. Thank You

Great video but I have two notes that you can try and see if it helps you: 1. I wouldn't wrap the bow line around the winch post/mount. That can cause a tension knot and over time will rub on the winch bracket and fray/cut the line. Just tie a bowline into the line at a predetermined length and put that over the post/winch mount. 2. That line over the vertical guides won't do anything to stop the boat. It'll pop right off as those verticals are not designed to take much horizontal force. Keep in mind they are only held on by a couple of U joints at the bottom. What I did, when solo launching, was take a line to the center cleat and fix that to the dock like a spring line. Be sure to route it behind the vertical guide or it'll get caught. If you use the same launch, you can pre-set the length of this and it'll really help save time.

if you have a boat with no bottom paint do not assume it will not slide off the bunks on the way down the ramp. Don't ask me how I know.

hahaha, I clicked right on another of your videos! I didn't realize it until the intro loaded up. lol I ain't watching this one either.

Pardon me for changing the subject,,but how does your Steiger handle in real choppy water?,Is it a smooth ride or does it pound a lot?

I've been looking to upsize tho this exact boat to start running charters. Did you use this boat for charters prior to the Speechless?

Great tutorial...

Thank you Devil Pup. Excellent Class. Thank you

Nice job on the launch.

I got that same trailer.

Good job nice boat!

Good job. I’ve done that solo without a ramp which sucks!

A “big” boat? Isn’t that like a 25 foot boat? Is 25 considered “big”? Lol