How To Launch A Boat
Let me start by saying that this post is not actually a ‘how-to’ on launching a boat. I was going through pictures of last summer’s vacation and was reminded of some of the adventures we had during that week, including launching the boat. I debated calling this post How NOT To Launch A Boat but to be honest, this method worked quite well and it will be used again the next time we visit this particular lake.
Darrell and I spent our summer vacation at a lake up near Killarney, Ontario. Fortunately he had visited this lake many times before and knew what we would be up against because when I first saw the launch I laughed at him.
The 'boat launch' - as seen from the dock.
I am used to paved boat ramps…something with enough of an angle to get the boat off the trailer while keeping the truck in area it can easily get out of. However, this launch is insanely long, extremely shallow, and requires a 4×4 to launch the boat and get your vehicle back out of the bog. Since the truck we were borrowing was a 2-wheel drive there was no way we could use the launch…and Darrell knew this ahead of time.
The solution? Put the boat in at the dock.
Here’s how to launch a boat when you can’t use the ramp:
Step 1 - Back the truck and the boat down to the dock. Unhook the trailer from the truck.
Step 2 - Turn the boat into the clearest looking opening between two docks.
Step 3 - Guide the boat and trailer into the water, but be careful not to let it fall in too quickly! It helps to have a strong man doing this for you while you stand around and take pictures.
Step 4 - Pull the boat off the trailer and tie it up to the dock. I didn't have a picture for Step 5 but it would involve pulling the now empty trailer back out of the water and hooking it back up to the truck.
So that, in a nutshell, is how to launch a boat when the odds are against you. And boy am I ever thankful it worked because we got in a few days of incredible fishing.
The reason it was worth launching the boat - we caught tons of huge smallies every single day.
Getting the boat back out proved to be another challenge though. It couldn’t be taken out the same way it was put in. This time there was no way to avoid the actual launch.
We started by backing the truck and trailer as far down the launch as we dared.
Darrell unhooked the trailer and started to walk it down the launch.
Still walking the trailer down the launch. See how shallow it still is at that point? It was also incredibly muddy, I thought Darrell would get stuck.
After getting the trailer out far enough Darrell had to get the boat and try to align it with the trailer.
The boat was now aligned with the trailer although not tied down.
I don’t have pictures of what came next because at this point I actually had to something. With me driving the truck Darrell ran some rope (which he had the forethought to bring since he had apparently been planning this move for awhile) between the truck and boat trailer. I drove the truck until the trailer and boat were out of the water, all the time hoping nothing bad would happen.
Finally it was all over. The boat was out of the water, tied down to the trailer and hooked up to the truck ready for the drive home. The whole process took 30 minutes.
I don’t really recommend anyone follows this method of launching a boat. There were other lakes in the area with accessible boat ramps and we could easily have spent our time there. But this was the lake Darrell wanted to fish and I have yet to find any obstacle he can’t overcome when it relates to fishing. I really thought we were nuts (I was nuts for letting him talk me into it). I was sure the boat was not going to survive the trip but she made it through without so much as a scratch.
This adventure just goes to show the old adage is true – where there’s a will, there’s a way. Even when it comes to launching a boat.
argosgirl
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You guys are crazy. It’s places like these that I’m glad I have my float tube. Next time, bring a canoe.
We will be taking the canoe next time…as well as the boat! The boat goes in that lake and the canoe goes in the smaller lake beside it. The canoe just doesn’t have quite enough room for the two of us, the dog, a minimum of 4 rods each and multiple tackle boxes đŸ™‚
Oh, how this makes me smile and laugh… it immediately brings to mind some of my own boating adventures involving strong men (thank goodness!), my own wobbly arms, and a broken motor and a good amount of mud and muck. Thanks for the story – you’re a wonderful storyteller!
Time spent in the outdoors certainly makes for good memories. I’d love to hear the story behind the broken motor… Thanks for reading!
This is why I have a strict hovercraft only rule đŸ˜€
LOL a hovercraft would certainly be easier!