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Launching solo!

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DewMan1964

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A question for you MORE EXPERIENCED pontoon owners! I don't have my pontoon YET,but I just want to get an idea on launching a pontoon solo,...or by yourself!
What is the best way to do that? I've had a boat before but it was just a little 14 ft. utility boat,...so I KNOW a launching a 20 foot pontoon is going to be a bit different than that little 14 ft. fishing boat I used to have!
 
I do it regularly. I would make sure to pick a ramp that isn't crowded so you can take your time without holding others up.

Do all your pre-launch activities well out of the way of those using the ramp. I take off my rear straps and attach a dock line to a front cleat. Go to the ramp and back down near or just in the water. Get out and tie the dock line to something on the front of your trailer. (It will keep your boat from drifting away if it floats sooner than you expected.). Get back in your vehicle and back down until either the rear of the boat starts floating or you think you can gently power the boat off the trailer. PUT YOUR VEHICLE IN PART AND SET THE PARKING BRAKE (or if your vehicle has a standard transmission, shut the engine off, put the transmission in gear and SET THE PARKING BRAKE).

Unite the dock line from your trailer as you board your boat from the front. Back off the trailer and immediately move the boat to the closest available docking space or gently beach it if necessary. Tie your boat up and immediately go back and move your vehicle from the ramp. Hopefully you didn't hold someone up while you did this.
 
sunedog said:
I do it regularly. I would make sure to pick a ramp that isn't crowded so you can take your time without holding others up.

Do all your pre-launch activities well out of the way of those using the ramp. I take off my rear straps and attach a dock line to a front cleat. Go to the ramp and back down near or just in the water. Get out and tie the dock line to something on the front of your trailer. (It will keep your boat from drifting away if it floats sooner than you expected.). Get back in your vehicle and back down until either the rear of the boat starts floating or you think you can gently power the boat off the trailer. PUT YOUR VEHICLE IN PART AND SET THE PARKING BRAKE (or if your vehicle has a standard transmission, shut the engine off, put the transmission in gear and SET THE PARKING BRAKE).

Unite the dock line from your trailer as you board your boat from the front. Back off the trailer and immediately move the boat to the closest available docking space or gently beach it if necessary. Tie your boat up and immediately go back and move your vehicle from the ramp. Hopefully you didn't hold someone up while you did this.
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Salamonie Lake,...which is about 35 miles west of where I live has FOUR boat ramps! The LEAST steepest ramp is the Dora Nw Holland State Recreation area on the northwest side of the reservoir! That ramp would be the easiest one to use,and I used that one a LOT when I had my little 14 ft. utility-v bottom boat! I live in Bluffton,IN. Salamonie Lake is southwest of Huntington,In. Roush Lake in Huntington,IN. is closer and only has one ramp as of now,...It's ramp is about the same as the one at the Dora boat ramp! One of those two ramps would be the easiest for me to learn to launch a pontoon solo on as the ramps are not steep!
 
If possible, avoid a windy day at the ramp. Getting the boat back on the trailer is more stressful IMO with a pontoon catching the wind. Many people are better at it than me. Seems that you have to be a little fearless if you are powering on the trailer in a cross wind if trailer guides are not used depending on lake depth.
 
I would only do it on a calm day. Heck, tough enough doing it with two people when wind and waves are kicked up. Wind really catches and moves a pontoon - fast! So be aware.
 
Vikingstaff said:
I would only do it on a calm day. Heck, tough enough doing it with two people when wind and waves are kicked up. Wind really catches and moves a pontoon - fast! So be aware.
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Most definitely do it on a calm day! I can remember the many times when I had my little 14 ft. utility-v bottom boat that it would be literal hell trying to get that thing back on the trailer in a cross wind! Wind would blow that darn thing all over the lake if it was really strong!
 
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One other thing I SHOULD mention is that I don't live on a lake or own lake property,...I'll be trailering my pontoon where ever I go to boat!
 
You probably already know this, but don’t skimp on the trailer tie-downs.

My neighbor only used the winch strap and the pontoon shifted & flipped while navigating a corner. Pontoon ended upside down in the road. I use four separate tie-downs, one at each corner pontoon.
 
Pbakk said:
You probably already know this, but don’t skimp on the trailer tie-downs.

My neighbor only used the winch strap and the pontoon shifted & flipped while navigating a corner. Pontoon ended upside down in the road. I use four separate tie-downs, one at each corner pontoon.
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Oh my gosh! Yeah,...I always made sure my boat was secured to the trailer with PLENTY of straps,...two straps done the job on a little 14 footer! I miss that little Lund A-14 at times,...that's the kind of boat I had,and kick myself in the butt for selling it!
 
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