Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

I'm a new Bass Buggy owner after two Bass Trackers and I just realized I need a boat ramp with a dock to launch. I like to fish several remote lakes but they don't have a dock, just a concrete ramp. But to launch without a dock looks like I would have to get my feet wet -- if I could climb into the boat. I guess a sheer bank with 3 feet of water would work. I fish with different partners and they drive the boat off the trailer. When I ran my boat up on the shore as a test it was still 4 feet from the shore line. Anyone have any suggestions for launching and boarding where there is no dock and a shallow shore? I don't want to wade out to the boat.

Launching a boat requires getting your feet wet. Every time I'm at the ramp I see someone take three times longer launching their boat than anyone else because they have "special feet". I keep waders for cold water and water shoes for warm water on my boat. Thirty seconds to change your shoes or ten minutes doing the "trailer tongue dance" ?

it is what it is..

Sorry my friend, but launching and loading on a ramp where there is dock means either you or your helper's going to get their feet wet. We have a dock where we launch but I only use the dock to pick up my wife after she parks the truck and trailer. She is afraid to drive the boat on or off the trailer normally my wife will just puts on some flip flops and walks out into the water to unhook the strap or hook it back up ( whatever the case may be ).

Carry a 2 x 12 of the appropriate length in the boat that you can push off the front of the boat to bridge the gap between the shore and the front of your toon. Or invest in a ramp like this. https://tinyurl.com/yyg3xzm8

mgarvie wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 31, 2021 1:14 pm

Launching a boat requires getting your feet wet. Every time I'm at the ramp I see someone take three times longer launching their boat than anyone else because they have "special feet". I keep waders for cold water and water shoes for warm water on my boat. Thirty seconds to change your shoes or ten minutes doing the "trailer tongue dance" ?

I expertly back in and my fishing partner drives the boat off the trailer. Then I pull the trailer out and park. We tie up the boat ramp about a minute and a half. You want to get your feet wet be my guest. I prefer not to. When we load the boat I expertly back the trailer down into the water and my partner drives the boat up on the trailer. I pull the boat out and find a place to park so we can fasten the boat down. Requires about 2 minutes at the ramp. Believe me, we are fast and my feet are dry.

steve1313 wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 01, 2021 4:32 am

Carry a 2 x 12 of the appropriate length in the boat that you can push off the front of the boat to bridge the gap between the shore and the front of your toon. Or invest in a ramp like this. https://tinyurl.com/yyg3xzm8

Thanks for your nice reply. I have had the same thoughts you mentioned. And I have a pair of those ramps. Plus I have a wooden ramp I use to make a scaffold. But I don't want to carry either on the boat.

If its a pontoon (not tri-toon) an under deck ramp in 2 c channels would work

https://www.pontoonstuff.com/collection ... k-boarding

forum10 for 10% off.

curtiscapk wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 02, 2021 7:36 am

https://www.pontoonstuff.com/collection ... k-boarding

forum10 for 10% off.

The only problem with installing an under deck ramp is he wouldn't be able to use it for de-boarding. No way to really pull it out while on board. Unless, of course he rigged up some kind of pulley system and maybe even motorized it. Hmmmmm.

The answer is staring you right in the face. You and your partner should swap duties.

Steiner wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 03, 2021 1:10 pm

The answer is staring you right in the face. You and your partner should swap duties.

LOL -- I don't let anyone drive my truck down a ramp. I tried that and after three harrowing situations with three different partners I decided I would handle my truck and anyone can handle the boat. If they crash the boat or sink it I can still drive home. They sink my truck I got a big problem.