If you have a pontoon boat, there is a very good chance that you enjoy using it as much as possible. Whether it be fishing or cruising around, you simply want to be out enjoying your vessel. However, if you are unable to find another person to use it with you, you may wonder whether or not it's a good idea for you to launch it on your own? On top of that, you may be wondering how to launch a pontoon boat yourself?
While it is always more fun (and safer) with a friend, if you don’t know what you are doing, launching a pontoon all by yourself can be a potentially dangerous thing to do.
However, if you know what to do and the key steps to take, there is a way that you can do it all by yourself.
Here are all the key facts that you need to know in order to get your pontoon boat docked properly all by yourself.
Is it Recommended to do by Yourself?
While you are able to do this on your own, it is highly recommended that you always do it with at least one other person.
That does not mean that you are not able to launch it properly by yourself. Just know that it can be extremely tricky if you have never done it alone before.
But you know what they say, ‘practice makes perfect!’
Before you even think about docking your pontoon on your own, there is one thing that you will need prior to the actual launching of the vessel.
Decide on a Pontoon Boat Launching System
Make sure that you have some type of system in place. Once you have a system in place that you can use on your own (without the help of another guy or gal) that works, there is absolutely no reason that you will not be able to repeat that process whenever you would like.
If it is your first time doing this, there is a chance that you are extremely worried about doing this alone. But if you enjoy using your vessel on your own, you really don’t have any other choice.
Think about it like this. If you don’t have a system in place, you will pull your truck up to the boat ramp, get out, and be sitting there for a couple of hours trying to figure it all out as you go.
This will take you a ton of time, add a ton of pressure, and even cause a bit of embarrassment (as every other person out there will most likely be laughing at you)!
However, if you have a system in place, you can pull up to that same ramp and get your pontoon wet in just a matter of minutes. All you have to worry about then is parking your truck and you have the rest of the day to enjoy all by yourself.
This means you can be fishing or simply cruising around enjoying every bit of your day.
Step-by-Step Method for Launching a Pontoon by Yourself
Just one point before you even think about getting started with this by yourself; you must keep in mind that the steps outlined below will not necessarily work for everyone.
While they will work for the majority of people, at the end of the day not everything is a ‘one size fits all’ solution for getting your pontoon boat wet on your own.
Knowing that, the best thing you can do is to try each bit and then go from there. Here is how you can launch your pontoon all by yourself in just a few minutes.
1. Always be Prepared
There is a saying that goes, ‘if you fail to prepare, you are preparing to fail’. The very same is true for launching a pontoon. Without a proper plan in place, you will find that you are in for a very rough day.
This means that you will need to have some type of system ready whenever you are ready to get your day started. Here is how you should prepare your pontoon before you ever get to the actual water.
- Always disconnect all electrical outlets
- Disconnect all light bulb plugs
- Stow all safety equipment, transom straps, and mooring lines
- Get your fenders and mooring lines prepared to be used
- Double check to make sure your drain plug is in place
- Practice backing up your trailer in a straight line
Getting your trailer maneuvering skills dialed in is going to be an essential part of getting your pontoon ready. You can practice these pontoon trailering skills in your driveway, in an empty parking lot, or any place that has a lot of open space. Just keep in mind that you have to back in, so not even a winch will be able to help you in this situation.
Just make sure you take notice of how backing up with a trailer only takes a minor correction to make a huge difference in how your trailer behaves.
When it comes time to offload your pontoon, you want to make sure that you back in so that it is not only straight but right above your trailer’s wheels.
2. Approaching the Ramp
This is more than likely the toughest part of the entire process. Be sure you get everything lined up straight on your own. Typically, you will have a spotter guiding you as you back your truck up, but if you are doing this on your own you will obviously not have this luxury.
However, since you have been practicing as mentioned above, you will have no problems lining up your trailer with the ramp.
3. Back Up to the Edge of the Water
Once you are lined up and have all of your angles correct, you can start backing down the ramp to the edge of the docking area. Continue backing up until the position of the water line is right above your trailer’s wheels.
Just be sure that you:
- Drive slowly
- Only make minor steering corrections
- Don’t be afraid to pull forward and correct
- Don’t get your boat all the way in the water
As soon as you have your vehicle in a position with your trailer’s wheels in the water, put the vehicle in park and apply your parking brake. If you don't, there is a chance that your vehicle will continue to back up.
4. Unhook the Secure a Rope and Safety Chain
Once you have applied the parking brake, you can safely get out and begin the unstrapping of the vessel. Unhook any straps and the safety chain, as well as secure your anchor rope to the bow of your pontoon. Be sure that you secure the straps and mooring out of the way.
You should now be ready for the next step, which is to launch. This step involves taking the rope in your hand, walking back to your vehicle, and passing the rope to yourself through your driver’s side window.
5. Put the Boat into the Water
Once back in your truck, slowly start to back up in as straight a line as possible. This means that your trailer and pontoon will be in the water. As you start to back up, be sure to let the rope out as required as well. The amount of momentum from your truck should get your vessel off of the trailer and in the water.
On a side note, when you are in this step be sure that you don’t let go or you may find that your boat has left without you and will not be easily pulled back to the dock. If this happens, it is a huge step backward.
6. Dock Your Boat Using the Rope
Since your boat is now off your trailer and in the lake successfully, you can get the boat and start bringing it back to the dock. Do this with the rope you are holding and then tie the bow off someplace on the dock.
7. Park Your Vehicle
Since you have been able to secure and tie your pontoon to the dock, you are now able to park your vehicle. Once you have done this, you can get excited for the solo day you have ahead on your pontoon boat all alone!
Extra Tips to Consider
So depending upon who you ask, most people will have a different method for how to launch a pontoon boat by yourself. Just keep in mind that the method outlined above works for most pontoon boats and is the easiest one that you will come across.
No matter what though, just make sure that you are safe in every step of getting your trailer and pontoon in the water.
Tips for Success
- When you are holding the rope and backing your trailer into the water, be sure that you don’t have your seatbelt on just in case you need to jump out due to your vehicle popping out of gear.
- Always take your time and never ever feel like you need to rush. Don’t let the pressure of your trailer and pontoon get to you. Let waiting people wait.
- Always take as much time as you need, meaning you are comfortable throughout the entire sequence of launching a boat.
Final Thoughts
While it is always going to be safer to have another person helping you get your boat into the water, you may find that you must do it all yourself on occasion. When you follow the steps outlined above, you have all the information for how to launch a pontoon boat yourself. Simply follow the steps listed above and keep safety as your #1 priority and you will have no problems getting onto the water all by yourself.
