Thread: Loading small 14ft v bottom boat by yourself. Need help with a solution

Room for this? Might take a little minor engineering?

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No there is no room on the tongue and even if there was you wouldn't be able to get up over the trolling motor safely the way it has to be angled. Ive thought about welding up a step off the side of trailer that extends past side of boat when in water but then would have to worry about tearing it off on something. Only solution I can see is a light weight 4 or 5 ft folding stool thats about 16-17 in wide and a couple inches thick when folded, would still be in way when fishing though. Ive taken middle seat out of boat and put in a wooden floor so that made it a bit roomier but also left about 8 inches of seat on each side to attach shelves to so can lay stuff in them instead of throwing on floor.

Robot or human?

Ladder link not sure what says that

I promise I’m human

Might try cutting the aluminum plate down some to give you some more room up front, especially on the right side/opposite side of the TM mounting spot. I fish solo and am 70 y/o. I have a raised platform where my TM mounts, and I can get on my knees to hook the bow winch line up after loading on the trailer. I also can then crawl down and put one foot, then both feet on the trailer tongue to tighten down the winch strap. I then have to usually jump off the trailer tongue over to the edge of my truck to get in the truck. I could wear rubber boots but haven't so far to avoid wet feet.

Other option I see is to back the trailer in a bit deep, then using a long rope, just pull/float the boat onto the trailer. Wear rubber boots as needed.

Originally Posted by jimp

Might try cutting the aluminum plate down some to give you some more room up front, especially on the right side/opposite side of the TM mounting spot. I fish solo and am 70 y/o. I have a raised platform where my TM mounts, and I can get on my knees to hook the bow winch line up after loading on the trailer. I also can then crawl down and put one foot, then both feet on the trailer tongue to tighten down the winch strap. I then have to usually jump off the trailer tongue over to the edge of my truck to get in the truck. I could wear rubber boots but haven't so far to avoid wet feet.


Other option I see is to back the trailer in a bit deep, then using a long rope, just pull/float the boat onto the trailer. Wear rubber boots as needed.

I have my battery and charger mounted on small step under the plate to keep it out of the weather so cutting plate down would mess that up.
The lakes I fish the docks are not right where you launch, one is a 100-150 ft away and the other is 80-100 ft away so even a really long rope would be very difficult. For some reason the DNR doesnt put any docks close to launch ramp which makes it really screwed when by yourself. I may just go with the Dakota boat retriever to launch at the closer dock and a small 4-5 step ladder or step stool to load/get out of boat,seems to be the simplest yet not cheap way to do it.

I have a boat like that with a factory aluminum plate at the nose . I put a 2 X 12” with brackets down the tongue . I sit on the nose of the boat and spin to the side . Then step out on the board, then the ground. Mounted the brackets with unbolts . The board goes all the way from front to back of the trailer. Makes it easy to load .

Originally Posted by keeferfish

Robot or human?

Ladder link not sure what says that

I promise I’m human

That might work if it wouldnt slide on side of boat, would be compact at least.

Originally Posted by RCS

I have a boat like that with a factory aluminum plate at the nose . I put a 2 X 12” with brackets down the tongue . I sit on the nose of the boat and spin to the side . Then step out on the board, then the ground. Mounted the brackets with unbolts . The board goes all the way from front to back of the trailer. Makes it easy to load .

RCS you have any pics that you could share. thanks.