I bought a 14 foot Jon boat last summer,I don't have a trailer yet, and probably won't anytime soon and so far have only fished in my home lake. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas how to unload it out of my pickup truck ( by myself) at a boat launch without damaging the bottom of the boat or looking like an idiot. The only thing I could think of is get the boat halfway out then using a furniture dolly to roll it into the water. Any Ideas???? Thanks.

I had similar difficulties with my canoes. I have a carrier that has wheels like those on small bikes for when I cannot back up to the water.

I came up with a very effective and efficient solution for launching at ramps.

Hip boots, or waders. I had hip boots, and you can get some that will do the job for about fifty bucks.

Back your truck right up to the water, so your jon boat extends over the water, or to the water depending on the slope of the ramp.\

Slide the boat into the water until it is nearly off the truck. Then support that end, slide it off and lower it to the water.

I didn't think up this idea. I saw a guy launch his twenty foot bass boat wearing hip boots. He backed the trailer into the water. Got out of his truck, donned his hip boots, and waded into the water to get the boat off the trailer.

Pulled the boat onto the beach,  parked his truck and trailer, walked his boat to water deep enough to lower his motor, jumped aboard, took off his hip boots, stowed them, and was on his way.

Works slick. Most times, prior to wearing the boots, I'd be fishing with wet feet. In fact, I wore my kayaking/canoeing mesh fabric sneakers for that reason.

The boots work great, particularly when the water temps are cold, brrrrr.

Luke, here's a link regarding boat dolly ideas that I found very useful when time came to building a boat dolly for my bass raider. http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1206570127/0

I used the attached photo as a template for my dolly. The dolly cost me about $25 ($20 for the caster wheels @ Harbor Freight and $5 lag screws @ Wally World). One thing that I would change is using 10" caster wheels instead of 8", because the larger wheel diameters sits higher, giving you a better angle when loading and unloading the jon from your truck. Dolly definitely saves your back and the bottom of your vessel from scrapes and scuffs.

that's a great Idea. I trout fish in April/ May, so I already have two pairs of hip waders.

Just get a 2x10 or two and slide the boat off the truck on the ramp right into the water.  The jon will only draft a couple of inches of water so you would only need the boards to be in the water a foot or two.

I would seriously caution you on walking in the water at the boat ramp.  Algae buildup and oil makes many as slick as ice and concrete hurts like hell when you slam down on it.  ( I speak from experience)  Be CAREFUL

Luke, here's a link regarding boat dolly ideas that I found very useful when time came to building a boat dolly for my bass raider. http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1206570127/0

I used the attached photo as a template for my dolly. The dolly cost me about $25 ($20 for the caster wheels @ Harbor Freight and $5 lag screws @ Wally World). One thing that I would change is using 10" caster wheels instead of 8", because the larger wheel diameters sits higher, giving you a better angle when loading and unloading the jon from your truck. Dolly definitely saves your back and the bottom of your vessel from scrapes and scuffs.

Thats awesome!!!

Luke, here's a link regarding boat dolly ideas that I found very useful when time came to building a boat dolly for my bass raider. http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1206570127/0

I used the attached photo as a template for my dolly. The dolly cost me about $25 ($20 for the caster wheels @ Harbor Freight and $5 lag screws @ Wally World). One thing that I would change is using 10" caster wheels instead of 8", because the larger wheel diameters sits higher, giving you a better angle when loading and unloading the jon from your truck. Dolly definitely saves your back and the bottom of your vessel from scrapes and scuffs.

Thats awesome!!!

Thanks. Bass Resource is truly awesome. Would have broke my back or wallet had I not found that great idea.

Drive really fast down the ramp in reverse and slam on the brakes.  Might want to tie a rope to the boat and to your tailgate.  ;D

I used the 2 2x10's method for a few years but I was saving for a trailer after the first few times. Loadin the boat, motor, gas tank and all the other gear got old fast.

A trailer would make life easier. one of those little boat trailers for Harbor Freight works well for me and they are only $330.00

One of these may help as well.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=39168