13 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Ya - same here. Last year I was in queue at North Arm to launch the canoe when a guy did this.

 

As his boat 'parked itself', I said to him "That's cheating".

 

His replay was, "But oh so satisfying."

And of course the only time that remote will fail is when the water is below 38F.

 

Then it will be "oh so satisfying" to watch him recover it.

When I have to launch and no dock is available, I carry a spool with over 100' of nylon rope on it.  I unwind it up the ramp several feet and back the trailer into the water.  I let the boat float out away from shore then stop it in open water.  I either tie it off or unwind lots of rope so if it floats out I will still have rope to pull it back.  We don't have sand so I don't want my fiberglass boat setting on the shore.  I pull it in as I wind up the rope, climb aboard and go fishing.

Thanks for all the replies and ideas, definitely feel more confident about launching without a dock. 

I have an aluminum boat that I launch several times a week all winter in FL.  I'll float it off with enough rope to clear the trailer, pull it to shore or ramp, lift the bow to secure the boat on shore, park the truck, lift the boat to float it, push it off and step on and go fishing.  Takes less time to do it than write about it.  I'm much more likely to get stuck on a rock on the river or stump on the lake than damage it while launching 

Take a look at Z-Launch bungee rope vedio.

Bungee ropes are good for lighter weight aluminum boats only.

I had an old small 12” trailer tire to put on the bank for the bow to rest on and prevent the baot from drifting away.

Simply detach the wench strap, clip on the bungee rope to the boat and trailer, back down until the boat floats off pull the trailer up and the bungee rope pulls the boat back to the ramp. Put the old tire to one side of the ramp, pull the bow onto the tire. Park your vehicle.

To retrieve pull the wench strap near the end of the trailer, drive your boat onto the trailer until stops. 

I added a walk way plank to my trailer so I could get out over the bow without getting wet. Attach the wench strap and retrieve the boat.

Tom

PS, put the tire with a rope tied to it in the boat so you have it to use to get your tow vehicle.