In another thread, @herder wrote:

 

Quote

I've made quite a spectacle of myself getting out of my kayak after sitting in it for 6 hrs 

 

To exit from my canoe at my pond, I have to squat on the kayak seat of my canoe, grab one of the boards of my dock, which is well above the canoe, and yank/launch myself onto the dock. When you're old and stiff, it's never pretty. The beauty of launching from a swamp is that there's no one there to see me...and laugh.

 

Anyone else have tales of woe of entering or exiting a small boat..or a big boat?

I torqued my knee pretty good a couple summers ago climbing off my rig.

It blew up like a balloon and took way too long to heal.

Still isn't 100% but it's close.

Either way, after that carnage, I installed trailer steps.

Wish I had done it before I jacked myself up.

PSA - if you even think you need these - you do.

A-Jay

@A-Jay: Those steps are cool, not just functional, but elegant...unlike me. I'm functional, but inelegant. 

Not me. But when I launch my kayak off of my trailer or bring it back in I'm usually ankle or shin deep in the water since I can't drive my AP120 on or off the trailer. 

 

And no, I don't want to back up onto my trailer. I don't mind getting wet, and in the winter I wear Muck boots to stay dry.

1 hour ago, Kayak Koz said:

I wear Muck boots to stay dry.

 

I thought Muck boots were a Maine thing. Cool that you wear them too!

of all my activities, getting out of my kayak - I look dope as heck.    and I am kinda old.

 

here is how I go.  I pedal towards shore.  as I get near, I pull my pedal drive and paddle in.  as I get even closer, I stand up and use my paddle SUP-style and come in standing.  as I get closer I work the paddles so I come in slow and just as the keel touches earth, I walk off the tip, like the elf in LOTRing coming off the trunk of the giant elephant thing.  as I step, off the kayak wants to shoot back out into the water (Newtons first Law, I think) , but I drag the paddle on the nose and hold it in place.   hahaha..

 

I dont even get out of bed with as much grace and poise.  

Okay, @Darth-Baiter, you're Gene Kelly and I'm Buster Keaton. Love the Legolas reference!

The first couple of steps out of the kayak I look like a drunken sailor, after that I’m ok 🙂 

23 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

I thought Muck boots were a Maine thing. Cool that you wear them too!

Nope, that’s what I wear around where I’ve been fishing. Definitely keeps me on my toes, but I manage pretty well lol

Getting into my inflatable is easy peasy. Getting out can look like the Keystone Kops. I have to get the boat parallel to shore and use an oar to keep the boat against the shoreline as I step off. There are times the boat, the oar, the wind and myself do NOT want to cooperate. When that happens, I look utterly foolish. Once I stepped off and once on shore, I lost my balance and face-planted in the grass. Nothing wounded but ego and pride. But it beats the snot out of sitting at home. 

Getting in or getting out of my yak  has become less problematic and entertaining since I made a "stand assist" strap. It allows me to pull myself up to exit. Using one of the two trekking poles I carry onboard makes it even easier. Getting in, gravity is my "sit assist" only assisted with the trekking pole. 

 

Neither maneuver would be considered graceful or elegant, but they are  effective and I do remain dry and vertical. 

On 7/26/2025 at 3:07 PM, A-Jay said:

I torqued my knee pretty good a couple summers ago climbing off my rig.

It blew up like a balloon and took way too long to heal.

Still isn't 100% but it's close.

Either way, after that carnage, I installed trailer steps.

Wish I had done it before I jacked myself up.

PSA - if you even think you need these - you do.

A-Jay

 

I'm interested in those wheels on the trailer jack.  Did you change the wheels yourself or did the entire tongue jack come like that?  Thanks.

1 hour ago, Junk Fisherman said:

 

I'm interested in those wheels on the trailer jack.  Did you change the wheels yourself or did the entire tongue jack come like that?  Thanks.

@Junk Fisherman

ABT Trailer Jack Skate

It's an after market product I purchased a while back.

My boat goes into the garage about 1/2 way with the truck

and then the last bit of fitment is done by A-Jay power.

Designed to make tight space maneuverability on a flat hard surface,

(in my case cement floor) much easier and it definitely does. 

Especially with a single axle trailer. 

Also I can easily bring the boat to the truck.  

Here's my OP about it.

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/193282-trailer-jack-wheel-replacement-complete/

Unfortunately, this particular model appears to be out of production.

Not sure if another company makes something similar.

A-Jay

On 7/26/2025 at 8:33 PM, Swamp Girl said:

I thought Muck boots were a Maine thing. Cool that you wear them too!

 

Here in rural upstate NY I wear them every day to do chores in the barn (feeding goats & goose). 

 

In cold weather while on the water I'll wear NSR's Boundry Boots (similar to Muck boots).

fyi, if you're standing up in a Pond Prowler and start to lose your balance, DO NOT grab the chair to stop yourself from falling overboard.  They'll just come with you!

 

Don't ask me how I know.

On 7/27/2025 at 7:01 PM, JonB2 said:

Nope, that’s what I wear around where I’ve been fishing. Definitely keeps me on my toes, but I manage pretty well lol

Muck Boots get around;  very popular in the Ozarks.  I wear them for getting in and out of my trout boat on the White River.

I believe that just about every farmer and country boy in New York State has at least 2 pairs of Muck boots. I know I do.

49 minutes ago, Kirtley Howe said:

I believe that just about every farmer and country boy in New York State has at least 2 pairs of Muck boots. I know I do.

Ditto in Pa.