well the boys are the right age to get some good fishing in with you , be hard to argue with time spent with them and invite your friend.
he might think his medical is worse than he is telling anyone and he is clearing out and divorcing her as to not worry about ending up in medical debt and causing her trouble.
when we had the what would you do if you were told you had one year to live discussion , a few guys here said , lose everything to their wife in the divorce so that they didn't take her down with medical debt.
solo launching a boat is technique but your kids can do everything while you drive the truck. good time for them to learn.
both I and my son solo launch and load the boat
side bunks , a good long bow line , rubber boots make it a lot easier
![[Linked Image]](https://trapperman.com/forum/attachments/usergals/2026/05/full-35262-293770-sololaunch.jpg)
for the launch neatly coil the bow line on the bow , slip over the post on the trailer , unhitch the clip on the boat all straps removed
back in till the wheel wells 3/4 covered give it a last 6-12 foot back in quick step on brake , pull forward , as soon as the trailer is out of the water with the pull forward very slowly pulling the boat back into the ramp. then you can put the truck in park and go move the boat to the dock or just tie it off to the dock with the bow line if it is sitting on the ramp nicely.
especially at not great docks it is easier to sit on the bow and swing your legs in then walk to the back of the boat and shove off with the push pole
to load with boat tied off at dock , back trailer in so bunks are 2/3 under water
coil that bow line in hand and give the boat a good shove out and way , then walk to the tongue of the trailer and hand over hand it into the bunks and pull it up what you can.
the side bunks line it up as you are pulling it in hand over hand with that long bow line. then since you are wearing the knee high rubber boots it is easy to take a few steps out and hitch the winch on to finish pulling the boat up the bunks