Thanks to the Salty dogs

Herring Problem · 04-07-2006, 08:48 AM

that helped my son in law get his boat back onto his trailer at South Beach Ramp Wednesday night. The boy called last night to tell me about unloading his boat on the ramp.He was taking a friend out for a sturgeon trip. The friend was helping him to launch the boat, so he (the friend) removed the saftey chain and the strap buckle from the eye of the boat.
The boy started to back down the ramp and the boat launched itself tearing the hull up enough that it ground off 1/2" of the drain plug plate. Luckily the motor was raised full up and avoided any damage.

I welcomed him to the world of boating, try to make him fill better by telling him, everyone who has owned a boat, somewhere or sometime have had something happen to them. Know one gets away without doing something and scratching or damaging their boat. This is his first boat, I introduced him into the salt world two years ago and dang if he didn't marry my daughter. I thought I was scaring him off. Opps! Now he's hooked and can't get enough of the salt.

So as a reminder as our new season starts: Watch those saftey chains and straps launching and loading in South Beach this year.

Tinman · 04-07-2006, 08:56 AM

You handled that really well -- it's easy to blow our stacks, but you chose the wise and compassionate road.

On my first trip with my new boat 16 years ago, I almost lost the brand-new 25 hp Evinrude because I failed to tighten the transom clamps enough. The motor twisted sideways, and was hanging by one clamp. I didn't even notice until my buddy yelled.

Then there was the time I beach-launched the boat, and almost lost my truck to a rising tide while I was chit-chatting with beachgoers. The truck was buried to the axle in sand with several inches of saltwater sloshing around the wheels. Fortunately the lifeguard truck pulled me out.

TrinhTD · 04-07-2006, 10:21 AM

The exact same thing happened to me a few years back.

A friend, how has a bunk trailer, unhooked the safety chain on my roller and the the boat ended up on the pavement.

Fortunately there was not much damage to the boat or outdrive. The trailer is another story

He's learned not to unhook the safety chain until the boat is in the water. I've learned how to fix trailer

blubeast · 04-07-2006, 10:55 AM

Yup, been there, done that - FIRST launch brand new boat - Hagg lake - missed the water by only 6' - not bad for a first try... :blush:

then my wife proceded to damage the trailer while parking that same trip - fun call to the insurance agent - two claims in the same trip... won't be doing that again soon... I hope.