What's the stupidest thing...

Mojo · 03-19-2003, 01:54 PM

you have ever done (or had happen) at the boatlaunch?

I would say the worst (besides the obligatory plug left out trick) would have to be...last year (before the UHMMW bunks on my new Tricker) I froze my boat trailer to my boat, while steelie fishing at Orofino. The only way to get the dang thin off was to soak it long enough for the carpeted bunks to thaw. THAT was embarrassing. Good thing there wasn't anyone waiting to launch. My buddy (who was driving the truck) just about dampened the seat of my pickup because he was laughing so hard at me. That was after he figured out why I was still sitting on the trailer.

Stratocaster · 03-19-2003, 01:59 PM

Ive helped two little kids out of a swamped boat (windshield was still out of water)as he came to the dock in a runabout. The guy mumbled something about nailing a log or something.Had to push the floating beer cans out of the way to get to the kids.This was at the old Weyerhauser dock about 12 years ago.If it were to happen now i would call the cops but never thought about it then.I guess the sheriff probably showed up due to the fact his sunken boat blocked the launch.

steelheadslayer · 03-19-2003, 02:04 PM

Mojo, it figures a guy with your moniker would come up with a way for the rest of us to show you how the mojo wasn't with us on certain days. I have a few:
1. Not undoing the tiedowns and then taking a restrained amount of time to figure out why I couldn't shove the boat off the trailer. [img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img]
2. Not pulling the plug, haven't we all done this.

3. Undoing all the winch ropes and tiedowns and then losing the boat off the trailer way short of the water when I pulled forward, I've seen this a few times. 30' cabin cruiser on the Kalama ramp. [img]graemlins/lurk.gif[/img] OUCH!!! :depressed:
4. Last but not least, backing too far into the water on a sandy ledge and getting the truck stuck on an incoming tide. [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img] Luckily, there was a guy there who pulled me out before it got too deep.

Hoosier Daddy · 03-19-2003, 02:06 PM

Are you kidding? Nothing. Not ever. Come on now, me foul up at a ramp, nah.

1pump · 03-19-2003, 02:15 PM

The only thing I've ever done is leave my plug out. Only happened once, but now that I've said it, I'm probably going to do something colossal this weekend at the flotilla where everybody on this board can witness it. :shocked:

I have a shirttail relative who sank his Blazer at a ramp once. He has not been allowed to forget it, since we got a lot of mileage out of those "Like a Rock" Chevrolet commercials. :smile:

FallRiverGuy · 03-19-2003, 02:22 PM

Other other than the plug trick on Odell with near freezing temps (having a wet arm that day was a bummer)it would have be the skag drag once.

willametteriveroutlaw · 03-19-2003, 02:23 PM

O dark thirty,
back boat into water and leave truck running. I got the boat pushed off the trailer and hopped in. Started floating down the willamette and after 4 pulls the rope broke. That was a long morning.

Corkie Monster · 03-19-2003, 02:30 PM

This Fall my brother and I drove all the way down to Tillamook with our DB and I left the oars at home. :grin:

And before that my brother did a dry luanch at the River Side boat luanch. Heard a loud boom and looked up and the DB was sitting on the ramp. Thank god nobody saw us.

greenbuttskunk · 03-19-2003, 02:50 PM

Hate to admit to it, but this was a darwin award for sure. I was all of 16 at the time. Was in a hurry and thought it would be fine to secure my 10 alum. skiff to the top of my roof rack with bungie cords. Was flying down the highway thinking of all the bass I'd catch when I hear a
"WHOOOOMFFFFFF". What the &^%$# was that!!, I remember saying. I look in my rear view mirror just in time to see my boat sailing off about 20 feet in the air like a child's kite. I even have time to see it hit the ground just momments before meeting up with a huge cement truck. Thank god it missed most of it, but it did take that good old boat out of commission forever. Just glad I did'nt kill anyone!!! Guess that was a
"stupid fisherman trick"

Grantspastor · 03-19-2003, 02:50 PM

I've made a career out of stupidity...

1. Tying the tag end of my anchor rope to the drift boat and having the rope come uncleated, dropping anchor in a class three rapid (swamped boat)

2. Failing to tie the boat up while we scouted a class four rapid (it floated through unscathed)

3. Backing down a steep mud covered boat ramp with my 8 mos. pregnant wife in the truck (slid all the way down into the river...had to winch it out...wife going ballistic)

Lipripper · 03-19-2003, 03:02 PM

Left the plugs out on a trip from the launch to the beach at Wickiup. Bilge pump ran quite a while. Most recently--On the second lauch of my new Willie I had taken the strap and chain loose at the top of the ramp. My driver didn't like the angle he was at and decided to leave me and the boat on the ramp (can't rember who the driver was but he was smilin') :grin: . Not too much damage other than a sick feeling seeing my NEW boat sitting on the asphalt. I think this was covered some time ago in "Stupid Boat Tricks". Hopefully these are 2 things I won't do again. :grin:

h20dog · 03-19-2003, 03:17 PM

i hate to brag about being the biggest bone head but im pretty sure i gotcha beat. one of the first times dad let me take the old glaspar without his supervision, a friend and i went to haag lake. it was late in the summer and the water was low so the ramp was at least 50 yards down to the water. we pulled in and took off the straps and put in the plug. i was being so careful not to forget anything. as i walked past the bow to get in the rig and back it down. my brain quit working for a brief moment and i unhook the winch line from the bow. got in the rig and started backing down and all was fine, until the trailer started getting all crooked, at which time i applied the brakes.....the boat slid completly off the trailer onto the ramp. didnt do too much damage, in fact with the help of some future ifishers we were able to push/winch it back onto the trailer, launch it and fish.

GutZ · 03-19-2003, 03:21 PM

Last year at the Wind I didn't back up quite far enough to get my Big Eastside off the trailer. Everything was loose so I just jumped in and backed down another foot. Boat took off right down the Dock. Got to it just at the end of the dock!

Mad Mikey · 03-19-2003, 03:34 PM

This gem was passed to me third hand but is very true.

Last season, a fairly new guide on the Deschutes was launching at Pine Tree with two clients. Trouble was, the boat would not slide off the trailer.
Turns out he had applied gluvit to the boat the night before and then put it BACK on the trailer before it was dry.
He had to drive back to town and get a raft, very red-faced I would imagine.

My worst one besides the drain plug thing was learning to back the trailer down!! That took me too long to master. My second or third time out I had a line of guys waiting to take out and I couldn't close the deal so I unhooked the trailer, walked it down and then backed the truck down and re-attached it.
The howls of mirth wafted high and far on that December breeze...... :depressed:

[img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img]

nerta · 03-19-2003, 03:36 PM

:grin: This hapened while keta and I were trapping in the eighties weather was holding around 28 degrees for weeks at a time. Pulled the boat on the trailer in very cold weather, went out the next morning to set mink traps at sun-up. Being the effective launchers that we are keta gets in the boat to start the motor while I back down the ramp. Just pior to the trailer tires hitting the warer I stop to UN-hook the winch. All's well! I begin to back up again, the boat launch's itself because of a layer of built up ice between the trailer and the boat from the night before. Old gregor slides back and goes down in back and I'm looking at the bottom of the boat. Keta is getting soaked and all I can think of is bet thats cold! :grin: :grin: I get out of the truck to take a peek see,and all keta can say is pull this %$@**& thing back on the trailer. No trapping that day. By the way of four boats we used for traping the gregor make's the best ice breaking hull of the bunch. Twenty years later the gregor still works great as does the twice sunken merc 20. [img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img]

lucky duck · 03-19-2003, 03:36 PM

Well, I was sitting in the boat while my wife backed it to the water. I gave her the fist up "stop" sign, started the boat, put it reverse and Vrooom! vrooom! boat didn't move :whazzup: . I gave the wife the back down further wave and again the "stop" sign, vrooom, vrooom, nothing happened :whazzup: . Went through the whole process a third time, looked toward the back of the boat, saw how deep I was and realized I still had the straps on

. Gave her the "pull ahead" sign. And yes, the ramp was crowded.

dampainter · 03-19-2003, 03:43 PM

o.k. I can play this one...launched boat, parked it on the ramp ,it was early no one around,went to parking lot and parked the truck came back and the water was up to the transom....whew!!! glad I didn`t tie the boat up out on the dock somewhere or it would have been swim time! also I got lucky and drained all the water out before anyone saw me.....no one knows. Another time drove to the fishin hole got the boat and everything ready to launch and then its "where`s my pole!!".....and then there was this untied anchor thing a few years back.... :shocked:

[ 03-19-2003, 04:59 PM: Message edited by: dampainter ]

BrionLutz · 03-19-2003, 04:02 PM

Mojo,

OK...first time I ever trailered and launched a boat. This was at Chinook Landing, new NorthRiver 19.

So...I back down OK...get the boat into the water. NR gave me a long speech about only needing to dunk the first trailer wheel with this slick, custom aluminum NR trailer.

So...get it into the water, unhook the safety strap and chain...get into the boat...crank it up...it will not come off the trailer. Lying salesman..grumble...grumble.

OK...back in the truck...back it in some more.

Whoa!!! There goes the boat without me!!

Remember that saftey strap I took off?

Out of the truck...really fast...onto the trailer...into the water....I'm at the very end of the trailer...holding on with my toes...up to my neck in the water...with my fingernails barely on the boat.

Just get the boat back.

Whew!! This is more adventure than I planned for.

Of coure the cell phone in my pocket is a total loss...the wallet's a bit wet also...not sure how many people saw me...it was a July weekday when I figured fewest people would be there.

Brion

Fishslayer · 03-19-2003, 04:05 PM

I once was launching the boat by myself and took the bow line and attached it to the head of the trailer, got down to the water and un hooked the winch cable. Was not quite far enough in the water so I backed it down a touch more, I look in the rear view and see that my bow line had come undone and the boat was floating away. Not that it wasn't bad enough,if was at a VERY busy boat launch on lake washington during sockeye season.Got lucky and hitched a ride.

Worm-N-ator · 03-19-2003, 04:10 PM

Also, the boat plug, but next to that, Must refer to my Post on page 2--Z's Newbe Post

Silver Hilton · 03-19-2003, 04:29 PM

First boat - tried to launch for ten minutes before I remembered those darn tie down straps. Darn near herniated myself trying to push it off the trailer.

Second boat - left plug out on maiden voyage.

Third boat - left plug out after launching, discovered that fact after long walk back from parking truck. Bad.

Latest boat, knock on wood, no boneheaded mistakes yet.

But my best effort was, as an 18 year old, burying my dad's new 4x4 pickup to the hubs in the middle of a mud flat in McKay reservior, just before the spring melt, half a mile from anything big enough to hicth a winch to. We almost didn't get that one back. Water was up to the doors by the time we got a cat down to get it.

fisher-price · 03-19-2003, 05:13 PM

Oaky here we go. I buy a brand new sled last year. I go pick it up and decide I need to take the better half on the firt run. After all she was the one that said okay in the first place. So off we go to Foster lake. since I have done this a couple of times I make sure to put the plug. So stick the boat in the water. Pull the truck and trailer up and walk back to the boat and sweety pie. so we unhooked and back away from the dock and head out. But wait, the boat is just a little out of whack. I go back and there is water in the boat!!!!!!! WHAT is going on!!!!!!! A brand new boat and it is sinking. We motor back to the dock and I send honey sweety for the truck and trailer. Old guy standing on the dock say "My what a nice boat, hope it don't sink anymore" Well I finally figured it out. Who the hell thought about two lousey plugs!!!!!! I can't remember one let alone to. So I jump in to the applause of every one on the dock and surrounding area, 50-60, people. Well that was enoiugh for me. And you know I have only fogotten the plugs abouit three time since then.

Rod Holder · 03-19-2003, 05:19 PM

Hey Silver Hilton, a person hasn't really lived untill they've burried some type of motor vehicle in McKay mud...great stuff on this thread
PHS class of 75

Capt. Chaos · 03-19-2003, 05:36 PM

Mojo:
I was glad to read your story...This might sound familar? +25 years ago... I had just got a new/used duck hunting boat and couldn't wait to get it in the water. I rally didn't have the right towing rig...a Volvo sedan, anyway I hooked up the trailer/boat and went down to the snake river below Mtn.Home. It was freezing cold...I think around -15 or -20 cause the wind was blowing hard. As you can imagine the fog/mist is coming off the water and I start to back down the ramp and you can probadly guess whats next...the volvo starts sliding down the ramp on the ice left from other rigs pulling out...It stopped just as the rear wheels hit the 40 degree water! I was so excited and thankful that it didn't go further into the water that I jump out and proceeded to fall on my kester and then I slid down into the water! Some lessons are never learned!

cannonball · 03-19-2003, 06:47 PM

Last Summer I Hit the boat launch just below wells dam with the new boat. We had been there in 2001 with the smaller old boat and had a great time. Well Last year the water was much higher than 2001 leaving less room to manuever. Add to this 3' more boat and many lazy people parking right next to launch and you have one tight fit. Well Id jacknifed the trailer pretty hard and heard faint popping sound, but didnt think much of it. When we finally got finished and to our campsite I noticed the one inch diameter hole in the camper door the winch handle had left, I still havent figured out how to fix it and am open to any sugesstions.

Later in the summer we hauled up to Sandpoint Id to hit lake Ponderay. After a minor hiccup, forgot plug. We ran around a bit and decided to leave. The launch was a nightmare Zoo due to an arts and crafts show at the park where the launch is located. After putting the boat on the trailer I had an urgent call from nature, and since the parking lot was like a parade I left the rig on the ramp and went off to find the bathroom. It took quite awhile to find the Lavitory, wait my turn, and get back to the rig. When I arrived my wife was putting all the safety gear away after the marine Sherrif had done the whole "safety check" and a pedal pusher City Officer was just arriving along with Sandpoint's version of Adam 12. After a short explination, and since the Marine Sherriff couldn't site us, the officer gave me a $25.00 parking ticket and scolded me on being discourteous to all the others using the ramp. I then pointeded out that I was the only person foolish enough to launch my boat that day at that ramp. I brought my case to the Sandpoint City Hall as well as the Police. Very Sarcastic and unfeeling people in office in Sandpoint, I wont ever be going back.

[ 03-19-2003, 07:48 PM: Message edited by: cannonball ]

brshooter · 03-19-2003, 07:02 PM

Where should I start? Never forgot the drain plug, but have pulled a few good ones over time.

First time out in our new North River at Chinook Landing. Backed in just fine, but forgot that when you back up with a pump, you steer the opposite direction you would with a prop. Backed off the trailer and was sideways so fast I couldn't believe it. Glad there were no other boats close to us and virtually no one around to see it.

On our first trip out to Kelley Point, had a ship blast 5 times, so we pulled anchor and got out of the way along with the other two boats next to us. All was fine (I thought) as we idled off to the side while the ship passed. After the ship went by, I gave it some throttle to drop back in. No acceleration. Forgot to pull the sea anchors before we pulled anchor. Sucked one sock into the intake grate. Fired the kicker up and cruised over to the sandy beach on the Washington side. Stripped down to the BVD's and hoped into the water and tried to clear it. Couldn't get it so I had to motor back to Cathedral Park with the kicker.

Want me to keep going? Ok.

Pete must have been up at the Kalama ramp the day I tried to launch with the tie downs still attached. Backed in, fired up the motor, and went to back it off the trailer. No go. About that time, the wife asked if those straps should still be there? Walked back and released them. Lost half of one strap in the process, but I don't think anyone saw me (or so I thought).

Haven't pulled any lately, but since I just made that statement, I will probably have something to add to this after my next trip.

springer4you · 03-19-2003, 07:17 PM

Was At the Dredded Fishery During the Shad Run
And I go get the truck to trailer the boat, My roomate and her Step brother are out motoring around till i get back with the truck, Tailgate down, canopy window open, okay no problem,I start backing down, trailer not as straight as i like it, so I decide to hit the brakes and pull foreward, as Im looking ahead I don't notice that my double burner heater on a 20# propane tank has flew out the back of the truck and my trailer is about 3 feet in the air on one side as it's flying over it.
There laughing and I have to get out of the truck and pick everything up and tye what is left of it back in the truck.Glad it didn't blow up or I would of turned alot of heads. Like my own....
Cb's are a must in the truck and the boat from then on.

fish_on · 03-19-2003, 07:43 PM

First time I ever trailed a sled was on the South Fork of the Snake. The ramp was kind of like Clackamett park when the water is really moving, so you can imagine a rookie trying to hit a trailer with no guide-ons. I had quite a line when I finaly bailed out of the boat with rope in hand and manually loaded it.

2nd voyage in my rebuilt wood drift boat, let plug out wife had to bail like hell for about 300 yards.

Bait O' Eggs · 03-19-2003, 08:14 PM

Since Gus Orviston wont post his story but did email it to me I will post it for him :shocked:

"Roy,
Dont tell anybody but a few weeks ago when I floated the nestucca I backed into the ramp above the 5th bridge. I dont now what I was thinking, but I unhooked my trailer from the pickup rather than unhooking the boat from the trailer [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img] you would think I would have noticed right off this mistake when I got in the boat, but I guess the double mocha frappachino hadnt kicked in yet. It was the first riffle that I first became aware of the problem as the left fender hung up on a rock. I was to far down river to get the trailer unhooked and back up to the ramp so I decided to just take it all the way with me. [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img] I went by Marty Peterson and he gave me a funny look, but I was getting use to it as I had already heard several comments along the way. [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img]

It was a good thing I had a buddy along because we hung up once when the safety chain got stuck in a rock. We managed to get the chain loose but the boat had swung around backwards and the tail lights hit a rock and broke.

We paid for a shuttle but when we finally got to the take out ramp, my truck wasnt there. The shuttle crew couldnt find my truck since they were looking for a truck with a trailer [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img]

I had to walk back up to the ramp and drive down to the ramp. I finally got the trailer hooked back up, I decided it was easier to back down the ramp with no trailer as I am not very good with backing trailers [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img]

I got a ticket on the way home for having a broken tail light, I tried to explain to the officer what happened but he didnt believe me [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img]

Anyway, dont tell anybody

Fungus"

Mojo · 03-20-2003, 06:17 AM

Well I have to tell you all something. Shinola occurs at the ramp. I have done some bone headed things, and I have had some weird stuff happen that solwed my launch. Apparently so have you all. If you look at the funny side of it instead of the fact that you are losing out on 5 minutes of fishing, maybe you can be a little more forgiving of those rookies who are having toruble on the ramp. I read the other thread about this stuff yesterday, and it made me think a little (yeah, I know it's hard to imagine...). I realize it is rediculous to think someone who has never, ever, backed a trailer or launched a boat would hit a popular ramp at rush hour on a Saturday during Springer season...but it happens. Take pity on them and help 'em out don't slam them.

O.K. keep the funnies coming...I need it today.

Capt. Chaos, I had a visual on you sliding down that ramp. I've done the exact same thing on that bugger. It's steep! I had to chain up last time I used it. Fortunately (or not) a gravel bar has built up just outside it (apparenly from us jetboat guys blasting onto our trailers), and I can't launch my sled there anymore.

Hook\\\'em · 03-20-2003, 06:51 AM

Mojo,
I have had more than one bad experince on the ramp. I don't consider myself a rookie, but when it comes to lauching or trailering I fall into the rookie. I have done it all left the plug out, left the straps on, pushed off before starting the boat and it deceides not to start or the batt is dead. I have had the worse luck at the neaheliem park launch trying to put on to the trailer. Last summer the tide was going out and I was trying to hold my boat with all my might while my buddy went to retrive the truck. The dock started to get very crowed with very little room. I in all my wisdom thought I could push out the bow and jump in before anything bad good happen righ? wrong by the time I hit the gas my trolling plate was down and whamo I hit the bow of a brand new fiberglass boat. Did do anything to my alum; boat, but cost me about five hundred dollars to repair the other boat. I was lucky to have hit someone that was very understanding and ultimitly gained a fishing partner if he'll go with me. I wish the would teach a class on putting the darn thing back on the trailer when the tides going out my worst experince was fighting my trailer for an hour trying to get the boat on straight the could call it trailering for dummys 101 and I would be the first to sign up.
It's good to see I'm not alone when it comes to the ramp.
Hook'em

Flatfish · 03-20-2003, 07:14 AM

Back boat up. Leave pickup running. Push boat off trailer. Try to drive pickup back to top of ramp. Pickup is locked, with keys in ignition, running, blocking ramp..... Thank goodness for Leatherman tools and sliding rear windows.

Mark and the dog.

GutshotApe · 03-20-2003, 07:31 AM

I have done the usual stupid things....launched inboard jetboat in saltwater with both plugs out. By the time I parked the rig and got back to the ramp the boat had 12" of water inside...

Another time launched that boat with the trailer straps still on...my new boat doesn't have any trailer straps...

But the most embarassing was when I was launching my 25' cabin cruiser for a shakedown test run at Fern Ridge Res. Unhooked the winch and safety chain, told partner to hold bow line while I backed rig down the ramp. There were quite a few people around and as I was backing down the slope I saw a kid run behind the boat...so I instinctively jabbed the brakes...and saw the kid come out the other side. However, the boat, that weighed aver 6000 lbs. & had lots of inertia kept going back...about to drop off the trailer. So I gunned the truck and got the boat trailer back far enough that when the boat came off the trailer there was just barely enough water depth...the boat slid off fast and sustained no damage....and it almost looked like I knew what I was doing.

If you're ever in Seattle and want some free entertainment go to Shilshole Bay. There's an 8-lane ramp there with spectator benches on one side and a concessions stand right there. Its a zoo on that ramp on busy days...

Silver Hilton · 03-20-2003, 07:50 AM

GSA, for an even better show, go to the locks at Ballard at the end of a three day weekend. Fourth of july or Labor day is best. Then you get to see people ramming each other with 25, 35, and 50 foot boats.

SafetyChain · 03-20-2003, 08:13 AM

Why am I reading my monikor in a lot of these posts?

enough said! :grin:

Lucky Lunker · 03-20-2003, 08:14 AM

Had a freind back me down in a DB, boat came off the trailer, but the bow line caught the trailer as my buddy was pulling out. Drug the DB about 30 ft. up the ramp before he noticed and stopped.

When asked why he didn't stop ealier, "how am I supposed to know, I don't have a boat!"

imported_skunkedagain · 03-20-2003, 08:52 AM

Nothing really stupid at the dock, but noticed my battery was low when I started up at the dock at Detroit res. Did I check it out at the dock? Noooooooo!. I shut it off about 100 yards from the dock so I would have to paddle back! Found out the hard way that 18' IO's don't row all that well.

Mojo · 03-20-2003, 09:31 AM

Kinda like going to confession...it's good for the soul!

O.K. I have another one. Didn't happen at the ramp, but it was close. Went fishing / camping with a bunch of guys from work. At dark the beer drinking got really good. About 11:30 the wind hit. It went from calm to 45 mph instantly. Since we were all pie-eyed, we decided (collectivley) that running the boats over to the boat launch would be danderous in the no 5 foot white caps. We tied my boat (and 2 others) up, and pulled the little ones up on the beach. I went to bed with the waves lapping at my gunnels, but dry.

the next morning my boat was full of water, sitting on the bottom. It took 30 minutesd of bailing with 5 galons buckets, and the bilge pump working overtime to empty her out. She started right up, and away I went. I went right home, pulled the floor boards, dried her out, and none the worse for wear.

I learned several things...

1) Flooding your tackle boxes is very expensive.

2) Always pull your boat out of the lake before you start drinking beer.

3) Learn from others' mistakes...The guy that laughed at me the loudest and most persistently, did the same thing 3 weeks later in the same spot.

Chrome Bumper · 03-20-2003, 10:02 AM

Once I almost left the trolling motor down when I went to go fast with the big motor.

crabbait · 03-20-2003, 10:05 AM

Several years ago I was fishing the bridge during B10 with a newbee. We were using my 23' windshield inboard jet. Since the wind was blowing pretty good, I was trolling with the big motor using two sea anchors.

I instructed my newbee crew that, when a rod went down with a fish on in the rod holder, he was to pull the sea anchor on that side, then fight the fish. I would put the boat in neutral, get the other sea anchor and pick up the other line.

Sure enough, a rod goes off and, by the time I got the boat in neutral and came out of the cabin the newbee was on the rod. I pulled the sea anchor on the other side and was just starting to pick up the other line when i heard this horrible screeching grinding sound from the engine. I quickly turned her off as newbee crackered off the fish. We had sucked the sea anchor on newbees side into the intake and around the drive shaft. The grinding sound was the shaft bearing going south. Had ot motor 4-5 miles back to Chinook on the kicker with newbee complaining about the lost fishing time the whole way.

[ 03-20-2003, 11:07 AM: Message edited by: crabbait ]

Mark Mc · 03-20-2003, 10:34 AM

This is one I witnessed. Some folks are bringing their 22ft C-Dory back to the ramp. The truck & trailer are on the ramp. One guy is standing on the hitch, giving hand signals to the guy running the boat. Boat gets closer... closer... signal man is egging him on...Oops too much throttle, close enough! Signal man is waving him off but it's too late and the bow smashes the rear window of the canopy on the truck. Funniest ******* thing I ever saw at a boat ramp.

Snapset · 03-20-2003, 10:43 AM

Launched at Diamond Lake with the Electric all the way down, did a nice job of bending the shaft. All over for that motor.
Parked the boat on the beach at the Diamond lake resort.Wind came up. Boat was full of water from waves washing over the transom.
Very young. Lazy. Thought it would be a good idea to not crank the boat all the way forward to keep the tongue weight down so it would be easier to remove the trailer when I get home. Going over the pass East of Diamond Lake (Again!), the trailer starts swinging, when I look out my window the trailer is skidding sideways in the oncoming lane. I did not lose the boat or trailer but the tongue of the boat had to be replaced. Always have plenty of tongue weight since then.

[ 03-20-2003, 12:12 PM: Message edited by: Snapset ]

luguando · 03-20-2003, 02:22 PM

I forgot to put the plug in my boat. I tied the boat off on the dock and parked my truck. I don't think I was gone more that 10 minutes and by the time I got to my boat. By then the water level in my boat was approximately 3 inches above the floor boards. I put the plug in and turned the bilge pump on. I waited until the water level got below the floor boards and then I slowly motored out to fish. Looking back that was pretty stupid because the boat handled like a fully loaded cement truck. Lucky for me the water was pretty calm on the Columbia that day. If memory serves me, the bilge pump seemed to have run for at least 15 minutes before it finally purged all the water out.

Spoiled Daddy · 03-21-2003, 05:40 AM

Several years ago I had our favorite nephews for a week during spring break and wanted to take them crabbing. I almost got to the ramp and discovered I had forgot the lunch cooler in the driveway, so we go back for it. [img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img] We get to the ramp again and I slide the boat off and leave the boys with it while I park the truck. I get back to the ramp and go to step into the bow to bungee cord the lunch cooler. One of the nephews was holding the bow rope (not tied to the dock) and lets go as I step into the boat. The boat zigs while I zag. I try to catch myself and grab the CB antenna, which promptly snaps off at the rail mount and in I go. :shocked: After swimming (and I don't do that very well either...) to the ramp and walking back to the boat, I discovered I had apparently kicked the windshield wiper as I was going over and broke it off at the base.

I left the boys with the boat, drove home again and changed. Luckily we got three limits of crab that day, but it was an expensive launching to say the least. I still get laughed at when they tell that story!

[img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img]

SD