Launching disaster....

wak'm&stak'm · 05-15-2005, 09:45 AM

I hope this was not one of the dogs that launched their boat before it was in the water.

I was backing down the old ramp at Newport, next to a fellow with a 21 or so ft. glass boat. I about choked when I saw his boat slide of his trailer...( rollers , not bunks).
I overheard the driver say..."I told you to unhook it....but not unhook everything.".....oops!

By the time I left it was about back on the trailer, as they backed into it a winched att he same time. I think the lower unit was actually high enough it avoided impact.

I could feel their pain just the same....

Diver_Down · 05-15-2005, 09:58 AM

Ouch! Would have made a great pic of what not to do at the ramp.

sturgn · 05-15-2005, 10:01 AM

We saw a nice North river sled do the same thing on Thursday. They ended up just pushing it back into the water, I dont know how much aluminum they took off of the back of that boat!

sandman · 05-15-2005, 10:08 AM

I did that one time at the old ramp in newport.It was a little icey and i have bunks.It bent my prop real nicely

It still worked for the day.Made me feel like a monkeys uncle.

corrirod · 05-15-2005, 11:15 AM

Yeah, well until you've dumped a boat in the middle of 101 in downtown Garibaldi I don't want to hear it.

(Don't ask me how I know that!)

sturgn · 05-15-2005, 11:36 AM

lol you got a point there Rod!

Reel Creel · 05-15-2005, 11:47 AM

I think thats one step past prarie doggin...

salty dog · 05-15-2005, 03:12 PM

I saw this happen at the launch below St John's Bridge on the Willamete about a month ago. Two guys were having problems getting the trailer straight on the ramp and after about three tries, the driver hit the accelerator a little too hard. As the truck jumped forward, the boat, which was totally unsecured to the trailer, moved backwards and hit the ramp about 10 feet short of the water. I was so amazed I forgot to grab my camera. They didn't want help let alone attention. I learned my lesson: The safety chain stays hooked until my boat is over water.

Finnlander · 05-15-2005, 05:44 PM

I remember when I dumped one on the Warrenton ramp on a very busy day.Forgot to hook the safety chain when the webb strap stitching let go.Very traumatic moment. :whazzup:

Snakebite · 05-15-2005, 05:57 PM

Many years ago, I was a greenhorn fish biologist and was out with a seasoned biologist named Ely, and when I unhooked everything from the boat at the Siltcoos ramp, he told me a story. He said he was a greenhorn biologist getting a boat ready to put in the water at Prineville reservior, unhooked everything and the boat slid off onto the ramp in front of about twenty or so fishermen...just a little embarassing apparently. Well, I took that to heart, and so far, in twenty years of launching both state and my own boats, I remember that story. Now I have to worry when Alzheimers sets in and I forget that little tale. :tongue:

1eyed · 05-16-2005, 02:07 PM

I actually saw the north river go sliding away :shocked: but before I could say anything there she went.

These guys where like how did that happen, I tried to help them winch it up as much as I could but it wasn't coming any farther. I went back to my boat and them they just pushed it back on the concrete, scraping and everthing.

Then hopped in and took off over the bar like nothing had happened :shocked:, I would of pulled it back out immediately to check the damage.

Then I saw them later all the way at the ranch, I quess it wasn't leaking to bad.

Deepslayer · 05-16-2005, 03:12 PM

1eyed I was standing on the dock on the corner when that Northriver came off. I could see it going too. I have never seen one slide off that fast on bunkers. I saw them trying to winch it back up on the trailer. When the bunkers on the trailer just started bending, I couldn't believe they just pushed it in the water with the trailer and then took off. I guess they were okay because I saw them coming in later in the day.