Saw a near tragedy tonight...

[nofearengineer]

After I got done with my around the house work today, I decided to grab some mealworms and hit the local pit for a couple of hours. The traffic at the boat ramp was very heavy, as it always is on holiday weekends. A lot of inexperienced boaters come out on those days too, as I soon witnessed.

A guy and his wife launched an 17' aluminum Tracker, in what I can only assumed they thought was a clever way. When they got far enough in the water, she just jerked on the brakes, and he slid off the trailer. I'm not sure what they thought was the benefit of not just floating the boat off. However, this was an omen of what I was to see when they returned to leave for the evening.

They came back, and he let her off at the side of the ramp to go back the trailer in. He then proceeded to motor out and around, totally ignoring the "idle only" signs plastered all over the ramp, throwing up a big wake and making me move back a few feet from my fishing spot.

She got the trailer in, and he races for it, hits it dead center, and then proceeds to do his best to wash away the back of the ramp with his outboard, trying to get as far forward as he can. I soon find out why he is doing this. He does not want to get out to strap the bow up, and the wife doesn't want to get her footsies wet. So he tells her to pull forward, but to "take it slow". This is how I know he did this on purpose.

Of course, the boatstarts to slide back, and she can't hear him screaming for her to stop. When the inexperienced wife finally realizes something is wrong, the boat is only about half on the trailer. I'm thinking "whew".....close one. I'm sure you know what comes next.

Rather than jump out and winch the boat up (and it is just a john after all, it is light enough to do this), he yells at her to put it back in, but once again, "take it slow." Obviously, this guy has put his hand down on a lot of hot stoves, as he seems unable to learn from the past. She starts backing in, but because she is so nervous, she is sort of starting and stopping, and the prop actually digs in to the ramp, due to the angle the boat is hanging off the trailer at.

I'm thinking, okay, she is going to panic, and flip the boat over backwards. Luckily, the guy SCREAMS at her to stop, and she hears him. Finally, the guy comes to his senses, and climbs out of the boat and winches it up. Another "whew" from me. And a "thank you" to the Lord for looking after me in the past year, as I traveled my very own learning curve with my boat. God, I hope I was never that foolish, though I suspect I was at times.

[TN_Bassin]

Ahhh fourth of july weekend. It just seems that memorial day and labor day just can't come close to the havoc wrecked on 4th of july weekend.

I've got a similar type of story.

So these fellas that will go around 22-23yrs of age decide they want to take their Hummer H-2 and Mastercraft x-star out to the lake and go for a ride. Well who would have guessed these fellas with more trust fund money than sense wouldn't know how to properly launch a boat. So they continue to take off the back straps and the driver gets in the boat. Anyone think of what they forgot? Bingo... the front winch strap, but we'll come back to that later.

The genius driver decides, well it can't be a bad idea to make sure the motor starts before putting it into the water. So he goes on ahead and cranks the motor up, and evidentley wanted to make sure both forward and reverse were working, revving the engine while changing direction, which if you know boats that's a big no no. When he decides the motor is in fit shape to launch he exits the boat and takes his shirt and wallet to the Hummer for safe keeping. All while the motor is still running in reverse at the top of the ramp. So when driver girlfriend return to the boat they launch it.

Well they make their way down the ramp and the boat splashes while running in reverse with the front winch strap on. once again the driver has a bright idea... maybe the boat is just getting caught on the trailer. So he revs the engine in reverse. By the time they realize the front strap was still on they had been at it for a good 2-3 minutes. So they launch and pick up the other 2 and go on their merry way.

Well a couple of hours later I'm still at the marina fishing, and here they come back. They get the Hummer and back it down the ramp, about 20 foot too much. Back of the trailer goes over the edge of the concrete and drops off. Lucky for the guy in the hummer the ramp was ribbed so he could just drive back up after spinning a few. He goes for it again and backs it back as far as he possibly could without the same result. The boat comes up on the trailer and it's not even anywhere near the bunks, in fact the boat's floating 2 or 3 feet over the tires on the trailer. The person in the hummer comes down and connects the winch strap but evidently doesnt know that the winch is used for cranking the boat up onto the trailer. Well the guy goes back and makes his way up the ramp. all the while the boat is swinging hard to port and not even on the trailer but still attached by the front strap. The driver drags the boat about 3 foot onto the concrete while tearing the trailer all to hell and scratching that pretty new xstar paint job.

I should add that i gave my input on how far to go back with the trailer to the driver in the hummer and he told me that he's done this hundreds of times before. He sure put me in my place.

[bassinbob]

Gee what a clever way to get the boat on the trailer-not. The only gaff I made was letting the knot slip on the rope backing the trailer in the water. It started drifting off and in the water I went. Mind you this was in very early spring. I don't think the water was 50 degrees yet. You learn fast. I wonder what hair brained idiot taught that guy how to unload and load a boat?

[Christopherkeene9]

Don't know how y'all do it but that's all standard practice except for the not securing it part down here. Is there any particular reason to not just slide it in the water or to motor it on?

[Bender]

At a lot of ramps power loading is illegal. I know it is at most natural lakes that I have been to. I guess is because the water level is constant the ramp doesn't go too far out so when you gun it to get up on the trailer it washes away the bottom and eventually destroys the ramp. I'm thinking that impoundments have much longer ramps so it doesn't hurt anything.

[WTL]

A couple weeks ago I almost had a near tragedy myself.

My procedure for launching the boat solo involves backing down into water, putting into park with the parking brake, then getting out of the cab and crawling down the bed of the truck and along the frame of the trailer and up into the boat so I can drive off.

Well, on the trailer I have a trailer jack that doesnt pivot out of the way, which means there is a steel bar sticking up in the air about 3 feet high and 1 1/2 feet behind the coupler.

And as I crawled along the bed of the pickup and positioned myself on the tailgate, the tailgate apparently came loose and I was thrown down towards the trailer - and my balls missed the trailer jack by exactly one inch. Really scary stuff.

[WTL]

Originally Posted by TN_Bassin

Ahhh fourth of july weekend. It just seems that memorial day and labor day just can't come close to the havoc wrecked on 4th of july weekend.

I've got a similar type of story.

So these fellas that will go around 22-23yrs of age decide they want to take their Hummer H-2 and Mastercraft x-star out to the lake and go for a ride. Well who would have guessed these fellas with more trust fund money than sense wouldn't know how to properly launch a boat. So they continue to take off the back straps and the driver gets in the boat. Anyone think of what they forgot? Bingo... the front winch strap, but we'll come back to that later.

The genius driver decides, well it can't be a bad idea to make sure the motor starts before putting it into the water. So he goes on ahead and cranks the motor up, and evidentley wanted to make sure both forward and reverse were working, revving the engine while changing direction, which if you know boats that's a big no no. When he decides the motor is in fit shape to launch he exits the boat and takes his shirt and wallet to the Hummer for safe keeping. All while the motor is still running in reverse at the top of the ramp. So when driver girlfriend return to the boat they launch it.

Well they make their way down the ramp and the boat splashes while running in reverse with the front winch strap on. once again the driver has a bright idea... maybe the boat is just getting caught on the trailer. So he revs the engine in reverse. By the time they realize the front strap was still on they had been at it for a good 2-3 minutes. So they launch and pick up the other 2 and go on their merry way.

Well a couple of hours later I'm still at the marina fishing, and here they come back. They get the Hummer and back it down the ramp, about 20 foot too much. Back of the trailer goes over the edge of the concrete and drops off. Lucky for the guy in the hummer the ramp was ribbed so he could just drive back up after spinning a few. He goes for it again and backs it back as far as he possibly could without the same result. The boat comes up on the trailer and it's not even anywhere near the bunks, in fact the boat's floating 2 or 3 feet over the tires on the trailer. The person in the hummer comes down and connects the winch strap but evidently doesnt know that the winch is used for cranking the boat up onto the trailer. Well the guy goes back and makes his way up the ramp. all the while the boat is swinging hard to port and not even on the trailer but still attached by the front strap. The driver drags the boat about 3 foot onto the concrete while tearing the trailer all to hell and scratching that pretty new xstar paint job.

I should add that i gave my input on how far to go back with the trailer to the driver in the hummer and he told me that he's done this hundreds of times before. He sure put me in my place.

There you go, thinkin you know everything. Those people were launching their boat exactly the right way. Sooner or later, that boat wont float, and we will all be the better off for it when idiots like that stay away from the ramps.

Sometimes saving bambi aint a good thing, got to let the herd thin a little.

[GregK9]

Great story!!!

[bcklash]

Me and the Bandit had just put in and fishing our way out of the ramp area, when we see 5 college kids including one girl,yrying to back down the ramp, well they finally get the boat going straight down the ramp and stop to undo the straps, the boat is on rollers the kid in front releases the latch but not the strap, at the same time two kids in the back take straps off, the boat starts rolling down the front strap still hooked and the handle starts turning and WHACK WHACK the kid up front gets hit in the nads going down and sounding like the girl who is with them and shes laughing like no tomorrow while the other guys are trying to help him. Yea it took awhile for us to start fishing again.

[cassidyta]

I think I have told this one before on here, but I will add it anyways. This happened a couple of years ago at one of our local lakes.
A guy and his son had an older ranger hooked up to their brand new F150. (by brand new, I mean stickers in the window) While the guy appeared to be experienced at boating, he wanted to use this opportunity to teach his son how to launch the boat. Now, I am all for teaching your son, but not at first light when there is a big line for the ramp. The ramp will normally launch two at a time, three on tourneys with experienced drivers. This kid managed to zig zag across all three lanes as he backed down. After the third time, I got out of my car and yelled down, "Do you guys need a hand?" Apparently the Dad must have thought I was questioning his manhood and proceeded to yell, curse, and give hand signals from the boat.
Well, Jr, finally gets a straight enough shot at least get the trailer in the water. The bottom of the boat floats, but the bow stays in place. So now there are about 5 of us standing at the top of the launch and Dad is really pissed. He attempts to undo the strap from the bow and finally yells for his son to "come unhook this D@*$ thing. The son quickly jumps out of the truck forgetting one minor detail. This automatic is still in reverse. Well, all of us on the ramp watched the car roll on back. Jack-knifing the trailer and then pulling the boat tied on bow straight into the water. When it finally came to rest, all we could see was the top of the motor and and the F150 headlights.

[GregK9]

Originally Posted by bcklash

the handle starts turning and WHACK WHACK the kid up front gets hit in the nads going down and sounding like the girl who is with them and shes laughing like no tomorrow

you guys are killing me over here!!

[skeeter1804]

Thanks for posting these stories they are great.

[TN_Bassin]

Originally Posted by cassidyta

When it finally came to rest, all we could see was the top of the motor and and the F150 headlights.

It's gotten to the point for me that I cant even remember the number of trucks that drove right off the ramp. Whether it be driver's mistake or from not having 4x4 on a slick ramp. Especially after the floods around here the ramp's all had like 3-4 inches of nasty loose mud and if you didn't have 4x4 then your truck was taking a dip.

[carolina-rig-01]

I love watching people at boat ramps. Yesterday we were up at Stockton where Britney's mom and dad have their camper. The parking lot was well over capacity, there was not one parking spot anywhere so I had to back my boat into a spot between my inlaws camper and their friends camper. But this parking spot left me in a front row seat overlooking the boat ramp. Then it started raining lol. I knew the ramp was fixing to become a madhouse so I grabbed a few beers and sat in the truck where I could watch the madness as all of the playboaters and once a year crowd jockeyed for position to get their boats out of the lake while the ramp is getting slicker, the rains are falling harder, and the lake is getting rougher. Man I saw some good shows.

[bcklash]

The funnyest thing I ever saw at a ramp didn't involve a boat or trailer. Claytor Lake dropped the water level about 10 or 12 ft. I'm driving around to different spots in my truck checking checking out things you can't normally see. So I drive to the state park ramp and see two young men from India walking down the ramp in real nice clothes, shoes, jackets and all. One walks a little too far steps on the slick mud and his arse hits the ramp first and slides all the way down to the water. I'm laughing like hell and his buddy is laughing, he's mad, I blow the horn and it scares the other one so bad his feet fly out from underneath him. So both of them ended up with real nice muddy colthes

OH... The best part was watching them try and walk up that slick muddy ramp.

[Rebbasser]

Ah, Memorial Day, the 4th of July and Labor Day-the 3 times a year I WON'T go to the lake

[walkeraviator]

Originally Posted by Rebbasser

Ah, Memorial Day, the 4th of July and Labor Day-the 3 times a year I WON'T go to the lake

x2...i stay home on holiday weekends

[WTL]

Originally Posted by Rebbasser

Ah, Memorial Day, the 4th of July and Labor Day-the 3 times a year I WON'T go to the lake

I used to go wading secluded smallmouth streams on the holidays, unfortunately dont have that type of water around here. I wouldnt dare hit a popular body of water on the holiday.

[TN_Bassin]

Originally Posted by WTL

I used to go wading secluded smallmouth streams on the holidays, unfortunately dont have that type of water around here. I wouldnt dare hit a popular body of water on the holiday.

In the past I used to do the same thing, but now it seems even there the people gather.

[bamabassman]

these things happen EVERY year it seems don't it? no matter how much they think they know, some folks just don't need to be out there. i didn't get out there this year, other things on my mind (ya'll know) and i had plans anyway. but i am so glad i didn't go this year. taking advice of a dear departed friend from now on. gonna stay off the water on major holidays i think from now on.

[nofearengineer]

Wow....I'm starting to get pessimistic about Patoka Lake tomorrow. I hope most of the pleasure boaters don't have the day off like I do.

[Rebbasser]

nofear, if you go real early and get off the water by 10 or so you will be fine. Any later, though......

[carolina-rig-01]

Originally Posted by Rebbasser

nofear, if you go real early and get off the water by 10 or so you will be fine. Any later, though......

Yep I take a similiar aproach. I spend all day hanging around the campsite laying in a hammock in the shad and watching the boat ramp. Then in the evening I launch and spend the night on the water while the lake is finally quiet and the fishing is almost always better at night this time of year anyways.

[carolina-rig-01]

Originally Posted by bamabassman

taking advice of a dear departed friend from now on. gonna stay off the water on major holidays i think from now on.

Zooker and I had that same conversation during one of our last phone calls.

[Ebbetsguy]

I was part of a near tragedy tonight. I was whizzing over the side of the boat, as it was pitch black and no one was around, And I caught myself in my zipper, not enough to cause and real damage, but sitting will be an issue the next few days