Almost squished my wife today

[TahoeQ4Pilot]

Was loading the boat today and I almost pinched my wife between the bow and the down truck tailgate. I dropped her at the dock so she can back the trailer down while I pull the boat on by applying some power, then laying off the gas and raise the motor and I usually ride it up on the bunks. She had pulled the trailer too deep and I overshot. Well, she was standing behind the truck holding the hook readying to hook it up when the bow came off and the boat just about run up on her.

Luckily it all went okay and no one was hurt, but I just added a new "rule" to my recovery procedures...no one in that area when the boat is loading. I also need to instruct her on launch deep, recover shallow, these events reinforces that rule to us.

 

[seaboo]

Re: Almost squished my wife today

Well the good out of this is:
No one was hurt
Nothing was damaged
Everyone learned how to avoid it

The bad is:
You have to explain to the wife a better depth to back the trailer at.

Hummm....The good wins out.

Glad this scary event turned out good...

 

[NW Redneck]

Re: Almost squished my wife today

Almost squished my wife today

Try harder next time.

J/K!

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Almost squished my wife today

A lesson learned with no damage or injury is a good lesson !!

 

[cribber]

Re: Almost squished my wife today

Glad this had a positive outcome!!! A good day on the water can be so ruined by a bad time at the ramp.

 

[danpar]

Re: Almost squished my wife today

Very very lucky!
Powering up on to the bunks is bad practice and will end in tears one day. Ok on a waverunner maybe.

 

[TahoeQ4Pilot]

Re: Almost squished my wife today

Very very lucky!
Powering up on to the bunks is bad practice and will end in tears one day. Ok on a waverunner maybe.

Hmmm, I would think it would be the opposite of "powering up," since I had actually powered down and was essentially coasting? Not trying to mince words and want to focus on the activity, but do you suggest to come to a stop before approaching the trailer?

 

[j_martin]

Re: Almost squished my wife today

Hmmm, I would think it would be the opposite of "powering up," since I had actually powered down and was essentially coasting? Not trying to mince words and want to focus on the activity, but do you suggest to come to a stop before approaching the trailer?

You need steerage to hit the trailer. It is up to the captain to make sure the trailer is submerged to the proper depth and even. If it isn't, you need to abort the approach and let the tow car driver get it right first.

That takes experience, and an accident, like sudden full throttle could occur at any time, so there should be nobody in harms way, even if it's going "perfectly". The helper should not approach the trailer until the boat is seated and not proceeding forward. It would be ok to hold the boat in place with low throttle till the winch is clipped in if necessary.

my 02
John

 

[lncoop]

Re: Almost squished my wife today

I think what he meant by powering up is power loading. I cringe as I type because those two little words have been responsible for more than one vitriolic exchange on this very forum. Possibly the only thing that gets posters more revved up is a good old towing capacity discussion.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Almost squished my wife today

Is my toyota corolla a big enough tow vehicle if I power-load to help push it back up the ramp?

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Almost squished my wife today

Is my toyota corolla a big enough tow vehicle if I power-load to help push it back up the ramp?

Depends whether your trailer has bunks or rollers...

 

[j_martin]

Re: Almost squished my wife today

Is my toyota corolla a big enough tow vehicle if I power-load to help push it back up the ramp?

I've actually had to do that. 20 HP boat, dirt landing, and small car.

 

[Andy'sDelight]

Re: Almost squished my wife today

Man, take my ex with you next time and get it right!

 

[jkust]

Re: Almost squished my wife today

Glad she's ok. I do stop and manually winch on. Never had any mishaps doing it the old fashioned way. I wouldn't power or coast on even with a gun to my head. I can just imagine how many things could go wrong.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Almost squished my wife today

cross-reference this thread with the one on 'General Boating" about the 5 year old power loading....

 

[1961_lonestar_holiday]

Re: Almost squished my wife today

its a problem as old as boats themselves............she cant drive the boat, and she cant drive the truck, but you cant be in 2 places at one time, what do you do?

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Almost squished my wife today

its a problem as old as boats themselves............she cant drive the boat, and she cant drive the truck, but you cant be in 2 places at one time, what do you do?

Manually winch the boat onto the trailer, you have her hold the boat at the dock, you run to get the truck and back it in to the proper depth on the ramp, then winch it on. No power, no squishing.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Almost squished my wife today

one better: power winch, rollers

 

[rndn]

Re: Almost squished my wife today

Glad no one was hurt. I always park the boat at the dock, back in the trailer, float the boat onto the trailer and crank up the last couple of feet. I'm sure I could power load it but I'm much more comfortable doing it by hand. Slow and steady.

 

[tswiczko]

Re: Almost squished my wife today

its a problem as old as boats themselves............she cant drive the boat, and she cant drive the truck, but you cant be in 2 places at one time, what do you do?

You don't run them over

glad she wasn't hurt, and she obviously didn't take it too personally (you woke up)

By the way I think I read that towing thread. I thought I took things too seriously. That almost turned into a lynching