Boat Ramp Comedy Shows

[rashick]

Re: Boat Ramp Comedy Shows

We have a slip in Caseville Michigan right across from the boat launch and it gets very entertaining at times. One of the best displays was four guys who could not get their boat off the trailer. It looked easy enough, one guy backed the car, boat and trailer down the ramp two were in the boat and one on dock to hold the boat when the car pulled away. The guy on the dock could not hold the boat and it went back up the ramp with the trailer. Next two guys were on the dock to hold the boat and it still went back up the ramp with the trailer. Now they pulled up took a look at the front of the boat to make sure the bow eye chain and rope were disconnected. It was. They backed the boat in again, this time very deep so it was floating well and three guys on the dock tried to hold it in the water when the car pulled forward with the trailer and they still could not get the boat to leave the trailer. They finaly hit on the right answer. MORE POWER! They refloated the boat, tied some lines on the dock and attched them to cleats on the boat. This time when the guy in the car tried to pull up the ramp he really gave it some gas, smoked the tires, wreched pretty hard at the dock, but the boat refused to leave the trailer! I realy do not blame the boat, with yahoos like that I would not want to go out into the water either. We left for church at that time so we did not get to see the conclusion of this epic struggle, but I suspect it involved some strained stern tie down straps.

 

[miloman]

Re: Boat Ramp Comedy Shows

ok I will add a personal one from my life I was 21 ( afew years ago) I had just bought a new ranger It was my 6th boat at the time figured out the backing up checking boat stuff real early.<br />I drop the boat no problem go fishing for the day GREst right. Time to go home park at the dock back the trailer ok. I decide to do something I have never done before. Drive the boat on the trailer. I back off line it up with the trailer slowly drive it on great I said. I noticed I had about 1 1/2 tog oso rather then whinck it on I decide to drop the drive a bit and power it on. My mistake. I drove the boat right into the whinch broke it in 1/2 had my boat 2 feet over the front of the trailer. I will never do it again. Now I have learned the delicate touch of coasting on

 

[Throbbin Rods]

Re: Boat Ramp Comedy Shows

Back about 9 years ago, several months after surgery for a brain tumor I went to the Winni Derby with my 9 year old daughter. Launched the boat, a Starcraft Islander 191V and motored out to moor it for the night. Notiiced a huge sheet of plastic floating and decided to pick it up since with my luck it would of just ended up in my prop. Backing toward it with trhe kicker and a gaff and woosh - over the stern comes a huge wave. Boat is awash, I'm struggling with two dead engines, trying to raise some help, the boast is filling up fast and the 9year old says"Daddy - I want to go back to shore" No crap - ME TOO!!! Finally got itinto water up to my neck, jumped out (47 degrees - shrinkage) and pulled it to shore with the bow rope. Grapped some pieces from someone's dock and blocked it up for the night. Next morning got a tow from another guy to the launch and put it on the trailer. My kid never let me live that one down.

 

[miloman]

Re: Boat Ramp Comedy Shows

ok I will add a personal one from my life I was 21 ( afew years ago) I had just bought a new ranger It was my 6th boat at the time figured out the backing up checking boat stuff real early.<br />I drop the boat no problem go fishing for the day GREst right. Time to go home park at the dock back the trailer ok. I decide to do something I have never done before. Drive the boat on the trailer. I back off line it up with the trailer slowly drive it on great I said. I noticed I had about 1 1/2 tog oso rather then whinck it on I decide to drop the drive a bit and power it on. My mistake. I drove the boat right into the whinch broke it in 1/2 had my boat 2 feet over the front of the trailer. I will never do it again. Now I have learned the delicate touch of coasting on

 

[Seaboo2]

Re: Boat Ramp Comedy Shows

How about wd-40ing the bunks on a jet ski trailer, undoing all the straps, backing it down the ramp and making a sudden stop and the ski bouncing (sliding, grinding) down the ramp. A bud of mine did that once.

 

[crazyray]

Re: Boat Ramp Comedy Shows

hey that gives me an idea<br /> a little armorall on the bunks of the jet ski trailers in the ramp parking lot......hmmmm<br />

 

[gslpro]

Re: Boat Ramp Comedy Shows

This summer while in New Hampshire I encountered the guy that most of us know, Captain Ego. While walking the docks checking out the other boats, (while the girlfriend checked out the stores,) I noticed a guy getting ready to launch his brand new Sea Ray, probably about 20 footer. Now here comes the fiasco....I noticed his outdrive in the down position, and brought it to his attention. "No it isn't," he replies. Yes it is," I reply....back and forth a couple of times..."I've checked it already!!" he bursts out at me. I just throw my hand up in the air and say, "Fine!" By now, a little crowd has gathered to view the events, and he decides to jump back in the boat to check, saying, "Well...I don't want to look a horse in the mouth." He jumps in, turns the key, and hits the trim button up..it squeals, and he says, "See?" I try to tell him that it is trim, and not trailer, but he just blows me off to strengthen his ego. A few people look at me and laugh. I just take a seat, and get ready to watch. I couldn't believe this part....Brand new Sea Ray, and he attaches one of those emergency tow ropes you would buy at a car place or Walmart, you know the slightly elastic large round yellow ones to THE DOCK and then to the boat's bow hook. He disconnects everything else, and then backs down the ramp at decent speed before jamming the brakes, and launching this into the water. He pulls forward and goes to park his suv, and I am sitting there with a stupid smile on my face, for I think I am the only person that has noticed the boat came off the trailer, and then stopped within five or six feet. He gives me one of those "F___ You!" smiles, and then grabs the rope from the dock to retrieve the boat. He pulls and pulls, and then starts screaming at his kid to get into the water to LIFT the boat off of the boat ramp bottom...Then, he screams at his wife to do the same...I was just sitting there, for the first time having absolutely no inclination to offer my assistance to another boater, and with the absolute biggest "F___ You smile" right back at him. It is amazing that people arent told that the trim system stops at a certain angle to prevent coming out of the water while running and preventing damage to the U-Joints. <br />This actually makes me angry that some, if not most, boat dealers are more than happy in taking your money, but not thoroughly going through the operation of how their boats work.<br /> But, I guess if they were to train everyone properly, mechanics wouldn't be quite so busy, and this column wouldn't exist. Enjoy!

 

[BassMan283]

Re: Boat Ramp Comedy Shows

To give boat dealers a little benefit of doubt, I'm sure Captain Ego would never lower himself to take instruction from a boat salesman.

 

[KenOhki]

Re: Boat Ramp Comedy Shows

I would also like to add to this, I would add that it is not the sellers responcibility to teach you how to use what you are buying. The Car dealorships dont teach you how to drive, Why should a boat salesman have to teach you how to use your boat. Now if you ask the dealer, Of course he is obligated to answere your questions, But it is not his responcibility to teach you your boats controlls. That is what the owners manule is for.

 

[bluewater19]

Re: Boat Ramp Comedy Shows

I have owned boats since I was 17. when my wife and I went to demo ride our new glastron the dealer not only took us out and showed us the right way to launch and retrieve a boat but he also showed us all the safty stuff... run blower ect. after showing us all this he asked us if we had any questions and produced a check off sheet for us to sign saying he demonstrated proper way to do this stuff. I guess they were just trying to cover themselves in this sue happy world we live in.

 

[OBJ]

Re: Boat Ramp Comedy Shows

Here's a good "Go Figure".<br /><br />Just yesterday me and she herself goes over to the marina to meet up with her sister and husband who are looking at buying another motor for their toon.<br /><br />As we are sitting in the truck waiting for the inlaws, we watch this guy launching his boat. He backs the trailer in and gets out the truck and comences to push his boat off the trailer. Now this guy is working his butt off to get this thing off the trailer. And I don't know if we were just stunned by watching this scene or what but we sat there and watched this guy work to get his rig off the trailer. Well he got it off and finally she herself says "I got to hear the reasoning behind this one" and off she goes. The guy pulls the truck and "finally" empty trailer off the ramp and I see her say a few things and see him reply. She just kind of turns and walks back to the truck and gets in with a sort of blank expression on her face. I says to her "What did he say?". She say "I ask him why didn't you just start the engine and back off and he said OH! the motor doesn't run". I look back over toward the ramp and there he is just floating,,,,trying to figure some way to get back to shore. Go figure.

 

[spike440]

Re: Boat Ramp Comedy Shows

Here' mine. Too much to type again, LOL.<br />-Spiker<br /><br /> http://64.5.36.124/forum/showthread.php?s=5dbe9e7268e39c0cfec6fcb18ea34b7a&threadid=37097

 

[Scoop]

Re: Boat Ramp Comedy Shows

Last year. I have a Jon boat on a trailer with short bunks. The front of the boat is on one center roller. Not a lot of support, but ok for this fairly light boat. I have developed, after much trial and error, a way to launch the boat off the trailer myself with a long bow rope.<br /><br />In spring, I went fishing with a bunch of my brother in laws. I am bringing the boat back in. They have backed the trailer up to the lake and I tell them to take the trailer back out so I can use my method to get the boat on. Well after much of their coaxing and prodding and ribbing, I finally am convinced I should try to drive the boat on the trailer. I get the boat on, but no one on shore wants to wade into the 40 degree water to hook up the bow rope. The boat is not on the trailer enough for them to pull out without the rope. So again after much ribbing etc, I try to move to the front of the boat and connect the bow rope while balancing the front third of the boat on one middle roller. <br /><br />At this point I almost got there and reached for the rope, when I got the boat a little off balance and tipped the boat halfway off the trailer. Now I have a choice. Go over into 40 degree water spilling tackle boxes and everything out of the boat or sit there for hours. Fortunately one of the guys grabbed the whole front of the boat and lifted it enough for me to get my balance and get out into the water in a orderly but cold fashion. <br /><br />In all these years you think I would have learned not to be pushed into something by a bunch of guys with no stake in the game. I will only launch and recover my boat my way from now on.<br /><br />Of course one of these days, I am just waiting to put my 2 wheel drive manual transmission S-10 pickup in the drink while launching the boat. On steep ramps it is hard enough to no roll back or spin the tires. When I do give it the drink, I will post pictures for all to enjoy.

 

[sprithunter]

Re: Boat Ramp Comedy Shows

Scoop where do you live in WI? I would really like to see that live

 

[darcal]

Re: Boat Ramp Comedy Shows

I took my buddy out 3 days before the opener and he unhooked the boat from the trailer before we backed down. I told him to hook it up or we'll loose the boat before it hits the water. Its my boat so I hooked it up and we put it in. <br /><br />Well he bought my 16' lund and put a $600 deph & gps on this. On opener you guessed it his boat hit the concrete and shortened his fin and busted his dephfinder they never learn...

 

[LadyFish]

Re: Boat Ramp Comedy Shows

Well, I pulled my first stupid human trick at the ramp last night.<br /><br />The boat has been out of the water since Dec. 30th. We get the boat to the ramp and as the previous post mentions did not unhook the boat from the trailer before launching. New GPS and depth finder tranducers not to mention it was pretty windy.<br /><br />The ramp was extremely slippery with moss. I did manage to get a little footing before I unhooked the safety chain. The problem was, a very strong man helped take the boat out in Dec. and put the forward/reverse lever for the strap down so tight and far, I wasn't strong enough to get it in the release position. My husband handed me a screwdriver so I pryed it back. In the meantime I have my hand on the stop bar and head just under where the anchor rests. Well, the strap let loose and that stinking handle was turning faster than I knew it could. My hand now is pinned under the boat and the handle is beating the tar outta my hand. Its just a good thing I moved my head outta the way. Quite a few tears later I managed to unhook the strap. The first thing I did is look around to see if anybody witnessed such a stupid act.<br /><br />It just goes to show you. No matter how many times you do something the unexpected can happen.<br /><br />Trust me, I will never use the screwdriver method again unless it has a 6' handle.

 

[L Christopher]

Re: Boat Ramp Comedy Shows

Just last weekend at the ramp, I had released the wench strap and was releasing the hook from the eye when my wife shifed some weight in the boat and it started sliding off the trailer. Somehow I managed to get my index finger between the hook and the eye. I taught the guy next to me at the ramp some new words. I am thankful that I left the wench in the release position or I would have lost my best finger.

 

[Hoserpoppasmurf]

Re: Boat Ramp Comedy Shows

Another for the book of studidity. My buddy wanted to sell me his home made v-drive boat and trailer. Trailer was made at machine shop with concentric tube for tongue. Boat is 18' flatbottom. We launch at shallow shorelines so extendable tongue is big bonus. At the lake dam thing would not extend, buddy says it will only take a little bit, if we tie trailer to telephone pole, and power away the tongue will come out. We chained trailer to pole, and drove slowly away, tongue stayed compressed but trailer suddenly went very long and very narrow. I did eventually buy it after trailer was rebuilt.

 

[sherick007]

Re: Boat Ramp Comedy Shows

I wittnessed a few this weekend on Cauldron Falls <br />Wi. this weekend. The first was about a 16'bass type boat with a 90 hp Yamaha on the back (or under the back) with the bow pointing straight up at the clouds. they did winch it back down. <br /> Next came an aluminum boat about the same size, pointing the same skyward dirrection only this time the guy holding the bow rope does a chin up on the bow. The bow started coming back down and the rollers came back into play. the bow of the boat slammed down onto the last cross brace of the trailer and then started floating, the guy on the bow did about the same, but they did go out fishing. The last was an aluminum walleye type boat that came out of the water on the trailer at about a 45 degree tilt, now I've done this many times, but I always backed down again and straightened it back out, they just headed for home.<br /> Thanx for the stories,<br /> R.J. Byrnes

 

[chris in va]

Re: Boat Ramp Comedy Shows

I just did this last weekend at a very busy ramp with many spectators. Back my 19' bow rider down the ramp, friend hops in to start the boat. Couple minutes later we figure out the stern straps are still attached, but now the boat won't go back on the trailer straight! 20 minutes of swearing later, I just reached waaaaaay down and unhooked the straps in the water, and all was good. <br /><br />Embarassing? You bet!