Boat Ramp Follies................

[Davem3]

Well, as embarrassing as this is, here we go. Carp, for all I know there is probably a video somewhere on this incident anyway :facepalm:

Anyway, the water levels here in Mass have been horrendous to the point, where i use chock blocks for the car now, no matter what !!

about 3 weeks ago, while launching from Quinsig, during a regatta event no less, my son and I were launching our Princecraft boat, perfect launch as always.

here is where it gets hairy, as I was pulling the trailer back out, Ben gets the bow line hung up on the bunk of the trailer and as i was pulling it out, yep you guessed it, it was pulling the boat, with the trailer UP the ramp, someone started screaming, and i stopped INSTANTLY!

getting the line of the bunk was a fubar as well, it went twang, ripping my hand up, but at that point, i was more worried about the boat, than me at that point!!!!!

thank god for the 50' line, it saved my a#* big time.

although it did pull the boat up somewhat, 3 of us was able to pick up the boat and get her back in, and ( thank god!!!) no leaks!!!!!

although thanks to this, i went into full restore mode, cleaning every square inch of the outside of the boat, it needed a new transom anyway, and various other tweaks as well

two things here: thank god for the checklist.............. the motor ( a brand now Tohatsu 9.8) was up and LOCKED and not a scratch on her, and two, WOW, a Princecraft is one solid piece of tin for sure, she did not suffer any damage at all.

needless to say, Ben will never be in charge of the bow line during launch ever ever again!!!!!!!!!!!!!

some days it does NOT pay to get out of bed..................:facepalm:

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Boat Ramp Follies................

Sad but true.

 

[SteveMcD]

Re: Boat Ramp Follies................

Needless to say, you screwed up when you were a kid, did you not? Get used to it. He probably has a few more coming up too. Don't you think the kid feels bad enough? Guess not. My dad had a masters degree in electrical engineering, and he did everything perfectly too. When I got the boat, the dash had the gawdawfulest rats nest I have seen in my life.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Boat Ramp Follies................

I'd rather have him in charge of the bowline now than before. That's how you learn. Give him a break.

I was doing a solo low-tide launch at an isolated location and had to tie the boat off and pull the trailer out from under it. On the way up the ramp the bow line caught a roller and snapped. Boat floated out into the creek, untied.
Ever use a shove pole to pole vault to a boat? If you ever need lessons, call me.

 

[Davem3]

Re: Boat Ramp Follies................

I'd rather have him in charge of the bowline now than before. That's how you learn. Give him a break.

I was doing a solo low-tide launch at an isolated location and had to tie the boat off and pull the trailer out from under it. On the way up the ramp the bow line caught a roller and snapped. Boat floated out into the creek, untied.
Ever use a shove pole to pole vault to a boat? If you ever need lessons, call me.

Eeeek , like wow............. well at least your line snapped, kinda sorta.............. oh yes, I made plenty of mistakes as a kid ( and still do) but ehhhhhhhh no damage done, and i have chilled out at this point.........

on the plus side, it got me into "restore" mode, fixing important stuff, like cleaning and waxing the outside of the boat ( should fly now), replacing the transom ( god, i am a IDIOT for NOT doing that sooner)
and replacing the boards we use to walk in it. (a savings of a whopping 64 pounds) whoever used HARDWOOD to build the floors was a knucklehead!!!!!:facepalm:

I understand WHY, for longevity, but this a tin fishing boat, every pound counts, period.

although, i probably added 10 pounds because i replaced the transom with top notch White Oak, a decision i will stand behind forever, the plywood that was in there was pure junk, and it was NOT even marine quality, good grief

 

[TerryMSU]

Re: Boat Ramp Follies................

Needless to say, you screwed up when you were a kid, did you not? Get used to it. He probably has a few more coming up too. Don't you think the kid feels bad enough? Guess not. My dad had a masters degree in electrical engineering, and he did everything perfectly too. When I got the boat, the dash had the gawdawfulest rats nest I have seen in my life.

I also have a masters degree in electrical engineering. My boat wiring is an absolute mess. The one thing I can say is it is a thousand times better than it was when I bought it. Sometimes, it is just easier to live with poor wiring than it is to pull it all out and fix it. It works, it just looks like crap.

TerryMSU