Ok, this is embarrasing..dropped my buddies boat on the ramp! Need advice...

[Boatin Bob]

Re: Ok, this is embarrasing..dropped my buddies boat on the ramp! Need advice...

Good for you SS, standup guy that does the right thing, can come and help me launch anytime!

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Ok, this is embarrasing..dropped my buddies boat on the ramp! Need advice...

Thanks for the advice but I'm pretty sure he wouldn't be happy with anything less than having it repaired by a "Pro".

I'd still look around and find a fiberglass repair shop. I'd be willing to bet the dealer doesn't have a fiberglass guy on his staff, more than likely sends repairs out then marks marks up the cost.

 

[SV1000]

Re: Ok, this is embarrasing..dropped my buddies boat on the ramp! Need advice...

John, sounds like you need another boating buddy!

I helped my buddy move, WE loaded his truck, my truck and two trailers. Some crap flew out of the back of my truck and smacked a new car, it was turned in on my insurance and cost me about 1800.00. He offered to pay and I said BS!

Years later he lost one of my prized antique power tools off the back of his trailer that WE tied down. He offered to buy me a brand new replacement and I said BS!

You did the right thing and it's obvious you are a stand up guy...he on the other hand

 

[jonesg]

Re: Ok, this is embarrasing..dropped my buddies boat on the ramp! Need advice...

It will all come back to you in unseen good ways.
There are No coincidences.

 

[D445547]

Re: Ok, this is embarrasing..dropped my buddies boat on the ramp! Need advice...

John, sounds like you need another boating buddy!

I helped my buddy move, WE loaded his truck, my truck and two trailers. Some crap flew out of the back of my truck and smacked a new car, it was turned in on my insurance and cost me about 1800.00. He offered to pay and I said BS!

Years later he lost one of my prized antique power tools off the back of his trailer that WE tied down. He offered to buy me a brand new replacement and I said BS!

You did the right thing and it's obvious you are a stand up guy...he on the other hand

I agree 100%! It would be different if you borrowed the boat, but he was there and as such assumes a role in the damage.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Ok, this is embarrasing..dropped my buddies boat on the ramp! Need advice...

SV1000, I don't know whether I'd want to drive behind you or your friend. Course I could get some free stuff if I managed to grab it before it hits the ground!

 

[Israel Hands]

Re: Ok, this is embarrasing..dropped my buddies boat on the ramp! Need advice...

Sorry, but for the maiden voyage your buddy should have hired a professional insured captain. He went the cheap way and asked a friend; therefore, the owner should assume full responsibility. Cost of repair $975, the lesson learned, priceless.

Israel Hands

 

[cbavier]

Re: Ok, this is embarrasing..dropped my buddies boat on the ramp! Need advice...

John you said

Thanks everyone. I'm no Captain or anything but have been boating since I was a kid, 44 yrs old now, and I've never done anything this stupid before. I'm pretty embarrased about it really. Damn near lost my foot trying to stop the boat as it rolled down the trailer, that didn't work. 185lb male vs 2200 lb boat on rollers...dumb of me to even try.....


Let me tell you first we all have done stupid things and some even more stupid so don't feel bad. I like the others think your the kind of friend that everyone should have. Yes keeping a good friend is far more important than the cost of fixing the boat. I have owned boats for 44 years. So like you I have made both good decisions and bad judgments.

I remember the first time I launched my boat. The one I have now.See Avatar and I too have a roller trailer. I unhooked the winch strap at the top of the ramp. The incline wasn't too steep, thank God, and the trailer didn't have a safety chain on it then either. I backed down the ramp and when I started to push the boat out it had rolled back about six inches. I thought WOW! HOW DUMB of me. then I thought how fortunate I was it didn't roll off on the trailer and onto the ground. God must have looking out for me. Well I didn't do that again, unhook the strap early. I also thought wow if it rolled that easy how easy it might roll off the trailer on the highway, if I for got something or did another stooped trick, so I added a safety chain to the Trailer to hook to the bow eye when transporting. Now I do unhook the safety chain at the top of the ramp but I leave the strap attached. So once again bite the bullet but don't be too hard on yourself. We all have done dumb things and as long as we are involved in such complex things in life we will continue to make mistakes both excusable and unexcusable. Launching, docking and retrieving are the three most difficult and complex issues in boating.

 

[Mike_V]

Re: Ok, this is embarrasing..dropped my buddies boat on the ramp! Need advice...

Thanks for your story because after reading this:

I just bought a new heavy duty 2 speed winch WITH A HAND BRAKE because I'm afraid of doing the same thing to my boat.

I did not know winches were offered with brakes and this one has about twice the pulling power that I need.

I hope that now if it starts to get away from me I can hit the brake that is on the opposite side from the crank lever.

 

[cbavier]

Re: Ok, this is embarrasing..dropped my buddies boat on the ramp! Need advice...

Mike your welcome. If you don't have one on your Boat trailer now. Add a short chain from the winch stand to the Bow Eye Bolt. You really shouldn't trust the strap alone. If the strap was to break on the highway. Goodbye Boat. You will also need an S hook or another kind of hook for the eye bolt.

 

[oops!]

Re: Ok, this is embarrasing..dropped my buddies boat on the ramp! Need advice...

just a quick thought......

if your friend that ownes the boat...pays what 485 ish outta his pocket how are you gonna feel?....how is he gonna feel?

pay the whole shabang......thats what a man would do...own up to a mistake...then walk away being able to sleep at night.....

i think 975 is a little steep tho....ok a lot steep.......id check around some more......as said earlyer...the dealer is gonna farm out the glass work....

i was quoted $2000 for glasswork on my boat...thats prepp to paint...and there was alot more damage on my ol boat than on your friends...ill gaurentee you that....

time to get off my but and get back to fixing my barge

 

[wca_tim]

Re: Ok, this is embarrasing..dropped my buddies boat on the ramp! Need advice...

I echo some of the comments above that we've all done some really stupid stuff... Me probably waaaay more than my fair share. Don't beat yourself up too bad about it... (I can just feel myselk cringe as I watch someone elses rig crashing into the water, etc...). Good friends are worth a lot. If you can afford to pay it and it feels like the right thing to do, then of course go for it... I guess I like the mirror test for this kind of thing. If I'm comfortable lookin myself right in the eye in the mirror after handling something I've screwed up, than I'm good. If I kinda get a queesy feelin in my gut when I do... then I gotta do somethin a little better to make good.

Good friends are indeed priceless, but even friends are no substitue for likin the guy in the mirror.