atx111
Petty Officer 2nd Class
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2009
- Messages
- 145
Been cruising the forums for quite some time since I picked up my first boat(1978 Cobalt 19' BR in great shape), and after a few beers remembered a good story back from my jet skiing days.
We were at Cheney Lake in Kansas, and as many people know, Kansas weather can be a little unpredictable. We had decided to chance it one afternoon knowing thunderstorms were a strong chance in the forecast. So the wife and I had been on a beach relaxing for an hour or so when we decided that it was time to head back as we could see some weather headed in. We loaded up, wiped down the jet ski, and decided to sit on the tailgate watching the lake for a bit before we went. We were the only people there. Well, that's about when the entertainment began. A couple of guys pulled up with their boat to the ramp, and started to get ready. I knew there was trouble as soon as they tied their bowline on: 1. The ramp we were at really isn't that condusive to that kind of launch. 2. The dock is pretty far away from the ramp and there are lots of rocks that you'd have to clear with the rope. 3. There was a bowling ball sized knot in the middle of the rope. My wife said that it must be their first time trying to launch a boat. Anyway, they start backing down the ramp, with one guy driving, the other holding the line. Did I mention the ramp is a little steep and slick? The guy holding the rope was holding on trying to keep his footing and fell flat on his back halfway down. He got right back up and they kept backing in until they had the boat off. The guy holding the rope held it until the other returned. They then pulled the boat right up on the ramp! I can still hear the hull scraping on the concrete! Good show!! One guy bailed in over the top, and the other guy, who weighed every bit of 4 bills tried to bail over, took a couple of tries but he made it. At this point the wind had kicked up some and they were drifting in the general direction of the dock, which abutted a rock jetty. I told my wife, "I bet they dont get it started." Sure enough, the old outboard cranked, but wouldn't run. They tried and tried, as they kept drifting into the rocks by the dock. It was at this point I thought about helping out but decided to see what happens next. Well, sure enough, they found the rocks. The big guy bails back over on the rocks trying to hold the boat while they tried to start it. Even if they did get it started, they had no place to go because they were boxed in on three sides. I saw enough so I went to ask if I could help them get it back on the trailer since it was getting obivous they had no clue and it was going to start storming soon. They were hell bent on getting some fishing done and refused. Five more minutes of cranking and they spent their battery. They must have discovered the trolling motor for the first time and hung it over the side. As soon as they got it running, you could hear the prop shearing off on the rocks they were stuck on! They did manage to free themselves long enough for the wind to catch them again and push them on the other side of the jetty! I wish we could have stayed longer to watch, but the storm was getting close and we needed to get home. I felt pretty bad for leaving, but you can't help stupid. I did call the park office to let them know there were some guys having trouble though.
Geez, why do people do this to themselves? Prior to having a jet ski, I had zero experience on a boat ramp, but I did take the time to listen to friends who boat quite a bit and sit at the ramp and watch how it was done before I tried the first time.
We were at Cheney Lake in Kansas, and as many people know, Kansas weather can be a little unpredictable. We had decided to chance it one afternoon knowing thunderstorms were a strong chance in the forecast. So the wife and I had been on a beach relaxing for an hour or so when we decided that it was time to head back as we could see some weather headed in. We loaded up, wiped down the jet ski, and decided to sit on the tailgate watching the lake for a bit before we went. We were the only people there. Well, that's about when the entertainment began. A couple of guys pulled up with their boat to the ramp, and started to get ready. I knew there was trouble as soon as they tied their bowline on: 1. The ramp we were at really isn't that condusive to that kind of launch. 2. The dock is pretty far away from the ramp and there are lots of rocks that you'd have to clear with the rope. 3. There was a bowling ball sized knot in the middle of the rope. My wife said that it must be their first time trying to launch a boat. Anyway, they start backing down the ramp, with one guy driving, the other holding the line. Did I mention the ramp is a little steep and slick? The guy holding the rope was holding on trying to keep his footing and fell flat on his back halfway down. He got right back up and they kept backing in until they had the boat off. The guy holding the rope held it until the other returned. They then pulled the boat right up on the ramp! I can still hear the hull scraping on the concrete! Good show!! One guy bailed in over the top, and the other guy, who weighed every bit of 4 bills tried to bail over, took a couple of tries but he made it. At this point the wind had kicked up some and they were drifting in the general direction of the dock, which abutted a rock jetty. I told my wife, "I bet they dont get it started." Sure enough, the old outboard cranked, but wouldn't run. They tried and tried, as they kept drifting into the rocks by the dock. It was at this point I thought about helping out but decided to see what happens next. Well, sure enough, they found the rocks. The big guy bails back over on the rocks trying to hold the boat while they tried to start it. Even if they did get it started, they had no place to go because they were boxed in on three sides. I saw enough so I went to ask if I could help them get it back on the trailer since it was getting obivous they had no clue and it was going to start storming soon. They were hell bent on getting some fishing done and refused. Five more minutes of cranking and they spent their battery. They must have discovered the trolling motor for the first time and hung it over the side. As soon as they got it running, you could hear the prop shearing off on the rocks they were stuck on! They did manage to free themselves long enough for the wind to catch them again and push them on the other side of the jetty! I wish we could have stayed longer to watch, but the storm was getting close and we needed to get home. I felt pretty bad for leaving, but you can't help stupid. I did call the park office to let them know there were some guys having trouble though.
Geez, why do people do this to themselves? Prior to having a jet ski, I had zero experience on a boat ramp, but I did take the time to listen to friends who boat quite a bit and sit at the ramp and watch how it was done before I tried the first time.
