Someone's gonna need a skeg job...

[dvan1901]

So, I'm at the ramp yesterday getting ready to launch my boat. It's later in the day, nobody there except one guy and his girlfriend. He has is SUV on the ramp, not a big deal, there are two lanes, and he is in the boat, at the dock with her pretty much having a make out session. Anyways, continue getting my boat ready for launch as he loads up the boat on the trailer. Next thing I hear is "ssssssssscccccccccccccccchhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh". I look over, and this guy is pulling his boat, with the drive DOWN up the ramp and a good 40-50 yards. I tried to whistle at him to get his attention, but his windows were up. Anyways, he stops the SUV, gets out and his girl goes "I think I heard someting scraping". I thought to myself "yeah, the downpayment for your engagement ring that he just scraped along the parking lot!".

 

[dgopetactical]

Re: Someone's gonna need a skeg job...

everytime im at the ramp I see tahat happen and a time or 2 ive seen boats in transit with the drive down waiting for that bum. I triple check mine everytime. cause Murphy is always out there waiting.
Denny

 

[gstanton]

Re: Someone's gonna need a skeg job...

Heck, I've done it myself. Just 2 years ago!

You would not believe the sick feeling in the stomach when the realization hits.

And no, I wasn't makin' out with anyone.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Someone's gonna need a skeg job...

I saw it happen, the only real mishap I ever saw. Guy pulled his boat up, engine down, I saw it coming, almost slow motion. He managed to hear it and only drug it about 10 feet or so. It's a helpless feeling to be in a boat unloading gear and notice it and really have time to do anything but bite your lip.

 

[dave11]

Re: Someone's gonna need a skeg job...

I haven't done it yet. I put my windows down at the ramp.

 

[SgtMaj]

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[dvan1901]

Re: Someone's gonna need a skeg job...

Some boats nest deeper on the trailer than others. My other boat used to be like that and you could drag it if you left the drive down. My new boat can't drag becuase it's higher on the trailer. I keep my windows down at the ramp too for a multitude of reasons, this being one of them. I tried to get the guys attention, but he couldn't hear me and I think it was pointless to get her attention at that point anyways.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Someone's gonna need a skeg job...

Some trailers, particularly on large bass boats, sit very low so you can launch at shallow launches. That skeg on that boat I saw might have been 3 inches above the cement. The launch had a large height difference between the 2 pieces of cement going up the launch, and so when the tires fell off of the "mini cliff" as he was pulling it up, it drug the skeg.

 

[Twidget]

Re: Someone's gonna need a skeg job...

My IO wont go all the way down while sitting on the trailer. I block it for winter storage so the drive will be completely down.

 

[Coors]

Re: Someone's gonna need a skeg job...

I did my sil a favor, by buying his, new to him 21' I/O, after he ingested water the first time out, along with having too many auto parts on the engine...
Got the mechanicals correct($$ more than I expected), then he drove to the ramp, with his wife, my wife (I think it takes 3 to launch it), I follow and watch.
In the parking lot, they load it, unstrap it(good so far) and back up to the ramp.
And start backing down, with a roller trailer.
Then I realize, unstrapping the boat to them, means undoing the bowline cable also.
To this day, they think I was screaming too loud, and too much. It didn't happen, but I can still visualize it.

 

[ribbit1072]

Re: Someone's gonna need a skeg job...

OMG, NEWBIE HERE! Did this on Saturday to our brand new boat. Only the 2nd time we'd had it out and the first time my husband and I were by ourselves. He has a real hard time with backing the trailer. I was in the boat and put the boat on the trailer, but was so concerned about him hooking it up correctly, I forgot to put the drive up. Scraped about 6 feet. Didn't break anything, but still makes me sick just thinking about it. At least I know I'm not the only one that's ever done this. We felt soooo stupid. He had the windows up on the car too, so he couldn't hear me screaming. Note to self...trim the motor up and LEAVE THE WINDOWS DOWN!!!

 

[mike64]

Re: Someone's gonna need a skeg job...

I drove to the lake and launched with the motor down last Saturday (newbie-- third launch). My first launch I actually brought a "prelaunch-launch" checklist with me, but by the third time I figured I was an expert.

I was very lucky-- hit no bumps on the way and the launch must be nice and deep-- didn't scrape at all. As I was just getting her off the trailer a guy at the next launch said "hey, your motor's down".



:redface:

 

[oops!]

Re: Someone's gonna need a skeg job...

i did it the other weekend launching my new to me bliner.

i lifted it all the way till i heard the tilt motor change pitch....and proceded to float the boat on the trailer.....then drove out......

the leg didnt scrape....but it was down.....i didnt visually check before i drove out of the water....i didnt notice it till i got to the tie up area....


now i gotta find out whats wrong with the switich !

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Someone's gonna need a skeg job...

.....Note to self...trim the motor up and LEAVE THE WINDOWS DOWN!!!

...and don't forget to turn the D*** radio/CD/Cassette off!

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Someone's gonna need a skeg job...

I've only had one boat and trailer combo that would drag the skeg on the pavement with the engine down, I soon remedied that with a better trailer but more for the winter storage reason than for towing. I still raise my motor even though they would probably never hit just as a precaution. I wouldn't tow with the motor down to simply prevent a good bump or pot hole causing the motor to hit. I am more afraid of someone hitting my lower unit while at a stop light than it hitting the ground. I watched one get smashed once in traffic by a woman not paying attention.

 

[lombard]

Re: Someone's gonna need a skeg job...

I lucked out myself last weekend. First time out on my new-to-me Sea Ray 180. Got the boat in the water myself without any problems, but then figured I'd use a little help when landing it. Had a buddy who's not too familiar with boats stay in the boat while I went and got the truck and trailer. Gave him a (obviously too) quick briefing. Told him that after driving the boat on the trailer, he needed to shut it off and trim up using the trailer button on the throttle.

He had a hell of a time driving up to the trailer, and I ended up in waist deep water guiding the boat myself. He was obviously flustered with all the other boaters around watching him. I was too, since I hadn't planned to get waist deep that day.

Anyway, got it winched up to the front of the trailer, hopped in the truck and pulled him and the boat out. When I stopped to secure everything, I noticed he still had the engine running and the trim full down. I don't think I dragged the skeg, and when I flushed the engine at home everything seemed fine, so I'm hoping the raw water pump is OK.

Lesson learned. Never assume the other person takes care of anything, and be patient with newbies...

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Someone's gonna need a skeg job...

I had the opposite case a few years back, I got tired or watching a buddy who has just bought his first boat and insisted on loading it himself try and hold up the ramp. I got jumped back in the boat, told him to get in the truck and when I wave him on, to pull up. I drove the boat onto the too deep trailer, reached over the bow and clipped on the winch cable and waved him on, he then backed in right off the ramp with his 2 wheel drive truck. After a few choice words, and him burning off some tread under water, I told him to grab me a couple of tie downs from the bed and to hook each one to the rear eyes on the trailer. I proceeded to start to strap the trailer to the boat bringing the trailer afloat and up over the ledge, I then hollered to him to pull the rig out. After waiting for him to strip down, not wanting to get his truck wet, he pulled it right out. I avoided going with him again for a while, but figured that he had gained some expertise after a few trips, but I was wrong. On the second time out, he again fumbled with trying to keep the boat aligned with the trailer and each time he pulled on, the boat swung sideways and into the adjacent sand pile. After a few tries again, I got in and attached the boat, this time he had gone in even farther and the winch was out of reach, I then told him to pull out about 4 feet, he did and the boat drove right up while he screamed and hollered that driving up onto a dry bunk will scratch his boat. That was the last trip I took. I am fairly certain that he still fumbles the same way every time, probably worse since he has since bought a much larger boat. Both times I went he tied up the ramp for a good 20 minutes.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Someone's gonna need a skeg job...

Not done it yet !!!!!!
I never "drive" onto the trailer. If I get the trailer depth correct then I float her on and winch the last 6 inches or so. Tilt as soon as we bock to trailer. Having said that, it could well happen to me anytime. We are all human !!!!

 

[Hashi]

Re: Someone's gonna need a skeg job...

Heck...I've done it three times already and the boat's only a year old. I'm used to having an outboard where you can see if you have the motor trimmed up. Gotta get me one of those skeg guards now.

 

[cmchesse]

Re: Someone's gonna need a skeg job...

I was coming out of the auto parts store the other day and saw someone towing their boat down the road with the engine down. Traffic was moving around 40 - 45 and he was keeping up. He blew by me and I noticed he had about 4 or 5" of clearance on the Skeg. I am new to boating and my father stresses this every time I hook the boat up. Now I see why. I good bump and untold damage.

Would the damage be restricted to the lower unit? What would that do to the transom?