Almost dumped the boat

[Mark42]

At the launch for the Hudson and using my wife's Mountianeer to tow, I opened the liftgate but it hit the winch handle. So I release the ratchet, move the handle and open the gate get what I need and close the gate. Forgot to set the winch ratchet back on. Back down ramp (they are really wide) and decide to straighten out more. When I pull up the boat slid back on the bunks about a 18 inches. Something didn't look right in the side view mirror so I get out to check. Boy was I surprised! Flipped the ratchet on, winched it back up and went about launching thankful that the boat was not sitting on the ramp! If I had a roller trailer, it would have been firmly planted on the concrete.

 

[willamettejeff]

Re: Almost dumped the boat

Geez Mark, please be more careful with one of my favorate boats I've seen on these boards. Time for a safety chain?

 

[mfinucan@sympatico.ca]

Re: Almost dumped the boat

A friend of mine actually did that this spring, however he had rollers and the engine hit the ground. Broke the skag and a few other pieces. Expensive morning!

 

[Mark42]

Re: Almost dumped the boat

Why is it that the boat slides on the bunks when you don't want it to, but when launching at dead low tide and I have to shove the boat off the bunks it is darn near impossable.<br /><br />Willamettejeff, I do have a safety chain, I took it off when prepairing the boat for launch!

 

[Triton II]

Re: Almost dumped the boat

Yes, like you Mark I normally take the chain off prior to backing down the ramp. From now on I think I'll use a snap connecter and undo the safety chain after backing her in!

 

[willamettejeff]

Re: Almost dumped the boat

Mark, I should have known you did as particular as you are with everything else about your boat. My habit is to not remove it until I've backed down the ramp and I'm ready to launch. Could have something to do with my trailer having rollers and not bunks, but would probably do it this way anyway. Just too easy to have the winch set wrong particularly when there is a long line of other boaters waiting on you.

 

[beezee28]

Re: Almost dumped the boat

One time when I launch my boat at the local ramp with the both the safety chain and the winch strap hooked to the eye and when in the water the boat was stop short from launching because I could not unhook the safety chain and the strap hook was putting pressure on the safety hook. Have to pull the boat up again and release the tension on the strap so that I can unhook the safety hook. Now, I unhook the safety hook first and when in the water I unhook the strap hook. You learn to do things the correct way after you have experience for yourself. Took a bit longer to launch then usual but that was valuable lesson learned.

 

[GrandLarsony]

Re: Almost dumped the boat

I SWEAR this is no lie... Like others above, we had to release the winch clicker to slack the line so we could release the boat safety chain when launching.<br /><br />Dad and I were getting pretty good at the routine, but not this time. BZZZZZZ --- our two year old 21' Grady White ended up with the bow straight up in the air, stern drive on the ramp, and all our gear floating in the water.<br /><br />Took two or three hours, using borrowed bottle jacks, to jack up the stern while winching it back onto the trailer. Lots of unhappy boaters at the ramp that day. Entertained, but unhappy.<br /><br />To this day we still fight about who F-ed up !!