boat gets away

[minocqa]

hi <br />has this ever happend to anyone else? one day we was going out fishing i hooked up my boat on my car hauled all the way to ramp<br />when we got there i took off the straps and got it ready to launch. (the launch is pretty steep).<br />anyway my wife backed it in (she always does) im stand ing there with the rope in my hands she hits the brakes the boat and trailer flies off the the hitch and everythng is rolling into the lake ...i'm screaming for help she gets out grabs a hold of the trailer her feet hits some moss on the launch and falls flat on her *** into the lake. i'm laughing at her and watching my boat and traler roll right in.<br />luckly the water wasnt too deep and we got it right back out...come to find out i had changed the ball from 2 inch to a 1 7/8 for another trailer we have and forgot to change it back oops<br />a freind once told me if you want some good laughs go to the boat ramps the people will suplly the entertanment... i belive he is right.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: boat gets away

A few years ago I arrived at a launch ramp to find a huge line of boats waiting to back down. About 30 people were standing around watching a boat slowly circle close to shore. Nobody was particular upset about having to wait to use the ramp - I thought this was strange. I joined the crowd of onlookers and asked the closest person what the h*ll are we all looking at.<br />.<br />.<br />.<br />.<br />.<br />.<br />.<br />.<br />.<br />.<br />.<br />.<br />.<br />.<br />.<br />.<br />.<br />.<br />.<br /><br /><br />The guy in the boat was using his fishfinder to try and locate his trailer.........<br /><br />Aldo

 

[cuzner]

Re: boat gets away

Last year backed my previous boat partway down the slope(nobody in line), and got out to remove the straps. Yanked on one of the straps,and the whole outfit started rolling back. I left the truck in gear, but did,nt set the brake. Ran to open the door and the door jamed on the cement wall of the boat ramp.2/3 of my Ram p.u. bed underwater,the boat floating with trailer still attatched.The boat and trailer where lifting my rear wheels enough that I could'nt move.The guy that pulled me out asked if this was my first time I had to fess up that I've been doing it for years.Launching my truck he replied.<br /><br /> Jim

 

[brother chris]

Re: boat gets away

minocqa, sorry to hear about your misfortune. <br />When I had to buy a 2" ball for my truck, I changed every trailer I had to a 2" so I wouldn't make the mistake like what happened to you. <br />It's a good thing there was no damage.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: boat gets away

minocqa, You laughed at your wife who was trying to save your boat that came unhitched because YOU forgot to put the right size ball on. Oh Man!

 

[TwoBallScrewBall]

Re: boat gets away

DR, sometimes, as long as there's no actual pain involved, all you can do is laugh!

 

[wcraige12]

Re: boat gets away

i once watched a man next to me launch his boat but he forgot to take the straps off so as he jumped out his truck continued to drive into the water. while watching this man i didnt notice that my truck was also almost up to the cab in water. my alarm , aka girlfriend, failed to go off so i cought myself when my feet started to get wet. happily i was driving an old k5blazer with holes in the floor board. si my situation turned out much better than his.

 

[Formula1974]

Re: boat gets away

I had nightmares of that same thing as I kept switching between my 1 7/8 and my 2 inch ball for different trailers. I finally broke down and bought a 2 inch coupler for my utility trailer.

 

[Larry Carnahan]

Re: boat gets away

Several years ago I backed up to connect trailer to truck. Son in law had the tongue jack down and the coupler locked when I got out of the truck. Pulled the boat 60 miles to the ramp and it popped up when the boat was half way off the trailer. I insist that I put the coupler on the ball and lock it down now.

 

[BrianFD]

Re: boat gets away

minocqa, If you had safety chains on, that wouldn't have happened. Aren't they required in Ill.?

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: boat gets away

Originally posted by minocqa:<br /> ...come to find out i had changed the ball from 2 inch to a 1 7/8 for another trailer we have and forgot to change it back oops<br />a freind once told me if you want some good laughs go to the boat ramps the people will suplly the entertanment... i belive he is right.

I never laugh at ramp screw ups - just try to help and be GLAD it's not me this time!<br /><br />As for the ball size. My most recent trailer has a Titan/DICO screw type hitch coupler (as opposed to the more common lever-lock type). One nice thing about this is that it's "multi-fit" and will fit a 1 7/8 as well as 2" ball. The other is that there's absolutely no worry about the lever popping up. When I first got it, I didn't like it as much as the lever lock type, because it's a little less convenient. But now I actually think it's better. You might check it out. (look up Titan or Dico and "multi-fit")

 

[geezOREGON]

Re: boat gets away

I realize this thread may be dead but would like to add my $0.02.<br /><br />I use a different ball mount for each trailer. The boat ball mount and ball stays with the boat stuff and the horse trailer ball mount stays with the horse stuff. When I am not towing I remove the ball mounts to keep from backing into things with the hitch.<br /><br />Works for me.

 

[NYMINUTE]

Re: boat gets away

I laughed once when my wife fell at the ramp, and thats why my voice is so high.

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: boat gets away

My wife fell once too. Her feet went right out from under her and she landed hard on her behind. Her back has bothered her ever since.

 

[agrazela]

Re: boat gets away

I've got the 2" / 1-7/8" problem too...<br /><br />I got two drawbars, one with a 2" and one with a 1-7/8" ball. I wrapped a stripe of orange vinyl tape around the 2" bar and the 2" trailer tongue (boat), and blue vinyl tape around the 1-7/8" bar and tongue (popup).<br /><br />Just match the colors!