Boat Vs. Garage door

[TwoBallScrewBall]

You know where this is going. <br /><br />Got my first boat, 1988 bayliner 1950 bowrider. We share a right of way access with the neighbor to the garages in our back yards, and being my first boat I ended up parking it a little close to the line. So last night I start playing around with it trying to maneuver the boat across the back yard but the yard is too small and the tree in the middle is keeping me from making the turn. So I decide to just line it up in front of one of my garage doors. It's 8:00 at night (dark) and I get it nicely lined up. I jump out of the van and take a quick look to see how far I have to go. Looks about 5 feet to go. I get back in and start backing slowly when I hear this funny noise. Didn't even feel anything but I knew what happened. I pull forward about a foot and park it, get out and walk around back. Of course I put the skeg/prop right through the door. Wife got a laugh out of that one. Luckily it is a panel type wooden door so I can just replace the punctured panel. <br /><br />Lesson learned: remember the end of the hull is NOT the end of the boat!

 

[jim phillips]

Re: Boat Vs. Garage door

OUCH!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Xcusme]

Re: Boat Vs. Garage door

Yikes!! <br />They call that the "braille method" of backing up.....usually , you back up until you hear the sound of breaking glass....

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: Boat Vs. Garage door

I have come soooooo close to doing this but I haven't done it YET

 

[wikelam]

Re: Boat Vs. Garage door

 

[speedwrench]

Re: Boat Vs. Garage door

I personally prefer the dryer door to the <br />garage door for a parking stop.

 

[DJP]

Re: Boat Vs. Garage door

Backing my Ford Aerostar Van to meet the trailer tongue one day, the tongue was higher than normal, and I was being impatient as usual. Well, you see where it's going. Punched the key lock right through the outer skin of the rear hatch. A perfect inverted "C" that I just re-glassed and painted. So no more lock,I never used it anyway. Good thing I don't own a really nice truck or somethin. I think I learned my lesson.

 

[johnnybigrigger]

Re: Boat Vs. Garage door

I had one of those little roll around stools in the garage to sit on. I was backing up to my red line on the garage floor, and thought "something sounds funny". The stool was wedged under the outdrive, and neatly stuffed into some storage boxes. I never liked that stool all that well anyhow

 

[OBJ]

Re: Boat Vs. Garage door

Ya know guys.....with all the stories I read about backing up, some humorous....some not, I'm surprised I havn't seen more folks install front mounted hitches. I got one on my truck and wouldn't be without it. Rigid makes them for most trucks. Might have to drill a hole or two but it's worth the effort. Sits neatly under the front bumper. Frame mounted. Put a cap on it when yer' done. Only way to go when parking for the day in a tight spot.

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Boat Vs. Garage door

Instead of getting a front mounted hitch just get a trailer dolly. can turn even sharper and in less space than the front hitch. just male sure you dont have a steep driveway or you might be parkin' in the street.

 

[Frankhanhart]

Re: Boat Vs. Garage door

Well...if it looks like a can-opener it tends to act like one now and then, I think. Must be genes or something

 

[postjim508]

Re: Boat Vs. Garage door

Ya know guys.....with all the stories I read about backing up, some humorous....some not, I'm surprised I havn't seen more folks install front mounted hitches. I got one on my truck and wouldn't be without it. Rigid makes them for most trucks. Might have to drill a hole or two but it's worth the effort. Sits neatly under the front bumper. Frame mounted. Put a cap on it when yer' done. Only way to go when parking for the day in a tight spot.

It seems like it would be hard to push a boat to the launch ramp.

 

[Capt Joe]

Re: Boat Vs. Garage door

My "fool proof" method is two angle iron bars where the back wheels stop. These are fool proof, just make sure that
(a) the motor is down,
(b) the new motor does NOT stick back further than the old one & (c) that some idiot (not me of course) hasn't moved the angle irons while the boat was out!!!!
Fool Proof - but not idiot proof.

 

[themichelob]

Re: Boat Vs. Garage door

Been there.....$600.00 worth of repairs.....

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Boat Vs. Garage door

i use the riding lawn mower. years ago my dad, who was 70 at the time, back in the garage , hookup the boat, pull it out, took the right 3 feet of the front of the garage with him. just pulled on off and went fishing.

 

[STL Towman]

Re: Boat Vs. Garage door

hows bout pushing your boat on the tiller wheel and it getting away form yuh (very very small hill) and smahsing my gargae door?:} thankfully all it did was dent and scratcht the door!!! after that i have the wife standing by ready to throw a wheel chalk down if it gets away from me