can it happen to you

[JLowe59]

This happened a few years ago to me and I now feel secure enough to share.lol , but back then...I wonder.
So there I was getting ready to put the boat on the trailer. 18 ft bow rider. three feet from fully loaded the winch stops. hmmm okay I go to manual but handlerounded from PO and I never checked it. The connection from my truck to the winch was the problem so I slowly pull the boat out with the boat about two or three feet off the trailer. All I have to do is disconnect from the trailer, pull around and run jumpers from my engine to the winch, right? Well as soon as I start to undo the tounge latch something doesnt feel right. No sooner did I get that feeling the hitch seperates from the trailer with a large amount of sudden force and just misses my forehead. I would have been killed for sure. The only thing that saved the day were the saftey chains... They stopped the trailer from smashing my skull and my truck hatch. I was knocked on my ass and I just sat there trying to figure out what happened. (Because the full weight was not on the trailer it acted like a catapult when I released it from the hitch) After thinking about everything I was able to get a jump from another car and pull the boat on the trailer. Later I fixed everything and today I work slow.... check everthing twice....Repair or replace when needed and maintain all parts. Outside of a bruised ego and and a close call I was very lucky.... Things can go from bad to worse very fast even half in the water!!! Be careful and remember when you encounter the smallest bit of trouble, think think think.....
Jim

 

[Frankhanhart]

Re: can it happen to you

Just yesterday...lying on my back to undo a nut, dropped the spanner, it hit me right between the eyebrows. Never saw it coming, no reflex head-jerk, could have been right in one eye. I'm 60 now and should have known better than to keep my head right under the nut. It's often the "easy" things that trip you up. Well.....still learning, evindently !

 

[TAV MAN]

Re: can it happen to you

I to do Stupid Human Tricks like leaving 22 oz. framing hammer on top of a 8' stepladder. Then move the ladder. Right between the eyesdevildevil.:::::'(

 

[rottenray6402]

Re: can it happen to you

Ouch!!!!

 

[Ripfence]

Re: can it happen to you

My brother-in-law was on the roof leaning over the eve bravely (showing off) pounding out some broken fascia boards. Let me back up a little, he is a good 325 lbs and strong as an ox, two oxen acutally. Anyway he is beating that board like it owes him money when he misses the board and hits himself in the temple with the hammer. He almost looked like he rebooted, his eyes glazed over for a moment and I could almost swear that I could read "tilt"in them. He said the only thing that kept him from passing out completely and falling off the roof was that I was shaking him. He then realized that not only was I shaking him, I was shaking the entire roof. I had fallen on my side and was laughing so hard that I wasn't makeing any noise, just shaking. To this day, it was the most funny thing I have ever seen. It was twenty years ago and I can still remember the dull thud and the vaccuous look in his eyes. Even though he recovered within minutes, I was no good for the rest of the day, everytime I saw him I would fall down laughing again. In fact I am laughing about it now. Does this make me a bad person?

 

[tomatolord]

Re: can it happen to you

No those are the best moments

Dad had a habit of breaking things and not really telling you until afterwards.

We were loading the boat back on the trailer, a 18ft mckee, a heavy trihull boat that does NOT go on the trailer easy.

My brother is winching it in slowly but surely and in his mind the winch catch still works, so that you can let go of the handle and it not unwind.

He is tired from the winching - he lets go - the catch is broken - the handle spins around as fast as can be , smashes the knuckles on both hands - he lets out a wail - holds out his crippled hands - there are welts growing on them now - the boat of course goes back down the trailer.

Dad comes over and says - I that broke - I am laughing - brother has murder in his eyes

I still laugh to this day!

Tomatolord

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: can it happen to you

I gotta say Ripfence, that had me rollin'. All I can see is "Hoss Cartwright" smacking himself it the head and that look. I can imagine what it did to you.....8) And tomatolord, that's a definite close second......