Last Saturday, we were off to do some boating with some friends at our local watering hole. As I was backing the boat down the ramp, my friend, (whose boat was already in the water safely) shouted and waved for me to stop. He then approached my boat and grabbed the stern line and gave it to my wife who was on the dock, and grabbed the bow line. He then backed away and told me to continue. Well, I placed the vehicle into reverse, and as I watched in horror, by boat slide off the trailer and onto the ramp! He had removed the winch line and I was still about 15 feet from the water.... 
Fortunately, the boat landed on the raised out-drive and the very lightest edge of the chine. The "torpedo" ahead of the prop, had a slight flat spot from the 6' drag along the ramp, and of course there was very little paint left on the spot, and the jellcoat was not even damaged. It was sickning to say the least! Fortunatly, the boat was still resting on the trailer so I was able to raise it back onto the trailer without more damage. I examined it and gave it a test drive before I was satisfied that there was no significant damage. <br />Now, I have been boating for all of my life, and spent 20 years in the USCG, but have never seen anything like this. I have heard of it, but never actually seen it. It was sort of like watching your new car, which your teenage daughter had left in neutral roll across the parking lot heading for a nice big brick wall and not being able to stop it.<br />I think that all things considered, I handled it quite well. I did not even raise my voice, and later I told him that I looked at it this way..... For me a boat is a toy. I do not depend on it for transportation, and whatever is broken can be fixed. Therefore, a few nicks and dings are to be expected. But I also told him that I hoped he learned as valuable a lesson as I did.... Never try to help without understanding what you are doing or discussing it with the owner BEFORE you do something. And for me, never assume that they understand the way you do things, unless you tell them!
Fortunately, the boat landed on the raised out-drive and the very lightest edge of the chine. The "torpedo" ahead of the prop, had a slight flat spot from the 6' drag along the ramp, and of course there was very little paint left on the spot, and the jellcoat was not even damaged. It was sickning to say the least! Fortunatly, the boat was still resting on the trailer so I was able to raise it back onto the trailer without more damage. I examined it and gave it a test drive before I was satisfied that there was no significant damage. <br />Now, I have been boating for all of my life, and spent 20 years in the USCG, but have never seen anything like this. I have heard of it, but never actually seen it. It was sort of like watching your new car, which your teenage daughter had left in neutral roll across the parking lot heading for a nice big brick wall and not being able to stop it.<br />I think that all things considered, I handled it quite well. I did not even raise my voice, and later I told him that I looked at it this way..... For me a boat is a toy. I do not depend on it for transportation, and whatever is broken can be fixed. Therefore, a few nicks and dings are to be expected. But I also told him that I hoped he learned as valuable a lesson as I did.... Never try to help without understanding what you are doing or discussing it with the owner BEFORE you do something. And for me, never assume that they understand the way you do things, unless you tell them!