Don't forget the emergency brake

[spiderjohn]

Well I am fairly new to boating and this is my first post to this forum. The last time I took my boat out I went to a new launch. It was about 7:00am when I put the boat in the water. My brother in law was holding the boat when I tried to pull the trailer out. As I pressed on the accelerator my back tires just spun and smoked. I got out looked at the trailer in the water, which I couldn't see to the bottom, and all appeared to be okay. Another guy was launching next to me and he said some of the launches had a drop off and I could have one trailer tire stuck. Again I tried to pull the trailer out and the tires just smoked. Well he volunteered to tie up to the front of the truck I was using and pull me out. When we finally got the truck / trailer pulled up about 20 feet we could clearly see the trailer was out of the water and there were no problems with it. He asked, "You don't have the emergency brake in do you?". Immediately I turned red and double checked. Sure enough I had unconsciencly pushed it in when I backed the trailer in and got out to unhook the boat. This was the first time in a while since I have launched so just remember if your tires spin and you don't go anywhere check your emergency brake first.

 

[Regal-89]

Re: Don't forget the emergency brake

Ha Ha Ha Ha, sorry spiderjohn I can just remember when I forgot to use my emergency brake(4-spd mnl) on my first boat. Good o'l things to laugh at later in life! THe boat was definitly floating along with my truck half way filled with water.

 

[NYMINUTE]

Re: Don't forget the emergency brake

Good advise, spring is coming, well maybe. I need a tune up.

 

[carrotsnapper]

Re: Don't forget the emergency brake

Had a similar thing happen to me. I was loading my brother's 24 ft 4Winns. As I backed down the ramp, the brakes were locked. Something to do with Chev's I guess. My bro was out on the boat screaming at me to shift into drive and that would unlock the brakes. Was a real mess and embarressment. I felt like a fool that couldn't drive. It wasn't my truck. My dodge doesn't do that and I had never seen it before.

 

[demsvmejm]

Re: Don't forget the emergency brake

How could the parking brake cause you to spin your wheels and not go anywhere? Were you launching with a front wheel drive or a Subaru? Most p-brakes act on the rear wheels, if they're spinning, the brakes not holding. <br />

 

[spiderjohn]

Re: Don't forget the emergency brake

Not really sure, actually was my brother's truck. 1984 Ford F100. Only the driver side tire spun so maybe the parking brake was on the front or the rear passenger tire.