Dumped on the ramp!!

[sub2010ss]

So I saw my first boat get dumped on the ramp today. Poor guy had his kids in the boat as he was backing down the ramp, which just so happens to be a very steep one. I looked over and saw it go down and started running. He had removed the safety chain and the winch broke letting it go. I moved as quick as I could to give him a hand and get his kids out and safe. Had to use a couple of my ratcheting straps to pull it back up. Guy was determined though. He eventually got it in the water.

 

[milehighjc]

You know its a bad day when...

 

[gm280]

That does happen and a good lesson to learn from it. Never ever remove the safety chain until you are over the water and ready to float off or back off the boat. You never know if the engine will crank and run successfully even though you had zero problems with it any time before. I use to back the trailer in until I seen the boat start to float. Then I jumped onto the trailer tongue and made my way into the boat and to the helm. I would start the engine and allow it to warm up as I went forward and disconnected the safety chain and strap. And then backed the boat off and moved it to the dock. That all happened so quickly that most of the time I did it all quicker then others with two or more folks launching their boat... If I had someone with me, it was even quicker...

 

[sub2010ss]

Exactly. I think the worst part of the whole experience was I was the only one to run over and help. The ramp was really busy and everyone just stared. I felt incredibly bad for the guy, assuming it was his first time. Especially since is the first year I've owned a boat and how nervous I was the first time out. I have much more confidence now but learn new lessons constantly. This was a great one as I'll never let my kids ride the boat up or down any more.

 

[bonz_d]

Guess I am fortunate in that I have never had to witness such an occurrence nor have I ever known anyone that has ever had that happen to them.

I will say though that I have witnessed many times were a trailer had been backed in far enough to fall off the concrete pad that had been washed out and serious damage had been done to the trailer.