First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

[eli_lilly]

Been reading the forums from the day I got my first boat about five years ago. This weekend, I came *this* close to dropping my boat on the ramp. Here's how:

- At park, stopped at horse paddock to prepare boat for launch as to not block traffic at ramp. Removed safety chain, forgot to reattach winch strap.

- While driving down park road to ramp, noticed boat was bouncing around. Got out and saw it had slid back a little. Couldn't winch it back into place, so I went forward a couple MPH and pressed the brakes and it slid back into place. I winched it tight.

- When I got to the ramp, I did the launch the same way I always have. I backed in until the trailer is on the inclined portion of the ramp but the truck is still on the flat part of the ramp. Got out, unhooked winch strap.

- Started backing fully down ramp, heard god-aweful scraping and looked in mirror at boat to see it drop off the trailer, slide down the ramp, and land in the water.

- Pulled away to park truck, couldn't bear to turn head to look at boat.

LUCKILY, the scraping sound was apparently more felt by me than heard by others, and it was the sound of the keel sliding down the trailer's crossmembers and the crossmembers are padded there. The boat didn't actually slide down the ramp, it just slid off the trailer and into the water a little early. There wasn't a scratch on the boat.

But in that couple of minutes between when it happened and when I got back to the ramp after parking the truck, all I could think about was the dozens of messages I've read here about people dropping their boats on the ramp and I was sure mine had ridden the ramp from top to bottom, somehow sliding into the water courtesy of algae on the ramp. It was surreal to be recognizing a SHT as a SHT as it was happening.

-E

 

[madurodave]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

Wow!! Close call!

 

[cpubud]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

must be living right. you got away with one.

 

[srimes]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

I'm new to powerboating, but why unhook the strap before the trailer is in the water?

 

[Stachi]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

I'm new to powerboating, but why unhook the strap before the trailer is in the water?

thats exactly what I was thinking.........

 

[seaboo]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

I NEVER unhook my strap before I'm down the ramp (I'll loosen it a small amount, but not unhook it till the boat is floating---I watched a buddy drop his brand new jet ski on a ramp and learned a lesson).

 

[lmannyr]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

Crap, I don't take the safety chain off let alone loosen the winch strap until the boat is floating. Close call man, that will keep you on your toes!!!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

I have roller trailers. I don't unhook the strap OR the safety chain until I'm ready to push the boat off the trailer, and I have the bow line either in hand (small boat) tied off or both.

Never trust those little latches on a winch, at any time! Same goes for the clutch on a power winch.

 

[Stachi]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

I would have loaded the boat onto the trailer immediately after that had happened, to inspect the damage. Reading what you said, it sounds like you didn't inspect the hull and keel till after you went out on it.
I never unhook my boat from trailer until she is in the water...I unhook the safety chain , but leave winch strap attached. If this has been your standard launching method...you have NO idea how lucky you have been in the past.........

 

[Stachi]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

One more thing,..... we are all glad you posted this.....it may save other boaters a lot of $$ and embarrassment at the ramp...many thanks and good boating in the future bro

 

[gonefishie]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

I see many many guys unhook everything before backing down the ramp without problem. The bigger and heavier boats on carpeted bunks are less likely to slide off but I'm not willing to take that chance though.

 

[TBTOsterman]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

I rebuilt my trailer last spring and used some sort of "bunk slick" to assist the trailer back under the boat after having it painted, re-bunked, and carpeted. One day last summer I unhooked the strap early and about dropped the boat. I was lucky and ended up having a "reverse assist launch" as I reached the water. That will never happen again! I have added a new safety strap and no longer remove it until the boat is in the water. I also insure the bow strap and winch strap are secured before pulling the boat from the water.

 

[Ripfence]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

Nice save!

My bunks are slippery so I don't unlatch the winch until I am sure I'm ready to launch the boat.

 

[kyle f]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

Crap, I don't take the safety chain off let alone loosen the winch strap until the boat is floating. Close call man, that will keep you on your toes!!!

Me either. I take the transom straps off and thats it. I back in until its floating, hop in the bow, go to the helm, start her up to make sure everythign is ok. Then I release the winch strap and return to the helm to idle off. Then I idle over to the dock.

This way I know before I am in the water that I have a running motor and a functioning tranny engagement. I can't tell you how many people I have seen with a dead boat in the water and floating in the middle of the marina. Even worse is then, how do you get back to the trailer? Want to talk about taking up space on the ramp.

 

[skargo]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

Crap, I don't take the safety chain off let alone loosen the winch strap until the boat is floating. Close call man, that will keep you on your toes!!!

Same here, a strap/cable or winch could fail.

 

[eli_lilly]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

From what I've read here, most of the forums brothers boat in lakes and canals and their trailers are different from what we have here in South Florida. Almost all of the salt-water trailers here are the same... two big 4x6 bunks that the boat rests on. Typically, if I leave my strap attached until the trailer is in the water, I can't push it off the bunks at that point and I have to get in the boat, start it, and drive it off the trailer. In any case, I need to not do what I've been doing, maybe just loosen the strap an inch to allow the boat to break free on the bunk.

One life used, that's for sure!

-E

 

[skargo]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

From what I've read here, most of the forums brothers boat in lakes and canals and their trailers are different from what we have here in South Florida. Almost all of the salt-water trailers here are the same... two big 4x6 bunks that the boat rests on. Typically, if I leave my strap attached until the trailer is in the water, I can't push it off the bunks at that point and I have to get in the boat, start it, and drive it off the trailer. In any case, I need to not do what I've been doing, maybe just loosen the strap an inch to allow the boat to break free on the bunk.

One life used, that's for sure!

-E

I boat in the Chesapeake Bay, with a bunk trailer, and no way am I going to unhook. If that's what you choose to do, be prepared to pick your boat up off the ground eventually.

I can't push mine off the bunks either, that's why I back up till the stern floats, then get out, unhook my safety chain, then back up, tap the brakes and she floats right off.
My boats 5000 lbs or so too.

 

[eli_lilly]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

I would have loaded the boat onto the trailer immediately after that had happened, to inspect the damage. Reading what you said, it sounds like you didn't inspect the hull and keel till after you went out on it.

The first thing I did was to pull the tow vehicle out of the way, since there were people behind me waiting to launch. Then I talked to my wife, who was holding the dock lines, and she's the one who told me that the whole thing happened over the water and the boat never hit anything. I went ahead and inspected the bilge for leaks and the outboard skeg to see if it had any sign of hitting anything.

-E

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

I dont understand why anyone would unhook anything until the boat is ready to go - like rear in the water and motor started?

My general procedure is to only undo the rear straps at the top of the ramp. hit the blower as I walk back to the truck

Then I back in, get it to where I want it as far as depth of water goes..... hop out of the truck, into the boat, get the motor started....then unhook the chain and the winch strap....

get the boat off the trailer tie it off...let it warm up while I'm parking my truck and from there take it out.

Makes no sense at all to unhook the winch or safety chain ANYWHERE OTHER than when the boat is in the water.

 

[trendsetter240]

Re: First big SHT, almost dropped boat on ramp!

I dont understand why anyone would unhook anything until the boat is ready to go - like rear in the water and motor started?

My general procedure is to only undo the rear straps at the top of the ramp. hit the blower as I walk back to the truck

Then I back in, get it to where I want it as far as depth of water goes..... hop out of the truck, into the boat, get the motor started....then unhook the chain and the winch strap....

get the boat off the trailer tie it off...let it warm up while I'm parking my truck and from there take it out.

Makes no sense at all to unhook the winch or safety chain ANYWHERE OTHER than when the boat is in the water.

+1 on this method.