Gee, What Could Possibly Go Wrong??

[JoLin]

Okay, I saw this on another boating forum. Obviously invented by someone looking for new ways to, in the words of Ebenezer Scrooge, 'Decrease the surplus population.'

The sad thing? Some dumbass will actually buy it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB67SCRQ6LA&feature=youtu.be

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Gee, What Could Possibly Go Wrong??

What could go wrong?

other than:

tide...current...waves....salt water....people stepping on/off boat and rocking it

 

[JoLin]

Re: Gee, What Could Possibly Go Wrong??

What could go wrong?

other than:

tide...current...waves....salt water....people stepping on/off boat and rocking it

How about riding on the swim platform of a moving boat- in reverse!?!

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Gee, What Could Possibly Go Wrong??

So you clamp the boat to the dock with two clamps mounted on the swim platform? Seems like a poor way to tie off, but to each his own.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Gee, What Could Possibly Go Wrong??

How about riding on the swim platform of a moving boat- in reverse!?!

Riding on? If only it was just that. Leaning over/reaching under??? Wow...just...Wow.....

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Gee, What Could Possibly Go Wrong??

All good points made . . .

The operating a boat while people are on the swim platform is a key no-no, then there is the issue with tides and waves, etc. Did you notice that it is quite an athletic step to transition from the boat to the dock?

So, I guess we could categorize this as "products for dumbasses"

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Gee, What Could Possibly Go Wrong??

who cares about the product, looks like a dumb idea anyway. I'm far more interesting in his two assistants! a) do they come with the product?, and b) how do you actually get them to help with the docking? (might break a nail...)

Checked the website, yep, they must come with for at least the trial run. At least I would expect that for a cost of $1500!!!! Keep in mind how easy it would be to drop one of them... There goes $750 to the bottom.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Gee, What Could Possibly Go Wrong??

^^^^^^ LOL

...how do you actually get them to help with the docking? (might break a nail...)

In the trade-show industry those are "booth babes" and you get them to help with _____________ for roughly $1k per day

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Gee, What Could Possibly Go Wrong??

Definitely dangerous, and it doesn't save any time anyway unless you have two people you want to put in harms way to save 30 seconds of tying off the lines. It looks like it would handle small changes in tides (like a foot or two), but it sure wouldn't handle lots of wind or wakes, especially when 5K+ lbs starts torquing on those small arms. You also have to assume that you have a nice, non-rotted 2x6 header to attach it to with no obstructions in the way. Too many things are terrible about this product.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Gee, What Could Possibly Go Wrong??

the concept is that of whips that hold the boat off the pier, when you don't want to tie up. The first failure point is that they are not flexible; you need perfectly still water and a perfectly still boat. The second is lack of strength to hold against the bow moving to the side--one big freakin' lever there. Finally, they are so short that it would take lottery odds to find a pier the right height--they won't work on floating piers.

Good point about them not being idiot proof (they sink). Need to tie them off or carry a fishing magnet

 

[ssobol]

Re: Gee, What Could Possibly Go Wrong??

Good point about them not being idiot proof (they sink). Need to tie them off or carry a fishing magnet

They're probably aluminum so a magnet won't work too well to fish them out.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Gee, What Could Possibly Go Wrong??

Funny, when I saw the vid I never even considered whether or not they're practical. As soon as I saw how blatantly dangerous they are to operate, and how their operation flies in the face of everything we try to teach people about staying safe on the water, my mind stopped there.

This isn't simply a (mostly) impractical device- it's a potentially deadly one. I have to wonder if the inventor knows ANYTHING about boats and boating.

Okay, off the soapbox

 

[spoilsofwar]

Re: Gee, What Could Possibly Go Wrong??

Yup, they're pointless nonsense. And good luck operating them if you're on the boat by yourself and there is any sort of wave action or even a gentle breeze blowing.

The inventor is either fishing for idiots, or is one himself.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Gee, What Could Possibly Go Wrong??

.... I have to wonder if the inventor knows ANYTHING about boats and boating.

...

or products liability

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: Gee, What Could Possibly Go Wrong??

My father uses two fenders (with hooks tied to both ends) in a similar fashion to dock his pontoon. But only from the front, and only on his dock, which has eyebolts to accept the hooks. 15 years ago when he rigged it up I thought, wow, those fenders aren't going to last very long. I'm going to see him this weekend and I bet he is still using the same ones.

I should point out its a very protected inland reservoir, with a 15' pontoon, and a floating dock so the water level is always "perfect", and he backs it up with at least two docklines.

On second though, I guess its not similar at all.

 

[SWD]

Re: Gee, What Could Possibly Go Wrong??

Pretty bonehead idea. Just like the previous posters said.....an accident waiting to happen. Gene pool clensing perhaps???

 

[laserbrn]

Re: Gee, What Could Possibly Go Wrong??

I guess some people just have no fear of lawsuit. Holy crap...

 

[jsimms724]

Re: Gee, What Could Possibly Go Wrong??

All its gona take is one jackass to violate the no wake zone and the area between the stern and the dock will be a red frothy mess. Kinda like the old frog in a blender joke ,plus 1500 $ is a lot of money around here.

 

[Augoose]

Re: Gee, What Could Possibly Go Wrong??

Oh wait, there are testimonials! This thing apparently made it as far as production....:facepalm:

$7.95 for retaining straps when you drop it though.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZWxRW7qcTI&feature=plcp