Guy hit my boat at the ramp today

[TBarCYa]

The ramp is a 2 lane with dock on both sides. A guy decided to back his boat onto the ramp and launch it while I was backing my trailer towards the ramp to retrieve my boat. He backed in and the boat floated off the trailer but the stern of the boat headed towards my boat and made contact with my boat leaving plenty of rub-rail marks on my hull but no damage. I saw what happened and went to help him get control of his boat and he thanked me for my help but didn't acknowledge hitting my boat. Perhaps he didn't see it but when it happened he reacted as if he knew what happened.

I guess these days the first reaction is to deny knowledge of things like this for fear of being sued. It's a shame that courtesy has gone out the window because of fear.

 

[cbear34]

Re: Guy hit my boat at the ramp today

Sorry to hear about that. Glad your boat didn't get any major damage. You should have asked "What the he!! was he thinking?"

 

[TBarCYa]

Re: Guy hit my boat at the ramp today

Tell me about it. I couldn't get too angry tho since there was no damage and he was launching a 23' CC by himself so I have to give him a little credit as things definitely could have been worse.

 

[redfury]

Re: Guy hit my boat at the ramp today

Launching a boat that big by yourself....yikes! I'm imagining what it'll be like dumping my 17ft glastron off the trailer when I get 'er finished by myself.

 

[jamyers]

Re: Guy hit my boat at the ramp today

That's why you leave the bow strap connected (but loose). He's lucky his boat didn't float off into the wild blue yonder.

 

[TBarCYa]

Re: Guy hit my boat at the ramp today

Mine is a 21' and I launch it myself all of the time. I don't know if it's the right way, but I get the transom floating with the cable attached and let out some winch cable and push her off the trailer. As long as the trailer isn't too deep the boat won't be able to float past the rollers on the trailer (side to side) then I remove the winch cable and run like heck onto the dock to grab the docklines and guide her off the trailer easily. If someone else is with me I'll have them hold the docklines and I'll back her in with the winch in reverse and hit the brakes on the truck so the boat's momentum carries her off the trailer.

My guess is that he backed his trailer in too deep and the current pushed his boat towards mine before he could get to the docklines.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Guy hit my boat at the ramp today

Was your boat tied to the dock? Just wondering how far his went to get to yours!

 

[TBarCYa]

Re: Guy hit my boat at the ramp today

I was tied to the dock and there was about 7' between boats when both were tied up.