How Not to Launch a boat

[amynbill]

Re: How Not to Launch a boat

How many of you do use chocks at the Boat Ramp? I've never saw anyone use them. But it's not a bad idea I guess.

I plan on using them when I launch this year. The towing company owner across from my company gave me a lightly used set when he heard I bought a boat. They are chained and I will mount them to the trailer frame for easy use.

Our truck is a big rig, with big beefy tires and a towing package, so Im not too worried, but there is always that perfect set of circumstances that can ruin your day (or week, month?)

 

[amynbill]

Re: How Not to Launch a boat

I use these chocks. I have a chain attached between two of them because I often chock the front and rear of a wheel when parking my camper. The parking brakes on a Superduty are a joke.

They are about $15 ea at Northern Tool.

Aha...pretty much exactly what was given to me. Very heavy rubber.

 

[daniel2229]

Re: How Not to Launch a boat

Those heavy rubber chocks look great. They should grip the concrete better than wood.

Thanks!

 

[scoutabout]

Re: How Not to Launch a boat

Man -- I'm going to pay a lot more attention to the part of the ramp that's not covered by water from now on! Usually my pre-launch inspection is all about what's under the water.
I'm still not real clear though on when these vehicles get away from people. They back down, stop, get out, and then the vehicle rolls in? Or are they pulling the boat out, lose traction and slip back into the drink?

I do like the grippy rubber chocks. Because my vehicle is a stick I would leave it first supplemented by a good tug on the parking brake and figured I was golden. That won't prevent a locked wheel slide though I realize.

I bought an old tractor for launch and retrieval duties on the sand ramp at the home lake this summer. Big, fat farm treads on tires filled with fluid that will add about a thousand pounds over the drive axle. That and a first gear that would pull a house off its foundations should do the trick nicely on that surface. Biggest worry now will be flipping the tractor over.

 

[fishntoss]

Re: How Not to Launch a boat

gonna have to add a chock or two to my vehicle. So far, I've been settin the brakes, but still, adding the chock sounds like a great idea.

 

[wormz]

Re: How Not to Launch a boat

i leave a chock clipped to teh front of the trailer(only time ill be at the ramp) and just grab it before i back up to the ramp, set it out the door when i get out in path of the front left tire and launch the boat, come back form the dock just grab it as im getting back in the truck. its easy to remeber and you wont forget it nor will it be in the way the rest of the time in the truck when you dont need it.

 

[hazwild]

Re: How Not to Launch a boat

Hmm, watch out for any ebay auctions for "recently professionally cleaned Toyota SUVs"

Or new interior

 

[swhobie]

Re: How Not to Launch a boat

I saw a similar event in Key Largo years ago in the late 60's. The family was launching a 14 foot open bow boat using a VW beetle as the tow vehicle. They stopped and put the two kids in the boat and the wife took the stern line and walked along side the backing trailer. As the driver hit the slime at low tide and brakes failed to stop the the VW, he quickly jumped out and grabbed the door to try and stop the VW from sliding. That did not work but he did manage to fold the hinges forward until the door hit the front fender. It was about that time that I and my friend made it down the ramp to help out. We did stop the whole rig from going in but it was a silly idea to put the engine in the back end of the VW. YUP, it was now under water and had sucked in enough to kill it. Of course the boat was now floating but attached to winch cable and the wind was blowing it sideways towards the shore. Of course there were two screaming kids and an hysterical wife who had dropped the dock line and was trying to push the boat back into the water. Others gathered to help and we finally got the boat unsnapped and tied to dock. We pulled the VW out with my car and offered to load the boat back onto his trailer. The man thanked us but said no, he was taking the kids fishing and that was that. We towing his VW and trailer into a parking spot and went home to clean fish. The VW and trailer were gone the next weekend so I guess they got it resolved.....

 

[Knot Waiting]

Re: How Not to Launch a boat

I watched this guy sink his Jeep last spring at County Park in Winneconne, WI.

 

[TerryMSU]

Re: How Not to Launch a boat

There is such a thing as to much torque. Here in the northland (Michigan) those of us who have expereince with manual transmissions on snow now that starting in first gear on a slippery surface is not necessarily the best option. A higher gear will not break the tires loose on snow. That may be why the hi-lux worked so well.

Terry

 

[daniel240]

Re: How Not to Launch a boat

The same thing happened here at least twice this summer. Our river was low most of the summer due to little rain. So people had to back down the ramp farther than usual and I guess there was a lot of slime built up right at the waters edge. The only thing I can think of is that they paniced and gave it gas and just slid in backwards because if they were applying the break, the front wheels should stop it from going in.

 

[slia67]

Re: How Not to Launch a boat

I watched this guy sink his Jeep last spring at County Park in Winneconne, WI.

How did he do it?


Doug

 

[cbavier]

Re: How Not to Launch a boat

I use these chocks. I have a chain attached between two of them because I often chock the front and rear of a wheel when parking my camper. The parking brakes on a Superduty are a joke.

They are about $15 ea at Northern Tool.

Wouldn't those work better on a long rope. Leave part of the rope on the truck floorboard in the cab along with the Stern Straps and you won't forget either the straps or the chocks. I leave my straps on the floorboard so I never forget to put them on. Works for me anyway. A Chain would scratch or ding a long rope won't.