How NOT to launch a Denali

[Spinkick]

Re: How NOT to launch a Denali

The truck or the kid.... i'll save the kid any day.

However, why in the world was he pointed grille first down the ramp????? That's what doesn't make any sense.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: How NOT to launch a Denali

Looks like a ramp on private property, so all the rules about prepping and loading don't appply. He could have had his boat tied up there at his house for days. He has some items--a bag of ice, perhaps, he just got from the store--and he drives to the ramp beside his pier to drop it, then he was going back to the house. Children are playing while waiting to go for a boat ride and one falls in.
Untill I got on this board I never knew about the world of crowded public ramps. I used busy public ramps a few times in high school and the public one I use now, occasionally, is 2 ramps and seldom more than one user at any given time, at least when I'm there in the winter. So it doesn't work to be judgmental if based on an inapplicable perception.
Maybe the OP can fill us rubberneckers in.

 

[chrishick]

Re: How NOT to launch a Denali

Alright, alright, alright. Here is the rest of the info as I know it. This is a private ramp for a small subdivision, each homeowner has their own key to the gate. This fella' lives just a block down from the ramp. They had launched the boat with another truck and had it tied to the dock. The ramp doesn't get much use so it's not a big deal to leave your boat tied up for a few minutes or even hours. I believe his wife and some friends were there also. It's possible the friends launched the boat, or maybe this guy launched the boat, then went back to the house to get the Denali which had the supplies while the others stayed with the boat. I really don't know those details. My assumption is that at some point he pulled up in the Denali with supplies to be loaded. Why he pulled nose in is beyond me, maybe he was on the phone and it's kind of hard to back in while talking and holding the phone, who knows. Maybe he was on the phone and sitting in the truck talking with door open and foot on the brake while others unloaded the supplies. Again, I don't know those details.

At that point it was all downhill........Sorry, I couldn't help myself

My didn't someone else fish the kid out? I don't know. Maybe this guy was the closest at the time. Maybe everybody jumped at the same time. My guess is that instinct/panic took over and he just reacted.

After it was over I think the wife/kids when home, too shook up to go on the boat, and the friends took the boat out because I passed them on my way in.

Stupid moves on his part? Definitely, but I still felt sorry for the guy.

Was it funny? YOU BET! We did have a few good laughs at his expense such as suggesting that he needed registration numbers on the side if he was going to take that thing out. He was able to laugh with us.

 

[Thad]

Re: How NOT to launch a Denali

I've been reading the replies as they come in and I'm gonna stay on the fence.

I feel bad for the guy, for sure. I could only imagine seeing my daughter fall in the water. The best laid plans at that point are out the window. I would however, hope that my wife or other daughter would have been much closer.
I also feel bad for the guy losing his vehicle.

Now, I DO think it would be funny to come in and see that, provided it was not me that was being watched and laughed at. And as far as the guy laughing it off...well, what can you do? The damage is done, crack that beer and take some pictures. If you can't find the humor in stupidity, well then, quit doing stupid things.

 

[salty87]

Re: How NOT to launch a Denali

he's lucky he didn't run himself over with the truck.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: How NOT to launch a Denali

I guess he will have to dry the brakes out for a while now !!!

 

[mars bar]

Re: How NOT to launch a Denali

MY kids do not go anywhere near the water unless they have their PDF on. No PDF your in the vehicle. Your choice. There 15 and 16 yrs old. with todays styles, I use the self inflaters. Feels like nothing at all. My only sister drowned and I know the pain.

 

[mars bar]

Re: How NOT to launch a Denali

Maybe that's why I'm drunk all the time???

 

[rjlipscomb]

Re: How NOT to launch a Denali

Yeah, it is a good laugh knowing everyone is safe and the harm is already done, what else are you going to do.

And, hopefully new boaters pay attention to the inherent dangers in boating even before they start the boat. I noticed the child seat in the back. Thankfully, the child was not in it at the time. He did have the sense to turn on the windshield wipers for when the wake hit the windshield - quick thinking! Someone did mention that Florida is pretty tough on the proper placement of the FL numbers and no registration.

I still question if Chris was somehow responsible when he "bumped into..."

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: How NOT to launch a Denali

You need to educate your friend! Everyone knows that you are supposed to launch a Denali stern first!

As one who lives in a place that had a couple of hundred thousand flooded cars in it for about a year, trust me when I tell you, if the water gets up to the level of the dash, its toast.

 

[HappierWet]

Re: How NOT to launch a Denali

MY kids do not go anywhere near the water unless they have their PDF on. No PDF your in the vehicle. Your choice. There 15 and 16 yrs old. with todays styles, I use the self inflaters. Feels like nothing at all. My only sister drowned and I know the pain.

What's a PDF as it relates to a marine environment? I know on a computer it's a portable document format.....HEY, WAIT I know it's the check list he should have had; 1: engage park 2: parking brake 3: exit truck 4: rescue kid.....

I can just see the look on the kid's face over Dad's shoulder as the truck hit the water.

 

[LIQUID PROZAC]

Re: How NOT to launch a Denali

if the kid was on the boat--pfd always no exceptions--poor planning

 

[7designs]

Re: How NOT to launch a Denali

That's one way to get out of your payments. Darn economy killing Denalis And some just set them on fire according to the news. Probably easier to get away with it this way.

 

[HappierWet]

Re: How NOT to launch a Denali

if the kid was on the boat--pfd always no exceptions--poor planning

On the boat?????
ON THE DOCK....GETTING READY TO GO ONTO DOCK.....if they're young or can't swim then even if they're near the water.

 

[JimmyOOOOO]

Re: How NOT to launch a Denali

No, he's an idiot IMO. Takes a millisecond to put the vehicle in park. No one watching the kids?!?!?!

No compassion in my book.

Some perform under pressure, some act like chickens with their head cut off.

I didn't see the part in the original post where anybody asked for your compassion... could you point it out?

Opinions are like aholes... judgemental opinions are the unwiped version.

 

[jack1130]

Re: How NOT to launch a Denali

I'll bet we see the Denali on craigslist or ebay soon described as "having slight water damage"

 

[Shizzy]

Re: How NOT to launch a Denali

I guess I dont see why he was pulling down the launch if all he was doing was loading some gear in to the boat. In the pictures it appears there is an area where the dock meets the shore where he could have stopped the truck and unloaded.

I see no reason at all, public or private launch to be on the launch unless you are launching or retrieving.

 

[lowkee]

Re: How NOT to launch a Denali

Just think of all the weight that wet foam will add. He'll be lucky to even get it on plane

And to think he didn't even have to drill a hole on the hull to get the insurance claim.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: How NOT to launch a Denali

What's a PDF as it relates to a marine environment? I know on a computer it's a portable document format.....

As my kid would say, its the document that he "forleft" at home. If he had brought it, he would have known that you always launch a Denali stern first!

 

[HappierWet]

Re: How NOT to launch a Denali

What's a PDF as it relates to a marine environment? I know on a computer it's a portable document format.....

As my kid would say, its the document that he "forleft" at home. If he had brought it, he would have known that you always launch a Denali stern first!

You know they used to make an amphicar back in the early 60's, I don't think the denali is the next generation......no propeller, no water tight doors....HHHMMMM, LOWKEE was talking about a resto project........