Look dad, that boat has a sparkler!

[jasonh]

My 5 year old son and I were driving down a turnpike one evening recently. We were in my truck and he was in his booster seat up front with me, so he had a better than normal view of the road. Up ahead I noticed an odd series of sparks coming from something. As we got closer, I saw that it was a boat on a trailer. The sparks were coming from the prop, which had not been raised when the guy left the ramp. I tried pulling along side the guy to let him know, but traffic kept me next to the rear of the boat. That was when my son excitedly pointed out to me that, "wow dad, that boat is sparkling!"

He thought it was just the coolest thing. I tried explaining that it was NOT cool, but I'm not sure I really convinced him...

 

[dave68iou1]

Re: Look dad, that boat has a sparkler!

We may see that post on "Stupid human tricks"!! That'll be $300 for the new prop, and $1500 for the new outdrive... Thank you!

 

[tomatolord]

Re: Look dad, that boat has a sparkler!

I saw a women driving down the road at 50 mph on the left front rim only of a station wagon.

It was throwing sparks - it did look cool.

It was at night

I have no idea where she was going

Tomatolord

 

[tnduc]

Re: Look dad, that boat has a sparkler!

I just did the same stupid thing today- just didn't get that far. I always load and unload with my truck windows open. I pulled up the ramp and heard some screeching and immediately knew what happened. Fortunately, no damage :redface: .

 

[redfury]

Re: Look dad, that boat has a sparkler!

Friend of mine came back from the launch with the motor down, started backing into his driveway ( a horrible slope down from the road to the curb, then up the driveway....one of the reasons he's moving out of there post haste! ) and kachink! There goes half the skeg.... Boy was he unhappy with himself. Fortunately, the skeg took the damage, nothing else.

 

[dhath]

Re: Look dad, that boat has a sparkler!

This summer 3 out of trips to the ramp I have seen that happen. People pulling out with their motor down. It is hard to do it all by yourself and try to hurry beacuse people are waiting. My wife now back in the trailer and I load and shutdown the boat. She is doing great. Other boaters watch her while their wives are holding the rope at the dock so they can do it all. By the time I am out of the boat she has the plug pulled and the straps on the back. I have the cuddy cleaned out and shutting down the power.

 

[beezee28]

Re: Look dad, that boat has a sparkler!

Being there and done that. I learn my lesson. End of the day and we were at the ramp, got the wife of the boat and gave her the rope to hold on to, while I go and get the truck and trailer down to load the boat, by the time I got to the ramp a few other boat were also ready to be haul up and I waited for my turn. When my turn came I back the trailer into the water and load the boat up and tie up the front but totally forgot about bring up the motor. Got into the truck and drove up the ramp and the next thing I heard was my wife shouting to stop. I thought I ran over someone or something. Got out and she told me that the back was dragging and found out about half an inch of skeg was scraped off leaving a trail of about 3 feet on the ramp of aluminium. Hard lesson to learn but one that is not forgotten very soon.

 

[Timm]

Re: Look dad, that boat has a sparkler!

That would be the pits.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Look dad, that boat has a sparkler!

Ouch !!!!!

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Look dad, that boat has a sparkler!

Prop -0
Road -1

 

[pduquette]

Re: Look dad, that boat has a sparkler!

Hey!!! Wait a second ; I think I just Bought that motor !!!!

 

[_brad_]

Re: Look dad, that boat has a sparkler!

HAHAHAH great story!

I saw a guy do basically the same thing while he pulled his boat out of the water.. He had forgot to pull his I/O motor up..

Well, the skeg ended up cutting a 2 inch deep slice into the pavement for about 20 feet until I told him about it.

It was great.

 

[xIIx]

Re: Look dad, that boat has a sparkler!

been there..done that. Luckily no damage

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Look dad, that boat has a sparkler!

Never done it, but I've seen it done. Gosh, the sound of a Johnson 88 crunching the concrete ramp and bouncing, the cowling bouncing, I'll never forget it. I just watched in horror. I never thought to yell stop, I think I was too shocked.

 

[newbie4life]

Re: Look dad, that boat has a sparkler!

I saw a fella and his buddy drop the boat off at the landing... literally.

He got into his new boat with 250HP Mercury, so he could start it once it hit the water. But first the 'genius' decided to put the motor down. His 'buddy' backed the boat down the ramp, and stopped short of the water. The rollers on the trailer 'kicked in' once he hit the brakes, and the boat rolled off the trailer, skidded on the skeg, and the front of the boat hit the concrete -- HARD.

The guy chewed out his buddy for stopping before the water, even though he disconnected the winch strap.